How to Clean Debris Out of Aquarium Gravel

Gravel is a necessary component to any home aquarium. Not only does gravel make your tank more naturalistic and attractive, it also promotes biological filtration by providing space for beneficial bacteria to grow. Like everything else in an aquarium, the gravel must be cleaned regularly, usually at least once every two weeks. Uneaten food and fish waste in the gravel can break down into harmful chemicals. Traditionally, the best way to clean the debris out of gravel is to use a gravel vacuum.

Things You'll Need

  • Gravel vacuum
  • Plastic piping, 4 feet long
  • Bucket
  • Dechlorinator
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take off the lid of the aquarium and set it aside. You'll need plenty of space to move your arm around.

    • 2

      Attach one end of the plastic tubing to the output of the gravel vacuum. It should slip over a little tube very snugly at the rear of the vacuum. Place the other end of the plastic tubing in the bucket, which you should place at your feet.

    • 3

      Start a siphon with the gravel vacuum by completely submerging it in your aquarium water and pumping it back and forth in a vertical motion until water begins moving up the vacuum, through the plastic tubing and emptying into the bucket.

    • 4

      Twist the mouth of the gravel vacuum into the gravel; dirt and debris should get sucked up into the vacuum and into the bucket; the gravel is too heavy to carry. Repeat this with every square inch of the gravel in your aquarium, but do not let your tank water drain by more than 30 percent.

    • 5

      Dispose of the dirty water in the bucket and replace the drained water in the aquarium with fresh water (or saltwater if you have a marine aquarium). Add the proper dosage of dechlorinator, a liquid that neutralizes chlorine and other harmful chemicals in tap water (the proper dosage will be listed on the packaging).