Things You'll Need
- Algae scrubbing pad
- Five-gallon bucket
- Siphon attached to an aquatic gravel vacuum
- Distilled water
- Submersible pump
- Filter
Instructions
Clean Algae From Your Fish Tank
Unplug your lights and filter on your tank. Scrub algae from the walls of your freshwater tank with a scrubbing pad.
Place your five-gallon bucket on the floor near your fish tank.
Lower the wide end of your gravel vacuum onto your fish tank floor. Slowly submerse the siphon hose, filling the tube with water until all air is expressed. Keep the flat end at the bottom of the tank and close the open end of the tube with your thumb. Lift the hose out of the tank and lower it toward your bucket. Release your thumb and lay the hose in the bucket while you remove algae, waste and dirty water with your tool.
Remove 10 to 15 percent of the water in your fish tank each week and replace it with distilled water. Distilled water is free of phosphates and nitrates, which algae need to grow.
Install a submersible pump to fit the size of your fish tank. Air bubbles oxygenate your water and produce a current. Moving water prevents surface algae growth and keeps your tank clear.
Check the filter pads each week and replace them as necessary. Plug your lights and filter back in. Your filter will clear up any cloudy residue remaining, leaving a clear, algae-free freshwater fish tank.