How to Clean a 2 Gallon Hexagon Fish Tank

Fish are a simple and economical pet to care for. Small tanks, such as those under five gallons, are easy to clean and can still hold enough fish to be enjoyable. All tanks must be properly cared for and cleaned to allow your fish to thrive and to prevent algae buildup. Cleaning a two-gallon hexagon tank can be a little challenging because of its shape, but the effort is vital for the health of your fish.

Things You'll Need

  • Net
  • Plastic baggie
  • Fine mesh strainer
  • Clean rag
  • Water treatment
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill a small plastic baggie or contrainer with some water from the fish tank. Catch the fish in the net and place each fish in its own plastic bag. Close the top of the bag to prevent your fish from spilling out, and set them in a secure location--such as the sink--where they cannot be disturbed by other pets or children while you clean the tank.

    • 2

      Remove any pumps or filters that might be attached to your tank. Most two-gallon hexagon tanks are too small to need a filter, but some owners add them to help keep the water cleaner between changings. Set any loose items to the side so you can put them back in the tank once it is clean.

    • 3

      Pour the dirty water down the sink and dump the gravel in the bottom of your tank into a fine strainer. Rinse the gravel well, using your hands to scrub it and remove any algae or debris that might be clinging to the rocks.

    • 4

      Run clean, warm water into the tank and scrub it with a clean rag. You might notice a green line of algae around the bottom where the gravel rests and along the top where the water line was, but just press down firmly as you scrub, and it should come off. A hexagon fish tank has six sides and a number of corners, so be sure to scrub them as well to remove any debris that may have worked into the corners.

    • 5

      Rinse the tank thoroughly once you are done scrubbing to remove any last traces of dirty water that remain. Replace the gravel in the tank and place any pumps, filters and decorations back in their proper locations.

    • 6

      Add enough clean, room-temperature water to fill your tank up and treat your water with the appropriate amount of water treatment. Most water treatments are designed to remove the chlorine and other harsh chemicals from tap water and make it safe for your fish. Follow the directions on the treatment, and allow the tank to rest for at least an hour before placing your bagged fish into the water.

    • 7

      Open the bags containing your fish and add a small amount of new water from the tank into the existing water in the bag. This helps acclimate your fish to the new water slowly without sending them into shock. Repeat this process in one hour, allowing the fish to rest for an additional hour before pouring each one into your newly cleaned tank.