Cleaning the Various Parts of Your Fish Tank

Aquariums are aquatic ecosystems that require high levels of cleanliness for two reasons: health and aesthetics. Lakes, rivers, reefs, and other natural aquatic habitats are self-cleaning ecosystems. Aquariums need to be periodically cleaned, although there are strategies to increase the sustainability of contained ecosystems so cleaning doesn’t have to be performed so frequently. When it comes to cleaning tanks, you can think of the ecosystem in terms of the following elements: water, tank, filtration system, substrate, and decorations. Here are some recommendations on how to clean all the parts of your aquarium.

Water Changes

For tanks that hold between 10 and 20 gallons, partial water changes of no more than 25 percent should be done every two to four weeks. Tanks smaller than 10 gallons require 20 percent water changes every week. Tap water should be dechlorinated before it can be poured into the tank. Deionized water from an aquarium shop doesn’t need this process, but minerals need to be added to DI water.

Aquarium Walls

Scrubbing pads and scraping blades are the best tools you can use to clean the glass or acrylic walls of the tank. Magnetic pads are ideal for saltwater reef tanks where algae is blooming more aggressively, the best being a Flipper:

https://www.aquaticwarehouse.com/Flipper-2-in-1-Standard-Magnetic-Aquarium-Tank-Algae-Cleaner-Scrubber-Scraper?search=flipper&category_id=0

The process is the same for all these cleaning tools. Run the pad or blade firmly against the tank walls until the algae is removed. You can catch floating pieces with a net.

Substrate

All aquarists should have a gravel siphon or vacuum to remove debris and fish waste from the bottom. Gentle hands are part of the cleaning strategy because you don’t want to throw the aquarium into disarray and stress fish. Since vacuuming or siphoning will take water from the tank, you should clean the gravel on the same day you do water changes.

Filtration & Aeration System

Filters are absolutely essential fish tank supplies. If your filtration system is the type that connects the air tube with an internal filter, you’ll need to remove these elements to clean them. The biological filter media should never be exposed to tap water. Always keep it immersed in tank water and don’t let it dry up. Removing algae and scaling from the tubes can be done with a scrubbing pad. Debris can be shaken or wiped off the filter. If you’re replacing the filter, make sure to let it soak for a couple of hours in tank water you intend to replace so bacteria can get comfortable and form a colony.

Decorations

Don’t use soap or tap water to clean decorations. Simply take them out of the aquarium along with some tank water and use an old toothbrush or a scrubbing pad to remove algae. You don’t have to wait for the decorations to dry before returning them to the tank.

No matter what parts and other supplies you need—from aquarium monitors and controllers to filtration systems and LED lighting—you can find everything you need at Aquatic Warehouse. Order the supplies you need from our website, or come pick them up in person at our store in Kearny Mesa. If you have any questions for our friendly and knowledgeable staff, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 858-467-9297.