Tips for Cleaning the Sand or Gravel in Your Aquarium

First of all, gravel is better to use in an aquarium over sand because it’s easier to clean. Whether this is the first time cleaning the sand or gravel in your aquarium or you’re considering getting an aquarium and want to know how to properly clean the substrate when the time comes, there are a few simple steps you need to follow. The staff at Aquatic Warehouse, a trusted provider of fish tank supplies, is here to show you how.

It should take ten to fifteen minutes to clean the waste from sand in an aquarium, depending on the tank’s size. If you’re following these steps as you read, make sure you have all of these tools before starting: a bucket, a siphoning tool, and a gravel vacuum.

Remove the Water

The first step is to get the water out of the aquarium. Remember to never remove the fish, and your goal would be to remove only about 20 percent of the water volume, depending on how the testing of your water parameters goes. You can remove the water by siphoning it into a bucket or something similar that won’t leak anywhere and is large enough to store the water.

Remove the Waste

Next, take the gravel vacuum and carefully move straight down to the bottom of the tank while pinching the hose off in your opposite hand to reduce the flow. The waste will be removed, but the gravel will drop back down. Move the gravel vac straight up and over 3 inches to the next location. The amount of water being removed should be as minimal as possible so you can get to most of the aquarium’s surface area.

Cleaning the Sand Regularly

If you tend to have a lot of algae in your aquarium or want to lower the amount of waste it produces, you may want to consider adding snails or shrimp to the tank. There are several breeds that can keep a tank clean by eating leftover food, dead plant matter, and/or algae. Many even help by regularly churning the sand.

In addition to being a leading provider of freshwater planted aquariums, Aquatic Warehouse also carries everything you need to keep your tank clean and its inhabitants healthy and happy. Stop by our store in Kearny Mesa today, or give one of our aquatic experts a call at 858-467-9297.