Aquarium cleaning can seem like a daunting task but it is absolutely necessary if you are to have a successful aquarium. Many of the steps involved are really quite simple, and once you have learned how to utilize the various tools and methods, cleaning your aquarium can be very easy and satisfying.
I was cleaning my 55 gallon freshwater fish aquarium yesterday and placed a new Aqueon 55 power filter on the tank to collect some of the algae debris floating all around the tank. I noticed about 1/2 an hour later that the filter cartridges were already clogging! (OK, there was a LOT of algae before I cleaned.)
When I first started in the aquarium hobby back in 1974, it was the Dark Age for aquarium maintenance. To remove the debris from the substrate you had to stir up the gravel until the water looked like a cesspool, then attach a user unfriendly Diatom filter to the tank to remove the floating debris. After traumatizing my fish I now had to use a standard siphon hose to remove water into a bucket and carry it to the sink without sloshing water all over the floor.
There are many things you should check daily to ensure proper aquarium care. Make sure to visually check the aquarium population – you want to ensure your fish are healthy and not sick, wounded or acting strangely. Make sure that all of the equipment for the tank works, as well, checking the filter, lights and heater.
Q. Why are my fish hanging around the top of the water in my aquarium? A: This is usually a sign of low oxygen content in the water. You need to increase the surface agitation with better filters and/or more air stones in the water. If your aquarium filter has slowed down, it is time to clean it to increase the flow rate.
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