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.
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.
Aquarium Care & Maintenance Aquarium Cycling, Water Chemistry Aquarium Information Aquarium Lighting, Heaters, UV Aquarium Pumps & Filtration Aquarium Water Conditioners & Medication Aquariums & Supplies Freshwater Fish Supplies Saltwater Fish, Corals, & Live Rock Supplies Tropical & Saltwater Fish Supplies A fish tank will only be as healthy and clean as its owner keeps it. Just adding water, fish, gravel, and decorations is not quite enough. Generally, at least once a month, the tank owner will need to remove approximately twenty-five percent of the water in the tank and replace it with clean water, as well as remove debris from the gravel.