Caring For Your Fish Tank

Having stupidly killed three beautiful pet goldfish, because of possible cleaning misconduct, I was struck with guilt and keen to find out the safest and most practical tank cleaning methods.

Don't Clean Your Tank Too Much.

Firstly turn off all electrics! It is essential to not over clean your tank as you will be removing a lot of friendly bacteria. Start off with an algae cleaning pad, sliding over the glass to loosen the dirt. There are many varieties on the market, ranging from magnetic pads to long handled scrapers. The magnetic pads are proving popular as they firmly stick to the sides which I personally prefer. It's also advisable not to use a scrubber/sponge bought from a home ware store as they can contain bleaches and other harmful chemicals. Most of the fish toys and decorations can be removed and cleaned, although removing all of them at once could cause anxiety to your fish. You can use an algae scraper to clean them whilst they're in the tank if you don't want to remove them each time.

Cleaning the Water and Gravel

Once you've loosened the algae and debris you should remove no more than a quarter of the water, siphoning the gravel and decorative toys as well. The next step is to clean the gravel, by using a water siphon to suck up the debris. There are different types of siphons available, all of which do pretty much the same job. These days I use the Python, as it draws dirty water straight into your sink, which eliminates the need for buckets. Be sure to vacuum the entire surface of the gravel thoroughly so that all debris is removed. If you can buy the best cleaning equipment it will make your once a week job less of a chore. Only then replace with clean, dechlorinated water that has reached room temperature. The chemicals in tap water are harmful to fish and they will damage your filter and then cause ammonia to build up eventually killing your fish.

Cleaning the Filter

A top tip is to not clean the filter at the same time as the tank. A week or two later is fine. With the cleaning of the tank, plants, gravel and ornaments a lot of the eco system will have been removed. The filter will still contain beneficial bacteria to keep the tank balanced. Some argue that you should always replace the filter parts, but I disagree. Disturbing your fish's environment too much will not only unbalance the bacteria levels but will also cause stress to them. Of course if your filter is full with dirt then yes you do need to clean it. You should use 2-3 cups of water from the tank to clean the filter sponge in, not tap water. Obviously the filter won't be as clean as when you first bought it but your fish will be happy with it. When you do need to add a brand new sponge, it's a good idea to soak it in a few cups of tank water and leave it over 24 hours. That way it won't be too much of a shock to your fish's environment. Most pet shops will be able to advise on the best filters for your tank.


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