A lot of fish keepers actually dread fish tank maintenance. True! Not even the profound joys that the hobby can provide salvage the fact that cleaning up an aquarium can be a very tedious undertaking. And the fact that you have to do it regularly, that is, twice a week, makes the job even more laborious.
Fish tank maintenance is already difficult with smaller aquariums of 2.5, 5, or even 10 gallons. What more when you have to contend with 50, 70 or 100 gallon containers?
But your job doesn’t have to be hard. Below, you will find an easy step-by-step guide on how to clean up your fish tank the easy way, without compromising the effectiveness of traditional methods.
But first, let’s take a look at the useful tools you will need for proper and convenient fish tank maintenance:
- a good filtration system, preferably of the overhead variety
- a siphon tube
- an aquatic vacuum cleaner
- a clean sponge stick (which looks like a mini-window cleaner)
- methaline blue
- anti-chlorine solution
- rock salt
The tips that will be provided would revolve around these tools. And since fish tank maintenance should be conducted twice a week, these tools would prove to be good investments.
Now, here are the steps for an easier time when it comes to aquarium cleaning:
1. Prepare water beforehand, preferably 12 hours before cleaning your aquarium.
2. Apply anti-chlorine on the new water supply.
3. Remove 75% of the water in the aquarium.
4. Use the aquatic vacuum cleaner on the gravel. Avoid hitting the fishes. Also avoid alarming them. Shock can weaken a fish’s immunity system.
5. Clean the aquarium windows with the sponge stick. Don’t use soap! The new supply of water would do.
6. Place the new supply of water into the aquarium.
7. Apply the appropriate drops of methaline blue. This would make your fishes more resistant against parasites.
8. Mix half-a-tablespoon of rock salt for every gallon of water you used to replace the old supply.
Afterwards, you’re all set! The fishes would initially seem jittery, but they’re just adjusting to the new conditions presented by the fresh water supply. They should be happy after 30 minutes or so.
This is a very easy fish tank maintenance procedure, one which would only last for an hour at the most. Less if you have a small aquarium, of course. Best of all, his method is something that is fun. You’ll most likely look forward to doing it twice a week, as it could be very enjoyable for you as well as your aquatic pets.