5 Common Myths About How To Clean Fish Tanks
Fish is a great addition to any home. They are very easy to look after. Kids really love watching them. You will also get therapeutic benefits while watching them.
But, how can you keep them healthy? It is really important to keep the fish tank clean. It is essential for keeping your fish alive and healthy.
You should clean the fish tank at least once in every couple of weeks. Murky, green-tinted water is the obvious reminder for a clean.
However, before start cleaning, you must be aware of the types of fish in your tank and their needs. While purchasing fish, you will get some instructions regarding the cleaning the tank and methods to take care of the fish.
While using the following guidelines, you should keep that information in your mind.
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Fish requires oxygen to breathe. But, they will not get adequate oxygen from a dirty fish tank. The level of oxygen will be reduced depending on the amount of dirt and grime that float around your fish tank.
Fish cannot survive in a filthy fish tank. A dirty fish tank is an ideal home for algae, which is a huge problem for fish.
The things turn sour when algae start to die off. Dying algae requires huge amounts of oxygen. In extreme cases, they may remove oxygen completely from the tank.
Changing Water in the Fish Tank
How to clean fish tank? Your answer may be changing the water. But, if you change all the water at once, it can be dangerous to the health of your fish.
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If you change the living condition of fish rapidly, it will create stress in your fish. Thus, they will become ill and may even die. Cleaning environment is essential for fish.
But, at the same time, they want to stay in a familiar environment. Thus, when you purchase new fish, you will also get a small amount of their own water.
Therefore, while cleaning a fish tank, you should change only around 15 percent of the water at a time, which is enough for keeping the tank in good condition.
- You can change water from a fish tank by using a manual siphon, which draws necessary amount of water out to the bucket
- You can dispose water and fill the bucket with the same amount of clean water
You should always use a thermometer for checking the water temperature. Should not use guess by feel while checking the water temperature. You should never use any soaps or detergents to clean a fish tank.
Remove Algae and Bacteria
It is very easy to remove algae and bacteria from your fish tank. An algae pad is enough for doing this task successfully, which is available in most pet shops.
Wipe off algae from inside the tank by using algae padIf it is very difficult to wipe off algae, you can gently scrub the glass by using a clean, stiff bristled brush.
You should not use sharp instruments like razor blades, which can scratch or scrape the glass. This is highly dangerous particularly an acrylic fish tank.
You should focus on sand or gravel for removing bacteria.
Bacteria can be removed from gravel by holding your siphon hose about 1 cm above the surface of the gravel. Then you need to run your fingers gently through the tiny stones
You should remove decorations from the tank. Then, you should soak them in a tough cleaning solution. A mixture of Domestos Original Bleach and warm water can be used for this purpose. But you should wear protective eyewear and gloves while handling these materials.
Cleaning the Glass
After cleaning inside of the tank thoroughly, you can start cleaning outside of the glass. It will not affect the health of your fish. But, cleaning outside of the glass is essential for watching your fish and monitoring their living conditions.
To clean a fish tank from outside, you can use the same technique that is used for cleaning your mirrors and windows.
Now, you have got a sparkling clean fish tank. It has now become a perfect home for your healthy fish.