Regular water changes are a very important part of aquarium maintenance and looking after your fish. Changing the aquarium water reduces the level of harmful substances such as ammonia and nitrates produced by fish. In nature these levels are biologically regulated, but in the closed environment of an aquarium it is necessary to change the water regularly to ensure a happy life and good health for the fish.
Steps
Step 1. Remove all lights and the lid from the top of the tank for the best possible access
Turn off the heating devices.
Step 2. Remove all artificial decorations and plants and clean the tub walls with a brush, seaweed sponge or magnet
Step 3. Unplug the filters and place them in the bathtub or sink along with the artificial plants and decorations
Step 4. Wash the filters, artificial plants and decorations
If the water has a hard time getting through the filters, replace them with new filters. As you do this, any debris mixed with the aquarium water will have settled on the gravel.
Step 5. Immerse the widest part of the siphon in the aquarium to clean the gravel by placing the pump in the 4 liter container
Start sucking either by allowing the end of the tube to fill with water, then moving it up and down in the water, or by sucking from the end of the tube until the water begins to flow into the container. Insert the gravel extractor into the gravel layer at a 45 degree angle until it touches the bottom of the aquarium. Start at one corner and slowly drag the aspirator along the bottom of the aquarium. Any debris heavier than the gravel will be sucked up and will end up in the container. Continue by passing the aspirator all over the bottom of the tank. Focus on areas where fish tend to stay longer or congregate.
Step 6. Stop when you have removed 25-30% of the aquarium water
Taking too much away at once would shock the fish.
Step 7. Measure the water temperature in the aquarium, then go to the tap and adjust the water temperature to be the same as in the aquarium
Adding water of a different temperature unnecessarily stresses the fish, making them more prone to diseases such as Ich (white spot disease).
Step 8. With one of the pump ends in the tank, start putting water back into the aquarium
If you don't have a tap available, use a pitcher or pot to pour the water. While the tub fills up, put the correct dose of dechlorinator on if you think there is chlorine in the water. If using a container, add the dechlorinator to the water before pouring it into the aquarium.
Step 9. Put the decorations back in place and reconnect the filters
Step 10. Plug in the heater and restart the filter
HOB filters may need a few glasses of water taken from the tank to allow the engine to start filtering the water again.
Advice
- When cleaning the filters, only remove the amount of debris necessary to allow the water to pass through the filter - there are beneficial bacteria that live in the filter debris.
- It is best to change a little water at a time.
- Local fish tolerate temperature changes better than exotic or tropical fish.
- If you replace the filters, try not to change them all at once: you risk eliminating the colonies of beneficial bacteria present in the tank.
