To maximize fish health, aquariums should be drained 25% weekly, as well as entirely when taken apart. Removing water from an aquarium is a more complicated procedure than filling, but not as much as you might think.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Filling Procedure for Weekly Maintenance
Step 1. Calculate approximately the amount of water in liters that must be sucked
Step 2. Get a suitable bucket that allows you to minimize the trips to empty it but, at the same time, reaches a sustainable weight:
remember that 1 liter of water weighs 1 kg. A bucket full of 20 liters of water, therefore, will weigh about 20 kg; keep in mind, however, that you don't have to fill it completely.
Step 3. Get a drainage kit
Pet shops that deal with aquariums typically sell fairly inexpensive drainage kits (usually clear plastic tubes). These long rigid and transparent plastic tubes have a diameter of about 5 cm (or more) and are 15 to 45 cm long; they are also open at one end, while they have an opening of about 1.5 cm in diameter on the opposite side. Also included is a rather long tubing, approximately 1.5 cm in diameter, flexible and transparent. The two pipes will be connected to each other. The 1.5 cm hose should be long enough to reach the farthest point inside the aquarium, pass over it and reach the inside of the bucket. You can place the bucket wherever you prefer, as long as its top remains under the bottom of the aquarium. If this is very large, additional piping and other joints may be required. If you prefer, you can cut off any excess hose.
Step 4. Connect the aspirator Connect the large rigid plastic tube to the 1.5 cm hose (if they were not already joined)
The purpose of weekly maintenance is to remove solid debris and change about 25% of the water contained in the aquariums. This procedure will allow you to do both at the same time.
Step 5. Wash your hands carefully
Do not put your hands in an aquarium without washing and rinsing them thoroughly. Marine plants and animals can react negatively to dirt, soap etc.
Step 6. Let the water enter the aspirator
Place the open end of the larger aspirator tube in the aquarium, so that the water replaces the air inside. Slowly immerse the remaining length of the tube inside the aquarium. The tube should be immersed in the tank so that the water continues to replace the air in its entire length. If you perform the operation correctly, there should be no more air left inside the tube and piping (or there is only a very small amount of it).
Step 7. Grab the suction tube and direct the open end against the bottom of the aquarium
Step 8. Grab the narrower drain end of the hose
Keeping it still immersed, get someone to help seal the end by placing a finger over the opening. Be careful not to break the seal.
Step 9. Lift the drain end of the pipe and take it out of the aquarium
Put it in the bucket. Make sure that the suction tip is still on the bottom of the aquarium and remove your finger from the drain tip. The water will begin to flow from the aquarium to the bucket.
Step 10. Hold the drain tip directly into the bucket, while gently moving the aspirator along the bottom of the aquarium
Your helper should direct the drain hose inside the bucket. Raise the aspirator enough to clean the gravel and immerse it inside, until it almost reaches the glass bottom of the aquarium. Keep it still until the water inside the vacuum cleaner becomes clean and until the entire bottom is free of waste.
Step 11. Stop the flow of water by lifting the drain end so that it is higher than the level of the water remaining in the aquarium, or by sealing the opening with a finger
Raising the mouth of the aspirator above the water level in the aquarium would require you to re-pass the water inside the various pipes should you need to perform further drainage.
Method 2 of 2: Complete Drainage Procedure
Step 1. Follow the previous steps with a hose long enough to reach outside or to reach the drain of a sink, shower, etc
Then follow the procedures described above.
Step 2. Connect a garden hose to a windowsill tap and place the opposite end in the aquarium (assuming that the end can be positioned so that the drain height is lower than the bottom of the aquarium)
Step 3. Open the tap as if to fill the aquarium
When all the air bubbles have come out of the tube, close it. Get someone to help you keep the end of the tube immersed. To keep gravel or sand out of the way, keep it several inches above the bottom.
Step 4. Squeeze the hose near the tap to prevent water from flowing
Step 5. Remove the hose from the tap
Step 6. Place the garden hose in a grassy area (or drain if you prefer) and release the hose
The water will begin to come out of the aquarium.
Advice
- The water removed from the aquarium is excellent for gardens and lawns. Don't throw it in the sewers - do it only if necessary.
- The cleaning procedure must be done rather quickly. Taking too long you could end up removing more water than it should from the aquarium. It is possible to reuse the water taken from the aquarium, but you will need to filter the solid substances first. Use some type of filter to separate them from the rest of the water. Put almost all the water back into the aquarium, except 25%, which will be replaced with fresh treated tap water.
- If you intend to reassemble the aquarium soon, set aside some of the removed water. This water, also called "ripening fluid", will speed up the ability of the water contained to benefit the health of the fish. Starting with 100% treated fresh tap water will only allow the hardiest fish to survive. Ask your trusted dealer for advice.
