Is your small freshwater aquarium dirty? A 'small' aquarium means a tank containing less than 40 liters of water. As these models often have little or no filtration system, they require more frequent cleaning than larger ones. To proceed with the cleaning, you need to transfer the fish, clean the tank and decorations, and finally add new and treated water. Thorough cleaning every two weeks is imperative to keep your fish healthy and happy.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparations for Cleaning
Step 1. Schedule your aquarium cleaning with some precision
In the case of small aquariums, it is necessary to change at least 50% of the water at least twice a week, but it is advisable to proceed on alternate days. Without this considerable - as well as frequent - water change and thorough cleaning, the chemical equilibrium in the tank can break, endangering the fish; it is therefore important to plan times in which to perform this treatment. Take a moment every two weeks to remove the decorations and scrub all the interior walls.
- Observe the fish daily to make sure they are healthy and behaving normally; check that they have a nice color, the scales are clean, the fins free and that they are not slimy and frayed. Also be sure to remove any dead fish; if some specimens appear apathetic, stressed, or gasp on the surface, you need to change the water.
- It is not okay to do deep cleans too often because they eliminate the beneficial bacteria.
Step 2. Get the cleaning accessories
Make a list to make sure you have everything you need; keeping tools at hand speeds up the process. Here is a list that may help you:
- 2 screens;
- A small temporary tank or aquarium;
- Fresh water in sufficient quantity for replacement;
- Sponge to eliminate algae;
- New toothbrush;
- 2 large buckets of 20-40 liters;
- Aquarium aspirator;
- Siphon;
- Softener for water;
- Aquarium safe glass cleaner or vinegar based solution;
- Clean cloth;
- Towel.
Step 3. Prepare the space to work
Put oilcloth or towels on the floor to catch any spilled water, keeping the aquarium in place - you don't have to move it or put it in the sink. if you shake or shake the fish, you may stress them and loosen the dirt residue inside the container.
Step 4. Wear appropriate clothing
Put on a short-sleeved shirt or tank top, but you can also choose to keep just a swimsuit; eventually, use an apron to protect your clothes. It is also a good idea to wear water resistant footwear, such as pool slippers or flip flops.
Step 5. Remove the power plug
If applicable, stop the flow of current to the aerator, filter and aquarium heater; leave the lid lights on and place the lid behind the tub to illuminate it.
Part 2 of 3: Clean the Aquarium
Step 1. Scrub the walls
It is important to clean the glass before removing the water. Get an aquarium sponge or a clean, detergent-free cloth to get rid of algae and grime. Some aquarium owners leave algae, as they are preferred to green water and provide food for many fish; but it would still be better to remove some.
Step 2. Fill the temporary tank or other container with the original aquarium water
Using the same water causes less stress to the fish. Make sure the temporary tub is clean and there are no detergent residues; If you are not sure about the sanitation of this second container, clean it with an aquarium-safe glass cleaner or a mixture of water and vinegar.
Step 3. Remove fish or aquatic creatures with a net
Be gentle and proceed carefully; you can also use two if you prefer: the first can be useful for channeling all the fish into the other. Then put the fish in the temporary container in which there is the same water as in the first aquarium. Never use the tap water and do not allow the fish to jump and exit the secondary tank; to do this put a lid on.
Step 4. Remove the decorative elements (plants, rocks, etc.) from the aquarium
While you don't need to remove them every time, you still need to clean them from time to time. Place them on a towel and rinse them with clean water at room temperature; you can scrub them with a new algae brush or toothbrush, but do not use soap or detergent, otherwise the fish could become intoxicated and die from the cleaning substances. If the decorations are completely covered with algae, consider changing the routine you feed the fish or maintain the tank.
Step 5. Prepare the 20-40 liter bucket
Put it lower than the aquarium and pour the old water inside, possibly leaving it on the floor or on a chair; stability is important when working near an aquarium. It would be useful to buy a new bucket to be used exclusively for this purpose, since the presence of any residues of soaps or detergents is harmful to animals.
Step 6. Transfer the old water
Remove 50% at a time using a suitable siphon, which consists of a 1 cm diameter hose 1.2-1.5 m long. Slowly insert the entire siphon into the aquarium, making sure there is no air inside. Close one end with your finger and lift it out of the tub, making sure the other remains underwater. Then bring the external end close to the bucket, always keeping it locked with your finger; as soon as you clear the opening, the water should start flowing into the bucket. Slowly accomplish this.
- You can purchase a plastic aquarium siphon at pet stores, as well as a hand pump that can be attached to the siphon to facilitate water transfer.
- Fish are used to staying in the old water, and if you change it completely, their organs could be in shock. Mixing fresh water with some of the existing water keeps fish healthier.
Step 7. Vacuum the debris from the gravel
While transferring the water to the bucket, siphon clean the gravel to get rid of fish feces and leftover food particles. The gravel extractor is a hard plastic tube with a diameter of 5 cm that is attached to the siphon and uses the suction power of the siphon itself to move and eliminate solid dirt from the aquarium.
It is extremely important that there are good bacteria in a small aquarium and the presence of gravel promotes their development
Step 8. Clean the outside of the tub
Scrub the outer walls using a vinegar-based solution or purchasing an aquarium-safe cleaner; when finished, dry them with a clean cloth or unbleached organic paper towels.
Part 3 of 3: Return the Accessories to the Aquarium
Step 1. Put the decorations back into the tub
Once the cleaning is finished, you need to place the various objects as they were before and add more gravel if necessary; you should also insert a few new elements each time.
Step 2. Treat the water with a softener
Before filling the aquarium with other water, you must treat the tap water with a softening product; get one that can neutralize chlorine, chloramines, ammonia, and other chemicals. It is essential to have a dechlorinator; proceed with the treatment in a clean bucket before pouring the water into the aquarium.
Step 3. Replace the previously drawn water with new, treated water
Use a thermometer to check the temperature and make sure it matches that of the old water; it is essential to guarantee animals a constant temperature to keep them healthy. Use a siphon to pour the new water into the tub and don't overfill it; there needs to be some space between the surface of the water and the lid, because the fish need a change of oxygen to breathe.
Step 4. Make the fish adapt to the new environment
Put them in a tank that you will then let float on the water before releasing them in the aquarium; in this way they will be able to adapt to the temperature variation and will not suffer a shock. Return them to the container one at a time.
Alternatively, when you remove the fish from the aquarium, you can place them in small sealable plastic bags half-filled with the old water; when you are ready to reintroduce them again, let the bags float on the surface of the water for 15 or 20 minutes; this phase allows the water in both containers to reach the same temperature. After this time, open the bags and release the fish
Advice
- Live plants are more expensive than plastic ones, but they help balance water chemicals and keep the aquarium environment healthier.
- Do not put fish that are too large or too numerous in a small aquarium, otherwise the environment will be too crowded and dirty very quickly.
- Consider having a "cleaning team" in the tub. Shrimps are natural cleaners, they eat algae, food scraps and other residues; other bottom-dwelling cleaner fishes play the same role. These creatures can't completely replace your regular cleaning, but they undoubtedly help keep the aquarium livable between maintenance.
- If the aquarium is equipped with a filter, do not clean it when you take care of the tank but wait about a week.
