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How NOT to clean your new aquariumsJun 25 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Do not use any store bought chemicals...unless you bought it from a pet store that sells fish.
Knowing how to clean your aquarium is almost as important as buying and setting one up. If you don't know how to clean it, there really is no point to having it because you won't be able to maintain it. This will focus more on the physical work involved with you, the owner, rather than the cleaning done by the filter. Household Cleaning Agents When you first buy a tank, everyone is tempted to clean it out. You want to get all of the dirt, or in PETCO's case, crickets/dust/etc... out of it. What you should not do is use any store bought cleaning chemicals. These all leave films (even if they claim they don't) which will essentially poison your fish. Soap is the worst culprit with killing fish (i.e. dish detergent) There are many chemicals that will harm your fish, with the most common being chlorine. This is found in any product containing bleach. (This is even found in tap water...in small amounts. It can also be removed by using a tap water conditioner or by letting the water sit out for several days before being put into the tank.) Oddly enough, however, bleach is the ONLY household cleaning agent I would suggest using to clean a REALLY DIRTY TANK. If you do use it, you only need a very diluted solution. And, after you are done, you need to rinse the tank out A LOT. Rinse it at least 5 times more than for something you would do for something you eat/drink out from. Any little trace of it will eventually kill your fish....eventually meaning it may not be instant, but rather over a period of a several days to a week. Cleaning Tools Another major mistake by new and established fish owners is the use of kitchen sponges and rags to rinse the fish tank. These often contain residues from the dish detergents or furniture polishes (you get the point). When it is used on the tank, the residue is transferred to the tank and will more probably result in fish deaths. Sponges In regard to sponges, you need to make sure that the sponge you use for the tank is either new and NOT antibacterial or the one you have been using. The new antibacterial sponges may not have cleaning products on it but the antibacterial part of the sponge is deadly to fish. If you want to use a sponge, your best bet is to buy them at the petstore in the fish section. This way you are guaranteed not to have problems...and if you do...at least you can return it and maybe get some money for your fish. Scrubbing Pads The best abrasive pads are bought at the pet store. These are specifically designed not to scratch the surface of the tank. These also do not have any chemicals that would harm fish. When buying them, make sure that you are buying one for the right surface. The two major types are for glass tanks and acrylic tanks. Using the other may damage the surface. Scrubbing pads are also available attached to long plastic handles. While these are convenient for not having to get your arm as wet, they do not do a good enough job in the corners. Most of the time they get the areas around the corner leaving the sealed part untouched. Also, it may be hard to maneuver it around depending on the size of the tank. (The plastic arm may hit the other side of the tank not allowing you to angle it to get all of the tank sides.) Whatever you decide to use, take care to keep your fish cleaning things separate from everything else. This helps prevent any accidental use for cleaning other things around your house. Physical Cleaning Don'ts There aren't too many of these...at least not completely obvious ones. 1. Don't use anything too abrasive...you may scratch the surface. (sorry a repeat) 2. Don't scrub really hard - even if you don't have an abrasive cleaning aid. Even paper towels can do damage to the surface. Also, scrubbing really hard could eventually lead to stress fractures. 3. Don't scrub really hard along the seams of the glass. This area you should be very careful with - as it can eventually lead to the formation of leaks. 4. If you move the tank when cleaning...don't pick it up soley by the plastic lining on the top of the tank - no matter how small the tank is. It can break off - and that can lead to a big mess. 5. Either don't leave the fish in the tank - or don't swish the water around a lot. The #1 cause of fish death is FISH STRESS. Thus, you moving your arm around really fast could kill your fish. Why you shouldn't use Aquarium Chemicals to make your tank look cleaner... Although the aquarium chemicals may make your water become less cloudy or smelly, they do not work. The chemicals are merely a mask to the problem. They hide or temporarily fix the problems but do not make them go away. One of the most common reasons people use chemicals is because their water is cloudy. They have tried water changes but do not work. Chemicals work - so they use them - a lot - to keep their water clear. I must admit, using them once or twice probably isn't going to kill your fish. But using them regularly can. Essentially the chemicals can build up and will kill your fish (either poison or suck the oxygen out of the water. Cloudy water can be caused by several things. The most common is ammonia. When you first set up your tank, expect the water to be cloudy for a few days. The new water in your tank is cycling - the bacteria is building up. When the bacteria is growing, a lot of ammonia is being produced. This is why it is recommended to wait several days before putting fish in the tank. Another cause may not be the water, but a slimy white film on the inside wall of the tank. This can easily be fixed by taking the fish out...and removing a good portion of the water. Then use a damp cloth (papertowel) soaked in a salt water solution (tap water and table salt will work) and wash the inside of the glass. Don't worry about the salt getting in the tank - there isn't enough to make a difference. Besides, even freshwater has some salt in the water. Regardless of the reason you are cleaning the tank, salt water is a great cleaning solution for freshwater tanks. It will remove almost anything. Water Changes The type of fish you have and how long your tank "appears" clean will tell you how much water you need to remove for water changes. Typically, goldfish need about 25-40% of the water taken out. This is because they are unusually dirty fish that make the water cloudy. Most other fish, however, are good with a 25% water change. It is very rarely recommended that you do more than the recommended. The reasons for this are that the more water you remove - the more (good) bacteria you remove and that the more water you take out - the more of the fishes' slime coats your remove - and the more stressed out they become. Also, make sure that when perform water changes that you are adding some type of stress coat and/or tap water conditioner to the water. This will ensure that all of the harmful metals and chemicals are out of the water..and will also help your fish adjust to the new water more quickly. One final note - even if your tank still looks clean, you should still do regular water changes. This helps get fresh water and more oxygen into the cycle. Remember, in the wild the fish have a large area with lots of new water cycling through. Summary I tried to go in order...but... 1. Household cleaning chemicals may leave a film and are poisonous to fish. 2. Cleaning aids should be kept separate from normal cleaning supplies to avoid contamination. 3. Avoid antibacterial things. 4. Scrub tanks with caution. 5. Rinse well! 6. Add water conditioners to new water put in the tank. 7. Salt water makes a great cleaning solution for a tank. 8. Water changes should be done regularly regardless of how clean your tank looks.  |
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