Tips for Cleaning your Fish Tank

It only takes less than 10 minutes to clean a fish tank. Anyone can do it. Kids, above the age of 4, can start earning allowance by having the glorious duty of cleaning the tank.

The night before you will want to take a clean water jug and fill it with water. Leave it on the kitchen counter overnight. This is to ensure that the water has time to adapt to room temperature. Filling the tank with brand new water, without letting it adapt to room temperature can shock your fish when they are dumped in the water. This can cause an early death.

Take a fish net and scoop up your fish one at a time. You don’t want to scoop more than one at a time, because they can get stuck in the net. It is easier and less of a hazard if you scoop one at a time. Make sure to have a bowl of water on hand, so you have a place to put the fish in for the duration of the cleaning process.

After the fish are out, the next step is to place a strainer in the bottom of your sink. Dump the pebbles and water into the strainer. Run cool water over the pebbles. Take your hands and mix up the pebbles, as if you are mixing a salad. Clean the pebbles under the running water until the slippery grime feeling is gone. If you notice that after you clean them and the pebbles still feel grimy, than you might want to replace the pebbles with new ones.  Make sure to clean all decorations in the tank as well. Always use plain regular water. Never use soap and water. The ingredients in the soap could be harmful to the fish.  Wipe the sides and bottom of the tank with your hands. Using a towel or rag could leave bacteria behind and kill the fish.

Finally, once the fish tank is clean you can now place the fish gently back into their tank.

Make sure to feed your fish twice a day. Fish food can be purchased at your local retailer for $5.95 or less. Flakes are easier to dissolve in water. Some even help the life of your fish.

Don’t underestimate the quality of having a fish. A lot of people see fish as boring because all they do Is swim in a tank. You can teach your fish to follow your finger across the glass. You can create a beautiful array and assortment of fish. The possibilities are endless.