How to Clean a Saltwater Aquariums

A saltwater aquarium requires a degree of commitment from the owner in order to stay clean, healthy and attractive to look at. fish tanks are available in a large range of styles and sizes, but maintenance and cleaning will be easier with a simpler setup. Online videos demonstrate the proper techniques to use. Any saltwater tank’s main cleaning issues will be food and debris settling down into the gravel or sand at the bottom, along with algae developing on the glass. The filters also require regular cleaning.

Before you start, gather up all the items you’ll need. If you want to remove your fish from your aquarium while you’re cleaning, you’ll need a large bucket or small, temporary tank to put them in. You won’t need to do this unless you have a very dirty or contaminated tank. If you do temporarily remove your fish from the tank, it’s suggested that you take out as much as a quarter of the water to remove some of the contaminants. The water you remove can be used in your temporary container for your fish to swim in while you’re cleaning.

Turn off the aquarium’s heater and let it cool before taking it out. This step will help you avoid breakage due to a sudden change in temperature. You’ll only need to do this if your heater has become dirty and cleaning it will help it run more efficiently. You can clean the inside of the glass in a couple of ways. A sponge with a long handle will work, but if the algae are bad, you can use a scraper if you’re careful not to scratch the glass. Use a siphon to remove debris and food particles from the substrate. Manual siphons and siphons with pumps attached can be purchased at the aquarium store. If you’re a newbie, ask an employee to explain how to use the one you buy. Once you start up the siphon, push the large tube into the substrate and give it a slight wiggle. This technique will stir up the debris, which will then be sucked up through the siphon and into the container you’re using to hold the dirty water. Be careful not to siphon up any of the creatures living in your tank.

Lift and re-insert the siphon into various areas of the substrate until most of the tank’s bottom has been cleaned. If your aquarium isn’t too large, you can temporarily remove your decorations and rocks to give yourself better access to the substrate. Just replace them after you’ve cleaned that area. This is also a good time to rearrange things if you wish, although you should be careful to avoid disturbing the roots of any plants in your tank.

Once the tank is cleaned, the next step is to clean the filters. Take out the foam pads and clean with unchlorinated water and replace. The removal up to 25% of the tanks water is a fast and efficient way to reduce the contaminants in the aquarium. When refilling the salt water tank, make sure the fresh water is unchlorinated, is approximately the same temperature as the existing aquarium water and has the appropriate salt content. Mix the salt thoroughly and use a tester to make sure the salt density measures 1.025. Add this warm mixture to the aquarium slowly so that the environment is not disturbed and that none of the fish get stressed.

Maintenance of salt water aquariums should only take 1 to 1 1/2 hrs every 1-2 weeks. Keep a close watch for sickness or sluggishness of the fish and separate any that show signs of sickness as soon as possible to keep the rest of the fish healthy. Basic foam brushing of the glass and filter will reduce the frequency that major cleaning is needed. If there is a lot of food on the bottom of the tank/aquarium then cut back on the amount of food given. Fish do not eat large quantities but prefer small amounts a bit more frequently. Larger and more diverse salt water aquariums such as “reef” aquariums require much more sophisticated filtration systems and serious cleaning of these may require hiring a professional. Regular maintenance is well worth the effort by keeping the inhabitants of the aquarium healthy, vibrant and a joy to watch.

About the author:
John Wilson is an avid aquarist with many years of experience in keeping tropical fish. He maintains many aquariums full of the rarest tropical fish in the world.
Fish disease – Fin rot

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