Ion Razor

How to clean a very dirty fish Tank

Sometimes, despite their efforts, life gets in the way and your tank is out of control. You start thinking that it would better to empty the whole thing, pull everything and start from scratch. It occurred to me before, believe me. But Stop! Before yielding to the temptation … if you overthrow lose any bacteria beneficial to have colonized your tank. Only if the tank is in very bad condition, it may be worth having to begin again.

Now, if you are with the necessity of having to clean a very dirty aquarium, you need a few tools. Believe it or not, you can do an excellent cleaning a dirty tank, and remain in good colonies of bacteria. It may take a little time and effort, but you will be rewarded with a fish aquarium sparkling and happy. So, get ready for battle.

These are your weapons:

• algae scraper or washing platform

• plastic razor blade (only use plastic in the acrylic tanks)

• The water siphon

• Bucket

Bleach •

• glass aquarium clean

• Media filter

• Brush Filter

• Paper towels

• Old Bath Towels

Works great to clean your aquarium in the following Order:

1. Inside the glass

2. Decorations

3. Gravel

4. Outside the glass and the hood

5. Filter

First, remove the fish and other creatures that live in your aquarium. Place in a container that is reserved only for using water fish removed from the tank. Be careful where you put them. Always good to have a bucket devoted exclusively to his fish tank, to carry the water when it changes, and in cases like this, to put his fish. Be sure to use a new cube. Buckets old may have residues of chemicals or detergents that can are transferred to your aquarium.

The inside of the cup

Take one of your pads wash and clean the algae inside the vessel. You can find many types of scrubbers of gases in the fish store. Some have handles, are just a few cushions. Some have magnets so that not even need to put their hands in the water because they work through the crystal, but these are better for maintaining do a thorough cleaning. As you can see the screens in the fish store that look like the ones you can get at the supermarket or in the kitchen, get the fish shop, NEVER use any other debugger. Regular purifiers may contain soap or chemicals will kill fish.

If you have any residue on the surface that resists cleansing, use a razor blade. If your tank is acrylic, sure to get a plastic razor blade, as a rule can scratch the acrylic.

Decorations

Remove any rocks, ornaments and artificial plants are covered with algae or dirty look.

Once again, NEVER use soap or detergents in these topics! Can be fatal to fish. Rub with your algae scrubber. This will eliminate most of the algae and dirt. If you have some particularly hard to clean stains, may also enjoy a bucket containing a solution of bleach to 10%. That the elements to soak for 15 minutes, then scrub off the stubborn stains. Rinse the decor very, very well with water and let air dry.

You might be surprised to learn that living plants also can be bleached, if necessary, with the exception of plants mother. Live plants must have a solution of 5% bleach in your bucket. Water plants only a few minutes 2 or 3. Rinse really well in running water.

The Gravel

Vacuum the gravel in the aquarium siphon your aquarium. You can get one that can connect directly to the kitchen faucet, the water trap, and use the same hose to fill up again. Gravel vacuum thoroughly until the debris and dirt is gone. I almost ran out of water and there's still plenty land, but I just pour more water in the trap until it is better.

The outside of the glass

Now is the time to clean the hood the lights, the top of the tank and the outside of the cup. Do not use regular glass cleaners … containing ammonia. If you're tempted to use cleaner lime, or any other commercial cleaner, stop! They are highly toxic to fish. Get a cleaner fish shop created just for this purpose or use vinegar. And remember, then rinse well, then rinse again! Even when you clean the outside of the glass has to be very careful, better not risk it.

Filter Cleaning

Now that you've done most of your tank, you can redecorate and put his feet back in the filter not clean yet … wait a few weeks. I know you can be in the middle of a cleaning binge now, but not touching the filter. Cleaning your tank is disturbed colonies of beneficial bacteria. Fortunately, also live in filter media. Cycling the new water through your filter will help to refill the tank. If the filter is cleaned at the same time cleaning his tank, which can cause a peak Ammonia can be lethal to fish.

Well, now is a couple of weeks later and it's time to clean the filter. You can not replace the filter media or do I clean it? Depending on the type of media you use, the answer may be different. If the filter is composed of ion exchange resins, coal or ammonia absorbers, if you replace the filter has been over three weeks. The media is exhausted by this time, and no longer provides the benefits than before. Mechanical filters, such as sponges, ceramic rings or fiber can be rinsed lightly to remove dirt and debris, leaving the bacteria somewhat intact. To protect the bacteria, the use of water in the same temperature as the tank and return the media back to the filter immediately.

You also Wipe out the pipe and other parts of the filter assembly. You can use a brush filter to remove sludge or waste that has accumulated in the cracks.

Create a maintenance program

Now that your tank is more beautiful, take a simple maintenance program so you do not have to spend all day doing a lot of cleaning again. Do partial water changes every two weeks, remove the algae on the glass and the decoration of each week, or as soon as you see it. That's where the magnets are useful. Make cleaning the filter every month, as described above. You can also keep their fishing nets in great condition after then soaking in a bleach solution and rinse them extra and keep them clean. Your aquarium will become your new pride and joy and you enjoy your fish once again.

To read more about keeping an aquarium in your home, visit me at http://www.thefishtankplace.com

About the Author

Rebeca has been interested in animals and Feng Shui for many years and now she wants to share her knowledge of these subjects with people in a very light and personal way. Feng Shui has improved her life in many ways, and her cats and dogs, and the fish that came as a part of her passion for Feng Shui, are now a very important part of her, and she’s very happy to share her experiences with everybody.

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