How to Keep a Fish Tank Clean- And Why It’s Important

Keeping a fish tank clean isn’t just for its aesthetics’ sake. Sure, scrubbing the algae off the glass will make the aquarium look easy on the eyes, but there are multiple reasons to why a fish tank needs to be clean. One of the biggest reasons is that when leftover food and fish wastes aren’t taken care of, they will be broken down into ammonia and nitrites which are toxic to fish. 

In this article, I’ll give some tips on how you can keep your fish tank clean so that your fish live healthily, and you can admire your fish tank with peace in mind!

Image by cuncon via Pixabay

Choosing the right filter

To my surprise, many fish keepers can’t differentiate the types of filters on the market. There are three types of filters: biological, chemical, and mechanical. 

Biological filters convert ammonia and nitrite into nitrate (which is less toxic to fish) using bacteria. Mechanical filters remove waste materials before they decay, and chemical filters remove dissolved waste products from water. Some systems combine different forms of filtration with success. 

The best fish tank filter is the one that’s the appropriate size for your tank and fulfills your fish’s needs. This list of top-rated aquarium filters will narrow your scope!

Consider aquatic plants

You might think that having a bare-boned glass aquarium would mean less cleanup, but that’s not always the case. Aquatic plants are a welcomed addition. They provide the environment with oxygen, look amazing, and your fish will appreciate the extra hide-outs! 

They are also bad news for the pesky algae too. Aquatic plants require much of the same nutrients’ algae need to survive. With respect to algae, plants are much more effective at competing for light. This hinders the growth of algae, and ultimately plants get more of the nutritional prize, leaving very little left for algae.

Cutting down on the light

Aquarium lighting contributes a lot to your fish tank’s visual appeal, but it also contributes to algae growth. Just like plants, algae photosynthesize to create their own food and grow. This is worse when there are excess nutrients in the tank. 

You might be thinking “what about plants? Don’t they need 12 hours of light?”. Much of this is true, but not all plants are the same. In fact, there are great low-light aquarium plants out there that even beginners can get their hands experimenting with that don’t require the same light demands.

Jason from Prime Time Aquatics sets his aquarium lights on timers. The lights turn on for only two hours in the morning, and in the evening from 4 p.m. to midnight. He believes that this step is crucial in keeping his tanks clean and restricting excessive algal growth.

Biweekly water changes and vacuuming

Some hobbyists prefer performing a 25% water change every two weeks because it is a time-saving option. However, if you choose this route, be sure to remove solid waste products such as feces and uneaten food in the substrate using a gravel vacuum!