How to clean the aquarium. Step-by-step process of cleaning an aquarium with fish at home. Step-by-step cleaning of the aquarium at home: instructions

The aquarium is an artificial reservoir designed for breeding and keeping various types of fish and plants in it. Therefore, in this article we will teach you how to clean an aquarium at home without resorting to the services of a specialist.

The aquarium must be looked after

1. Watching the life of swimming fish at home is very exciting: sometimes home video shooting of your pets effectively helps relieve stress even in a difficult situation at work;
2. To create favorable conditions for aquarium fish, you need to purchase special equipment that will provide maximum comfort for the living and development of your freshwater.

Undoubtedly, the mandatory and most important aspect will be cleaning the aquarium at home, which is necessary for good life and reproduction of your decorative pets.

Let's now figure out how to do it right.

You should remember that small aquariums are much more difficult to clean, as their biological balance is less stable.

So, for a start we’ll think about how to choose a new aquarium and properly equip it.

The most suitable volume for home conditions is 50 liters, but it is worth noting that it all depends on how many types and types of fish you inhabit.

Please note that the stones and algae that you will decorate the reservoir occupy a certain part of the space, and at the bottom of the artificial reservoir must also have special soil.

Of the equipment, an aquarium with fish should be equipped with the following vital attributes:

There are special scrapers for cleaning the walls of the aquarium

• pump or filter for an aquarium
• water heater
• backlight

Water for the aquarium plays an equally important role. Do not neglect its quality, it is on this that a good habitat for your fish depends.

Care sequence

First, let’s tell you how the aquarium is cleaned.

Periodic maintenance of the artificial pond is an emotional excitement for its residents, therefore try not to frighten decorative fish with sudden hand movements.

The question arises: how often to clean your aquarium so as not to harm the fish with unnecessary anxiety?

First drain some of the water

Caring for it on average once or twice a week, depending on the volume, as well as the population density.

When carrying out this procedure, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

• we wash the walls from green plaque
• carefully process decorative pebbles
• we trim aquatic plants (if any)
• clean the soil with a siphon
• drain part of the water

Before cleaning the aquarium, you should remember an important rule: you must turn off all electrical equipment in order to avoid accidents.

We clean the walls

First of all, we will consider how to clean the walls of the aquarium.

Be sure to turn off all electrical equipment!

Absolutely in any aquarium, a plaque is formed over time, both calcareous - from poor-quality water, and green - in the presence of algae. It is with such, not very pleasant factors, we will encounter sooner or later. Internal pollution makes the glass and water cloudy, and as a result - unsuitable for the lives of your pets.

First you need to thoroughly wash the aquarium glass.

What is needed for this

First of all, you need to learn how to properly clean the aquarium, because the appearance of the fish house completely and completely depends on it.

This can be done using the following devices:

• special scrapers with a metal blade
• nylon washcloths
• ordinary kitchen sponges

Let us tell you a little secret: “You do not need to wait until the walls are covered with a cloudy coating.”

Periodicity

Make it a rule to wipe the glass of the aquarium at least once a week, even if it seems clean at first glance. This procedure is much simpler than washing cloudy glass two to three weeks ago.

• If you decide to clean the walls of the aquarium without taking out its inhabitants, then the use of any detergents is strictly prohibited.
• If you have planned planned cleaning with the relocation of its residents, then for this you can use a special washing sample of potassium permanganate solution.

It is with the help of these rules that you can easily wash a coating of almost any complexity.

Aquarium bottom care

The first cleaning after the start of the aquarium should be carried out no earlier than a month later, since the first time the fish adapt to new living conditions.

Such a procedure as cleaning the soil in the aquarium is not always carried out, but plays one of the important roles.

We do this with a hose or a special siphon. With the end of the hose or siphon tube we drive along the bottom, occasionally we penetrate into the ground. Through the other end of the hose all unnecessary contamination will come out. Be very careful, because without noticing, you can accidentally drag some living creatures into the cleaning siphon. More often this procedure is carried out in the presence of fish, while the water may remain a little unclear.

In this case, the logical question is ripening: how to clean the soil in the aquarium to get crystal clear water?

• First, we need to temporarily relocate the fish, after which we get all the soil and thoroughly rinse it under running water, without using any means.

This procedure is repeated twice.

• Next, we take the brushed soil and put it on the bottom of the fish house.

The process is quite time-consuming, but you have to resort to such cleaning only once - twice a year.

Filter cleaning

Most aquariums are equipped with a special filtration system. In order for the device to work without interruptions, it is necessary to study in detail how to clean the aquarium filter, without damaging its integrity.

In the process of working with the filter, you need to understand how to clean the internal filter material.

Inside it is a special “sponge” that provides biofiltration of water.

This procedure is performed once every two to three months. If the water in the aquarium sways intermittently, then by cleaning the filter, we facilitate its saturation with oxygen.

• As for the external parts, they can easily be washed with a regular toothbrush.

Since cleaning the filter in the aquarium with chemical detergents is not a good idea, we recommend using ordinary running water or, in extreme cases, warm and boiled water.

Water bay

Having previously cleared all the details of the artificial reservoir, we begin to fill it with water.

It is worth noting that tap water will not benefit your fish, as it contains a large amount of impurities. To improve the quality of the water will help to uphold it (at least three days).

Pouring water into the aquarium, at the bottom of which there is already soil, is not so simple.

1. To simplify this process, a flat plate will help you, having laid which, we will protect the soil from deformation;
2. Pour water slowly, in a thin stream.
3. From time to time it is worth pouring the settled water into the aquarium, as it has the property to evaporate.

After filling the aquarium with water, install all the necessary equipment and connect it to the network.

Fish - helpers

Put assistants in the aquarium

In nature, there are species of fish that not only have a bright color, but also really benefit - these are aquarium orderlies. The group of such unique fish includes swordsmen, guppies and pecilia.

Nature endowed the unusual inhabitants of the aquatic environment with a special structure of the mouth. The lower part of the jaw is interestingly arranged and resembles the shape of a scraper. Thanks to its jaw, the fish can clean the walls of the aquarium.

A distinctive feature of fish called ancistruses and armored catfish, is their mouth, which resembles a sucker. With the help of the mouth, the fish attach to the walls of their home and naturally clean it.

Such residents will be wonderful assistants in the care of the artificial environment.

Now you know exactly how to properly wash the aquarium without causing any harm to its inhabitants.

A clean aquarium is the key to the well-being and longevity of your fish, so do not neglect the timely care of it.

Dr. Elliot, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and the treatment of companion animals. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. He has been working in the same animal clinic in his hometown for over 20 years.

Number of sources used in this article:. You will find their list at the bottom of the page.

Is your small aquarium dirty? Small are considered aquariums with a volume of not more than 40 liters. Since small aquariums often lack a filter, they need to be cleaned more often than larger aquariums. To clean a small aquarium, remove fish from it, clean the aquarium and decorations, and then fill it with fresh water. Clean the aquarium once every two weeks to maintain the health and well-being of the fish living in it.

Steps

Part 1

Get ready to clean your aquarium

Schedule aquarium cleaning.  In small aquariums, at least half of the water needs to be changed at least twice a week, or better every other day. If you do not add a significant amount of fresh water (and do not do it often enough), the aquarium environment is destabilized, which can jeopardize the health and even life of the fish. Thus, it is necessary to schedule water replacement and cleaning the aquarium. Every two weeks, carry out a thorough cleaning, in which you should remove the scenery from the aquarium and scrape off algae and dirt from the walls and bottom.

Collect everything you need to clean the aquarium. Make a list of everything you need so you don’t forget anything. Work will go faster if everything is at hand. Most items can be purchased at the pet store or hardware store. Use the following list as an example:

• 2 nets with a net;
• temporary aquarium or other container;
• a sufficient amount of fresh water;
• a pad for cleaning algae;
• new toothbrush;
• 2 large buckets (volume 20-40 liters);
• device for cleaning gravel;
• siphon;
• air conditioning for water;
• a special cleaning agent for aquariums or a solution based on vinegar;
• clean rag;
• towel.

1. Prepare your workplace.  In order not to splash water on the floor, lay a tarp or towels on it. In this case, the aquarium should remain in place. Do not move the aquarium or carry it into the sink. Shaking can cause stress in the fish, and dirt will rise from the bottom of the aquarium and stir up the water.

   Dress appropriately.  Wear a T-shirt or short-sleeved shirt. You can also change into a bathing suit or cover your clothes with an apron. Use shoes that are not afraid to get wet, such as flip flops or old slippers.

   Unplug electrical devices.  If an aerator, filter, or heater is used in the aquarium, unplug them. Do not turn off the external lighting of the aquarium. Place the lamps behind the aquarium so that they illuminate it properly.

   Pour some water from the aquarium into a temporary aquarium or other container.  This is necessary so that when moving to a temporary tank, the fish experience less stress. Check that the temporary container is clean and free of soap residues. If you are unsure of its cleanliness, treat it with aquarium cleaner or vinegar based solution.

   Get the inhabitants of the aquarium using a net with a net.  Be careful and discreet. You can use two nets to drive the fish into the second one. Move the fish to the temporary tank into which you poured water from the aquarium. Never place the fish in ordinary tap water. Make sure that the fish do not jump out of the temporary aquarium. Cover it with a lid.

   Remove the scenery (algae, stones, etc.) from the aquarium. Although there is no need to remove the decorations every time you change the water, you should remove them from the aquarium when cleaning. Lay the decorations on a towel and wash them with clean room temperature water. In this case, you can use a pad to clean from algae or a new toothbrush. Do not use soap or other detergent. Soap is toxic and deadly to fish. If the scenery is heavily overgrown with algae, consider changing the way you feed your fish or take care of your aquarium.

   Place a bucket of 20 to 40 liters in a row.  Place a bucket below the aquarium to pour old water into it. If possible, place the bucket on the floor or chair. The main thing is that it is in a stable position near the aquarium. It is best to purchase a new bucket and use it exclusively to clean the aquarium. Residues of soap and other detergents can harm fish.

   Pour old water over the siphon.  Pour half of the water from the aquarium at a time. A small hose with a diameter of 1 centimeter and a length of 1.2-1.5 meters is suitable as a siphon. Slowly lower the entire hose into the aquarium and make sure all air has escaped. Then plug one end of the hose with your finger and remove this end from the aquarium. The other end of the hose should remain in the water. Dip the end of the hose into the bucket with your finger. Remove your finger, after which water will flow into the bucket. Slowly pour the water into the bucket.

   Blow out gravel to remove dirt from it.  While water is being poured through a siphon into a bucket, blow gravel with a water siphon to remove fish waste and food debris from it. The device for cleaning the aquarium soil is a rigid plastic tube with a diameter of 5 centimeters connected to a siphon. A stream of water exiting the siphon washes away dirt and solid debris.

   Clean the outside of the aquarium.  Wipe the walls of the aquarium from the outside. Use vinegar based solution or purchase aquarium cleaner. After that, wipe the outside of the aquarium with a clean towel. An organic cotton towel without bleach can be used.

Part 3

Return its contents to the aquarium

Return the scenery to the aquarium.  After cleaning the aquarium, decorations can be re-placed in it. Add gravel if necessary. You can also add new scenery.

Treat the water with air conditioning. Before filling the aquarium with new water, you must treat the tap water with a water conditioner. Try to find a conditioner that neutralizes chlorine, chloramine, ammonia and other harmful substances. It is necessary to purify water from chlorine. Use a clean bucket for this.

HOW TO WASH AQUARIUM CORRECTLY?

In this topic, I will try to briefly describe the process of general cleaning of the aquarium world. This is not a tricky thing !!! But before this event, I think, it will not be out of place to find out: how to do it correctly, find out how often you need to wash the aquarium, what to wash, the sequence of actions, etc.

You need to start the conversation with the fact that there is a big difference between washing the aquarium when buying it and the planned cleaning of an already installed aquarium or in case of emergency. Therefore, we divide the article into these three components.

Washing and cleaning a new - purchased aquarium

Before installing and populating a new aquarium, it is imperative to rinse it or at least rinse it. This is due to the fact that, like any product - the aquarium does not know where it was before the purchase, it is not known who touched it and what happened to it.

To do this, we carry the aquarium into the bath. I recommend that you prepare the place in advance: prepare clean rags or towels, prepare the surface where you can put the washed aquarium, sponge and soda. The fact is that even a small aquarium is a rather weighty, glassy clumsy thing, and when it gets wet, in addition to everything, it also becomes slippery. In this state, the aquarium is not very convenient to turn over, raise, carry out other manipulations.

Having prepared everything, we put the aquarium in the bath and rinse it, preferably with hot water. We take baking soda and a kitchen sponge for washing dishes and carefully, but gently wash the aquarium with soda (like cans before sunset).

Well, then you should rinse everything thoroughly several times. If the aquarium allows, then gently turn it on its side and flush everything with a shower spray.

  VERY IMPORTANT!!! REMOVE EVERYTHING AS MUCH CAREFULLY AND MAKE SURE IN THE ABSENCE OF RESIDUES OF SODA

After we take out the aquarium from the bath and place it on a previously prepared surface, I recommend using hooks or towels at the same time so that the aquarium does not slip out of hands. You may need help from a second person.

And now, the aquarium is ready for further installation, which you can read about HERE.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVICE:

The aquarium can be washed and cleaned with any chemistry: soap, domestos, comet. However, you should understand that the more "vigorous" the chemistry, the more difficult it is to wash. Residues of chemistry are not permissible. Since the new aquarium does not need to be thoroughly cleaned, it is not worth washing it several times and “lathering” with various cleaning products.

At the same time as the new aquarium, rinse immediately the soil and decor you bought. Thus, you will facilitate your work. Soil and decor are washed with hot water or boiled over with boiling water. You can add a little liquid soap and rinse with it. At the same time, the lapped soil is thoroughly washed !!! It should be noted that in this article under the ground I understand quartz, gravel, sand, and other "colored crumbs." Special substrates do not need to be washed.

If you are the owner of a new large aquarium, then all of the above manipulations are carried out at the installation site. In this case, the flush is pumped out with a hose, it is better not to use chemistry.

Scheduled cleaning and washing the aquarium

  The planned and global cleaning of the aquarium is carried out by experienced aquarists. Perhaps the most important question here is how often do you need to do it? I hasten to happily inform you that often you do not need to completely wash the aquarium. This cleaning is carried out approximately every 5 years. This period is purely individual and depends on the number of fish and plants in the aquarium.

Scheduled cleaning of the aquarium is carried out more thoroughly than washing a new aquarium. Such an aquarium is washed with chemistry several times, growths are mechanically removed and clumped, the aquarium is subjected to heat treatment. After washing, it is advisable to put such an aquarium at least for a day to dry.

Washing and cleaning the aquarium in emergency situations - after illness and treatment of fish

Aquarium disinfection

Unfortunately, it happens that an infection gets into the aquarium. As a result, the fish get sick and need treatment, and the aquarium needs total disinfection.

In such cases, a simple washing is not enough. Infectious aquariums are poured for a day with disinfectants to the brim. The easiest way to fill the aquarium with bleach or other household disinfectants. Pay attention - with DISINFECTANTS !!! Not all household chemicals have disinfecting properties, read the instructions for the tool.

In addition, all aquarium equipment is subjected to heat treatment - boiling.

Since some people in the "Aquarium Wash" put the concept of weekly cleaning of the aquarium, we will highlight this issue.

Wash and clean your aquarium weekly

When cleaning the aquarium weekly, the following procedure should be strictly followed:

1. Get equipment: filter, aeration, temperature controller. Everything is washed, laid aside.

2. If necessary, care and cutting of plants is carried out.

3. Clean the walls of the aquarium. Sponge or special wiper blades.

4. If necessary, the siphon soil. You do not need to clean the soil weekly, especially if there are live plants in the aquarium.

5. Only after this the water is replaced: the old water is discharged and freshly settled water is added.

6. The cleaned equipment is installed back.

Do not forget to wipe the aquarium cover and lamps from the inside at least once a month.

After all the manipulations, the aquarium is wiped with a dry cloth, stains can be removed with a window cleaner.

Observing the simple rules listed above, the process of washing the aquarium will not be difficult and tedious, and the result will be as effective as possible.

Useful video on how to clean and wash the aquarium

How to wash an aquarium with fish

When caring for fish in the aquarium, you periodically have to face a problem - how to clean the aquarium at home. Regardless of whether it is large or small, plaque in the form of algae and organics accumulates on its walls, water becomes cloudy. To do the cleaning properly, it is necessary to observe a number of requirements so that the life of the fish at this time is safe.

Aquarium after the "launch"

The first months after the "launch" of the aquarium, it is necessary to monitor the state of its cleanliness, removing the remains of rotten food and decorations. Once a week, you need to replace the water with clean and infused, but not completely change. If the aquarium lives correctly, then biological equilibrium will be established in it, the water will become transparent with a yellowish tint. When this happened, you can do the first cleaning.

What do you need

The first thing to do is to collect materials for cleaning the aquarium. To make it shine with purity, it is necessary to prepare:

• A clean bucket or large bowl;
• Algae scraper;
• Siphon with hose and gravel vacuumator.

Training

Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare new water. For replacement, it will be necessary to remove stagnant water from the tank (20-30% of the total volume). If you contain sea fish, prepare the correct proportions of sea salt for water. Make sure that the new water is free of chlorine, organic matter and other harmful impurities. An important rule is that water is considered to be infused if chlorine has eroded from it for several days. Other indicators of water (hardness, alkalinity, acidity) can be checked by a litmus indicator, the water temperature - with a thermometer specially designed for this purpose. Typically, the water is infused for 48 hours, then it can be considered free from the minerals contained in tap water. 2 hours before washing and 2 hours after it, it is undesirable to give fish food.

Use a new bucket or bowl to clean the aquarium, not the ones that were designed to clean the floors. Chemicals that are part of soap or household chemicals remain on used items. They are fatal to the life of fish. Make sure your hands are clean and free of soap or lotion. Do not forget to turn off the filter and disconnect it from the aquarium, disconnect other electrical appliances before cleaning.

Cleaning steps

Once you have done everything to clean the aquarium, you can pour clean water into it, or use a siphon hose to pump water from a bucket or bowl. Connect the heating and lighting.

Filter cleaning

What to do if you cannot wash the filter at the same time when cleaning the rest of the aquarium? It is impossible to clean the filter immediately with all decorations and water, it can be harmful to all fish and plants due to a sharp change in the balance of the aquatic environment. Two or three times a month, the filter can be disassembled on its own and brushed with a toothbrush. But it is correct to clean the filter in such a way that is indicated in the instructions for its use.

See how to clean the internal aquarium filter.

Keep the aquarium clean

In order to maintain the ability to see fish through glass, you should wash the aquarium about once every 1-2 weeks. You can prevent the formation of large algae and organics formed as a result of the vital activity of fish. Some algae and non-decayed organics are removed using the "orderlies" of the aquarium - catfish or snails. Of course, this will depend on the conditions of your aquarium and how many fish already live in it.

From the first minute when you have an aquarium, you became the owner of a mysterious glass house. And you just need to know how to properly and how often you need to wash the aquarium. And then, as a token of gratitude for the love and care of his tenants will thank you, attracting your eyes, charming and reassuring.

How to wash the aquarium before starting?

Before washing a new aquarium before starting, it should stand for several hours at room temperature so that the smell of silicone disappears. This will protect the glass in the cold season when washing from cracking. Then wash the aquarium with warm water, using a small amount of baking soda. Only half the right amount of water is poured. Plants, interior, rocks are set. After a day, add the rest of the water 3-5 cm from the edge. If the water does not run away, after a few days it is drained and a new one is poured. The first one or two months to create biological equilibrium, the water is not replaced, they watch the fish, watch the leaves. Scissors remove leaves that have turned yellow or rotten. It must be remembered that bush plants should not be touched for six months after transplantation.

Periodic cleaning of the aquarium

During normal cleaning of the aquarium, fish are not caught. Cleaning includes rinsing with turbine running water, glass cleaning, replacing 1/5 of the amount of water.

When restarting, fish are caught and water is drained. The algae are washed with running water, wiping the leaves between the fingers.

They clean the filter from mucus and dirt using a toothbrush and cotton swabs. The filter should work around the clock. Low flow - a signal to clean the filter.

Aquarium glasses can be washed with a soda solution with a special scraper, which cleans them of plaque. Instead of soda, they use special products that are sold in stores. And instead of a scraper, a capron or a sponge for washing dishes. Washed all the decor, stones and shells.

Soil that acidifies from fish excrement and uneaten feed is siphoned. Instead of a siphon, use a hose with a watering can at the end of the tube. The hose is 30% longer than the double height of the aquarium, and its diameter is 10 or 15 mm. The end of the hose that needs to be pressed against the ground with a watering can, and through the other end of the hose, suck in water and direct a stream of water into the bucket.   So rearranging the funnel, we clear the soil of dirt.

In case of infection, the soil is washed, using a strainer, in small portions. Fresh water is added and boiled ½ hours. Before laying in the aquarium, cool and rinse again. It is recommended to clean the soil once every 2-3 weeks.

After cleaning the aquarium, fill in part of the water, return the pebbles, shells, decor, plants. Add water and start the fish. Replace 1/5 of the water in the aquarium is recommended once a week. In an aquarium, the volume of which is more than 200 liters, once every two weeks, and in small aquariums twice a week. Use only filtered or settled water.

How to clean aquarium glass :: cleaning aquarium glass :: Equipment and accessories

Aquarium is not only a magical world of ornamental fish, snails and algae, it is an integral part of most modern interiors. And for the aquarium to please its owner with beauty and sophistication for a long time, it is necessary to maintain certain conditions in it with the help of various compressors and filters, special lighting and a water supply system. In addition, timely and proper cleaning of the aquarium is a prerequisite for its maintenance.

Instruction manual

1. Over time, the glass walls of any aquarium become covered with a greenish or brownish coating of microalgae and bacterial mucus. Naturally, because of this raid, the inhabitants of the aquarium become completely invisible. Brownish mucus on the glass of the aquarium appears as a result of insufficient lighting, and greenish - due to excess.

2. It is not necessary to clean all the walls of the aquarium if plaque on them does not interfere with the view. It is enough to limit yourself to a thorough cleaning of the front sight glass.

3. If plaque forms on the glass of an aquarium with fresh water, it is easy to rinse off with a clean foam sponge. Only this should be done very carefully to prevent the appearance of bacterial turbidity.

4. Without rushing, firmly pressing the sponge to the glass, you should lead it down to the ground. Also, slowly, without taking the sponge from the aquarium, it is necessary to lead it up. As a result of such actions, a clear transparent path should remain on the glass.

6. Glass in an aquarium with old water should be cleaned with a special scraper, which can be purchased at any pet store. Distinguish between magnetic and sponge scrapers.

7. The magnetic scraper for cleaning the glass of the aquarium consists of two halves. One of them is placed in water. The other part at this time pulls the scraper through the glass outside. Using this device, you can leave the hands of the owner of the aquarium when cleaning dry.

8. For shallow aquariums, sponge scrapers with a wooden handle are ideal. They perfectly clean the glass, without leaving scratches and stains on it.

9. Cleaning the glass of the aquarium is not only possible with the help of special tools. In nature, there are such fish and algae that, no worse than various devices, clean small impurities on the glass. You can learn more about such assistants from sellers of specialized stores.

10. Every aquarist who cares about the beauty of his home interior and the health of the inhabitants of the underwater world should regularly clean the glass of the aquarium, because the thinner the coating, the easier it is to get rid of it.

Proper care for the fish living in your aquarium at home means not only nutrition, lighting, flora, but also timely thorough cleaning of the walls of the aquarium. Follow the recommendations and you will always be satisfied with the state of the water corner of nature.

Instruction manual

1. On the walls of the aquarium, especially in its upper part, lime deposits usually always accumulate. And often there are so many of them that a simple brush and hot water will no longer help. Better take a blade or razor. This machine is very convenient to clean plaque. It is clear that such cleaning should be carried out in the absence of the inhabitants of the aquarium.

2. Try this way. Take a small rag and table salt. Thanks to them, you cleanse plaque from algae. With intense mechanical movements, simply remove unwanted dirt.

3. Buy in a hardware store a hard washcloth for washing dishes, preferably metal. Take a washcloth on the walls of the aquarium, plaque and deposits quickly cleaned. But there are some disadvantages. Glass can be scratched and defects will spoil the appearance of the aquarium.

4. Purchase a special scraper (wiper) for the aquarium, it delicately cleans the glass surface. His price is quite affordable.

5. Drain the aquarium completely. Dampen a sponge or napkin in table vinegar and rub the inside. This method is effective, most importantly, after such a procedure, thoroughly rinse the aquarium.

6. The thinner the coating, the less you will have to sweat when cleaning it. Do not start the aquarium so that then, unable to cope with severe pollution, throw it away. The most difficult to clean plexiglass aquariums. Be very careful during the cleaning procedure, do not scratch the walls.

7. Wash the walls of the aquarium at least once a month, both inside and out. Do not use household cleaners or fine sand that are harmful to the inhabitants of the aquarium. Monitor pollution regularly.

8. Keep the inside walls of the aquarium clean will help sucker fish and snails.

Related videos

Try softening the water and you won’t have to clean the walls of the aquarium very often.

Related videos

How to clean and wash the aquarium filter

How to clean the aquarium filter?  Cleaning the aquarium filter and aeration is not such a difficult task. Nevertheless, I believe that the aquarium site should have some visual aid for cleaning this unit. Modern aquarium filtration and aeration systems, regardless of the brand of the manufacturer and the estimated volume, are identical and similar to each other. In this article, for clarity, we will clean the filter from ATAN, in the same way you can clean similar Aquael filters and others. Before starting the briefing, I would like to draw the reader's attention that cleaning the aquarium filter can be divided into two types:

Cleaning the filter elements;

And complete cleaning, that is, cleaning of both filter and mechanical elements;

Cleaning of the filter elements is carried out regularly and as they become clogged, but full cleaning is recommended only in cases where colonies of microorganisms, etc. interfere with the normal operation of the equipment.

It should be borne in mind that cleaning the aquarium filter to sterile cleanliness is not worth it - this will kill the beneficial bacteria colonies, which also participate in the biological cleaning of the aquarium water and help maintain biobalance in the aquarium.

Have you ever wondered why there are usually two filtering sponges in the filter, and not one? It is in order to rinse one sponge and leave the other for the quickest reproduction of a useful colony of bacteria throughout the filter.

When I just started doing aquarium work, they often told me at the pet store: do not wash the filter in hot water, do not use soap and other detergents! At that time, I did not understand the essence of the advice - I dismissed it, which I later regretted. Since at the time, the aquarium was covered with incomprehensible white turbidity, mucus and other ficaks, which apparently indicated a violation of the bio-balance in the aquarium. Actually for the same reason, aquarium gurus always say that old water is always better than fresh and too frequent or illiterate replacement of aquarium water with fresh one also leads to a violation of bio-balance.
  From the above, one can deduce the following rules that must be observed when leaving and washing the aquarium filter: - CLEAN THE FILTER NEEDED AS NECESSARY. Try to wash the filtration and aeration as little as possible. The timing and frequency are purely individual and depend on many factors. I try not to wash the filter and aeration until it completely clogs.

DO NOT CLEAN THE FILTER AND FILTERS WITH SOAP AND OTHER WASHING PRODUCTS. This will completely kill the flora formed in the filter. It should also not be done in hot water.

DO NOT "STERILIZE" FILTER; leave at least some bacteria. Well, now we start cleaning and washing the filter. To do this, get the filter and carry it into the bath

  We disassemble: disconnect the blocks with a filter element

  Main mechanical unit

  Filter Container

  Filter Element - Sponge

  Empty container, no sponge

  Disconnect the safety cap

  We disassemble the cap into two components

We see a motor with blades


  We get the motor by pulling it

  Disconnect the air intake adapter

  In the end we get such a picture

  We wash the filter element

  We wash containers

  My cap


  My filter motor

  We clean the inside of the mechanical block,
  you can use cotton buds


  We clean the air supply adapter,
  you can use a needle to clean the hole

  Having cleared everything, we collect the filter in the reverse order


  Install the filter in the aquarium, plug it into the network


  Good luck

Plaque in the aquarium, on the walls and stones: green, brown, brown, white, mucus in the aquarium!

All types of aquarium plaque.

  Green bloom in the aquarium,
  white plaque in the aquarium,

This article is devoted to such a problem of "aquarium hygiene" as plaque on the walls of the aquarium. So:

At first, plaque on aquarium walls or glass is not formed from the good life of the aquarium world - simply put, in your aquarium, something is wrong. And to eliminate any plaque on the walls of the aquarium, it is first necessary to restore balance of the aquarium environment. This is achieved by correct and regular cleaning of the aquarium, as well as the use of necessary preparations in case of deviation from the norm. It should be noted that excessive care: cleaning and changing aquarium water can also lead to adverse consequences. It’s difficult to give exact recommendations regarding this issue, as it all depends on: the volume of your aquarium, the types of fish, plants, the location of the aquarium, etc. In general, you should adhere to general recommendations - i.e. recommendations for weekly aquarium cleaning and equipment cleaning. I would recommend that you also remember that the "old" aquarium water is always better than fresh - do not overdo it with cleaning and changing the water. Remember the balance of plants and fish, never overload the aquarium, do not make a hostel out of it. In your arsenal should always be the primary means of response: aquarium coal, methylene blue or malachite green.

Secondly,  all types of plaque formed - “clouding of the aquarium walls”, is caused by various factors or pests. Actually, therefore, all raids can be conditionally divided by color: green raids in the aquarium (green-brown), white raids in the aquarium (whitish) or aquarium mucus.

How to deal with them? ... Simple enough!

Regarding green plaque  on the walls of the aquarium, which can also form on the aquarium decorations (artificial plants, stone). Such plaque is caused by excessive "water bloom" - the formation of an uncontrolled amount of algae. Such a raid is caused by the lack of care for the aquarium and, as a result, an excess of organic matter (ammonia decomposition products).

Remedy:  carry out cleaning in the aquarium, replace the aquarium water with fresh one, turn it off (do not turn on the backlight), intensify the filtering and aeration of the aquarium, in the pet store you can buy pills from “flowering” - from algae. Let me give you an example, one of them is TETRA tablets for algae control.

TetraAqua AlgoStop depo  - These are soluble tablets for controlling the development of algae. Effectively destroys various algae in freshwater aquariums, including black beard and blue-green algae, and also prevents their further growth.

Mode of application:  Tablets are laid on the ground in a place of free flow. The duration of the drug is 6 weeks, after which the tablets are removed from the water. Tablets contain a complex of substances that are gradually released into the water. The tablet does not dissolve completely, but retains its original shape. After 6 weeks, it ceases to excrete active substances and must be removed from the water. Slow dissolution of the drug in water allows you to use the active substances AlgoStop depot, over a long period of time. When used correctly, the drug does not harm aquarium fish and plants.

Dosage:For prevention: 1 tab. 50 liters water. To destroy filamentous algae: 1 tablet per 25 liters of water.

An article about other algae tetra pills is here!

The above drugs also cope with other types of algae brown plaque (diatoms), thread (green threads), black villi (black beard).

Aquarium: walls, decorations or equipment were covered with white coating - whitish mucus, what should I do?

The appearance of whitish mucus is a common problem in new aquariums. It occurs due to the excessive content of organic substances in water (PJ, dead organics). White plaque consists of numerous colonies of saprophytic bacteria, which actually feed on excess organics. These bacteria and mucus are harmless, do not harm aquatic organisms. But their presence is unpleasant to the eye and indicates a precarious biological balance in the aquarium. As a rule, mucus envelops natural driftwood (the place of the highest concentration of organic matter). Often, abundant colonies are observed on the walls of the aquarium in the place where the flow from the filter is directed - the bacteria “catch the sweets”, which delivers them a stream of water.

This mucus is removed simply - mechanically. Some aquarists advise ancistrus  or others orderliesthat will remove the mucus. But even without this, the plaque will disappear as soon as the biological balance is tuned. For this to happen faster, it is recommended to strengthen the filtration, reduce the amount of feed, that is, in every way contribute to the reduction and rapid oxidation of PDA. Of the aquarium preparations, you can offer to apply Tetra Bactozyme  and Tetra SafeStart, which will promote the growth of a colony of beneficial nitrifying bacteria and, consequently, reduce the concentration of poisons.

Dear Reader! Another, more complete article on this issue has been published on our site - Algae in the aquarium. Be sure to read it!

How to wash the walls of the aquarium from the inside? or how to clean them at all?

Victoria

1. 3 days before the start, infuse the tap water (so that the bleach evaporates)
  2. you need to catch fish with a net or net and place in a jar.
  3.then take out the waters, wash them and place them in jars of fish (so that the fish being in the jar do not die)
  4. rinse the filter
  5. take out all large things (shells, stones, pink decorations) from the aquarium
  if there is a feeding trough, it is also necessary to rinse thoroughly, because now it’s hot the sun's rays enter the aquarium and it “blooms” (that is, brown wood mold forms on the glass)
  6. Pour all the load water into the bathtub or sink.
  rinse stones through a colander or sieve. you can throw away old or dirty sand or stones, then buy in a new store and place in an aquarium (but store filler for the bottom needs to be washed)
  7. as I said there is dirt or “mold” on the walls of the aquarium; it must be washed with soap (special cleaning products are sold for all living things in the store), it’s better to rinse them, it’s better to wash the aquarium with a hard knife or a brush
  8. Rinse the aquarium from soap.
  9.In the clean aquarium, place the washed stones (soil or sand) with large things then.
  10. If there are short waters, fasten at the bottom also need to be fixed.
  11. Pour already PURE water into the aquarium.
  12.Place and turn on the compressor or filter.
  13.if you poured into the jar where there is all the time fish:
  a) pure water, it’s already worth the whole bottle with water and fish to be poured into the aquarium
  b) - dirty water from the aquarium, then you already need to substitute a net or sieve pouring dirty water through a sieve or net, it is necessary in a separate bowl or sink. that is, so that dirty water (from a dirty still not washed aquarium) does not get into a clean aquarium.
  14. If you have filtered and stagnated the water, you should not wait 24 hours to put the fish there (say that when the fish has been in the bank for a long time, it can go blind because the bank is round!
  15. After washing the aquarium, feed the fish.

Olga Sizova (Rumyantseva)

For these purposes, snails are launched into the aquarium, which live there. Crawling along the walls of the aquarium, these animals feed on what is deposited on these walls, thereby purifying both the water and the walls.

Peter Popov

In the beginning, so that a green coating does not form on the walls of the aquarium, it must be removed from exposure to direct sunlight and daylight. Then install a filter to clean the water, and to clean the walls you can use a simple blade or half of the blade, very well removes green plaque. Or special spatulas for cleaning glass.

Do not believe that snails will clean the walls of the aquarium. Everything will be divorced. There are special scrapers - on the one hand foam, on the other hard plastic with a spatula, but personally I prefer to clean with pieces of dampened cotton wool - very effective. And further. During the cleaning of the glass, significant turbidity appears, so I do this once a week when replacing part of the water. First, drain, then clean over the water, and lastly - under water. With a filter, the water will clean quickly - in 2-3 hours. And no chemical detergents!

Alexander

I completely agree with Vladimir Tolstov! It’s better to clean the walls every 4-5 days with ordinary cotton wool (it’s better to clean often if you start the aquarium, it will be very difficult to wash it from greens!) And no snails are needed! They are more, sorry, litter the aquarium than clean it! Better then, buy ancistruses (sticky catfish), so they can be said to more effectively clean the walls of the aqu. from greens. And no soda and especially SOAP !!! Well, how do you need to start the aquarium, that it is only washed with soap ?! And don’t have to plant fish anywhere if you just want to clean the walls of the aquarium. Fishes are usually planted when they do a general cleaning of the aquarium, for example, they clean all the soil. But this cannot be done often. Usually washed soil about once a year. And again about soap and soda. In no case!!! I’ll tell you a case: my friend once washed the aquarium with some kind of detergent (which I don’t remember anymore). Then, as usual, launched the fish. So they did not even live an hour with him, everyone died! So if you do not want anything to happen to yours, you should refuse detergents. And Vika wrote to you about the general cleaning of the aquarium. But I don’t understand why to buy new soil in the store if it can just be washed? I usually pour all the soil into a basin and wash it under the pressure of hot water. Just do not completely change the water in the aquarium. Only 15-20% per week. Well, this is probably all I can advise. Good luck

Elena Kirillova

I always use a blade, very fast and efficient. Without releasing water (I think it is necessary to change the water at least a month later), the filter will cope with plaque during the day (it may have to be washed several times - it depends on pollution). I clean the bottom with a special tube (sold at the pet store), the water drains to half, maybe a little more, the fish are not caught. Then I fill the aquarium with water from the filter. A snail is darkness, they multiply so quickly, it is very difficult to get rid of them later!

How often do you need to wash the aquarium? Small-40 liters. The fish there are 10 small, one medium catfish (8cm), one large (15)

In general, it is not so difficult to equip a new aquarium in a fit of enthusiasm. In the early days, it will even more or less correspond to your desires and ideas. And then, at first completely unnoticed, various changes will begin, some of which you will accept with pleasure, others - with chagrin. All animals and plants have one common property: they cannot remain in their original state, but are continuously changing. They live, which means that they interact with the environment (in our case, this is an aquarium) and, changing themselves, they constantly change their environment. It is necessary to ensure that all these processes take place in the direction we need, and for this we must look after the aquarium.
Impatience is the worst enemy of our aquarium, we talked about this before. Of course, everyone wants to quickly achieve their goal. It seems to you that the plants do not grow fast enough, and recently acquired fish grow tiringly slow. You get mineral salts to fertilize the plants and abundantly fertilize the soil in the aquarium. You hope to help the growth of plants and animals, but in fact violate those natural processes of development, as a result of which an aquarium that is faultless in purity and beauty can be obtained. Therefore: excess is always harmful! It’s bad if you constantly bother in your aquarium. You need to take care of him only to the extent that it is absolutely necessary. The less time and labor you spend on it, the better. Remember that any interference with the internal life of the aquarium can disrupt natural biological processes, disturb fish, and interfere with plant growth. The same applies to feeding. Excessive feeding is the cause of most disturbances in the life of the aquarium. Turbidity and spoilage of water, the development of algae, indigestion of fish and their diseases - all this can be the result of excessive, abundant feeding. In short, if something is wrong in your aquarium, then the reason should not be sought mainly in animals and plants, but primarily in yourself.
  Remember the most important thing - disturb the inhabitants of the aquarium as little as possible, limit yourself to only the necessary intervention in their life. And you also need to remember that if your aquarium farm consists of several aquariums, then for each you need to have your own inventory in order to exclude the possibility of introducing pathogenic microbes, algae, etc.
  Over time, you will learn how to properly care for the aquarium and realize that this does not require much more work and time than taking care of your flowers on the windowsill. But first you need to carefully study those instructions or instructions, call it what you want, which we give below.
  A few simple operations every day will save you from big troubles and sorrows, and your hostess (justly notice) will not be indignant at your constant fuss with water. Your intervention in the life of a well-functioning and functioning aquarium should be natural and inconspicuous.
The basic rule: it is better to perform several simple operations every day than a general cleaning every two months. The less and less you disturb animals and plants, the better they feel. The daily operations recommended by us cannot be considered an interference with the life of the aquarium. If, for some reason, his normal biological state is violated, then it is impossible to restore it without a general cleaning. In this case, you need to start from the very beginning - with the re-equipment of the aquarium, and you can imagine how difficult it is for fish and plants if such shakes are repeated every few weeks. With such general cleanings, not only unnecessary confusion and anxiety is created, but the owner of the aquarium itself risks, after two or three such cleanings, losing all interest in the aquarium, which, in his opinion, requires too much trouble. Joy

Vlad Elbakyan

Well, in theory, you can siphon the soil once a week, simultaneously changing a quarter of the volume of water ... But here I have almost two dozen aquariums at home, I myself am extremely lazy, so I just put good filters in them and when I remember, I only wash them. And siphon the soil ... Well, this is only as a last resort :)

* S * nika w

You wrote last time that your husband gave you 20 liters of aquas?
  In any case - too little for so many fish ...
  Remember one Rule - the smaller the bank, the more difficult it is to care for.
  Photo fish put)))

Homyachok

once a week to change 1/4 of the aquarium’s water, it is better to defend it, but you can also add an aquaseif from the tap. You immediately change the siphon (drive into Google and find out what it is). As soon as I change the water, I wipe the walls of the aquarium and that's it, nothing else needs to be done there

Nadia

Too many fish. Fish need from 1 liter of water per cm of body. So a big fish needs 15 liters and catfish 8 and small ones, at least 10 liters, total 33, taking into account the soil, weeds and interior items, your aquarium is barely enough. The complexity of keeping an aquarium is to create a closed ecosystem, so that all waste is absorbed by plants and plants grow, clean water. Then the aquarium can be washed and water changed once a year. The task is complicated by the fact that modern fish lovers do not have the opportunity to use fresh food, they buy dry food. Fish eat reluctantly and insufficiently dry food, they weaken, and they themselves are a source of infection

I wash 2 times a year. - during this time, plants grow too much, silty soil and stones with driftwood are overgrown with algae. In addition, I want a new design, arrange the plants in a different way, for example - in general, make a rearrangement ... But with such a number of fish it is very difficult to maintain the balance - I have 5 liters of water per 1 medium fish.

How often do I need to clean the aquarium? which food is better?

Elena Gabrielyan

It depends on which aquarium. If large (more than 200 - 300 liters) then they are completely cleaned in 7 - 10 years. as well as once every 7-10 days (if you have planted live plants then this period can be extended up to 3-4 weeks), the soil is thoroughly siphoned and 25-30 or 50% (look by volume) of water is replaced with freshly defended (large aquariums can be poured directly from under the tap without settling), the filter is washed once every 2-4 weeks (it all depends on the inhabitants and the density of planting), and the walls are cleaned with a clean new sponge for dishes or a special magnetic scraper.
  And of the best feeds, it’s certainly alive (but you need to be able to store it correctly), as well as freezing. This bloodworm, daphnia, combined, you can alternate them (i.e. do not feed monotonously the same), dry
  (I heard about them because she herself never fed them) these are chips.
  Fish is fed in this way: Adolescents 2 times a day, one hour after turning on the light in the aquarium and one hour before turning it off (all this can be adjusted at your discretion), adult fish 1 time (choose the time of feeding yourself and give as much food as possible for 2 for a maximum of 5 minutes, he was completely eaten by the fish without a rest. Soms are fed 10-15 minutes after all the other fish are full (I never do this myself, but I feed as well as everyone). 1 day a week must be unloading - fish are not fed.
  PS Lighting for the fish themselves is not required as such, although there are real children of the sun, but if live plants are planted then lighting is necessary, and it’s more pleasant for you to watch the fish if the aquarium is not dark.

anastasia

looking at some fish, here I have telescopes and cardinals, neons. We clean it once a week, at the expense of illumination — if the aquarium is well lit with daylight and there are no plants in the aquarium, then illumination is not necessary, but if you have living plants there, then you need illumination for grass growth. Usually they feed 2 times a day, morning and evening, but only a little. Usually they eat up food in about five minutes. If the feed remains, it is better to clean it, as it will deteriorate and the filter will clog quickly. Yes, and overfeeding fish inappropriately. Fish food

Yuri Balashov

Cleaning the aquarium completely - once every three to five years (depends on the experience of the aquarist); partially (walls and siphon of soil) - once every two to four weeks (depends on proper lighting and fish density); water change - weekly from 20% to 50%, regardless of the * volume of the aquarium, and it is better for the inhabitants (fish and plants) to do this in several stages.
  Feed ... if it’s clean, it’s lively (but for the average aquarist, storing live food is “crap”). Now the Germans, the Poles make excellent dry food, a very large variety. According to the rating, CEREALS are in the first place, but it must be guaranteed fresh (since shops in the province have been importing cars and selling them for years).
  Feed ... young and old (adult) fish are better twice a day - in the morning and in the evening, but the time of eating the food is limited to 1 MINUTE. Usually this is the main and common mistake of all beginner aquarists - the fish feel sorry for and fall asleep for the whole day. For an aquarium, it is DEATH.
  Not only plants, but also fish need lighting, they are brighter and more beautiful in the light. It is better for plants to shine brightly - 0.5-0.8-1 BT per one liter of water (not the capacity of the aquarium), but limit it (by timer) to 6, up to a maximum of 8 hours.
  Good luck in your endeavor.

In this topic, we will try to briefly describe the process of cleaning and washing the aquarium. This is a simple thing! But it will be useful to find out: how to do it right, find out how often you need to wash the aquarium, what to wash, the sequence of actions and so on.

You need to start the conversation with the fact that there is a big difference between washing the aquarium when buying it and the planned cleaning of an already installed aquarium or in case of emergency. Therefore, we divide the article into these three components.

Cleaning a new aquarium

Before installing and populating a new aquarium, it is imperative to rinse it or at least rinse it. This is due to the fact that, like any product, the aquarium does not know where it was before the purchase, it is not known who touched it and what happened to it.

Therefore, we carry the aquarium into the bath. We recommend that you prepare the place in advance: prepare clean rags or towels, prepare the surface where you can put the washed aquarium, sponge and soda. The fact is that even a small aquarium is a pretty weighty thing and when it gets wet, in addition to everything, it also becomes slippery. In this state, the aquarium is not very convenient to turn over, raise, carry out other manipulations.

Having prepared everything, we put the aquarium in the bath and rinse it, preferably with hot water. We take baking soda, a kitchen sponge for washing dishes and thoroughly, but gently wash the aquarium.

Well, then you should rinse everything thoroughly several times. If the aquarium allows, then gently turn it on its side and flush everything with a shower spray.

After we lift the aquarium out of the bath and place it on a previously prepared surface, we recommend using hooks or towels at the same time so that the aquarium does not slip out of hands. You may need the help of a second person. And now, the aquarium is ready for further installation, which you can read about

The aquarium can be washed and cleaned with any chemistry: soap, domestos, comet. However, you must understand that the stronger the chemistry, the more difficult it is to wash. Chemical residues are not permitted. Since the new aquarium does not need to be thoroughly cleaned, it is not worth washing it several times with a variety of cleaning products.

At the same time as the new aquarium, rinse the soil and decor purchased. Soil and decor are washed with warm water. It should be noted that in this article under the ground is understood: quartz, gravel, sand, other "colored crumbs." Special substrates for plants - no need to wash the substrates. There were cases on the forum \u003d)

If you are the owner of a new large aquarium, then all of the above manipulations are carried out at the installation site. In this case, the flush is pumped out with a hose, it is better not to use chemistry. It is better to use and wipe the aquarium with a pharmacy hydrogen peroxide 3%, it is absolutely safe and does not require rinsing.

Scheduled aquarium wash

The planned cleaning of the aquarium consists in wiping the walls of the aquarium from the inside, siphoning the soil, and weekly changing water for fresh.

Weekly washing and cleaning of the aquarium, more.

When cleaning the aquarium weekly, the following procedure should be strictly followed:

1. Get equipment: filter, aeration, temperature controller. Everything is washed, laid aside.

2. If necessary, care and cutting of plants is carried out.

3. Clean the walls of the aquarium. Sponge or special wiper blades.

4. If necessary, the siphon soil. There is no need to clean the soil weekly.

5. Only after this the water is replaced: the old water is drained and fresh is added.

6. The cleaned equipment is installed back.

Do not forget to wipe the aquarium cover and lamps from the inside at least once a month.

After all the manipulations, the aquarium is wiped with a dry cloth, stains can be removed with a window cleaner.

Emergency Aquarium Cleaning

Unfortunately, it happens that an infection gets into the aquarium and the fish die, and the aquarium needs total disinfection. In such cases, a simple washing is not enough. Infected aquariums are poured for a day with disinfectants to the brim. The easiest way to fill the aquarium with bleach or other household disinfectants. Pay attention - with DISINFECTANTS! Not all household chemicals have disinfecting properties, read the instructions for the tool.

  Ways to clean the aquarium.

So, first of all, the walls (glass) of the aquarium are cleaned. This action should be carried out if the walls of the aquarium are rummaged, for example, with green dots or brown bloom. To do this, you can use special magnetic scrubs or brushes for aquariums. Like these ones:

However, it is worth noting that they need to be worked extremely carefully. Alas, if even a small grain of sand falls under a magnetic scraper, they can seriously scratch the glass of the aquarium. If you fail to notice this in time, then you can finally get the aquarium “Harm Kruger” - all scratched and streaked.

Such careless or inattentive cleaning can lead not only to a violation of the aesthetic appearance of the aquarium, but also to overgrowing scratches into cracks, and these are serious things that threaten to flood!

Therefore, if your aquarium is not very deep and there is no need to rub it to insanity, I recommend using softer and more flexible materials. For example, here are such a sponge for washing dishes:

Such a sponge has a soft and hard side, which is very convenient - it is possible to carry out a general cleaning with the soft side, and rub more stained areas with a hard one. With this method of cleaning the aquarium, the risk of scratching is minimal. Firstly, because you carry out all the manipulations with your hand and feel tactfully all your actions. Secondly, even if a grain of sand falls under a sponge, it is unlikely to scratch the glass.

After using the sponge in the aquarium, it should be washed under a tap and left to dry until the next time.

There is another “miracle thing” invented by humanity and which is widely used to clean the aquarium, its name is TOOTHBRUSH!

Toothbrush, an indispensable thing for cleaning walls and a greened aquarium decor. It is especially useful in nano (small) aquariums and Amanovskie herbalists, where you need to work with small objects and carefully.

Our position on the electronic brush is this - it has a place to be, it really makes work easier. But it doesn’t save at all if you have an aquascape in which 60kg. stones. And if the aquarium is simple, small, then there is no direct need to purchase an electric brush. Let's go further.

In some cases, as a rule, these are large cichlids, the xenocrocus raid is so serious that it is quite possible to use a scraper with a blade, for example, such.

Such a scraper, like a razor, removes any fouling on the aquarium glass in two seconds.

But that is not all! Here is another hacking tip. Probably every aquarist saw a plaque that forms even in a healthy aquarium on the border between soil and water. We take an orphan plastic card.

And with it, it removes even such a most hidden plaque. Note that the edge of the card can also work perfectly all over the glass, try and understand why we recommend it to you.

If you have a large aquarium (cichlid or herbalist), then we strongly recommend purchasing such a very useful thing.

In this case, a glass cleaner called - EheimRapidCleaner. Similar devices can be found even on Ali, but as a rule, analogues quickly break down, including, we recommend what we use ourselves. The feature of Eheim RapidCleaner is that due to the dyne handle, they can easily clean the back wall of the aquarium and easily get to the bottom in deep aquariums. The basic kit includes a handle and a blade attachment, which is easily detachable and can be used, for example, on the front wall of the aquarium or in a small aquarium. Separately sold additional nozzles in the form of a rectangular sponge, corner sponge and brush. In general, mastew thing.

When we managed to clean the walls of the aquarium, cleaned the stones, the decor can proceed to the next stage of washing the aquarium - siphon of soil. Honestly, you can siphon the soil even with an ordinary hose. But still there are more convenient devices: siphons with a neck, with a pear, a python system and even aquarium vacuum cleaners. On, users from time immemorial share their impressions of a particular type of purchased siphon. We recommend reading or sharing your opinion about the siphon of your choice - this will be useful to our entire aquarium community.

The main criterion for choosing a siphon is its size. Choose a convenient siphon just for your aquarium, for your needs.

In the framework of this article, let's look at a rather exotic device - aquarium vacuum cleaners. The meaning of any vacuum cleaner is that you can work with it - to siphon the soil without losing the amount of water in the aquarium. Water does not drain uncontrollably, a vacuum cleaner with a motor pulls detritus into a special compartment and passes water back into the aquarium.

Aquarium vacuum cleaners are quite expensive, so if you are thinking about purchasing it, choose the best, certainly not an underground China.

One of the best siphons. Ihmo. In any case, when choosing, pay attention to the density of the vacuum cleaner mesh. The mesh should trap particles of dirt. Any mesh will allow fine particulate dust to pass through, you should also understand this.

In which cases we recommend purchasing a vacuum cleaner. Well, firstly, if there are any problems with the skin of the hands, secondly, if you need a delicate siphon, for example, a carpet of ground cover plants, and thirdly, if the aquarium has a large area that requires a long siphon. Well, in general, you can combine - first vacuum everything, and then walk along the bottom of the hose - dosing and draining part of the water.

IT SHOULD BE NOTEDthat all aquariums are different, and each has different aquatic organisms, but the excessive appearance of green and brown spots or plaque in the aquarium is a signal of not very good condition of the aquarium, namely poor water quality. Green and brown deposits are algae, lower plant organisms that appear as soon as possible: dirt, overpopulation of the aquarium, a high concentration of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates, lack of sufficient living plant biomass, lack of proper water change ... these are just a few common causes greening the aquarium.

What to do in such cases? First, take advantage of algaecide-containing algae preparations sold at all pet stores. For example, universally used (monolinuron) or, for example,. Secondly, all greened decorations (stones, grottoes, plastic) can be removed from the aquarium and soaked in white (bleach), then rub them thoroughly and after !!! very, very carefully !!! rinse in clean, running water several times. Thirdly, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the excessive appearance of algae: to resettle fish, increase the frequency and volume of water changes, reduce daylight hours and so on.

To clean the aquarium, you can also include cleaning the filter and siphon aquarium bottom.

It is not difficult to wash the filter - this manipulation should be performed as necessary, i.e. when the filter starts to work badly. At the same time, it is advisable to wash sponges or other filtering materials in a basin with aquarium water. Thereby, you will cause less damage to the beneficial colony of bacteria that has formed in the filter. Example, filter cleaning see this ARTICLE .

As for the siphon of the aquarium bottom, such manipulation also needs to be carried out as it becomes dirty, “silting” of the aquarium bottom. It is performed using an aquarium siphon, which can also be purchased at any pet store.

After you have cleaned the walls and aquarium decorations, siphoned the soil, washed and installed a filter and other equipment, you should replace or add fresh, standing waterand after that, wipe the aquarium from the outside with a dry rag, while you can use a glass cleaner. Aquarium cleaning is done !!!

Video review of how to clean an aquarium

To become a decoration of a home or office, the aquarium must shine with cleanliness. And the fish in this aquarium are better, they are more active, less sick and live longer. Keeping the artificial pond clean is not so difficult, but still there are some subtleties in this business that beginners should be aware of. Consider the basic issues of cleaning the aquarium at home.

Scheduled cleaning of the aquarium with the replacement of part of the water is usually carried out once or twice a week, depending on its size, population density, and the presence of vegetation.

In each case, the question of the regularity of cleaning and replacing water should be decided on the basis of

• well-being of fish,
• aquarium test indicators
• and, of course, the appearance of the aquarium.

If the walls are tightened with a brown-green coating, a cloud of dirt rises from the bottom with the slightest movement of the fish, so it's time to clean up, even if everything is fine with the fish.

Conversely, in a crystal-clear aquarium, the concentration of nitrogen compounds can go off scale and, consequently, fish suffer. And this is also an occasion for urgent cleaning.

What does aquarium cleaning include?

The cleaning algorithm is usually as follows:

• we clean the walls of algal plaque;
• if necessary, clean the scenery: stones, grottoes;
• if there are plants in the aquarium, weeding and trimming them;
• siphonym soil (this procedure is not always carried out);
• we pour out part of the water from the aquarium - this can be done during the siphon or on purpose;
• if necessary, we wash the filtering equipment;
• pour clean water.

Before starting cleaning in the aquarium, be sure to turn off all electrical equipment except external filters.

And now about everything in more detail.

Wall cleaning

Even in the most prosperous aquarium, an algae coating forms on the walls, which makes the glass cloudy and untidy. Therefore, algae must be regularly removed. This can be done with:

•   with a metal blade (it can be replaced with a cloth of a stationery knife);
• magnetic scraper;
• economic washcloths.

First option - long handle scraper  or, to a lesser extent, a clerical knife - it is convenient and well removes algae and other contaminants, but is not suitable for plexiglass aquariums, since it can leave scratches on their walls.

Magnetic scraper  indispensable for deep tanks, as well as aquariums, access to which is limited from above, or plexiglass tanks. It does not scratch the walls (with the exception of cases when a grain of sand or a small fragment of soil falls between its parts) and makes it possible not to lower your hands in water. Minus - it is difficult for them to clean the corners of the aquarium and the lower edge of the glass near the ground.

The option with a household washcloth is the most economical, but not suitable for plexiglass and the least convenient, since you have to get it everywhere with your hand.

The algal coating removed by a scraper or a washcloth does not need to be specially caught and removed - we will remove what the fish do not have time to eat when draining the water.

Magnetic scraper.

Scenery Cleaning

If you do not like the dark film of algae on the scenery, you can also clean them. This is done with a washcloth or a hard brush inside the aquarium or outside if you remove the decoration. Detergents and cleaning products are not used.

In order to have less algae on the walls and decorations, you can get them, they will help in the fight for cleanliness.

And if the algae grows too fast, they are brown in color or resemble brushes in shape, then the situation in the aquarium is not quite favorable, and measures must be taken to combat these representatives of lower plants.

Vegetation treatment

The task of this treatment is to remove leaves damaged by fish and snails (as well as leaves overgrown with algae), trim or remove overgrown shoots with the root. Plants should not block each other's light and interfere with fish.

When weeding bushes with roots, you need to act carefully to raise less turbidity.

In aquariums with shrimps, especially with whimsical species, and in general in nano-aquariums, pruning and weeding should be done as rarely and as carefully as possible so that the minimum amount of silt and plant juice get into the water.

Siphon of soil and discharge of water

After cleaning the walls of the aquarium and weeds underwater plantations, we usually raise a lot of mud and mud into the water. Now this dirty water needs to be drained. This is done using a hose or an aquarium siphon.

With the end of the hose or siphon tube we drive near the bottom, starting from the most polluted places, and pour the dirty water into a bucket or basin (it is better that they are white, then we can notice a shrimp or fish accidentally drawn in the water).

You can place the second end of the hose directly into the sewer hole, but this option is only possible for aquariums with large fish, which definitely will not get into the siphon or hose.

At one time, usually 15% to 50% of the water is changed depending on the conditions of a particular aquarium. Matter

• filter power
• population density,
• demanding animals for clean water,
• the presence of living plants or.

In order to understand how often and in what volume it is necessary to make replacements, it is best to use nitrate tests - the content of this substance in the aquarium should not exceed 20-30 mg / l for undemanding fish and 5-10 mg / l for fastidious and loving clean water. Such concentration should be achieved with the help of substitutions.

No need to replace the water completely! This will not be cleaning, but restarting the aquarium. Such a procedure is carried out only in the most extreme cases, for example, after an epidemic.

It is impossible to put fish into the aquarium immediately after the general cleaning. It will be necessary to give the system several weeks to mature, as in the case of a new aquarium.

If necessary, during a scheduled cleaning, a siphon of soil can be carried out to remove excess organic contaminants.

In aquariums with large fish and without live plants, it is recommended to do this at least weekly, but the more plants and the smaller the fish population density, the less often the need for this procedure.

Soil in herbalists and shrimp, as a rule, does not siphon at all, so as not to damage the roots of plants, not to reduce the nutritional and biofiltration properties of the soil and not to injure small animals.

Filter cleaning

When cleaning the filter, it is important to remove mechanical impurities from it, without damaging the colony of microorganisms that live in sponges or other porous fillers and participate in biofiltration.

Therefore, the filter filling is washed carefully, without undue enthusiasm, using only water drained from the aquarium. It is better, of course, to take relatively clean water without turbidity, and not the one that was drained by siphoning the soil.

Internal filters with sponges are washed once every one to two weeks, depending on the speed of their contamination (the fact that the filter is dirty is seen by the weakening of its stream). At approximately the same frequency, the jaws of the internal filters, which have several compartments for different fillers, and the prefilters of the external canister are washed.

Porous material for biofiltration (ceramic rings, balls and the like) is washed much less frequently, every two to three months, if necessary, partially replacing this filler.

The rotor head of the filter can be washed with plain water without detergents using a cotton swab.

Water fill

The aquarium is poured with well-maintained water for at least a day at the same temperature as the drained one. Water is poured with a hose, bucket or watering can, depending on the size of the aquarium.

It is poured not on the ground, which can be washed away by a stream, but on a saucer or, for example, a grotto.

After that, they turn on the filter and other equipment, check its operation and well-being of the fish. After a while, when a small dregs settle (and it occurs almost inevitably), your aquarium will shine with purity.

Such a clean aquarium will please not only you, but also the fish, who will feel comfortable. And this is the key to their health, longevity and lively, interesting behavior.

Video: steps for cleaning the aquarium with examples.