Cleaning the tropical aquarium

Cleaning and maintenance of the aquarium

When you know exactly the ideal parameters for your plants and fish , you should also know how many days they are altered.

The most common thing is to change 15% of the aquarium water every two weeks, thus avoiding excessive increase in ammonia and nitrites. Do not change more than 15% of the water so as not to alter the nitrogen cycle or the overall temperature of the aquarium water mass.

The water returned must conform to the general parameters of the aquarium, pH, dH and temperature. In each cleaning service, take advantage of renewing the filter elements of your equipment and practicing preventive maintenance of filters and pumps.

In aquariums with bottom plates and aerator, sifonate is usually performed. This method requires a transparent plastic tube connected to a flexible plastic hose of 5 or 6 mm inside diameter. This equipment is usually sold in commercial aquariums.

Its cleaning action consists of inserting the tube into the tank vertically and suction from the other end of the hose to generate the siphon effect. Thus, while the water leaves the aquarium through the tube and the hose, smooth movements are made with the tube penetrating the gravel bottom.

Watch and see how debris parked under the gravel will begin to emerge from the bottom and go down the tube. Be delicate when performing the task to avoid lifting too much dirt, which will be suspended in the water for a few hours and will be harmful to fish.

You can clean various sectors of the bottom of the aquarium on each cleaning day. This would mean, for example, cleaning one third of the fund a week, another third in another week and the remaining one in the third week. This applies especially in very large aquariums.

To clean the aquarium glass you can choose from a variety of products available in commercial aquariums. One of the most practical and safe consists of two magnetic pieces, one is placed inside and the other outside the aquarium. Thus, without even getting a finger wet, you can carry a piece with cleaning sponge all over the surface of the aquarium glass.

To effectively plan the maintenance of the aquarium, take note of what is done in each maintenance task. Over time it will develop its methodology to keep the aquarium in perfect condition.

Daily Controls

• Do not overfeed the fish.
• Control the operation of equipment: aerator, pumps, filters and heaters.
• Check the temperature and control the fish.
• Watch your movements and fins for injuries or illnesses.

Weekly checks

• Refuse the evaporated water and clean the condensation cap.
• Check the tubes.

Fortnightly checks

• Do the siphone,
• Change the water and take advantage of pruning plants that grow more than desired.
• Control pH, dH, ammonia, nitrates and nitrites.
• Check filters and pumps.

Monthly Controls

• Replace the activated carbon of the filter.
• Check the correct flow of water through filters and pumps.
• Clean hoses and hoses from the filter and pump.
• Also clean the water returns from the filter.

© Adrián Blanco 2005/2007 — No full or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —