Change the Water in a Fish Aquarium

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One of the most important things you can do to keep your fish healthy is change out the water in the aquarium on a regular basis. It is an easy job, but it requires following a few simple rules.

Steps

Check the Water to Decide If It Needs Changed

  1. Look to see if the water is cloudy.
  2. Use a water test kit to see if the water is the correct pH level. If not, it needs to be changed.

Remove Part of the Water From the Tank

You do not need to change all of the water.

  1. Use an algae scraper to remove any algae from the sides of the tank before you change out the water.
  2. If the filter is dirty, clean out part of the components at a time. If you clean it all at once, you will lose parts of the healthy bacteria.
  3. Siphon out 10 to 25 percent of the water. Use the siphon around your gravel to remove the waste and other matter.

Put in the Clean Water

  1. Fill a bucket with tap water that is the same temperature as what is in the tank. Use a bucket that is only for the aquarium so that you don’t get other chemicals and contaminants in the water. If the tap water is not the right temperature, you can leave it out for a few hours at room temperature.
  2. Add any necessary additives, like salt for a saltwater tank, or nitrates/potassium. Always add a water conditioner (with Stress Zyme if you need some slime coat protection) to get rid of the chloramines/chlorine. Not doing so will result in damage to fish gills and a slow death!
  3. Check the pH balance of the water. If you are using straight tap water, you will need to put some neutralizer in it and let it set for a minute. Test it again before putting it into the tank.
  4. Use the siphon to put the water back into the tank. This is better than pouring it in because it won’t upset the fish or the decorations.
  5. Test the water again after an hour to make sure it has the right chemical balance.
  6. Finished.

Tips

  • If you need to change more than 25 percent of the water, wait for 3 or 4 days and change more of it.
  • Do not clean the decorations frequently in the tank because this will remove the beneficial bacteria that are growing on them. If they are truly in need of cleaning, do not use soap.
  • Do not move the fish while you are cleaning the tank. It will cause them more stressed to be out of their home environment.
  • Some siphons such as Python No Spill Clean and Fill don't require a bucket to add fresh water. This type of siphon attaches to your sink faucet to clean.

Things You’ll Need

  • Siphon hose
  • Bucket
  • Water
  • Neutralizer

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

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