In order to keep saltwater fish tanks healthy, clean and attractive, the owner must be committed to doing the work that’s required. Aquariums come in a variety of sizes and styles, and the simpler your setup, the easier it will be to maintain. Videos available on the Internet instruct their viewers on the proper cleaning and maintenance techniques for a saltwater tank. The main issues are algae growing on the glass and food particles and other debris that settles into the gravel or sand (the substrate) at the bottom of the tank. The aquarium’s filters must also be cleaned on a regular basis.

Assemble the needed item needed to complete the job, before starting. One requirement is a large pail or a smaller alternate temporary aquarium if the intent is to remove the fish. This is not required though unless the tank has gotten extremely dirty or contaminated. If removing the fish, it is recommended to take out up to 25% of the water in order to reduce the amount of contaminants. Use some of this water in your temporary container to put your fish in while you clean.

Turn off the heater and let it cool down before removing to avoid breakage because of a sudden temperature change. This only has to be taken out if it has become dirty and you want to clean it to keep it running efficiently. Cleaning the inside of the glass is done in a couple of different ways, such as with a sponge that has a long enough handle to do the job; Scrapers can be used if the algae is bad enough but be careful not to scratch the glass. Cleaning the debris/food residue, etc from the gravel/sand bottom (substrate) is done with a siphon. This can be manually or with a pump attached. These are purchased at the aquarium store and if you are a newby, ask for a demonstration for clarification of method and use. Once the siphon is activated, push the large tube into the grave/sand and wiggle it slightly. This stirs up the debris which will be sucked up through the siphon and into whatever container is being used to hold the dirty water. Be careful not to suck up any of the living inhabitants of the tank.

Continue moving the siphon around the bottom of the tank by lifting and re-inserting into various locations until the majority of gravel is cleaned. In smaller aquariums, move the rocks or decorations for better access to the gravel then replace to former location once that area is cleaned. This is a good time to do any rearranging that might be needed. Be careful not to disturb the roots of plants if at all possible.

After your aquarium is clean, the next task is to clean the filters. Remove the foam pads, clean them with de-chlorinated water, and then replace them. Removing as much as 25% of the water in the tank is a quick, effective way to reduce the amount of contaminants in your aquarium. When you add fresh water to your salt water aquarium, always use water that’s been de-chlorinated and is the same temperature as the water that’s already inside. You’ll also want to make sure the new water has the proper salt density. Mix the salt into the water thoroughly and use a tester to ensure the salt content is 1.025. Slowly add it to the aquarium so you don’t disturb the environment or the fish themselves.

Maintenance of salt water aquariums should only take 1 to 1 1/2 hrs every 1-2 weeks. Keep a close watch for sickness or sluggishness of the fish and separate any that show signs of sickness as soon as possible to keep the rest of the fish healthy. Basic foam brushing of the glass and filter will reduce the frequency that major cleaning is needed. If there is a lot of food on the bottom of the tank/aquarium then cut back on the amount of food given. Fish do not eat large quantities but prefer small amounts a bit more frequently. Larger and more diverse salt water aquariums such as “reef” aquariums require much more sophisticated filtration systems and serious cleaning of these may require hiring a professional. Regular maintenance is well worth the effort by keeping the inhabitants of the aquarium healthy, vibrant and a joy to watch.

About the author:
April Levine is an aquarist with years of experience in keeping tropical fish. She maintains many fish tanks full of the rarest tropical fish in the world.

A saltwater aquarium requires a degree of commitment from the owner in order to stay clean, healthy and attractive to look at. fish tanks are available in a large range of styles and sizes, but maintenance and cleaning will be easier with a simpler setup. Online videos demonstrate the proper techniques to use. Any saltwater tank’s main cleaning issues will be food and debris settling down into the gravel or sand at the bottom, along with algae developing on the glass. The filters also require regular cleaning.

Before beginning, gather everything you’ll need to finish the job. For example, if you intend to remove your fish from the tank while you’re cleaning it, you’ll need a smaller temporary aquarium or a large pail to place them in. Normally you won’t need to do this unless your aquarium is contaminated or extremely dirty. If you do remove your fish, most people recommend that you remove as much as 25% of the tank’s water to reduce the amount of contaminants. You can use some of this removed water in the alternate container you place your fish in while you’re cleaning.

If you want to clean your aquarium’s heater because it’s dirty, it should be turned off and allowed to cool before you remove it from the tank. This can keep your heater from breaking due to a sudden temperature difference. Cleaning a dirty heater will help it heat the water more efficiently. The inside of the tank’s glass can be cleaned in several ways. For example, you could use a long-handled sponge, or if you’re careful not to scratch the glass, you can use a scraper to remove the algae. Food and other debris are removed from the sand or gravel at the bottom (the aquarium’s substrate) by using a manual siphon or a siphon that has an attached pump. You can purchase a siphon at your local aquarium store, but if you’re not familiar with its use, ask someone to demonstrate it for you. After you start the siphon, push the big tube into the aquarium’s substrate, wiggling it a little. This stirs up the food and debris, which the siphon will then vacuum up and send into the container being used to catch the tank’s dirty water. While you’re siphoning, be careful not to suck up any of the inhabitants of the aquarium.

Continue moving the siphon around the bottom of the tank by lifting and re-inserting into various locations until the majority of gravel is cleaned. In smaller aquariums, move the rocks or decorations for better access to the gravel then replace to former location once that area is cleaned. This is a good time to do any rearranging that might be needed. Be careful not to disturb the roots of plants if at all possible.

Once the tank is cleaned, the next step is to clean the filters. Take out the foam pads and clean with unchlorinated water and replace. The removal up to 25% of the tanks water is a fast and efficient way to reduce the contaminants in the aquarium. When refilling the salt water tank, make sure the fresh water is unchlorinated, is approximately the same temperature as the existing aquarium water and has the appropriate salt content. Mix the salt thoroughly and use a tester to make sure the salt density measures 1.025. Add this warm mixture to the aquarium slowly so that the environment is not disturbed and that none of the fish get stressed.

Maintaining a saltwater aquarium should only take 60 to 90 minutes every week or two. Watch your fish closely for sluggishness or signs of disease, and separate any unhealthy fish as quickly as possible to try to prevent the remaining fish from falling ill. Brushing the tank’s glass and filter will reduce the number of times a major cleaning will be necessary. If you find a lot of uneaten food on the bottom of your aquarium, reduce the amount of food you give to your fish. They don’t eat a lot, but they do prefer smaller but more frequent feedings. Larger, more diverse salt water setups like reef aquariums need highly advanced filtration systems. You might need to hire a professional to do a major cleaning if you have one of these systems. Maintain your tank on a regular basis and you’ll keep your fish healthy, colorful and enjoyable to watch.

About the author:
John Wilson is an avid aquarist with many years of experience in keeping tropical fish. He maintains many aquariums full of the rarest tropical fish in the world.