Fish droppings and uneaten food tend to stay at the bottom of the aquarium, making gravel and rocks dirty. This is why you should remove waste from your fish and clean the gravel regularly to make their environment as healthy as possible. Also, it doesn’t matter that you have a small fish tank. Cleaning is essential for the fish to be happy and healthy.
Take your fish out of the aquarium
If you only have a small fish, such as beta fish or goldfish, it is easier to remove it from the aquarium to clean the gravel. Take a clean container and fill it to the top with water without chlorine. To catch the fish you can use a glass or a fishing net.
On the other hand, if you have a lot of fish or exotic species, it is better not to remove them from the fish tank. It is also not necessary to remove the fish if you have a gravel siphon, that is, a special cleaning tool that is usually installed in larger aquariums.
Clean the gravel
If you only have one fish and you are going to remove the gravel from the aquarium, it is best to use a strainer. Add the gravel and clean it with tap water, shaking the strainer to remove all the remains. Do this several times until the water runs completely clear.
When you have cleaned the gravel, spread it over the bottom of the fish tank and replace the water filter and all the decorations.
Use a gravel siphon
If you have a gravel siphon, it is important that you learn how to use it correctly. You will first need to buy a clean bucket that you only use for the fish tank. If possible, place it on the ground to make it easier for you to clean the aquarium. Next, you will have to put one end of the siphon in the bottom of the aquarium and another end in the empty bucket.
When the siphon starts to suck, the dirty water from the tank will drip down into the bucket. Move the mouth of the siphon from one end to the other to suck up all the dirt from the tank. Remember that the movements will have to be slow so as not to hit or scare the fish.
Once you have sucked up all the dirt, you will need to remove the siphon and remove the dirty water from the bucket by pouring it into the sink or toilet. Finally, you will have to fill your aquarium with water without chlorine. If your fish have special requirements, such as pH adjustments, it is important that you check it at that time as well.
