Contents:
- Where to start cleaning?
- How do I clean the ground in an aquarium?
- Substitution as a way to purify water in an aquarium
Fans of fish know that cleaning an aquarium is not an easy task. Some people prefer to contact special services, especially if the capacity is large. But you can fix water and the bottom yourself. You just need to buy the necessary tools in the pet store, for example a siphon. Or to make them from improvised means. The procedure should be regular. For a capacious aquarium it should be done at least twice a month, for a small one - every week.
How do I start cleaning?
Wash the aquarium carefully, without sudden movements, so as not to frighten the fish. After all, such an intervention for them is a stress. You can start with decorative elements and plants. Different pebbles, shells and other decorations should be rinsed under running water. Algae are carefully inspected. If yellow and rotting leaves are seen, they are removed. Plant transplantation is well combined with the bottom cleaning process.
Next are taken for the walls. Reducing the formation of a cochlea and a fish such as anthracis. But this is not enough for really clean equipment. On the glass, you can notice the appearance of small algae, where microorganisms settle, because of which visibility is disturbed. The aquarium becomes turbid, untidy.
tip Switch off electrical appliances before use.
For washing it is convenient to use special scrapers. Clean the aquarium in the corners easier with a sponge on the stick. With plexiglas it is necessary to be treated more cautiously: it is easy to scratch. So it's better to take a soft sponge or a nylon cap. From an old calcareous plaque you can get rid of using a blade.
How do I clean the ground in an aquarium?
The next step is to tidy the bottom. After all, it is there that the sewage discharged from the fish falls, and the remains of the feed. Clean the soil in the aquarium is really necessary, if it starts to rise bubbles. To remove all unnecessary, most often use a siphon. It can be electrical or mechanical, but the principle of action is usually the same.
- The mechanical siphon consists of a hose and a glass. The hose is lowered to a contaminated area of the bottom so that a variety of dirt can be absorbed into it. It is usually transparent, so as not to miss the moment when pure water goes. Then the device is moved further to process the entire bottom.
- The electric siphon runs on batteries. When using it, you do not need to drain the water. It is sucked in, the dirt stays in the trap, and the purified water enters the aquarium. This device is well suited for reservoirs with fish and algae that need sour old water.
The glass needs to be chosen high. Then the pebbles falling into it will not be drawn into the hose, but will fall to the bottom. Its edges should be rounded. This will reduce the risk of damage to plant roots. Best of all - an oval shape. Such a cylinder is convenient to immerse in the ground, and it is easier to get to hard-to-reach places. The diameter of the hose should not be too large, the suction speed depends on this. If there are fish in the aquarium that like to dig in the ground, it is useful to use a so-called tedder - a tube with a conical end and multiple holes.
If you do not want to purchase a device for cleaning the bottom, then it is easy to make it yourself. You just need a hose and a watering can or a plastic bottle that has a bottom cut off. The disadvantage is that the pear can hardly be attached. Therefore, for water to be pumped, it is necessary to blow.
How often to use the siphon, depends on the number of fish in the aquarium. The more of them, the more soiled the bottom.
Substitution as a way to purify water in the aquarium
If you do not take care of the tank properly, it can become cloudy. To clean the water in the aquarium, it is gradually replaced. It's good to do this with the bottom siphon. Drain immediately all is not recommended, sudden changes in environmental conditions - this is stress for the fish. Change should be no more than a quarter. Add the best water to standing water.
Sometimes, when the fish tank is not covered, a film can form on the surface. In this case, properly clean the aquarium with a sheet of paper of sufficient size. It should be simply dipped into the water and raised with contamination. If it did not work the first time, then repeat it again.
Aquarium cleaning includes the processing of filters. Such a procedure will increase the effectiveness of their work. The filter collects dirt from the water, the waste left by the fish, when it gets dirty, the suction rate decreases. To wash it, take out the foam rubber liner and gently rinse under running water. The remaining parts can be rubbed with a toothbrush to remove any plaque.
If you know how to clean the aquarium correctly, you can keep it neat and at home. But you will have to work regularly to keep the bottom and water in proper condition. But as a result, the fish will please. Observing them will have a calming effect and will lift the mood.