The downside to owning a large fish tank is that it is more work to clean it every week (preferable.) If you want your fish to live a long time and your tank to look clean and clear and free from algae overtaking your habitat then youve got to properly clean your tank. Here are the basics. Siphoning At least once a week you should siphon out 20% of the water from your tank into a giant bucket and then replace that old water with new tap water that has been properly treated to remove the harmfull acid and iron from the water. When siphoning make sure you dig around into the rocks to get all the waste and leftover food out that has fallen to the bottom. Dont worry about scaring your fish they should be fine with your sticking your hand and siphon into the tank and going over it thoroughly. When you put the new water into the tank dont just pour it in which can upset the landscaping but use the siphon to slowly filter the new water into the tank. Algae scraper These tools are cheap and effective. Use a squeegee like algae scraper to clean up the walls of your tank from being overrun with algae which not only looks bad but can be harmful to your tank. If you are looking for an easier solution invest in buying an algae eater fish like a pleco which will roam around your tank at night and help to keep it clean and free from algae. Dont overfeed The amateur mistake of first time fish keepersdont overfeed your fish as it can lead to waste buildup in your tank. Feed them a small amount of flakes or pellets about twice a day to keep them healthy and satisfied. Remember that it is always more safe to underfeed than to overfeed.About the Author:| welcome to loan (http://www.yloan.com/) | Powered by Discuz! 5.5.0 |