How to clean an aquarium (fish tank)

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  • OVERALL DIFFICULTY INDEX: 1/10
  • IF YOU HAVE NO TOOLS YOU PAY $ 5 TO GET THEM FOR THIS JOB
  • IF YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE YOU SPEND 1 HOUR TO COMPLETE THIS JOB.
  • YOU SHOULD OBSERVE SAFETY RULES FOR ELECTROCUTION RISK.
​It is time to clean and renew the top filter of this aquarium. Some algae has also built up and needs removal. It's an hour of easy work with minimum disturbance to the guests.
DISCLAIMER:
Our pictorials are of informative nature and do illustrate works carried out by ourselves at our own premises for our own use and satisfaction.
Readers who envisage to carry out similar works inspired by the below method shall do this at their own risks and liability.

Preparatory works for aquarium cleaning

After several months without maintenance, algae invaded this aquarium glass while the overhead filter (top filter) ended up being completely clogged. The required works on this aquarium are urgent and consist of:
  1. Removing, cleaning and renewing the top filter
  2. Cleaning the aquarium glass
  3. Cleaning the aquarium gravel
The first thing to do is to pull out all the fish tank cables, lighting, pump and heater from their sockets.
Do not attempt any intervention with any energized electrical device inside an aquarium.
Keep a bucket at hand and put in it any aquarium equipment that you remove like the pump.

Detailed aquarium top filter (overhead sump filter) cleaning pictorial

1- Pull out the aquarium filter tube first to be able to proceed with step 2.
2- Remove the screws that hold the aquarium filter body to the cover.
3- Remove the filter from the fish tank cover.
4 - Close back the lids to avoid any of your fish jumps out of the aquarium.
5- Clean your aquarium filter materials under running water.
6- Make sure to clean well the filter tube, especially from inside.
 7- Clean every component of the aquarium filter-pump.
8- Replace the aquarium pump's air hose with a new one.
9- Add or renew some filter material (filter media) but keep most of the old one.
The aquarium (fish tank) filter is now renewed and ready to be refitted.
Buy your aquarium cleaning tools and agents here:

Fish tank glass cleaning pictorial

Prepare a soft synthetic puff sponge, a scrapper and a plastic spatula.
Use the sponge on the first 2 inches of the aquarium glass where dirt and algae are soft and can be easily removed.
Use the scrapper and spatula on the lower and harder algae o the fish tank glass. Do not worry about the water getting a bit troubled, all particles will end up settling at the bottom.
Tip: have this reach extender in hand in case you drop a tool.

Cleaning the aquarium gravel and sand bed

Now use a fish tank gravel vacuum (aquarium gravel cleaner) to clean the gravels.
This consists of a simple clear hose equipped with a hand pump and a suction cup.
Press on the pump with your hand several times with the suction cup below the fish tank water surface until the water flows.
Move the aquarium vacuum cup slowly all along the gravels in order to collect dirt and particles.
Continue until emptying some 3/4 of the fish tank.

Reassembling the aquarium filter and refitting the pump

Proceed with the top sump filter assembly, refill the fish tank with water and energize your aquarium.
Check water flows as it should from the top filter tube's holes.
Water in the fish tank will get clear again after a few hours.

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