If you own a fish tank or are thinking of buying one, you’ll need to learn how to clean a fish bowl. It’s not exactly the most glamorous of tasks, but it is an essential part of looking after your pet fish.
A dirty fish tank is not suitable for any new inhabitants, so cleaning it on a regular basis will help keep things hygienic and healthy for your little friends.
If you have a small aquarium with just a few fish and some plants, keeping it clean may be easier than if you have something much larger that requires more maintenance.
Fish tanks require constant monitoring and water changes as well as thorough cleaning to avoid potentially harmful bacteria or algae growing inside.
If you need some guidance on how to clean a fish bowl, read on for everything you need to know about this essential task.
What You’ll Need
Before you start, you’ll want to ensure you’ve got everything you need to clean a fish bowl properly, including cleaning supplies and tools to allow you to get all areas thoroughly.
You’ll need:
• A fish bowl or aquarium – It’s important to remember the size of your tank and the number of fish in the water will affect how often you need to clean your fish bowl. A small bowl may only need cleaning every two weeks, while a large tank will require you to perform a full clean more often.
• Scrubbing brush and/or sponge – You’ll need to thoroughly clean all areas of the fish tank to remove any buildup of algae or grime.
• Net – This is useful when you’re cleaning the tank from the bottom, and can also be helpful when removing fish that need a checkup.
How to clean a fish Bowl?
Here are the steps to clean a fish bowl.
- Change the Water
- Clean the Gravel and Decorations
- Clean the Tank Walls and Glass
- Disinfect Everything
Step 1: Change the Water
The first step to cleaning a fish bowl is to completely change the water. You’ll need to use fresh, clean water for cleaning, and the rest of the tank’s inhabitants.
When you’ve completely changed the water, you can then use your cleaning supplies to clean the inside of the fish bowl thoroughly.
If you have an aquarium with live fish, it’s essential to change the water so you can get rid of any buildup of bacteria. Without doing this, the bacteria could potentially harm your fish, and you won’t be able to spot it until it’s too late.
If you have a smaller bowl with a few goldfish or tropical fish, you may not need to change the water as often. However, it is recommended you do this at least once a month to keep your fish happy and healthy.
Step 2: Clean the Gravel and Decorations
You’ll want to thoroughly clean any decorations or gravel in your bowl, as this can build up an algae-like substance and needs regular cleaning.
You can do this with a scrubbing brush or sponge, ensuring you get into every nook and cranny. It’s best to remove the decorations from the tank first, scrub them with a sponge or brush, and then put them back in.
Do the same with the gravel, moving it from one side of the bowl to the other to get into the nooks and crannies.
Step 3: Clean the Tank Walls and Glass
You’ll probably want to clean both the walls and the glass of the fish bowl, especially if you have algae growing there. You can remove the decorations once again, and thoroughly clean both sides of the glass as well as the tank walls.
You may want to use a cleaning agent to remove stubborn algae. You’ll want to scrub where there are any suction cups or clips that hold the glass together.
It’s important to clean the inside edges of the fish bowl as well, where any food or algae could have fallen between the glass and sides.
Step 4: Disinfect Everything
Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned all the decorations and the inside of the tank, you’ll need to disinfect everything to protect your fish. You can do this by pouring a small amount of bleach into the water.
You’ll need to make sure it’s cooled down, and then pour it into the fish bowl.
You’ll then want to let the bowl sit with the bleach inside it for an hour. You can also buy commercial cleaning and disinfectant products that are designed to clean fish bowls and aquariums thoroughly.
They can be used with warm water and will help get rid of any harmful bacteria or other contaminants in your tank.
When to Replace Your Filter
When cleaning a fish bowl, you’ll also want to clean your filter to ensure it keeps working properly. You can do this by taking it out and rinsing it off with some warm water.
If you have a small fish bowl, a sponge filter may be enough.
For a larger tank, you’ll likely need a filter with a motor. These need to be cleaned regularly to make sure they’re working correctly and filtering the water correctly. If you notice your fish are swimming around in dirty water, a clogged filter may be the cause.
You can clean your filter by unplugging it, taking it out of the tank, and rinsing off any buildup with warm water. You need to clean your filter to prevent uneaten food and fish waste from building up and causing harmful bacteria.
Some filters have a cleaning cycle that you have to program. Others you have to clean manually using a gravel cleaner or a sponge.
Filter cleaning is an important part of looking after your fish, and it’s important to do it regularly. If you notice that your filter is producing less water flow or is clogged with debris, it’s time to clean it. If you notice the water flow rate has decreased by about half, it’s time to clean the filter.
Conclusion
Cleaning a fish tank can seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually very simple to do. All you need to remember is to change a portion of the water every two weeks, clean the decorations and gravel, and clean the tank walls and glass every two weeks as well.
You should also disinfect all your cleaning items regularly, and clean your filter every week. If you follow these simple steps, you should be able to clean a fish bowl in no time.