Aquarium Cleaning and Water Changes

Regularly changing a portion of the water in your aquarium can dramatically reduce nitrates, phosphates, DOC’s. It can also correct pH, replenish calcium, stabilize alkalinity, and replenish vital trace elements.  I strongly recommend changing 50 to 60 percent of the water every month.  You can change half that amount every two weeks, or a quarter of it every week.  Your aquarium’s appearance should be your indicator whether to do more or less water change.

A few aquarists, because of their proximity to the ocean, are able to use natural sea water. The majority of us purchase dry saltmix by the bucket.  Choosing a synthetic sea salt requires some research, as there are many different brands and formulations. We strongly recommend a reef aquarium specific salts. That is painstakingly formulated to replicate coral reef parameters.  Basic synthetic salts may require calcium and magnesium supplements to bring them close to natural sea salt.

To prepare the water you’ll a vat that can hold the volume of water that you will be changing at least 20 to 25% of your aquariums volume, a small powerhead to circulate the water, and an appropriate sized heater to regulate the temperature. You’ll also need a salinity refractometer to measure the salinity.  Connect a vinyl hose to the output end of the powerhead to pump the freshly mixed saltwater in to the aquarium.

Contact Dallas Aquarium Experts today for a free consultation for aquarium service!

Aquarium Service

If you have an aquarium or fish tank, it can be a beautiful addition to your home or office. The peaceful motions of the fish swimming and the beautiful colors many species have make a gorgeous backdrop to any room. But owning your own aquarium is more than just having a living decorative item; it also includes a responsibility to the fish and other creatures that might inhabit it. In order to maintain and clean a fish tank, you must have knowledge of the biology of the fish and plants that live in it as well as an eye for art in order to make the fish tank look beautiful. Checking the pH levels of the water as well as any chemicals in the aquarium is extremely important, as well as water temperature and cleanliness. These levels can fluctuate, so it is important that you know which levels will be best for your fish, and monitor them accordingly in case they have to be raised or lowered. Having an aquarium is an excellent teaching tool for children, a relaxing thing to look at, and an enjoyable way to own your very own fish and other sea creatures. By making sure your fish tank stays clean and well maintained, you will have many years of enjoyment from your aquarium.

Fish are complex creatures and need special care depending on the type of fish you have. There is also a stark difference in aquarium maintenance and aquarium cleaning needs between a freshwater and a saltwater tank. Be sure you are aware of the differences and make your decision of what kind of tank you want based on the various methods needed to ensure it stays clean and safe for your fish. Before you set the fish tank up, you should perform a process called cycling. This process helps set the stage for healthy water and a healthy environment. Cycling means that you will balance the water levels, make sure the tank is clean and free of any unwanted chemicals such as ammonia, and make sure the water has just the right conditions for both plants and fish before introducing them to the tank. Find out the best ways to clean the gravel, feed the fish, and remove debris and waste from the tank without causing trauma to the fish. It is important to purchase the right treatments needed for either a saltwater or freshwater tank so the levels are correct. Get a good tank thermometer that allows you to monitor the water temperature, and make note of which temperatures your fish prefer in order to thrive. As you clean the tank, you will learn how to perform the task more effectively and how to safely remove the fish so that they are unharmed while you clean it.

Owning a fish tank is a great way to add interest to anywhere you choose. As an aquarium owner, it is important to remember that you are also a pet owner; making sure the tank stays clean is of the most vital importance. With some good research and a full list of supplies you will need, you should have everything required to not only set up a great fish tank, but be able to keep it clean, creating a happy and healthy environment for your fish. Keep a record of the dates you clean the tank so you can continue to regularly clean the fish tank on a viable schedule. Fish tanks do require a good amount of maintenance, but the rewards you reap are well worth it. Ask your local pet stores for some good tips and advice, and if you feel like the process is too complicated, find out what you can do to make the cleaning and maintenance easier on both you and your fish. A clear and clean fish tank will make you happy and will be an excellent feature that everyone will surely appreciate and enjoy.

Common Fish Tank Maintenance Mistakes Made by Novice Aquarium Service Companies

One of the worst mistakes you can make when cleaning your freshwater aquarium is to empty and clean out either the filter or the tank completely. The beneficial bacteria in your tank that help to maintain the nitrogen cycle live on the surfaces of your tank and also in your filter. If you empty out the tank or filter and clean them thoroughly you could kill the entire colony of nitrifying bacteria. When you refill the tank or filter you will be essentially starting over and the tank will have to cycle again in order to re-establish a healthy population of beneficial bacteria. If it becomes necessary to clean your filter, avoid scrubbing the entire thing. A quick rinse with water taken from the aquarium will suffice.

Another common mistake made by novices is to wait too long to clean the tank. Weekly 10% water changes and/or a 25% water change once a month should be enough to keep the water in your aquarium fresh. The best way to do this is through regular aquarium service A larger scale cleaning may become necessary, however, in the event of an algae bloom. If you notice a sudden increase in algae growth in your tank do not wait for the problem to get out of control – take steps to correct the problem then clean the tank before it gets worse. Remove all the decorations from your tank and clean them using 10% bleach solution. Do not clean your filter within seven days of performing this task or you could lose all of the beneficial bacteria in your tank at once. Also, check the water with an aquarium water test kit to determine if there is an excess amount of phosphates.

Everyone gets busy at times, but do not be tempted to replace your routine water changes by simply topping off the tank with fresh water as it evaporates. If you just add more water to the tank without removing any, the water quality in your tank will still deteriorate and your fish may suffer. As water evaporates from the tank it leaves chemicals like ammonia and nitrates behind – and one way to remove these chemicals is to remove some of the water itself and replace it with fresh water. Also, install filter media that specifically targets ammonia and nitrates. Remember, it isn’t just “one thing” that you should be doing to maintain a healthy, clean environment for your fish. Be a smart aquarist and perform a combination of the freshwater aquarium maintenance tasks outlined above on a regular basis and you’ll enjoy a healthy, thriving aquarium!

For all of you who have asked about cleaning fish tanks… Aquarium cleaning is a simple and straight forward task, and should not take very long (Unless you have a particularly small tank or bowl, in which case care can be quite cumbersome and time consuming). The better care you provide for your tank, the healthier your fish will be, the nicer your tank will look and the easier your tank will be to care for in the future.

Fish Tank Maintenance

Don’t I Have to Remove Everything from the Fish Tank when Cleaning?

You should not need to take all the stuff (plants, decorations, etc.) out of the fish tank when you clean it. In fact, I would not recommend it. This just produces extra work for you and creates a large and unnecessary mess. Remember, every surface in the tank will grow some beneficial bacteria that are part of the biological filter. By removing and cleaning the decorations you stress (and may even kill) some of this bacteria, reducing the quality of your filtration until the filter recovers.

What About Removing the Fish when Cleaning the Aquarium?

Similarly, you do not want to remove the fish from the tank when you do your regular 10-15% water change. This, again, is a lot more work on you, and creates an unnecessary mess. In addition, this can be highly stressful to the fish, and is likely to cause physical injuries to your fish.

Aquarium Maintenance

When cleaning your aquarium, you should just remove part (10-15%) of the water and replace it with fresh, dechlorinated tap water (bowls and vases require larger water changes more often). While you are doing this, you should use your siphon to suck up some of the gunk that collects in the gravel and decorations. If you have an under gravel filter, it is very important to clean the gravel when you do your weekly water changes, this will prevent detritus and other decaying organic matter from blocking the passages between the pebbles and restricting water flow. Generally, you can clean 25-33% (1/4-1/3) of the gravel while siphoning out 10-15% of the water.

What About Algae?

If you have algae growing on the surface of the tank or ornaments, you should get an algae scraper of some sort and scrub the glass before removing water. Many varieties of algae scrapers or scrubbers are available at your local pet store. For additional cleanliness, you could get algae eating catfish and/or scavengers to pick up some of this work for you; however, having catfish in the tank does NOT mean that you don’t need to clean. In fact, algae eaters and catfish, like any other fish, will add to the biological load of your tank and increase aquarium maintenance requirements. (And even those catfish that will eat some algae will not eat much and are unlikely to keep the tank looking clean.)

Dallas Aquarium Experts recommend doing 10-15% water changes once a week for the life of your aquarium. Once you get into this habit, it is not really that much work. Really, it isn’t that much work. Cleaning all the fish tanks in a local pet shop was only a 3 hour job. Doing your weekly water change in your own home aquarium should not take too long.

What If My Filter Is Dirty?

If you have to clean out the filter(s)do not change all the media (cartridges, sponges, carbon packets, etc.) at once, as this will remove the majority of your biological filter, causing the tank to have to go through a cycling period again to get bacteria reestablished. Rinse any new filter media in cool running water before introducing it to the system (unless the instructions for the filter media specifically state not to).

OK, I Have the Old Water Out, Now What?

Once you have siphoned 10-15% of the water from your tank, you will need to fill it again. The easiest and neatest way to do this is to use a siphon to siphon water from a bucket into the tank. This will tend to reduce spilling and messing up the gravel and decorations. Use a bucket that has never had detergents or household chemicals in it (I recommend getting a bucket specifically for use for aquarium chores) and fill it with water. The water should be close to the temperature of the tank water that you just took out (the average person can tell temperature differences within 1/2 degree Fahrenheit or about 1/4 degree Celsius with their hand, so just feel the water to see if it is the same). Use a chlorine or chloramine remover to prepare the water for introduction into the tank. Place the bucket somewhere higher than the top of the fish tank, and get your siphon going again and in just a couple of minutes, you should have a full tank. Be sure to watch the siphon, in case the hose gets bumped out of the tank, or if there is enough water in your bucket to overfill the tank. Remember, there needs to be some space between the top of the water and the aquarium cover, because your fish rely on oxygen exchange at the surface of the water in order to be able to breathe.

What About Topping Off the Fish Tank Between Water Changes?

Do not just “top off the tank” to replace water that “disappears.” This water that is disappearing is evaporating, and it leaves behind all the impurities that were in it to begin with. This means that as you just top off the tank, you are making your water harder until it will eventually no longer be able to support fish.

Additionally, if there are even trace amounts of heavy metals or other toxic substances in the water, you are giving your fish more and more of these every time you top off the tank. Most municipal water systems have at trace levels of at least one potentially hazardous substance, but in minuscule amounts these should never be trouble for you or your fish. Furthermore, by not removing water from the tank from time to time, you allow build up of waste products not removed by the filter (such as Nitrate), which are potentially hazardous to the fish and encourage algae growth.

Usually, if there is significant evaporation between water changes, you are either going far too long between water changes, or there is something wrong with the aquarium setup or equipment that is causing or encouraging evaporation.

Aquarium Maintenance

The amount of basic aquarium maintenance you have to do is directly related to how closely you follow the three rules of fish keeping.

If the tank is overcrowded, if you consistently feed the fish too much food, and if you seldom do partial water changes, the filter system will be unable to keep the water quality where it should be. If you find yourself dealing with diseased and dying fish on a regular basis, you are almost certainly doing at least one of these three things wrong.

Basic aquarium maintenance is not time-consuming if the tank is set up correctly and you go about it properly. You should get in the habit of looking at the fish closely every day or two, as well as checking the water temperature

If you need catching up on routine aquarium maintenance, now is the perfect time.

Scrub algae, check filters, and change bulbs for overall system health.

A strict maintenance schedule must be in place for your fish and other inhabitants to thrive and survive in your aquarium.

Proper and routine cleaning is the key to success and is beneficial. Your inhabitants will stay healthier and your aquariums physical environment will look cleaner.

Start by checking if all your equipments are working properly and efficiently. It’s good to find out if one or more of your equipments are stealing energy that can cost electric bill to go up than usual.

Check the chords to see if any had been tangled up. Remove algae with a scraper, clear your protein skimmer’s collection cup.

Change lamps every six months. If you don’t remember when the last time you changed it, then it’s probably time to get a new one.

But how often should the aquarium maintenance need to take place?

Well it all depends on the following questions:

How big is aquarium?

What kind of aquarium filtration do you use?

What types of inhabitants to you have?

How many inhabitants do you have?

How often do you feed them?

Decide on how often your aquarium needs cleaning based on the question above.

Here is a suggestion or recommendation on aquarium service

Aquarium Service

Daily

Make sure all equipments are running properly.

Temperature (at least twice a day – in the morning and at night) The temperature on your thermometer should match the temperature on your heater’s thermostat. If you see a temperature readout you aren’t expecting, get a new heater immediately. (It’s a good idea to use 2 instead of one anyway – heats more evenly and provides cheap insurance.)

Water Level

Mark the fill levels on the glass on the back of your tank or some other discreet area, and then check your water level if it starts to look low.

Top off evaporated water when the level starts to drop. Dissolved solids like salts do not evaporate, so evaporated water can cause spikes in salinity or pH because the solution in your tank becomes more concentrated. Prepare top-off water as you would for a water change, but without adding salt or mineral supplements.

Unusual Behavior

Observe your tank closely at least once a day. While you’re enjoying the view, take note of a few things

New fish may take a while to settle into normal behavior. Recent changes such as a new addition to the tank can cause shifts in normal behavior. But most of the time, fish are pretty consistent. Check your fish making sure their activity is normal. Checking this daily will help you find out the first signs of disease and treat it early.

Be alert to signs of strange behavior, like a loss of appetite, unusual swimming patterns, or rubbing against ornaments. Signs of illness, such as white fuzz, erratic swimming, or rubbing against ornaments should be dealt with immediately – ideally by moving suspect fish to a quarantine tank and medicating it there.

Dead Fish or Organisms

Small fish that like to hide in decorations or rock crevices could easily die and be unnoticed for days. Anemones and plants are also notorious for dying discreetly.

A dead organism immediately begins to decompose and will soon flood your system with toxic ammonia, likely more than your filters are prepared to handle – especially in smaller tanks. So do a head count every day and remove anything that will decay.

Protein Skimmers

A protein skimmer’s collection cup should be emptied of waste every few days or so – whenever it is full. Your skimmer will take a few days to get up to speed; once it’s functioning smoothly, check the cup daily; after a few days you’ll be able to determine how often you need to clean it.

Weekly and/or Bi-Weekly

Partial water change (15-40% of your saltwater aquarium)

The regular water change is the most important thing you must keep up with for the health and appearance of your aquarium. Normally, a water change is only partial – you remove 15-40% of your tank water and replace it with completely new water. Changing more than 30% or so of water at a time can be stressful to fish and is usually avoided unless removing medication or fighting some sort of water quality problem.

Changing water is important because for the vast majority of aquarium systems, there is no other way to remove nitrates from water. Every day, bacteria convert fish waste and excess food into nitrates, so levels are constantly climbing; plants or algae may consume some, but not usually enough to hold nitrate at steady levels. Nitrate is not tolerated well by marine organisms; it’s tolerated a little better by freshwater creatures. But in any tank, you must control nitrate levels by frequently removing nitrate-laden water.

Typically, water changes are performed once a week. But small tanks up to about 10 gallons, where the small volume of water means changes in condition have more impact, usually benefit from 2-3 water changes per week. The same is true for “nano” saltwater tanks (20-40 gallons or less) which need very stable conditions. Large tanks, by contrast, might be fine with a water change every 2 weeks. It depends on your bio load, or the amount of waste produced by your aquarium organisms.

You can tell if you’re changing water enough by measuring nitrates weekly, a day or so after a water change. If your nitrate levels decrease or remain the same from week to week, you are changing frequently enough. If they climb, you need to change more frequently. Since this is directly related to how much waste your creatures are producing, levels that stay dangerously high or persist in climbing may mean you’re overstocked.

A freshwater tank’s nitrates should stay safely below 40ppm; a saltwater tank should be around 10-20ppm, the lower the better, especially for sensitive reef tanks.

Water changes are the best time to do some easy cleaning chores.

Replace Filter Media

Most filter cartridges and chemical filter media need to be replaced roughly once a month (follow directions).

Biological media should only be rinsed if it is clogged with debris, but never rinse a significant portion at once; do it in rotating batches and let a week or more go by before you do the next. A light film of slime shouldn’t be cause for concern. Biological media normally doesn’t need to be replaced, and shouldn’t be.

Make sure you power off and unplug any equipment you are working on.

Rinse pads and sponges in aquarium water – do this during a water change, so you can use the water you removed from the tank. If they are so clogged they can’t be cleaned, it’s time to replace them. Do this every two weeks instead if they’re growing dirty quickly.

When you clean your media, observe the inside of your filter components – if there is a lot of gunk clogging up the works, remove it with a flexible cleaning brush.

Using chlorinated water will cause temperature change and can kill the bacteria that accumulated.

Monthly Aquarium Service

It’s a great idea to record monthly maintenance tasks in a log or journal when you do them, so you can easily tell when you need to do them next; also to follow developing trends, identify possible problems and keep up on refill changes.

Testing Equipment

Unless you’re in a period of transition – new fish, recently dead or ill fish, etc – you can probably get away with testing pH levels, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates monthly – but keep records of the results, days and times that you took them. (pH varies throughout the day, so measuring at the same time matters.)

If water conditions ever seem suspicious or there is a mystery problem in your tank, measure these levels and check for changes. You can then refer to these measurements if you ever need to consult other hobbyists or experts about your problem. They will go a long way towards figuring out what is wrong.

Replace filter media biweekly

General inspection of all equipments for proper operation.

Check expiration dated on the boxes and bottles of your aquarium supplies that you use.

When required

Algae clean up on aquarium glass and decorations.

Good water quality ensures health for your saltwater fish and other inhabitants. Remember that you have to be fully dedicated to this kind of hobby to avoid not only saltwater fish and other inhabitants’ loss but also your money’s worth.

Aquarium Service Company

Knowledgeable, Experienced, Aquarists Keep Your Aquarium Healthy and Thriving Dallas Aquarium Experts provides you worry-free enjoyment with our professional aquarium maintenance services.

Your aquarium is like its own mini-ecosystem. When everything is in balance, all species in your tank thrive. But that balance can be hard to maintain, especially for complex ecosystems like saltwater and multi-species environments. The professionals at Infinity keep your aquarium in natural harmony so that it remains healthy and thriving.

Dallas Aquarium Experts provides both freshwater and saltwater aquarium maintenance services for residential, and commercial.

• House, condo, or apartment installations
• Private offices and commercial buildings
• Restaurants
• Malls
• Hotels

With over 35 years of experience, our team of trained aquarists is among the most skilled and knowledgeable in the DFW area, further demonstrated by our 95% client satisfaction rate.

Why Do I Need Professional Aquarium Maintenance Services?

Convenience – You don’t have to worry about cleaning the tank, ordering food and supplies, maintaining critical levels like salinity and PH, or other time consuming and sometimes complex procedures. Healthier Livestock – Fish, coral, and other species all then to do better when cared for by professional aquarists. Available Emergency Services – Professional aquarists tend to spot sick fish or poor living environments faster, and immediately know what to do to prevent the spread of disease and improve tank conditions. We also provide our clients with a 24/7 emergency hotline number so that you can call us anytime should your tank require immediate attention.

Our vehicles are equipped with a full supply of pre-mixed de-ionized salt water as well as all of the necessary tools and supplies needed including additives, foods, tools, test-kits, and even livestock right to your doorstep at no additional charge.

No Obligation Initial Consultation:

After our free initial consultation and estimate, Dallas Aquarium Experts can design and install an aquarium best suited for your needs. We are able to install custom built-in aquariums or standard aquariums on a stand, whatever suits your needs and budget.

Contact Dallas Aquarium Experts today to for professional aquarium services. Experience Matters. Integrity Matters. Dallas  Aquarium Experts has earned our reputation for providing expert service with integrity.