Goldfish are a little larger than other fish, so we usually use a larger tank for goldfish. The excess food we use for our goldfish and the goldfish waste accumulate at the bottom of the aquarium, which is later converted into harmful substances, namely ammonia and nitrite.
When ammonia and nitrite levels in our goldfish tank increase, the environment in our aquarium begins to deteriorate, increasing the chances of our goldfish becoming sick.
Not only that, if the amount of other particles in the tank water increases, then the amount of dissolved oxygen in our tank water also decreases. Therefore, it is essential for us to keep our goldfish tank clean on a regular basis.
How to clean a goldfish tank :
How often we change the water in our goldfish tank or clean the tank completely depends on many factors, such as,
If the tank is very large and contains very few goldfish, the water environment in the tank will not deteriorate very quickly. In this case we can increase the time limit for deep tank cleaning.
However, if our goldfish tank is small and there are too many goldfish in it, the water environment in the tank is likely to deteriorate quickly. In this case, it is especially necessary to clean our goldfish tank regularly.
Also, if we use a very high-quality filter in the goldfish tank, the chances of the tank water becoming contaminated quickly are much less.
Many times we keep aquatic plants in our goldfish tanks, these aquatic plants help improve the environment of our goldfish tank.Therefore, keeping aquatic plants in a goldfish tank greatly reduces the chances of the tank’s water environment deteriorating quickly.
However, to clean the goldfish aquarium, we need some things like, aquarium vacuum cleaner, large size bucket, algae scraper, filter media, a small plastic container or mug and aquarium fishing nets, etc.
Deep cleaning of goldfish tank:
Before deep cleaning our goldfish tank, we need to wash our hands thoroughly. As a result, no germs or bacteria from outside will be able to reach the tank through our hands.
- First, we need to turn off the electricity in our aquarium, meaning we need to turn off the filter, lights, and air pump.
- Now, using a small plastic container or mug, take water from the aquarium and put it in a bucket.
- We need to catch the goldfish using the aquarium fishing net and release them into the bucket. And we should keep our goldfish in a safe place.
- Then, as soon as possible, the water in the aquarium should be reduced using a suction pipe.
- Now, the various aquatic plants and ornaments used in the aquarium should be taken out of the aquarium, cleaned thoroughly, and placed in a specific place.
- Also, the aquarium filter, heater and air pump used should be removed from the aquarium and cleaned thoroughly. The sponges or surfaces used in mechanical filters should be replaced if necessary.
- Now, carefully remove the small pebbles used in the aquarium and place them in a large container. Then we need to clean those small pebbles thoroughly using clean water. If possible, those small pebbles should be dried as much as possible in a little sunlight.
- Now, using an algae scraper, we need to thoroughly clean the glass walls around our aquarium, using clear water.
- We need to wipe the aquarium thoroughly using a clean cloth. Then, the small pebbles kept in the large container should be spread on the bottom of the aquarium.
- Now the aquarium ornaments and aquatic plants need to be placed in specific places. Then, the filter, heater, and air pump used in the aquarium must be installed correctly.
- Now we need to slowly fill our aquarium with water using a small plastic container or mug. As a result, aquatic plants, filters and heaters used in the aquarium will not be displaced.
- Next, we need to turn on the current to the filter heater and air pump. If necessary, sufficient amounts of conditioner and prebiotics should be used in the aquarium water.
When we see that our water temperature has reached around 72° to 80° Fahrenheit, we can release our goldfish into the aquarium water.
Partially cleaning the goldfish tank:
We can partially clean our goldfish aquarium, which saves us a lot of time and leaves our goldfish tank much cleaner. We usually deep clean our goldfish aquarium at least once every two months.
However, it is essential to partially clean our goldfish tank at least once a week. We can partially clean our goldfish tank by adopting some simple methods such as,
- First of all, the filter, heater, air pump and lights used for the goldfish tank must be turned off.
- Now, use a magnetic algae scraper to completely clean the aquarium glass.
- A large bucket should be used to reduce the water in the aquarium.
- Use a suction pipe to remove excess food, goldfish waste, and other unnecessary substances that have accumulated at the bottom of the tank. So we need to remove the water from the bottom of our goldfish tank using as much suction as possible. But we should keep one thing in mind, only 15 to 20% of the water should be reduced from the tank.
- Then, using a small plastic container or mug, very slowly fill the tank with water. However, it is important to be aware of the correct water to use for our goldfish.
- Once the tank is completely filled with water, the tank’s heater, air pump, filter, and lights should be turned on.
In a short time, the water temperature will be under control and the tank environment will be much better than before. However, there is no need to catch our goldfish and place them in another container during a partial water change.
How often does a goldfish tank need to be cleaned?
How often we clean our goldfish tank depends entirely on the size of the tank and how many goldfish are in it.
If the tank is very large and there are fewer goldfish in it, we will have some more time to clean the tank. Similarly, if the tank is small and there are a lot of goldfish in it, then we will have to clean it every few days, otherwise the tank environment will continue to deteriorate.
However, we generally need to partially clean our tank once a week and deep clean our goldfish tank every two months.
What is the easiest way to clean a fish tank?
If we partially clean our goldfish tank, the chances of harmful substances like ammonia and nitrite building up in it are much lower.
Although it is very easy to partially clean our goldfish tank, in this case we simply use a suction pipe to remove the dirt accumulated on the bottom of the aquarium. We increase the water level in the tank again by using some clear water.
Partial cleaning once a week can greatly improve the water environment of our goldfish tank, and it doesn’t take us much time or physical effort to do this.
But that doesn’t mean we don’t need to deep clean our goldfish tank. We need to deep clean our goldfish tank at least once every two months.
Goldfish tank cleaner fish?
We can also keep other fish in our goldfish tank along with our goldfish, which we usually call goldfish tank mates.
In most cases, goldfish have been observed to consume algae in their tank as food. However, if we keep goldfish with fish that consume the excess algae in the tank, our aquarium will be much cleaner. Not only that, but various fish that usually consume excess food from the bottom of the tank and maintain the balance of the water environment in our tank.
Therefore, we should keep different types of catfish with goldfish, which are especially helpful in keeping our goldfish tank clean, such as,
- Hypostomus plecostomus or Suckermouth catfish,
- Corydoras
- Loaches
- Snails
The fish mentioned above are completely safe to keep with goldfish.
Though there are also many fish available that reduce the chances of algae growth in our tanks and consume food that falls to the bottom of the tank. However, due to the aggressive nature of these fish, it is best not to keep them with goldfish.
Can I use soap to clean a fish tank?
No, we cannot use any chemical-containing soap to clean the goldfish tank. Generally, various soaps contain a high amount of alkali which can increase the pH (potential of hydrogen) level of our aquarium water. Also, various soaps contain disinfectant chemicals that are extremely harmful to our fish.
If we use any kind of soap in our fish tank, the chances of our goldfish getting sick quickly increase. Using soaps containing chemicals increases the chances of our goldfish developing infections in various parts of their body and in their gills.
What is a natural cleaner for fish tank?
We generally do not use any chemical-based soaps for goldfish tanks. Our goldfish tank should always be cleaned with clear water. However, many times we have seen that algae stuck to the glass walls of the tank does not want to be removed, and for that we can use vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.
However, in this case, after cleaning our tank thoroughly, it is necessary to dry it in the sun for a short time, otherwise, problems with the pH of the water may arise.
What if I accidentally washed my fish tank with soap?
If we unknowingly and mistakenly use chemical soap in our fish tank, then we need to wash the tank again using clear water.
Then the tank should be cleaned again using lemon juice or vinegar. If necessary, the tank should be wiped thoroughly with a clean cloth and dried in the presence of sunlight for a while. If possible, the pH level of the water should be checked once before using the tank again.
How often to clean goldfish tank with filter?
It is essential to use a high-quality filter for a goldfish tank. This is because excess food used for goldfish and goldfish waste accumulate at the bottom of the aquarium, which is later converted into harmful substances such as ammonia and nitrite.
If we use a high-quality aquarium filter, not much dirt can accumulate at the bottom of the goldfish tank. Also, using a good filter helps the nitrogen cycle work properly in our aquarium. As a result, excess ammonia does not build up in our aquarium.
However, that doesn’t mean that we don’t need to clean our goldfish tank regularly. Even if we have a filter in our aquarium, we still need to partially clean the aquarium at least once a week and it is especially important to clean the aquarium deeply every two months.
Welcome to our website Aquarium Fish Zone. My name is Sagar Ghosh and I live in Kolkata. I am a science graduate.
I have kept fish in aquariums since I was very young. I loved seeing the colorful fish in the aquarium.
I have always tried to maintain and care for the fish properly. So me and my team members have created this website. As a result, we can provide you with accurate information about how aquarium fish are kept.