just wonder because my fish just died last night
please post
Full Version: How Do U Clean The Tank And Ornaments
I guess if you think that parasites were the culprit, you could disenfect your ornaments with a wash for water & vinegar (outside of the main tank, of course).
If you don't have any fish left, you may want to give the gravel a real good vacuuming, then swish the filter cartridges in the old tank water to make sure that you get any old mulm off of it.
Afterwards, I suppose just check water parameters until it's ready to have a new fish.
However, if you think the fish died of other causes besides parasites, I suggest you double check your water quality and do what you can to get that fixed first.
If you don't have any fish left, you may want to give the gravel a real good vacuuming, then swish the filter cartridges in the old tank water to make sure that you get any old mulm off of it.
Afterwards, I suppose just check water parameters until it's ready to have a new fish.
However, if you think the fish died of other causes besides parasites, I suggest you double check your water quality and do what you can to get that fixed first.
Did your fish die AFTER you cleaned your tank?
If so, there are a few things that should be mentioned.
1. Any aquatic life kept in captivity will die if exposed to chlorine, no matter how minute. It will burn the gills and essentially suffocate them. A dechlorinator MUST be used, no matter whether you're changing a cupful or the entire tank.
2. Gravel should never be completely removed when you are routinely cleaning your tank! This is a good place for beneficial bacteria. Doing so can cause a major upset in your biological cycle, and be a culprit for rising ammonia levels. It should also be noted that gravel is also a good place for bad bacteria also. If gas is trapped in the gravel and released while you are cleaning your tank, it's imperative to change as much water as possible for the health of your fish.
3. When cleaning your filters, it is a very good idea to clean them in water that has been removed from the tank if it isn't very dirty. If your water is dirty, then get a clean bucketful of tap water, dechlorinate it, and rinse your filter media in this. The same goes for ornaments, fake plants, etc. Algae won't hurt anything for the most part [hair algae can be a problem, but I have never seen this in a freshwater tank].
4. NEVER USE CHEMICALS. Using chemicals will kill your fish. Dish soap, harsh cleaners such as 409 and such leave fatal residues on aquaria surfaces. Never spray Windex on the outside of your tank glass! If your glass is dirty, an easy fix is to dip your hand into the water and spread water on the glass, then wipe it off with a towel - paper or cloth is fine. Using wash cloths that have been washed and dried using softener can sometimes be a culprit. An algae pad is an inexpensive and very handy thing to have - use this to clean the inside of your filter if it accumulates too much slime, your ornaments and fake plants. They will be marked for glass or acrylic aquariums. An algae pad made for glass can scratch acrylic. It's also not good to spray air freshners in the same room as your tanks for the simple reason of the stuff getting into the water and poisoning your fish.
5. Clean your tank once every one or two weeks. If you go too long without changing your water, and the parameters get too off, that can also kill your fish. Waiting too long between water changes can cause pH crashes [very often fatal], ammonia/nitrite/nitrate buildup, and also buildup of hormones secreted by your fish.
Now that I've written a novel, I think there should be some other suggestions!
Rai
If so, there are a few things that should be mentioned.
1. Any aquatic life kept in captivity will die if exposed to chlorine, no matter how minute. It will burn the gills and essentially suffocate them. A dechlorinator MUST be used, no matter whether you're changing a cupful or the entire tank.
2. Gravel should never be completely removed when you are routinely cleaning your tank! This is a good place for beneficial bacteria. Doing so can cause a major upset in your biological cycle, and be a culprit for rising ammonia levels. It should also be noted that gravel is also a good place for bad bacteria also. If gas is trapped in the gravel and released while you are cleaning your tank, it's imperative to change as much water as possible for the health of your fish.
3. When cleaning your filters, it is a very good idea to clean them in water that has been removed from the tank if it isn't very dirty. If your water is dirty, then get a clean bucketful of tap water, dechlorinate it, and rinse your filter media in this. The same goes for ornaments, fake plants, etc. Algae won't hurt anything for the most part [hair algae can be a problem, but I have never seen this in a freshwater tank].
4. NEVER USE CHEMICALS. Using chemicals will kill your fish. Dish soap, harsh cleaners such as 409 and such leave fatal residues on aquaria surfaces. Never spray Windex on the outside of your tank glass! If your glass is dirty, an easy fix is to dip your hand into the water and spread water on the glass, then wipe it off with a towel - paper or cloth is fine. Using wash cloths that have been washed and dried using softener can sometimes be a culprit. An algae pad is an inexpensive and very handy thing to have - use this to clean the inside of your filter if it accumulates too much slime, your ornaments and fake plants. They will be marked for glass or acrylic aquariums. An algae pad made for glass can scratch acrylic. It's also not good to spray air freshners in the same room as your tanks for the simple reason of the stuff getting into the water and poisoning your fish.
5. Clean your tank once every one or two weeks. If you go too long without changing your water, and the parameters get too off, that can also kill your fish. Waiting too long between water changes can cause pH crashes [very often fatal], ammonia/nitrite/nitrate buildup, and also buildup of hormones secreted by your fish.
Now that I've written a novel, I think there should be some other suggestions!
Rai
Sorry to hear about your fish.
What I do for the ornaments Is I take them out and boil them in water.
1. Bring the water in the pan up to a boil.
2. Then use one of those things that you use to flip hotdogs on the grill to put the ornaments in the boiling water.
3. Let them sit in the water for about 15-30 seconds then take them out And hang them upside down. If you dont they will cool down and become warped and messed up.
Do NOT boil any glass ornaments or any that have glue on them. The Glass may crack or even explode. The Glue will melt and come off.
What I do for the ornaments Is I take them out and boil them in water.
1. Bring the water in the pan up to a boil.
2. Then use one of those things that you use to flip hotdogs on the grill to put the ornaments in the boiling water.
3. Let them sit in the water for about 15-30 seconds then take them out And hang them upside down. If you dont they will cool down and become warped and messed up.
Do NOT boil any glass ornaments or any that have glue on them. The Glass may crack or even explode. The Glue will melt and come off.
thanks
thanks everyone
I'm still curious. Did the fish die after you cleaned your tank? It was never really specified any symptoms, possible causes, etc.
no they died before that
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