I just wanted to know what the 'proper' way to clean a tank is. You know, ornaments, glass etc...How and how often.

I want to make sure I'm doing thing right and not over/under-cleaning. Also, I have 1 hollow ornament and I've read that I should clean it out once a week. Is this right?

Since I've got extra filtration, aeration etc, the limescale problem isn't a problem any more and I only need to clean the glass once a week/2 weeks.

Do ornaments actually provide surfaces for the good bacteria to grow on, or is this just in the filters?

I know these sound like simple questions but I want to double check to make sure I'm doing what's best for my little fishies

Hi Limeyron.Anything that has surface area can host good bacteria-gravel/ornaments,plants,etc.They are in the very small range though of holding it as your filter is really the big space.
I do weekly water changes,along with gravel vacs.If your tank is pretty new and still trying to establish itself,then you can do a gravel vac on half the tank's gravel at one time.As for plants/ornaments,etc,I only clean them when they are getting alot of unsightly algae.I take them out of the tank and soak them in a Vinegar /water solution in very hot water,and I buy a nice soft bristled toothbrush to clean the ornaments with.Once I get them clean,I rinse them over and over in water.Some people use Bleach the same way,but I don't feel comfortable recommending Bleach to newbies.Anytime that you have ornaments,etc.,it's always a good idea to pick them up during weekly gravel vac's and clean under them.It's amazing how much gunk squeezes it's way under them and builds up.By moving often and cleaning,you'll have alot less problems further down the line.
Sometimes tank glass gets that white slimey algae/or brown fuzzy appearance.You can buy a brush at your local fish store to scrub the tank glass with to get that off if it's bothering you.I tend to go to the Dollar store and buy a pkg. of these plastic like "scouring pads" and keep one at each tank area,for this reason.I normally clean the front and the sides and leave the back alone,unless it's getting rather unsightly.
Cleaning my filter's depends on what type they are.Aquaclears tend to rise up when the filter sponges get dirty-which can sometimes cause water to be on the floor. I tend to take them out during my water changes and swish them around in the water I just changed out,to get any major gunk and such off of them.My tanks have been established though for a long time,so I never have any bumps in my cycle doing this.As for the Emperor's/Penguin Filter's,I do those less often,probably every couple of weeks,and I give it the same treatment as the Aquaclear sponges.By doing this,it also helps keep your Nitrates from going sky high too.If you ever see the water just trickling out of the filter,or parts not flowing smoothly,then that's also an indicator that your filter needs a good rinse.Hope I helped you some.If you have any more questions,feel free to ask.

Well...I wondered what was taking you so long to post and now I know why! That's a big post

Some of what you've said I already know about, like cleaning under the ornaments, keeping an eye on the filter, and the scouring brushes (I've got a nice big one with a long handle that does the job perfectly, as well as a scraper). I know what you mean about the gunk getting under the ornaments...It's amazing how much stuff gets under them! Before I sold that big bridge, I never cleaned under it and you should have seen the stuff that was under it and what fell out of the bottom when I lifted it out of the water! No wonder the ammonia was through the roof!

The vinegar/water solution seems like a good idea and I didn't even think of that. I don't think bleach is a good idea anyway because there's always the chance that you'll miss a bit when you rinse it off, and that can't be good for the fish..
I'd better keep an eye on my filter in the big tank because if that blocks I'm totally stuffed. I've got a load of electrical equipment, cable and plugs directly underneath the tank! I dropped about a gallon of water all over it the other day, but luckily nothing happened and once I'd cleaned up and let it all dry out it was fine.

Thanks a lot for all the info Devs. It's helped put things straight in my mind.

Just one more thing...do you recommend a complete cleanout at any point as part of a routine, or is this just done when there's a major health problem in the tank?

Thanks again!

I like to do a "complete" clean out about once a year - when I replace the light bulbs/UV bulbs....

This does not mean I recycle the tank, though. The fish are placed in a tub with all the media. The tank is broken down and really cleaned. The filters are taken apart and cleaned. All hoses, pumps, deco and plants are scrubbed and cleaned. Lights and electrical equipment is all checked and tested and cleaned if necessary.

The tank is reassembled and the media is set back into the filters and set running. The fish are returned. Water is 100% new.

Thanks Daryl. I know you know what you're talking about. I had a look at the thread about your big 56G corner tank earlier today and it looks absolutely gorgeously clean. I wish mine looked like that, but I suppose I'll have to wait until I get a larger tank that needs less maintenance because it won't be overcrowded. I'm aiming for around 40 gallons per fish so that they're happy, plus I want a long tank so that they have plenty of room to zoom around all day.

I can't wait til next year because my sister might be moving out and I'll be having her room which is much bigger, plus she's leaving her desk behind. It's 71" (nearly 6 feet) long, 32" (2 feet 8 inches) wide, and very sturdy. I will be able to fit a HUGE tank on it. We're talking triple figures here
I'd love to get a 150 gallon tank and I know it's gonna weigh loads but if I reinforce the desk it should be ok. All I have to worry about is the floor...I'd better find out how well it was constructed and what the maximum load per foot is otherwise I might have a catastrophic failure and end up sitting in the front room with a fish up my butt. I can safely say my parents will not be impressed...and most importantly, my fish will be dead

That is kinda funny cuz my sister just moved out and I get her room which is larger than mine. We just have to paint and put down laminate flooring. I want the room to stay bright yellow, but my parents won't let me keep it that way. I hope to get a 55 gallon and put in my old room which is becoming a storage room.

This is even weirder...my sister's room is bright yellow too lol...and when I move into it, my old room's gonna be a storage room. How weird is that?

That is wickedly awesomely cool!! I hope to get a 55 gallon or at least a 29 gallon for my old room/storage room.

How many/what size tank(s) do you have at the moment? I can't wait to upgrade but until my sis moves out I can't go too big. Eventually I want a tank that in total (fish, filters, pumps etc..) is worth more than anything else in the house and when I get my own place....there's gonna be fish everywhere!

I want all sorts of fish in a variety of tanks and I'd love to have a shot at breeding, but that will only happen when I'm really experienced and can afford everything they'll need, especially time and effort...

I have a 20 gallon with 2 fantails and 1 otocinclus catfish. I hope to get a 55 gallon but at least a 29 gallon. I may never get any more tanks while I live with my parents, but when I get 18, me and my friend are moving to florida and I am going to have a fishroom.

Nice...I've got a total of about 18 gallons and it's nowhere near enough. I want more!
It's tough trying to find space when you live with your parents. I can only have the fish in my room and there's barely enough room for me in there! When I get my own place I'm gonna have fish in the bedroom, front room, and probably the bathroom since that's where I do most of the cleaning. I won't put them in the kitchen in case people get the wrong idea and think I'm breeding to feed!

I won't eat fish. It is too sad for me cuz I have them and I think about how much I care for my fish and how much they love to live. Maybe it is just me tho.

It's not just you. I was reading a thread on that exact topic a few weeks ago and a lot of people won't eat fish because it just doesn't feel right