How to keep a betta fish tank clean
Betta fish, or Siamese fighting fish, are an easy pet compared to many others. They don’t require a large tank. Additionally, you don’t need to aerate their tank because they breathe by taking gulps of air.
That said, you still need to clean your betta fish’s tank. Their waste builds up in the gravel at the bottom and algae grows on the sides. You should never just plop your fish into a bowl of water and use cleaning products you use for your bathroom. Fish are delicate, and it’s imperative for you to use the proper type of tools to clean their tank.
Learn the steps you should follow to thoroughly clean a betta fish tank and keep your scaly friend safe in the process.
Getting prepared to clean a betta fish tank
Preparation is key when it comes to cleaning your betta fish tank, because fish are vulnerable in ways that other animals are not. That’s why you should never rush through this task. Instead, carefully gather the following items before you begin.
Algae scrubber
Algae razor
Toothbrush or other small brush
Container in which to place decorations
Clean your hands
Protecting your betta fish includes preventing your hands from contaminating their tank. Start by washing your hands thoroughly. Scrub them for at least 20 seconds with foaming soap. Once you have washed and dried your hands, pull on a clean pair of aqua gloves.
It’s far too easy to introduce substances to the water in your fish’s tank that are harmful to fish. These potentially deadly substances can be invisible to the naked eye and odorless. Don’t assume your hands are clean because you can’t see or smell anything on them.
Wearing gloves also protects yourself and your family. Since a fish tank contains a mini ecosystem, bacteria can grow rampant in it. If you stick your bare hands into it and touch surfaces in your home without thinking, you risk infecting yourself or a loved one.
Remove the decorations
Don’t clean the decorations while they’re in the tank. This isn’t an effective way of cleaning them. Plus, you’ll either end up cleaning the decorations in the old, dirty water or getting the new, clean water dirty.
Remove each decoration carefully and place them in an outside container.
Power off all electrical components
While some electrical components of your tank are designed to be submerged in water, not all are. It’s critical to remove them for your own safety, first and foremost. Secondly, by taking them out of the tank and moving them away, you eliminate the risk of knocking them into the water and ruining them.
Clean the algae
There are several different ways you can remove algae from your betta fish’s tank. Start by using the algae scrubber. A magnetic algae scrubber is ideal, as it’s less intrusive for your fish. However, if you don’t have one, a long-handled scrubber is sufficient.
In some cases, the scrubber will remove all the algae. If the algae proves stubborn, use the algae razor to finish the job. Pay attention to the type of tank you have. Acrylic tanks require a plastic razor, while a standard razor is safe to use on a glass tank.
Vacuum the gravel
There are two reasons to clean the gravel at the bottom of the tank:
It removes food and feces that can facilitate the growth of bacteria.
It sucks some of the water out of the tank.
In general, you should remove 10% to 30% of the water in the tank. If the tank is small, you should remove closer to 30%.
Start by positioning the siphon of the vacuum just above the gravel. It’s important to set the other end of the vacuum in a bucket or other deep container. This will prevent the water you’ve vacuumed up from pouring onto your floor. Since the gravel is heavy, it won’t end up in the container. However, the water and sources of dirt will.
Clean the decorations
Inspect the decorations to see if they’ve accumulated any grime or algae build-up since the last cleaning. If they have, clean them using this process:
Bring water to a boil.
Place the decorations into the boiling water and let them soak for 20 minutes.
Once 20 minutes has passed, scrub each decoration using a toothbrush or other small brush that can clean tiny crevices effectively.
Clean the filter
Never clean the filter at the same time you clean the tank. Why? The delicate balance of the ecosystem within the tank requires some bacteria. This beneficial bacteria grows in both the filter and the substrate. If you clean the filter and the tank simultaneously, you’ll eliminate all the bacteria. And without bacteria, the ammonia level will likely spike, putting your betta fish’s life in jeopardy.
When you do clean the filter separately, you should invest in a good set of filter brushes. They will help prevent you from damaging any of the parts.
Best betta fish tanks
Fluval Spec III Aquarium Kit: available at Petco With a tank that’s larger than the average betta aquarium, this kit also includes a filter built into the back of the tank and a pump with adjustable current flow. The brightness level of the light is good, and the modern design makes this a nice piece for your home or office.
Tetra Cube Shaped Three-Gallon Aquarium: available at Amazon Beneficial and energy conservation-friendly LED lighting is suspended over this three-gallon tank, and users noted that the filter is whisper quiet.
Aqueon LED Mini Bow Aquarium: available at Petco If you have two male betta fish, this tank may fit the bill. It contains a divider that allows two bettas to coexist peacefully in the same aquarium. The Aqueon Mini Bow Aquarium also comes with a filtering system and a night light.
Marineland Portrait Glass LED Aquarium Kit: available at Amazon The advanced, three-stage filtration of this aquarium is hidden away to give you a full view of your fish. The five-gallon tank includes a white LED light for a sunlight effect and a blue LED light for a moonlight glow effect.
Megan Oster is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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