Fish Girl

Thanks to all who replied to my first question. My next lot are to do with tank cleaning.

How often do I clean the tank how do I do it (especially without disturbing the fish) and what do I use? Do I have to buy lots of specialist equipment, which sounds rather daunting, or are there ordinary household items I can substitute? For instance, I read somewhere on the net about using a credit card to scrape off algae.

Once again, thank-you for your time Any advice on the matter gratefully received.

newbie101

its pretty simple, what size tank do you have again?

newbie101

Okay to start off you need a "Gravel Vacuum" for smallish tanks and a "python" for large tanks (like 55 and up i think?) and you just stick the thing in there to do water changes and gravel vacuuming. This doesnt disturb the fish unless you chase them around and whack them wirth it :P You change the water about once a week, more often when the tank is starting (cycling with fish) about 10-25%, depending on who you ask. If the tank looks pretty clean, all the fish look fine and nobody's been sick for a while, then 10% is okay but if it's dirty looking or the fish are looking unhappy then you should do a larger one. Yes you can use a credit card to scrape algae, some people use a special algae magnet that cleans it without you getting your hands wet. None of this is very expensive, though the python (for big tanks) can be about $30 (US). Gravel Vacs are much cheaper. I got mine for $5. Not sure if you know but you also need a dechlorinator/detoxicizer like Aqua safe, Stress Coat, etc.
anything im forgetting just ask for clarification
good luck!

Deus

just a quick, maybe silly one: How do you know your fish are happy?

Butterfly

You know your fish are happy when they eat good, swim around the tank, have good color and don't hide alot if it's not their nature.
Carol

Deus

Fair eough. They seem to like chasing each other (tick "swim around the tank), the colour I can't see and find deplorably boring but my wive says the blokes are red and the girls brown (or vce versa so tick "good color") and they don't hide I don't think. Though they quite oftn float around the "plant".

Butterfly

Sounds like happy fish to me
Carol

vin

If you can find this book, BUY IT! It's chock full of great information and the most consistent that you will find anywhere.

"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Freshwater Aquariums" - by Mike Wickham

It's tough to find, but if you can get it, it's worth it. I finally found a copy on eBay and I'm glad I did.....It mirrors much of the information given by our resident experts on this site.....