Rearranging And Deep Cleaning

hello, I need some pointers on rearranging and cleaning out my tank.
it's been running for quite a while now, but I am very unhappy with how it looks. i'm more focused on rearranging than deep cleaning, but either way the tips would be nice. with the fish still in the tank, it would be hard to rearrange without hurting them! so I want to move them all into my 6gal bin. BUT! I still have shrimp that i'm very worried will get crushed! they're so spread out and fast that I might not be able to catch them all! I tried to start doing a fishless cycle in that bin so there is still ammonia in there. most likely I will take all of that water out, replace it with my tank water, and add prime. would it be bad to do a little bit of scrubbing the glass and decorations, and doing filter maintenance at the same time? what's the best way to go about moving plants around? also, I am wanting to add a new heater that will take the tank from 79 to 76. what's the best way to go about that?

 

I don't understand what the problem is. I "deep clean" all the time and leave the fish in. Work one section of the tank at a time ... they'll hide in the other.

 

I don't understand what the problem is. I "deep clean" all the time and leave the fish in. Work one section of the tank at a time ... they'll hide in the other.

it may just be that i'm a worrier.
but i'm afraid that the wood will be so big it will be difficult, I will have to flip it over, move it, etc. to see where I like it. the same thing will go for the other hardscape.

 

I don't know ... how long do you think it will take you to do the "refurbishment". If you can do it in a day, you don't need to recycle the bin you're temporarily homing your fish in.

I just don't like moving fish unless they're goldfish ... and then I don't have two thoughts about it. But smaller fish, catching and moving them around ... it can be pretty stressful. If the fish are healthy they'll prolly be okay though.

 

I don't know ... how long do you think it will take you to do the "refurbishment". If you can do it in a day, you don't need to recycle the bin you're temporarily homing your fish in.

I just don't like moving fish unless they're goldfish ... and then I don't have two thoughts about it. But smaller fish, catching and moving them around ... it can be pretty stressful. If the fish are healthy they'll prolly be okay though.

i'll try it out without moving them, then. I will be able to rearrange it (hopefully) all at once.

 

Whenever I am deep cleaning, I take all the ornaments out and my moss balls and keep them either beside me or in a bucket (they're usually dripping wet).

I would then use an algae sponge of some sort to clean the interior of the tank. You will create quite a mess in the water (things will start floating everywhere but the fish will be fine)

I then syphon 50-60% of the water, let the rest of the water settle, put in fresh water for the fish, then take some time to clean the ornaments and replace them.

The fish honestly don't mind at all.