What is the best way to clean it?

What is the best way to clean a 50 gallon tank? It needs a real good vac. So could I do a 50% change once a week for a few weeks until it is good? For the past 2 years it was cleaned once a month. It has 2 adult oscars in it (they are over 3 years old). Sometime in the past 2 years a convict and JD was added. Now that I have it I want to make sure I do it right as the biggest tank I have had is a 14 gallon. I have Tetra Aquasafe Plus. When I do water changes on my 14 gallon I add the Tetra to the bucket of new water before I pour it in. It only takes 1 bucket of water to replace it. Well, how do I do it with the 50 gallon? Could I add it directly to the tank for the size of the tank and then add the new water? But then the water I am adding to the tank still has chlorine and whatnot in it. I am doing a cleaning tomorrow because it is my only day off this week.

 

If the tank has been a little neglected for the past 2 years, it would probably be best to start with a 10 to 20 percent water change and work your way up to 50% just to make sure there isn't too big of a change in the mineral content in the tank water. Minerals get depleted over time and if too large of a water change is done, it can cause harm to the fish. Once the water has been changed often enough that the minerals in the tank are the same or close to the same as in the source water then you can do as large of a water change as you desire without having to worry about harming the fish.

50% weekly water changes are a real benefit to the fish so you can implement them and continue to do them for the life of the tank if you choose. I wouldn't recommend doing anything smaller than 30%.

Most people that use python type water changers add the water conditioner while they refill their tanks. You can add it first then fill, or you can add it while filling, some wait until the tank is full before adding it, and others prefer to add a little before, during and after to cover all of the bases. What ever works best for you should be fine, as long as it does get used. If you dose the tank with your water conditioner before you refill it, the chemicals that will take care of the chlorine, chloramine and heavy metals will be sitting there waiting for those elements and it will take care of them when the tank is refilled.

If you are changing out large amounts of water, use enough water conditioner to treat the entire tank that way you won't have to worry about whether you used enough or not.

 

Good morning,

Please keep in mind that nothing is better for your fish than freshwater. No matter how much filtration you have or how many plants your have in the tank, nothing beats a fresh drink of water. I would also recommend that you keep up with weekly water changes instead of monthly.

Your fish will appreciate it!

Ken

 

I will be doing water changes every week. I was told to do 50% water changes once a month and use the 5 gallon bucket to refill with. Doing 5 trips with the 5 gallon bucket is definitely toning my arms! I am just glad that the vac reaches out my back door!

 

You can look into one of the python type water changing systems, or create your own with a water bed adapter for the tap and extra hose if you need it. It will save you a lot of work plus no more buckets.

 

I hooked the vac to the faucet to refill the tank. So much easier than filling the bucket in the tub! Haha I wondered why it had an end to screw onto something. Took a lot less time than it usually does. I have my eye on a 100 gallon setup. Now to figure where I can put it. May finish making the garage I to a room and but a tank out there. Otherwise I will have to put it in the living room where I have 2 tanks already. I already have my couch in the garage to make room and instead put a rocker, a recliner and an antique chair tosit on. I had to arrange around the tank that was already here when I moved in.

 

I'm am in love with my water changer <3 Best fish keeping equipment ever. I actually look forward to water changes lol.

 

Hey Jeni, not that you necessarily need to know this because you drain the tank out the back door, but that thing that hooks onto your tap when it's in the opposite position that you use to fill the tank, it also draws the water out of the tank and puts it straight down the drain. Turning the tap on creates a suction effect which starts the gravel vac/syphon going without having to suck on the end of the hose or doing anything else funky.

I'm really glad to hear you already own one. That's totally awesome.

 

Can someone share what this wonderous water changer is I do 5 g bucket trip and change between 30-50 % a week on a 55 gallon tank............my tank is about 20ft away from the kitchen sink, but still that's a lot of 4-5 g trips............. x

 

Starting a siphon is as easy as 1-2-3 - this video had me smacking my forehead, "Why didn't I think of that" 1-2-3 easy aquarium siphon instructions - video | Cleaning and Maintenance Forum | 19653

Tuufy - the magical water changer is most likely a Python

 

Can someone share what this wonderous water changer is I do 5 g bucket trip and change between 30-50 % a week on a 55 gallon tank............my tank is about 20ft away from the kitchen sink, but still that's a lot of 4-5 g trips............. x

I have an Aqueon water changer. Got it on sale at petco. I <3 it so much!

Python:

 

I have a Python. At the last place I lived when I had first gotten a 3 gallon mop bucket to change water with on my 10 gallon, the handle broke when I was walking from the kitchen to the living room (open spaced area). It was about midnight when I was doing my water change. The whole place was tile or the fake wood flooring. Water went EVERYWHERE. I scared my dog, she had been asleep. So not only did the tank get a cleaning I ended up mopping the kitchen and living room!

 

ok thanks I got it saved in my shopping cart for next time