Fish Tank Maintenance Schedule

Maintaining your fish tank is a process. You should develop a schedule that suits your lifestyle. Though some of the processes for fish tanks vary between Tropical and Marine, your maintenance schedule is very similar. I want to take a moment to share my fish tank cleaning schedule with you.

Daily Fish Tank Chores

• Feed the fish
• Observe for ill, injured, or dead fish-remove, treat, or separate from community
• Note if there are any filtration issues and attend to them
  
• Look at the thermometer to check for water temperature changes
  

Weekly Fish Tank Chores

• Scrape aquarium walls to remove algae
• Wipe exterior of fish tank to remove smudges, dust, or build up
  
• Replant any decorations the fish may have up-rooted
• Check decorations for algae, remove and brush if necessary
  
• Add treated water to replenish from evaporation
• Observe filters for excessive build up or debris clean as necessary
  

Monthly Fish Tank Chores

• Vacuum gravel and perform a 1/3 water change
• Rinse filter cartridge, I only replace my cartridges once every 4 to 6 months and I alternate that: There are 4 cartridges I replace one a month, never all at the same time. We also have two types of filtration on the fish tanks with replaceable filters.
  
• Brush out filter tubing and housing
  
• Check filter motor for free movement, clean as needed

You should never perform all your fish tank maintenance on the same day. If you vacuumed the gravel one day, give the water several days to replenish bacteria before you rinse the filters. Wait at least a week if you intend to change the filter.

Aquariums 10 to 20 gallons and under need more frequent vacuuming and water changes. This maintenance schedule is for your average size fish tank (30 to 55 gallon). Larger aquariums, 65 plus gallon, owners can get away with less frequent water changes, say once every six weeks to two months. However, your daily and weekly maintenance remains constant.

Remember any time you add water to your fish tank you must add water conditioner!

Tetra AquaSafe Water Conditioner w/BioExtract, 8.45 Ounces