If you purchased a new aquarium, simply rinsing it out with plain water will be enough. When you get a "new" used aquarium, the most important thing to remember is what not to do. Do not clean the aquarium with soapy water or with cleaning products. You should simply clean the aquarium with hot water.
To dechlorinate tap water, you must allow it to sit for a minimum of 24 hours. For certain water, it can take as long as 5 to 6 days to totally eliminate all of the chlorine from the water. The dichlorination speed varies depending on the amount of water and the concentration of chlorine present.
Vinegar is acidic, so it breaks down gunk and algae (most kinds at least), making them easier to scrub and rinse away. Since it's nontoxic, you can use vinegar on a large variety of aquarium related things: Outside glass.
As long as it wasn't scented you're fine. Depends on the "flavor" of windex, original windex has a lot of ammonia in it and so do several of the store brand blue colored glass cleaners. Windex Multi-Surface with Vinegar is the vinegar based glass cleaner that is good for aquarium use.
The white build-up is caused by calcium deposits or minerals found in water. You can use vinegar to remove the build-up. If you don't have vinegar, you could also use lemon juice, although vinegar works best. Just put some on a clean cloth and rub over the calcium deposit.
Causes of Algae in Aquariums
Too much light or too many nutrients in the water will cause algae to grow rapidly. If you experience algae overgrowth, it could be caused by: Leaving house lights on too long. The tank receiving too much direct sunlight.
How To Clean Your Aquarium Glass. Regardless of how quick the algae grows on your tank walls, at some point, you will need to clean it; once per month at very minimum but oftentimes much more frequent. For proper cleaning, you need two different tools.
After arriving home with your new aquarium the first thing you should do is thoroughly clean everything; including the tank, equipment and accessories, excluding fish and plants of course. Never use soap or detergent to clean tanks or gear. Any soap residue can cause serious problems.
Rinse the tank with warm water, wiping it out with a paper towel if necessary. NEVER use soaps or detergents of any kind; they're very harmful for your fish.
Aquarium ornaments and other décor like plastic plants will become coated overtime with biological slime and mineral deposits which will make them look unattractive. To return them to “”good as new”” condition regular cleaning of aquarium decor is recommended.
A: It's safe to use baking soda in your aquarium, provided you use it in the correct quantities. Baking soda can have a sedative effect on your fish, so be careful how you use it.
Cleaning vinegar
It inhibits the growth of bacteria and algae. You follow the same procedure as bleach. For a tank of 100 litres of water, you'll need one litre of cleaning vinegar. Let everything soak in for 24 hours, and then rinse the tank and pipes well with clean water.
Baking soda works two ways to clean an aquarium. If you soak a dirty aquarium with a baking soda solution, it will break down dirt and greasy substances clinging to the surfaces. On a damp sponge, baking soda is abrasive enough to remove grime and stubborn algae clinging to glass but is gentle enough not to scratch.
Rock crystals such as Quartz (including Rose Quartz, Smokey Quartz, Apricot Quartz, etc.), Jasper, Citrine, Jade, Ametrine, Tiger's eye, Amethyst, Agate, Black Tourmaline, and Petrified Wood are all considered safe additions to your aquarium.
Crystal clear, healthy-looking water is the aim of virtually every aquarium owner. We are drawn to clear water as a species, we like to live next to it, swim in it, and of course, drink it. But if not properly maintained aquarium water can quickly become cloudy, full of algae and discoloured.
Don't buy fish the same day you purchase the aquarium. Instead, set the tank up and let it run for a few days before bringing your first fish home.
Your Aquarium: 5 – 15 Days After Setup:
Your new fish may hide at first. They are likely stressed from being moved from the store and placed in a new environment. Make sure you have plenty of cover and hiding places to make them feel safe and secure.
Municipal/Tap Water
Most municipalities treat drinking water with either chlorine or chloramine for disinfection purposes. Chlorine is extremely toxic to fish and needs to be completely removed before the water comes in contact with fish. Chloramine is chlorine bonded to ammonia, both of which are detrimental to fish.