Path: utzoo!hoptoad!cpsc6a!codas!abcom!sdf
From: sdf@abcom.ATT.COM (6362 Two Gateway Center Newark)
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria
Subject: Cleaning out an aquarium
Message-ID: <571@abcom.ATT.COM>
Date: 1 Apr 88 17:22:28 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T, Aurora, Colorado
Lines: 40
Keywords: aquarium clean smelly

I've had my aquarium (20 gals. fresh-water tropicals) up for about a year now
and I've noticed two things. First, There is a large (and growing) deposit
of fish waste collecting at the bottom of the tank underneath the gravel
(even though I do regular gravel cleaning & water changes, and I believe
that the Second Nature power filter model 3 is adequate for that size tank). 
Second, when I do water changes there is an overwhelming "fish market" smell 
coming from the water. (Yes, I know that this is natural as I AM keeping fish, 
but it gets really bad at times).

To make a long story short, I am considering breaking down the tank completely
to give it a full cleaning. I need some advice from all you aquatists out there
in netland. Specifically:

	1. Is it really necessary to break down a tank from time to time?
	   I've heard conflicting opinions about this from lots of people.

	2. When I do the cleaning I'll need to put the fish in a spare
	   10-gallon tank for the short time I'll be cleaning. Is there
	   anything I need to know about doing this (other than the obvious
	   temperature/ph concerns). I plan on using some of the water from
	   the large tank in the temporary to cut down on the shock of the
	   transfer.

	3. Is there a special cleaner I should use, or will plain old water
	   do the trick. Don't worry, I'm not stupid enough to use any kind
 	   of chemical cleaner in the tank, but do I need to do anything special
	   to the water before I use it?

If you can answer any of these questions, or have advice on something I've
completely missed, please let me know.

Thanks in advance.

Stephen Fried
AT&T Technologies
Newark, NJ.

------------------------------------------------------------
Since my employer has nothing to do with fish, I don't think they care
what my opinions are!