Path: utzoo!hoptoad!amdcad!pyramid!decwrl!labrea!husc6!yale!Ram-Ashwin
From: Ram-Ashwin@cs.yale.edu (Ashwin Ram)
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria
Subject: Re: Cleaning out an aquarium
Keywords: aquarium clean smelly
Message-ID: <26393@yale-celray.yale.UUCP>
Date: 4 Apr 88 17:01:47 GMT
References: <571@abcom.ATT.COM>
Sender: root@yale.UUCP
Reply-To: Ram-Ashwin@cs.yale.edu (Ashwin Ram)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-2158
Lines: 71
In-reply-to: sdf@abcom.ATT.COM (6362 Two Gateway Center Newark)

In article <571@abcom.ATT.COM>, sdf@abcom (6362 Two Gateway Center Newark) writes:
> 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). 

Consider installing an undergravel filter.  The bacteria living in the gravel
help break down fish waste, uneaten food, etc. into (relatively) harmless
compounds.  A UGF aids this reaction since it causes the water to flow down over
the gravel surfaces, increasing the water's contact with bacteria.

What size gravel do you use?  If the gravel is too large, there are too many
holes for waste to fall into, down to the depths where a standard gravel vacuum
can't pick them up from.  There will always be some waste at the bottom but it
shouldn't be too much.

> 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).

Actually, this doesn't sound "natural" to me.  Good aquarium water has a
slightly earthy but relatively pleasant smell.  Bad smelling water indicates a
problem, e.g., high nitrite levels.  Check your water chemistry.

> To make a long story short, I am considering breaking down the tank completely
> to give it a full cleaning.

Good idea.

> 	1. Is it really necessary to break down a tank from time to time?

Wish I knew.  I did it and it seemed to help my tank.  No ill-effects as far as
I could see, but you have to be careful.  Treat the reassembled tank as
relatively unestablished, since the cleaning will destroy bacteria.

> 	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).

Use water from the tank being cleaned.  Stick in some plants (plastic one will
do) so that the fish can hide -- they will be pretty scared.  Remember to cover
the temporary tank and keep the lights dim.

> 	3. Is there a special cleaner I should use, or will plain old water
>          do the trick.

Cool fresh tap water works wonders.  You might try dissolving some aquarium salt
(e.g., Aqua Saline) in the water -- I suppose table salt will do too.  No
chemicals, detergents or even soap.

As I said in a recent message, rinsing destroys bacteria.  Be gentle -- don't
scrub more than necessary and don't swish the gravel around too much.  Use
lukewarm to slightly cool water, since water that's too hot or too cold can kill
bacteria.  I think this is more important for the gravel than for the tank
itself.

I kept some of my old water and added it back to the (cleaned) tank to help it
get reestablished.  (There will be some in your temporary tank anyway.)  You
might do this unless you want to change all your water, depending on what
monsters you suspect are living in the old water.  I also avoided cleaning my
power filter at the same time, since I didn't want to kill all the bacteria.

Hope this helps.

-- Ashwin.

ARPA:    Ram-Ashwin@cs.yale.edu
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