How do you keep a fish tank clean grrr

[niecsey]

Hi bought my gld fish a bigger tank it has a pump with a filter (maybe its too small?) and the tank is getting just as dirty as it did before :( Any tips on keeping the tank cleaner for longer? ( 5 fish, tank approx 4ft long)

[unhappychick]

Keep it out of bright light (sunlight) and get yourself a gravel cleaner.

[niecsey]

Thanks whats a gravel cleaner?

[jack daniels]

i've got 4 fish in a fish tank and i found by taking out the plastic plant it keeps cleaner but I clean out the filter once a week, do a half re-fill/ water change once a week (wednesday) and clean the whole tank/filter/gravel out once a week too (sunday)

hth

[niecsey]

Thanks both of you! Will uy a bigger filter/pump too maybe that will help. :)

[wildwood]

Under gravel filters are plastic plates with lots of little holes connected to the air pump. It sucks the water (and pollution) through the gravel where a layer of bacteria will grow and purify the water. It is useless cleaning the gravel out then as it disturbs the bacteria and needs to start a biological cycle again.

unhappychick may vert well have the answer, light encourges algae growth.
Have you got experience with fish? Not overfeeding them?

Once you have your cleaning regime worked out you should be able to suck any fish droppings from the bottom with a hose once a week and replace water up to 10% - any more than that and you'll upset the tank's balance and will start the algae all over again.

[niecsey]

Thanks! Will try to get a gravel filter sounds good. I dont think lm over feeding as lve had the fish years now and if l was sure l would of killed them off? Thanks for all the answers they have been helpful x

[showcatbenga]

If algae growth is your problem you can use these two solutions as well;
1. snails to eat it - be careful not all snails are good for this some prefer your plants!.
2. live plants to use up the nitrates so that there's less for algae growth.

[stonekicker]

you can also get little sucky fish (forgotten their name!) that hoover the sides of the tank and eat algae - like snails would. sometimes fish are just high maintenance. i had to clean my son's tank once a week - its a mammoth job!

[niecsey]

Hi ya :) lve got a sucky fish lol a plekki? typo lol he doesnt come out much. I think it was the sunlight to blame we have moved the tank today and cleaned it out. Going to get one of them gravel filters l think give that a try. We do have plants in the tank (not plastic ones) Lets just hope the sunlight was too blame! Thanks again all x Ps does anyone know how much themgravel filters cost please?

[showcatbenga]

Try here;
http://www.aquatics-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/U NDERGRAVEL_FILTERS.html
or here;
http://www.rockbottomaquatics.co.uk/prod.php?p rod=6
or here;
http://www.seapets.co.uk/view-products/categor y/571/sort/screen-order/order/asc/results/6/pa ge/1

[niecsey]

Thank you so much for your helpful reply! Much appreicated great sites will use them! Fish are nice and clean sonce buying a bigger tank a better pump and moving them from the sun!!! Thaks again everyone xxx

[kimberlie]

This product uses a new type of technology that stops the algae building up on your fish tank, it's completley safe and makes your fish keeping life a lot easier! Media URL: http://www.tankguard.co.uk/
Description: new nano tachnology to stop algae build up