How to Change Water in Fish Tank? Step by Step Guide

Water changes frequently are the most crucial thing you can do to keep the fish in your freshwater aquarium happy and healthy. Unfortunately, some aquarium owners ignore this step entirely.

Even though the water in your aquarium can appear to be clear, shaking the substrate could expose a startling quantity of debris that has accumulated in the gravel. Regular water changes in the tank will aid in lowering the quantity of waste, unhealthy byproducts, and algae that endanger the water’s quality and the health of the fish.

This article will discuss a quick, simple, and painless technique to maintain the clarity and health of your aquarium’s water without having to spend an hour or more cleaning it each week or pouring water all over your carpet.

How often to Change the Water in the Fish Tank?

Aquarium maintenance should include frequent water changes. However, the frequency varies according to the size and quantity of tanks. More frequent water changes are needed for smaller, densely packed tanks than for larger, sparsely populated aquariums.

To change 10 to 15 percent of the water each week is a reasonable recommendation. Increase that by 25% each week if your tank is overpopulated. Even while water changes for a poorly populated aquarium may only be necessary every two to four weeks, you should still keep a close check on it.

In an aquarium, there is such a thing as too many water changes. One water change per day should be the maximum frequency. To prevent upsetting the biological balance of the tank and stressing your fish, if you decide to make daily water changes, be sure to only replace half of the tank’s water.

How to Change the Water in a Small Tank?

If you have a little 10-gallon setup, it will just take you a few minutes to do your weekly water change. There is a need for a little mini-siphon gravel vacuum., along with a bucket, to refill the water in a 10-gallon tank.

Whenever you use a bucket for your pastime of keeping fish, please mark it “fish only.” Never clean your fish tank in a bucket used for household cleaning since any chemicals left behind could hurt your fish.

Simply siphon water from your 10-gallon tank into the bucket using the little gravel vac to change the water in your tank. Never drain the water completely; simply take around 30%.

Finding a 3-gallon bucket is an excellent alternative to eyeballing the tank for this measurement. You can tell when the bucket is nearly full that you’ve consumed enough water. Your tank will now have fresh water in it once you discard the old water and gently pour it into the tank.

How to Change Water in Big Fish Tanks?

The task becomes somewhat trickier for individuals who have large tanks. If you like, you can continually fill and empty the bucket with a siphon before using the bucket to repeatedly replenish your tank.

The number of journeys between your tank and the water supply needed for this method may be twelve or more. It takes a lot of time, is physically taxing, and is messy, not to mention that it makes a great justification for switching up your pastime. But there is an improved method.

Water-change systems that drain water directly from your tank to your sink are available on the market. These systems use a long tube with a gravel vac fitting on one end that connects to your kitchen or bathroom faucet.

Water from the tank can be sucked out and poured straight down the sink. Throwing a lever causes the tank to fill once it has been drained to the appropriate level.

How to Change Water in Fish Tanks?

Freshwater tanks require much less upkeep than saltwater tanks do. In fact, veterinarians advise against fully cleaning and refilling the water in your freshwater tank because it could shock your pet’s system.

It’s best to keep your fish in their aquarium while cleaning. When you take your fish out, they go through extra stress, and you run the risk of accidentally injuring them. You can keep your fish in the tank while you clean because you don’t need to entirely drain the tank to clean it thoroughly.

It is not a good idea to completely change the water in the fish tank because doing so will eliminate the good bacteria that already exist there and reset the nitrogen cycle, which could kill your fish. The best course of action is to perform a partial water change if you clean your tank frequently.

Unplug your Equipment and gather your supplies

Keep your tank filter and other systems off while you change the water to avoid damaging them. This ought to contain: Gravel or sand siphon Sponges two sanitized buckets (for saltwater fish) a saltwater mixture (for saltwater fish)

Drain Water from the Tank

After you’ve set up your water changer according to the manufacturer’s instructions, all it takes is a level flip to start draining water from your tank. Keep in mind that the water changer’s job is not just to siphon water but also to clean the gravel. We won’t be using the gravel-vac function for our quick water change, but you should use it for your monthly deep cleans.

Water changes should always be in the form of partial water changes. Again, we’re just going to remove about 30% of the old water from the tank. Never change all of the water in your aquarium all at once. While water changes are beneficial to fish, severe water changes can cause them to get stressed and even kill them.

Remember that changing the water in your tank is done to dilute the natural waste produced by the fish and uneaten food. This occurs naturally in the wild due to the movements of the streams and rivers where the fish inhabit. Water changes in your tank must be performed by you. 

Water changes significantly aid in reducing waste and can even stop the formation of algae, even if they don’t replace regular tank cleaning and maintenance. The tank lid doesn’t need to be taken off. You don’t even need to switch off your filter as long as the water intake is low enough for it to continue to function.

Cleaning the inside of the Glass

Clean any accumulation on the glass of your fish tank using a sponge. Before replenishing the water, do this procedure. Clean any accumulation on the glass of your fish tank using a sponge. Before replenishing the water, do this procedure.

Prepare your Buckets

You’ll need two buckets: one for the freshly mixed saltwater, and the other for draining the tank’s water. Make sure you don’t lose more water than you can replace.

Follow the instructions on aquarium salt to acquire the proper salinity level for your saltwater fish. It is possible to prepare the water in advance and store it for later use. The use of fresh tap water should be avoided as it includes compounds that are toxic to aquarium fish.

Debris Removal Using a Sand or Gravel Siphon

 remove the debris from the bottom of your fish tank slowly. The water will become clearer as you work to get rid of the buildup. Work slowly to prevent causing your fish any harm.

Clean Accessories

Your fish house needs a thorough cleaning, including all of the gravel and any decorations. While you should wash them without soap, some of these are even dishwasher-safe. Keep any harsh chemicals out of the aquarium, just like you should with the tank itself, and only use softer products. Together with the tank, let these air dry.

Watch out for Little Fish

Really, all you can do is watch while the water drains out; it will take some time. To prevent the tank end of the tube from coming out on its own, you can jam it between ornaments. You can leave and engage in other activities for a while the water is siphoning if it seems safe.

However, if you have small fish in your tank, you should keep a close eye on the open end of the tube that is in the aquarium. Don’t let them in, so they don’t swim up and get stuck in the tube.

Refill the Aquarium

With a water-change system, filling the tank is as simple as emptying it. To prevent water from bursting everywhere, make sure there is a solid connection between the tubing and the faucet receptor.

Before moving over and flipping the “fill” lever at the faucet, you should close the lever on the tube’s tank end. Return to the tank and turn the tank-end lever back to the open position to let the water flow.

Once more, if you can keep the tube’s business end in the tank, you can leave it there while you attend to other matters. However, don’t forget about it or you’ll get flooded! To remind myself, I set a timer with an alarm; yes, I had to learn this lesson the hard way.

To allow water to flow without creating an excessive current, fill the tank just past the bottom of the filter outlet.

Optimal Water Temperature for Fish Tank

The temperature of the water is one of the main concerns while filling a tank. Naturally, tropical fish need temperatures in the mid-to high-seventies to thrive.

However, since you are only replacing around 30% of the water, you may get away with filling the tank with cooler water instead of attempting to precisely match the water temperature.

Due to the way our home’s water heating system heats water, I like to add chilled water. Straight from the well, cold water flows to our tap, where it is heated by the water heater.

I try to stay away from heated water as much as I can since I want my fish to have the purest water possible. Also, keep in mind that the difference between cold water and cooler water is substantial. Never fill your tank with ice-cold water. Even a fifteen-degree drop in temperature can be fatal for some fish species.

A sudden change to cooler water may also energize some of the fish in your tank, and they may appear especially vivacious after the change. They perceive an abrupt influx of cool, fresh water as the beginning of the rainy season.

Why are Water Changes Important for your Fish Tank?

When you feed your fish, food scraps sink to the bottom and decompose. In the meantime, food consumed is excreted or excreted as urine into the water. This waste buildup causes the tank’s nitrate and phosphate levels to rise, which encourages algae development. Your fish will become anxious or perhaps ill as a result of the tank’s declining oxygen levels brought on by its growing filth and odor.

Additionally, over time, minerals and trace components in the water are depleted or filtered out. The pH of the tank will decrease, helpful biofilter bacteria will die, and your fish will become weaker if they are not replaced by an inflow of fresh water.

A filthy tank may include bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other threats to your fish. In addition, a dirty tank may have an inconsistent pH and improper concentrations of nutrients and gases that are harmful to the residents’ health.

The filter, pump, and other crucial components can become clogged and slow in a fish tank when it is overflowing with floating debris and waste. When this machinery breaks down, the environment will be hazardous to the fish—possibly fatal.

Moreover, a fish tank that has slimy, unclean water and walls covered in algae and slime is not at all enjoyable to watch. Fish and plant colors can become difficult to distinguish, and a really dirty tank may even emit nasty aromas.

Tips to Clean your Fish Tank

• Using the Proper Size Tank: Make sure your tank is the appropriate size for the fish you keep before doing anything else. The fish will experience stress if your fish tank is too tiny, and the tank will become gross much faster. But if your tank is too big, the fish could feel cramped, and cleaning it might take a lot more work.
• Feed Your Fish Appropriately: To ensure that your fish’s digestion is as effective as possible, just feed them the right amount of food on a set timetable. If food is still in the tank after 5 to 10 minutes but hasn’t been consumed, it should be strained out and removed.
• Welcome to the Cleanup Crew: When you add a resident snail, oyster, or shrimp to your aquatic ecosystem, add a natural cleanser to your tank. Some fish will chew on algae and help keep the aquarium clean. Keep a few of these residents in the tank to keep it clean and fresh.
• Plants should be pruned: Live plants may be both beautiful and helpful in your fish tank, providing hiding places for shy fish and giving them a natural source of nutrients. However, if you find any leaves or grasses going brown or decaying, clip them away to maintain the tank clean.
• Exterior Cleaning: Even if the interior of your tank is spotless, the outside of the glass may appear unclean if it is covered in dust and fingerprints. Regularly clean the outside of the glass, but be careful not to pollute the water with glass cleaner or other chemicals.
• Select the Best Filter: The filter in your tank will keep the water clean by filtering away debris and waste. Select the appropriate filter size and strength for your tank layout, and get the best option your budget allows. The optimum filter will have chemical, mechanical, and biological filtration features.
• Change the water frequently: By replacing dirty, wasted water with clean water on a regular basis, you can keep your tank clean. Just 10–20 percent of the water should be changed every two weeks or less to keep the tank balanced and your fish comfortable.
• Clean Props: Props like rocks, logs, castles, sunken ships, and other accents can give your tank some structure and whimsy, but if they’re coated with algae, they don’t look nearly as good. To get rid of algae growth and maintain them clean, rinse them with hot water and wipe them down.

The Bottom Line on How to Change Water in Fish Tank?

Even though maintaining an aquarium is seldom the most enjoyable task, there are a number of reasons why it’s crucial to keep your tank clean and in good shape.

Maintaining the task is the best and simplest technique to maintain your fish tank clean. It will be simpler to clean a little bit every day than to wait until the tank requires a thorough cleaning, and even if you occasionally forget, the tank will still be pretty clean and enjoyable. You’ll both appreciate your aquarium more if you maintain it clean, and all of the inhabitants will prosper in a cleaner, nicer habitat.