How to Clean Fish Tank Gravel? (With or Without a Vacuum)

Why should your gravel be cleaned? Is that really needed? If I don’t clean it, what happens? How long does gravel cleaning take? Is the job difficult? Can it be finished promptly? I bet you wonder about all of these things when you consider cleaning the gravel for the first time.

Any aquarium will eventually accumulate dirt. Unused food, fish waste, plant leaf rot, and algae deposits are its sources. Even with the most advanced filtering systems, you cannot avoid the routine of fish tank gravel cleaning.

But don’t worry; I’ve got you covered. I’ve compiled all the methods and broken down each step so you can easily comprehend and use them. thus without further ado, let’s begin cleaning!

How to Clean Fish Tank Gravel?

Gravel for aquariums comes in a wide variety. Fish tank substrates frequently contain quartz or other minerals free of lime. The substrate is often kept clean by enthusiasts using a gravel vacuum.

Fish keepers must use caution when learning how to clean a fish tank. Gravel cleaners make the job simple, even though some fish keepers prefer a low-tech method and don’t use these vacuums.

Cleaners for Aquarium Gravel Work Well

The substrate is kept clean using aquarium gravel cleaners. These cleaners gather trash and leftover meals. Gross! If this trash collects on the tank’s bottom, it will ruin the ecosystem of your aquarium.

Gravel Vacuum for Fish Tank

In order to maintain stable water chemistry, the surroundings are kept clean using an automatic gravel vacuum or battery-powered gravel cleaning. To remove material stuck in the gravel in the tank, the vacuum stirs the gravel around in a column of flowing water.

When to Clean the Aquarium Gravel and When Not To?

It’s not required to clean the aquarium gravel thus frequently, even if I am aware that the majority of people seek to change their water every (other) week. Cleaning the gravel requires a little more work, so try not to do it too frequently. Once or twice a month, I advise cleaning the gravel in your fish tank. It’s not a problem if you see a cause to do it more frequently.

When it comes to cleaning aquarium gravel, there is one major DON’T. If you want to thoroughly clean your tank, don’t remove the gravel from it. Leave the gravel in the aquarium, instead. In addition to being simpler, you also don’t run the risk of mistakenly eradicating all the helpful bacteria living inside.

Checklist for Gravel Washing Equipment

Hobbyists should be aware that there are a variety of low-tech ways to clean both new and used fish tank gravel. Fish keepers’ tools vary according to their methods, so if one chooses not to utilize a battery-operated vacuum or a gravel-cleaning tube, their tools may also alter. Any pet store will have all the necessary equipment.

• Additional fish tank (optional)
• Siphon gravel suction tube or a battery-powered gravel cleaner Two trash buckets clearly designated for aquarium usage only
• An aquarium-specific hose

Starting Off

1. Cut the power to the heater, filter, and pump. The heater must be unplugged, and the filter and pump must be turned off before you can do anything to your tank. Be at ease; the cleaning procedure takes only a few minutes, so your fish will be OK.
2. Keep your fish, ornaments, and plants in the tank; never remove them.
3. Get your aquarium vacuum ready. Hobbyists who keep aquariums will need two tools to clean their gravel.
4. Aquarium siphons typically consist of a large, rigid plastic tube with a small, flexible tube linked to one end. One end of several of these might be linked with a priming ball.
5. Grass can also be cleaned with plastic, flexible tubes. For smaller tanks, these are perfect.
6. Place a pail next to the tank. The bucket must be positioned below the water. The old water will be collected.
7. Submerge the vacuum to make it work. To ensure that all of the air has been drawn out of the tube, carefully lower the full siphon into the tank. With your thumb, you can close one end of the tube so you may remove it from the tank while keeping the other, open end underwater. In a bucket, place the covered end. The water will start to flow if you let go of your grasp; if you cover the end with your thumb once more, the water will stop.
8. Using a priming ball, start the vacuum. A rubber ball is sometimes added to the siphon end of aquarium vacuums. Insert the siphon’s end into the tank and lower the tube’s end into a bucket. Squeeze the priming ball while inserting your finger into the tube’s end plug. Holding onto the ball with caution while keeping the tube’s end plugged. The siphon will start to fill up, just like an eyedropper or turkey baster might. Water will start to pour into the bucket as soon as you unhook the tube’s end.
9. If you use Python or another similar type of vacuum, be able to start it. These gravel vacuums are distinct from every other kind. They are not in need of a bucket. They should be connected to a water faucet instead. Place the entire Python vacuum into the aquarium by simply plugging the other end of the vacuum into your water faucet. The vacuum will start to siphon as soon as the faucet is turned on.

Gravel Vacuuming

1. Put the vacuum’s tip into the gravel. Put it as far down as it will go, straight down. The tube end should still be blocked by your thumb, and it should be in the bucket. The moment you release the tube, filthy water will begin to pour.
2. Don’t push the vacuum all the way down if the gravel is really fine-grained, like sand. Instead, position the mouth just above the surface.
3. While vacuuming is acceptable for freshwater tanks, it is not a good idea for saltwater aquariums, particularly those that have sand. In a saltwater tank, using a vacuum will disrupt the sand’s microbes and harm the ecosystem.
4. If your saltwater tank contains some broken coral and some large predatory fish, you should only vacuum it. In that scenario, a vacuum to remove the accumulation every few months.
5. Release the tube. Pull your thumb carefully away from the tube’s end while the end is still in the bucket. The siphoning effect will start to develop as a result. The bucket will receive dirty water that flows out of the tube’s end. Inside the tube, the gravel will sway and rattle.
6. If you’re using Python or any similar device, just turn on the water to start siphoning.
7. Once the water begins to run clear, cover the tube’s end. Depending on how filthy your aquarium was, to begin with, this process could take a while. The pebbles will start to settle once you retrieve the tube.
8. Cover the tube’s end and wait for the gravel to settle if it starts to rise too high in the vacuum. Reopen the tube and allow the water to flow once more.
9. Simply turn off the water to cease siphoning if you’re using a Python or other similar sort of device.
10. Do not take the vacuum out of the water, just from the gravel. If you can, keep it as straight as you can to prevent moving the nearby trash.
11. Repeat the process by moving the vacuum to the following area of filthy gravel. Pull the end of the tube slowly back after pushing the vacuum straight down into the gravel. Cover the tube once more when the water starts to run clear, then carefully remove the vacuum.
12. Pay close attention to any caverns, rocks, logs, or other crevices in your tank if they exist. Most garbage is generated in these places.
13. If your aquarium contains living plants, give their stems a 2-inch (5.08-centimeter) buffer zone. Organic waste is adored by plants. The plants won’t be able to eat if you remove this trash.
14. Don’t completely clear the gravel. Up until the water is two-thirds filled, keep vacuuming. You will have cleaned between one-fourth and one-third of the gravel by this point. This is totally acceptable. More cleaning than that should not be done at once. The health of your tank depends on the abundance of beneficial bacteria that is present in the aquarium gravel. The subsequent partial water change you perform will allow you to finish washing the gravel.

Putting Everything Back in its Proper Location

1. Check the temperature of the tank’s water. Only a portion of the polluted water you had removed needed to be restored. Because fish are particularly sensitive to changes in water temperature, the new water must be the same temperature as the old water.
2. If your tank does not already contain a thermometer, you must immerse a clean, glass thermometer in the water.
3. A clean bucket should be filled with water that is the same temperature as the water in your tank. Ensure that no cleaning products or chemicals get into contact with the bucket. Any residue could be lethal to your fish. Fill the bucket with the same water as before.
4. Make any necessary water treatment. For the most part, tap water is unfit for aquarium use. Use any necessary water conditioners to get rid of chlorine and other harmful impurities. These can be bought in a pet store’s aquatics area or an aquarium store.
5. Place the bucket over the aquarium’s water level. The water will be reverse siphoned back into the tank. The bucket must be elevated above the water level in order for the water to siphon back correctly.
6. Pouring the water back in may appear to be the simplest solution, but this might cause particles to rise to the surface and cloud the water.
7. Insert the full rubber tube into the tank and plug the other end with your finger.  If you use a gravel vacuum with a plastic bag siphon, then see if you are able to pop the flexible tube off.
8. The covered end should go in the tank, while the uncovered end should remain in the bucket. Let go of the tube gradually. The water should begin to return to the tank.
9. When the water level is approximately 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) from the top edge of the tank, remove the tube. This area is crucial. If you don’t leave that area, the water won’t get enough oxygen for your fish, and fish require oxygen.
10. Reconnect the heater, filter, and pump. After reassembling your aquarium and connecting to the heater, turn on the filter and pump. Make a note of the last time you cleaned your tank, then put a date on your calendar for the upcoming cleaning.

How to Clean Fish Tank Gravel Without a Vacuum?

However, you must remove your aquarium fish before cleaning if you want to clean aquarium gravel without a vacuum. This is due to the fact that you will either remove the majority of the gravel while mixing up a lot of debris, or you will purposefully stir up as much debris as you can while removing 40 to 50 percent of the sludge water.

The first method is to first take your fish out of their aquarium and carefully transfer them to a bucket of fresh water. To ensure that all the parameters are exactly in alignment, make sure it is water from the tank from which you are removing the fish. Try to get rid of all the gravel after the fish have been removed.

One cup of uncleaned gravel should be kept apart because it contains the good bacteria your tank needs to stay safe. Reinstall the remaining pebbles into the tank after thoroughly cleaning it. Once the debris has settled, add the final cup and reintroduce the fish.

Alternatively, you can empty your fish tank of all fish in the same way, then wash the gravel in your tank while it is still full of fish. It will produce so much waste that you will be unable to see your hands. Check that nothing is floating in the water before emptying between 40 and 50% of it. Add fresh water, then wait for things to settle before reintroducing the fish.

I do not recommend either of these methods because they significantly increase the stress levels of your fish. It is preferable to keep your fish in the tank while you clean.

Cleaning the Store Bought Gravel

1. Before adding gravel to your tank for the first time, make sure it is clean. You should just clean the gravel at this time. You should only vacuum the gravel once it is in the tank. Many healthy, helpful bacteria may be found in gravel, which is good for your aquarium. Cleaning your stones with water will eradicate the bacteria.
2. The gravel bag you received should be opened. The grain from a store needs to be cleaned. It frequently contains dust and debris, which your fish may find hazardous. You should clean your gravel as well if you obtained it from elsewhere.
3. Get a mesh strainer or colander. You will require a weave that is tighter the smaller your gravel is. Make sure you aren’t utilizing this strainer or colander for any other use. Additionally, make certain that soap or other detergents were never in contact with the colander or strainer. Consider using a piece of cotton instead if you’re cleaning sand.
4. In the sieve or colander, put the gravel. If you have a lot of gravel to clear, you might need to work in smaller batches. The pebbles should have enough room to move around the colander/strainer without spilling over the edges.
5. Set the colander or strainer in the sink and turn on the faucet. The temperature should be set to warm or hot water. This will eradicate all bacteria. There should be no soap, detergent, or bleach added. As a result, you risk losing your fish.
6. Move the stones around until the water is clear. Shake the colander up and down. Sort the stones with your hand after entering them. This method should be repeated until the water is clear.
7. Introduce the aquarium with the gravel. Shake the colander/strainer one last time to get rid of any leftover water after turning off the water. Gravel should be poured into the tank’s bottom. If more gravel needs to be added, the complete cleaning process should be done for each batch.

How to Care for Aquarium Gravel?

1. As Directed by the Manufacturer, Replace the Aquarium Filter

 Maintaining regular water-filter changes will stop your gravel from accumulating extra dirt. To help you remember to alter it frequently, create a calendar reminder.

• To avoid drastically altering the environment of your tank, it may be beneficial to run both your new and old aquarium filters simultaneously for a few days.

2. The Gravel Should be Cleaned Every Two Weeks

To keep your fish and tank healthy, clean your gravel every other week. It is unnecessary to do so more frequently because doing so could rid the environment of helpful bacteria.

3. Avoid Using Aggressive Cleansers or Detergents

Fish Tanks cannot be cleaned with most commercial cleaning products. Always use clear, non-chlorinated water to wash your gravel. Purchase new gravel rather than attempting to clean your gravel with a stronger solution if it is so unclean that these techniques are failing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line on How to Clean Fish Tank Gravel?

It’s crucial to keep the gravel in your fish tank clean if you want to keep your aquarium healthy. Unconsumed food and fish feces can accumulate in your tank and contaminate the water and the fish. A balanced environment inside the aquarium must be maintained by cleaning the gravel at least twice a month.

Whether you obtained the gravel from a river or an aquarium store, cleaning the new gravel is essential. If you don’t take adequate care of hidden parasites and germs, your tank could be destroyed. When cleaning the gravel, stay away from chemicals like bleach. You can use vinegar because it is secure and leaves no unwelcome traces on the gravel. You can also use chemicals to remove algae, which isn’t that efficient.

Aquarium gravel may be cleaned with just a bucket and some freshwater; no additional tools are needed. Of course, it would be easier to use a hose or a gravel siphon. Sometimes it seems sensible to test the waters. Keep an eye on the amounts of ammonia, hardness, and pH.