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I have custody of my kids goldfish for a while...?
their tank is about a 40 litre one, and I'm finding changing the water a real chore - emptying the whole thing into the bath, rinsing and sifting the gravel etc.. is there an easier way to do the whole shebang...How on earth do people clean out the huge tanks??
Shane, should I be having some of that stuff too..?
I don't think I'd care too much about the fish after that...LOL!
7 Answers
- ?Lv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
Is there a filter running on the tank? Tanks your size shouldn't have to be torn down and cleaned once set up. doing partial water changes and vacuuming the gravel is about all you should have to do. Every time you have torn the tank down and re-did the water, it has to cycle all over again. Which means you never have a balanced tank.
Take only about 25% of the water out..replacing with treated and aged water. Get a gravel vacuum to clean the gravel. one thing to cut down on the nasty gravel to to cut back on the amount of fish food being given. Most people over feed fish..they just do.
With such cleaning, I'm surprised any fish have survived.
Here is a stie to read to help you understand exactly what to do in the furture.:http://www.fishlore.com/FirstTankSetup.htm
- daisyflower_xLv 41 decade ago
Firstly, you shouldnt clean out the tank too much and when you do its important you leave a little part of the old water behind.
I was told this by the petshop owner when i bought my previous goldfish. I wouldnt bother sifting the gravel, just place the gravel into a box/tub with some of the old water and leave the fish there.
Rinse out tank and add the whole thing back in again :)
x
- 1 decade ago
The best way to keep the tank clean for longer is to mix 1 part Vodka, 1 part Scotch and 3 parts Water. Fill the tank up with this solution and you'll probably never have to clean the tank again whilst you're looking after the fish.
The only downside to this is that you may have to buy your kids new fish after you do this.
Also, be sure to have lots of fish food around as the fish tend to get the munchies after swimming around in that stuff for a while.
- Fish Man!Lv 61 decade ago
40 litres is too small for goldfish. They can grow over 30cm long. You should only need to do weekly 25% water changes with a gravel siphon not 100%
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- 1 decade ago
quick way is empty only a washing up bowl full if water out once a week. you are changing to much of the water
leave the gravel alone unless it is getting really dirty and then it would indicate that you are overfeeding them of the filter is blocked.
check the filter and clean if required
simple
Source(s): years of experience keeping and breeding fish - Anonymous1 decade ago
you really should leave some water in, as the conditions when more water is added is similar. I used to leave them in with about a third of the water left, clean around the inside of the glass and the filter etc
- 1 decade ago
get yourself a aquarium vaccuum from a petstore(for maybe $10). they save you a loot of time draining water and sifting throught gravel:DD
