Can you take fish out of their tank?

Answer 1

You should be doing a regular weekly water change of at least 50%, and during that time, you can use an algae scrubber to clean algae that may grow on the glass.

When you do your water change, you should use a gravel vacuum to clean up any debris or waste from the bottom of the tank which includes cleaning through the gravel.

You never want to tear down your tank & clean everything as this will remove all your good bacteria that keeps your water clear (Nitrogen cycle), but rather with regular maintenance, your tank will continue to look nice.

Answer 2

Generally, no. Some people who keep fish in bowls will remove their fish to a cup for the duration of the cleaning, but fish in aquariums should be left in the aquarium and a gravel washer and sponge should be used to clean the aquarium. Removing the fish from an aquarium is extremely stressful, and should only be done if there is a structural problem with the aquarium or if the fish are being removed perminantly.

Answer 3

Yes, if you do so carefully and place them in another container with water enough for them to swim around. This is useful for cleaning the tank out once every week or so. A large bowl from the kitchen should do, depending on the size of the fish and how many. Use a fish net to scoop them out or the bowl itself. Just remember to be careful and that they cannot breathe air.

Answer 4

You can use chlorine to clean a completely empty tank by using 1 part chlorine to 9 parts water, and rinse, rinse, rinse. Then add some water with water conditioner (such as prime or amquel+) and rinse even more, then allow it to air dry.

This method should be used on any decorations or new plants before adding them to your aquarium (except substrate like sand or gravel), especially live plants as most often they have pond snail eggs on them, and trying to eradicate them from a tank can be quite difficult.