Video: Use bleach to clean aquarium? Fish tank maintenance tips
How to use bleach to clean Aquarium Decorations? Is it safe to fish? Fish tank maintenance tips.
Many fish aquariums have a variety of nuisance algae, including brown algae, diatom, green hair algae in saltwater fish aquariums, and green algae in freshwater fish tanks.
The most common and efficient aquarium algae control methods are by carrying out regular water changes, keeping algae eaters, controlling light, reducing nitrate level, avoid over-feeding and over-crowding. A properly maintained fish aquarium should not have noticeable algae.
Should nuisance algae appear on Instant Reef® artificial coral reef aquarium decors, try these simple suggestions before using bleach. Bleach is potentially harmful to fish.
1) Take artificial corals out of the aquarium, use low pressure water to flush, and use a soft brush to clean.
2) Labor-free algae cleaning by employing algae eaters. For example: In saltwater fish aquariums, as marine snails crawl, brown algae are being cleaned. Keeping snails at a rate of one snail per 10 gallons of water is sufficient. Astrea Snails, Margarita Snails are good candidates. In freshwater fish tanks, plecostomus fish, catfish and other algae eaters are good candidates.
3) Removing the artificial coral reef aquarium decorations from the tank, and letting them dry, drying can turn algae into flakes which are healthy fish food.
If none of above methods work, many professional aquarium service companies use bleach to clean algae off Instant Reef® Artificial Corals. It is easy, fast, and using proper concentration of bleach is safe to aquarium fish.
In this video we show you how to use bleach to clean aquarium decorations. Caution: bleach can be hazardous, using bleach is at your own risk, color-fading and peeling is not covered by the warranty. Instant Reef® is not responsible for fish loss or other damage. Always wear proper protection like goggles, rubber gloves.
We prepared a 20-gallon tank, a power head, and a medium-size aquarium decor. This reef decor had been used for almost two years, as you can see, green algae has covered 90% of it, original colors could not be seen.
We purchased two 3-quart bottles of bleach at a local convenient store, each bottle costs $1.50
Mix 10% bleach solution by adding nine parts water with one-part bleach. For example, 1 gallon of bleach mix with 9 gallons of water. Use bleach and plain water only, do not add other chemicals. Pour bleach into water, use a power head to circulate water, mix thoroughly.
Carefully dip the artificial corals into mixed 10% bleach solution. Do not use bleach concentrate higher than 10%.
Mix 10% bleach solution by adding nine parts water with one-part bleach. For example, 1 gallon of bleach mix with 9 gallons of water. Use bleach and plain water only, do not add other chemicals. Pour bleach into water, use a power head to circulate water, mix thoroughly.
Carefully dip the artificial corals into mixed 10% bleach solution. Do not use bleach concentrate higher than 10%.
Within 5 minutes, algae start to disappear. Original colors of corals start to re-appear.
After 15 minutes, only few algae left on coral branch tips, which can be removed later by water flushing. Do not bleach for more than 15 minutes
After 15 minutes, only few algae left on coral branch tips, which can be removed later by water flushing. Do not bleach for more than 15 minutes
If you cannot accommodate a deep enough container for your coral, put the artificial coral insert upside down, in order to clean the upper half. After another 15 minutes, the upper half was cleaned and the process is completed.
A plastic tube was connected to the power head when draining off bleach solution. Disposal should be in accordance with applicable regional, national and local laws and regulations.
It is very important to rinse artificial coral reef thoroughly before returning it back into aquarium with fish. WARNING: Bleach residue can be hazardous to aquarium life. It is highly recommended to soak artificial reef decors in a container, completely submerged, put in a garden hose, let water run and overflow for minimum of 2~3 hours, making sure both inside and outside are free of bleach.
See the final results in less than 30 minutes, before aquarium bleaching, the artificial coral reef insert was heavily covered by algae. After bleaching it regains its colors, making it appear just like new!