The short answer
“Cleaning” a tank means a weekly partial water change with a gravel vacuum, plus a wipe of the glass — not a full teardown. Around a 25–30% water change once a week, vacuuming the substrate and cleaning algae off the glass, keeps a tank healthy. A complete strip-down does the opposite: it destroys the beneficial bacteria and crashes your cycle.
The weekly routine
Little and often beats a big occasional scrub:
- Change 25–30% of the water with dechlorinated, temperature-matched replacement.
- Vacuum the gravel to lift out uneaten food and waste as you go.
- Clean the glass with an algae scraper or magnet.
- Give plants and decor a quick check, removing any dead leaves.
That’s genuinely most of it. For the method, see how to do a water change and the best gravel cleaner guide.
Occasional and monthly jobs
Some tasks come round less often:
- Rinse filter media in old tank water every few weeks, only when flow drops — see how often to clean the filter.
- Trim plants and thin overgrowth as needed.
- Deep-clean decor by scrubbing in plain water (no soap) if algae builds up.
Spread these out; you rarely need to do everything on the same day.
Why not a full clean
Emptying the tank, scrubbing everything and refilling with fresh water removes the beneficial bacteria that convert fish waste. Without them, ammonia spikes and fish suffer — the dreaded “new tank” crash, self-inflicted. Regular partial maintenance keeps the tank stable and the water clear without ever resetting the cycle.
The bottom line
Clean weekly and gently: partial water change, gravel vac, glass — never a teardown. Follow the maintenance schedule for a full timetable and browse tools in the maintenance hub.