Cleaning 
Cleaning your Aquarium:
Lots of people keep fish tanks because they like to be able to sit back and watch the fish swim around as this can be very relaxing. But at some point the aquarium is going to need to be cleaned so the view of the aquarium can be enjoyed.
One of the first things you need to know is how to clean your tank without harming your fish or stressing them out too much. This may mean moving the fish temporarily to another tank and it is always best to do this if you are giving the tank a major clean. Do not use your everyday soaps or washing liquids to clean any of the tank as this can be harmful to the fish and damage their delicate mucous membranes. It is best to use plain bleach for the job, but I would say to be on the safe side its best to use products that have been made for this purpose. (These should be available from your local pet shop).
When cleaning you want to look after your fish as best as possible but you also need to preserve the waste processing bacteria on which the fish depend on. This bacteria will be on most areas of the tank so if you do decide to move the fish to a different tank then move some gravel and a few ornaments as well this will preserve some of the bacteria. Although most cleaning cycles you carry out will not damage this bacteria it is best to preserve some to be safe.
Of course there are some bacteria you want to remove from the tank. The bacteria that could harm your fish. After a thorough clean if you want to be sure to get rid of this bacteria you can always rinse and soak your tank and equipment in a special solution of aquarium anti-biotic in order to kill off the bad bacteria. You could also soak it in methylene blue solution as an alternative but be careful using this. It is best to find out if this will affect the fish you have in the tank anyway or if it would effect any fish you plan on adding in the future.
It is also good to use a gravel cleaner to remove the grime and dirt that gets buried in between your gravel that you might miss. These can be picked up from any good dealer that is in your area. Algae removers are good things to use as well. These can be used whilst the fish are still in the tank as they do not harm them and it will remove the tougher algae. If you still have algae present after this you can always use a razor blade to scrape the sides of the tank.
Keeping your tank clean is a very important part of keeping an aquarium if you are willing to put the effort in and use the specialist products when needed you should end up with a well established and clean tank for your fish.
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