Approved Guide
How to Handle Empty an Aquarium Step by Step
When empty an aquarium leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.
Share:
Link copied to clipboard!
Part
1
Draining the Water
1
Transfer the fish
out of your tank. You'll need to remove your fish and any other aquatic organisms before you can drain the water out of an aquarium. This requires great care, though, as fish tend to get frightened by this process and may become tangled in the nets.
- out of your tank.
- You'll need to remove your fish and any other aquatic organisms before you can drain the water out of an aquarium.
- This requires great care, though, as fish tend to get frightened by this process and may become tangled in the nets.
- out of your tank.
- You'll need to remove your fish and any other aquatic organisms before you can drain the water out of an aquarium.
2
Disconnect all power sources from the tank.
Once the fish have been removed from the tank you'll want to disconnect any power sources from the tank. Whether it's a filter, heater, or just an overhead light, you do not want any active electricity going to your tank when you start to empty the water.
- Once the fish have been removed from the tank you'll want to disconnect any power sources from the tank.
- Whether it's a filter, heater, or just an overhead light, you do not want any active electricity going to your tank when you start to empty the water.
- Once the fish have been removed from the tank you'll want to disconnect any power sources from the tank.
- Whether it's a filter, heater, or just an overhead light, you do not want any active electricity going to your tank when you start to empty the water.
- Once the fish have been removed from the tank you'll want to disconnect any power sources from the tank.
3
Remove all objects from the tank.
Taking everything out of the tank before you drain the water will make it much easier to complete the draining process. These objects will need to get rinsed, so it may be best to do this near a sink if at all possible.
- Taking everything out of the tank before you drain the water will make it much easier to complete the draining process.
- These objects will need to get rinsed, so it may be best to do this near a sink if at all possible.
- Taking everything out of the tank before you drain the water will make it much easier to complete the draining process.
- These objects will need to get rinsed, so it may be best to do this near a sink if at all possible.
- Taking everything out of the tank before you drain the water will make it much easier to complete the draining process.
4
Lay down towels and mats or tarps.
Whether you're new to aquarium maintenance or have been doing it for years, there's always a chance that something might spill. It's generally a good idea to lay down protective materials whenever you drain the tank or change the water to ensure that nothing in your home gets damaged.
- Whether you're new to aquarium maintenance or have been doing it for years, there's always a chance that something might spill.
- It's generally a good idea to lay down protective materials whenever you drain the tank or change the water to ensure that nothing in your home gets damaged.
- Whether you're new to aquarium maintenance or have been doing it for years, there's always a chance that something might spill.
- It's generally a good idea to lay down protective materials whenever you drain the tank or change the water to ensure that nothing in your home gets damaged.
- Whether you're new to aquarium maintenance or have been doing it for years, there's always a chance that something might spill.
5
Drain the water out of your aquarium.
There are two main methods of emptying an aquarium. The first is to siphon the water out using a hose. Craig Morton Aquarium Specialist, CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc. Expert Interview The second is to drain the water using a gravel cleaner that simultaneously drains water, such as The Python or Aqueon.
- There are two main methods of emptying an aquarium.
- The first is to siphon the water out using a hose.
- Craig Morton Aquarium Specialist, CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc.
- Expert Interview The second is to drain the water using a gravel cleaner that simultaneously drains water, such as The Python or Aqueon.
- There are two main methods of emptying an aquarium.
Part
2
Cleaning
1
Wash the gravel
from the substrate. Craig Morton Aquarium Specialist, CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc. Expert Interview If you used a gravel cleaner to drain the tank, your gravel should be clean enough to skip this step. However, if you used a siphon hose, you'll want to clean the gravel to remove debris like leftover food and organic waste.
- from the substrate.
- Craig Morton Aquarium Specialist, CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc.
- Expert Interview If you used a gravel cleaner to drain the tank, your gravel should be clean enough to skip this step.
- However, if you used a siphon hose, you'll want to clean the gravel to remove debris like leftover food and organic waste.
- from the substrate.
2
Rinse off the filter
and any other tank objects. Craig Morton Aquarium Specialist, CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc. Expert Interview The filter in your tank traps a lot of organic debris, including leftover food and waste product. It's important to clean this equipment, but you need to do so carefully in order to avoid disrupting the bacterial colonies your fish depend on.
- and any other tank objects.
- Craig Morton Aquarium Specialist, CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc.
- Expert Interview The filter in your tank traps a lot of organic debris, including leftover food and waste product.
- It's important to clean this equipment, but you need to do so carefully in order to avoid disrupting the bacterial colonies your fish depend on.
- and any other tank objects.
3
Clean the glass walls of the tank.
Craig Morton Aquarium Specialist, CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc. Expert Interview If you want to thoroughly clean the tank, you'll need to at least wipe down the walls inside of it. Built-up algae and other debris may need to be scraped off; otherwise, you should be able to use a sponge or special wipe to clean the glass.
- Craig Morton Aquarium Specialist, CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc.
- Expert Interview If you want to thoroughly clean the tank, you'll need to at least wipe down the walls inside of it.
- Built-up algae and other debris may need to be scraped off; otherwise, you should be able to use a sponge or special wipe to clean the glass.
- Craig Morton Aquarium Specialist, CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc.
- Expert Interview If you want to thoroughly clean the tank, you'll need to at least wipe down the walls inside of it.
Part
3
Reassembling the Tank
1
Dechlorinate enough tap water for your tank.
If you have a home filtration system, your water may not need to be dechlorinated. If not, you'll need to dechlorinate your tap water before introducing your fish to the water. The process is fairly simple, and there are two main methods of dechlorinating your water.
- If you have a home filtration system, your water may not need to be dechlorinated.
- If not, you'll need to dechlorinate your tap water before introducing your fish to the water.
- The process is fairly simple, and there are two main methods of dechlorinating your water.
- If you have a home filtration system, your water may not need to be dechlorinated.
- If not, you'll need to dechlorinate your tap water before introducing your fish to the water.
2
Refill a freshwater tank.
A freshwater tank is somewhat easier to refill than a marine aquarium. You won't need to do much to the water, other than dechlorinating it and ensuring that it's the right temperature (if your aquatic organisms require a specific temperature range).
- A freshwater tank is somewhat easier to refill than a marine aquarium.
- You won't need to do much to the water, other than dechlorinating it and ensuring that it's the right temperature (if your aquatic organisms require a specific temperature range).
- A freshwater tank is somewhat easier to refill than a marine aquarium.
- You won't need to do much to the water, other than dechlorinating it and ensuring that it's the right temperature (if your aquatic organisms require a specific temperature range).
- A freshwater tank is somewhat easier to refill than a marine aquarium.
3
Set up a saltwater tank.
A saltwater tank can be a bit more work than a freshwater tank, but with a little patience it's easily manageable. The biggest difference between saltwater and freshwater aquariums is the need to salinate the water before adding it to the tank.
- A saltwater tank can be a bit more work than a freshwater tank, but with a little patience it's easily manageable.
- The biggest difference between saltwater and freshwater aquariums is the need to salinate the water before adding it to the tank.
- A saltwater tank can be a bit more work than a freshwater tank, but with a little patience it's easily manageable.
- The biggest difference between saltwater and freshwater aquariums is the need to salinate the water before adding it to the tank.
- A saltwater tank can be a bit more work than a freshwater tank, but with a little patience it's easily manageable.
4
Reintroduce your aquatic organisms.
Once your tank is refilled and the temperature is correct (if relevant), you're ready to reintroduce your aquatic organisms. You can either use nets to scoop them out of their secondary container and into the clean tank, or you can carefully and gently pour them with the water from their container into the tank.
- Once your tank is refilled and the temperature is correct (if relevant), you're ready to reintroduce your aquatic organisms.
- You can either use nets to scoop them out of their secondary container and into the clean tank, or you can carefully and gently pour them with the water from their container into the tank.
- Once your tank is refilled and the temperature is correct (if relevant), you're ready to reintroduce your aquatic organisms.
- You can either use nets to scoop them out of their secondary container and into the clean tank, or you can carefully and gently pour them with the water from their container into the tank.
- Once your tank is refilled and the temperature is correct (if relevant), you're ready to reintroduce your aquatic organisms.
Community Q&A
Be the first to ask a question about this guide.
References
Was this guide helpful?
6 people found this helpful
HowDadDo Around the World
Subscribe to the HowDadDo Newsletter
Get expert tips, weekly how-to guides, and dad wisdom delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, just good stuff.
Help us build the world's best
dad manual.
Every guide on HowDadDo is written and fact-checked by real people โ no AI-generated fluff. Join our community of experts helping dads figure life out.