For a saltwater aquarium, follow a steady weekly routine: test, siphon, wipe, rinse media, and replace 10–15% water with matched salt mix.
Keeping a marine tank clear and healthy comes down to a simple rhythm you can repeat without fuss. This guide lays out a clean workflow, the right tools, target numbers, and a smart schedule so you can service the tank without stirring up clouds, spiking ammonia, or stressing corals and fish.
Quick Prep And Safety
Set yourself up before you get wet hands. Place a towel under your buckets, stage lids nearby, and silence pumps and wavemakers. Unplug heaters only if the water line will drop. Wash hands, skip lotions, and keep soaps and glass cleaners far from the rim. If your city treats tap water with chloramine, treat make-up water with a conditioner that binds both chlorine and ammonia, or use RO/DI water from a trusted source. This single step prevents gill burn, false test readings, and filter setbacks.
Tools And Supplies Checklist
This compact kit keeps everything within reach and avoids cross-contamination between freshwater and marine gear.
| Item | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated Buckets | Mix salt and hold old water | Label “Salt Mix” and “Waste” |
| Gravel Vacuum/Siphon | Lift detritus from sand | Narrow tip for tight spots |
| Algae Scraper/Pad | Clean glass or acrylic | Match blade to panel type |
| Soft Brush | Detail rock and crevices | Gentle swirls, avoid coral tissue |
| Filter Media Bag | Hold carbon or GFO | Rinse before use |
| RO/DI Water + Reef Salt | Make fresh seawater | Pre-mix to 1.025–1.026 SG |
| Water Test Kit | Check salinity and basics | pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate |
| Power Strip With Switches | Control gear during service | Label each plug |
| Microfiber Cloth | Wipe wetside drips | No glass cleaner near the tank |
Mix New Saltwater First
Start the mix a few hours early. Add reef salt to RO/DI water while circulating with a small pump and warming to tank temperature. Match salinity to ~35 ppt (1.026 specific gravity at 25 °C) so livestock sees no swing during the change. A stable target near ocean salinity ranges keeps corals and fish steady.
Clean A Marine Aquarium Step By Step
Step 1: Test Before You Touch
Check salinity, temperature, and nitrogen waste. If ammonia or nitrite registers above trace, pause deep cleaning and fix the root cause first. A normal session aims to lower nitrate and organics without wiping out biofilm that hosts nitrifying bacteria.
Step 2: Clear The Viewing Panels
Use a scraper that matches the tank material. Work in long vertical strokes from top to bottom, catching loosened film with the siphon during the next step. Save stubborn coralline patches for a blade scraper on glass only.
Step 3: Siphon And Stir The Sand Bed Lightly
Start the siphon into a bucket. Hover the gravel vacuum just above the surface and let the flow lift detritus. Lift and dip a small section at a time; do not churn the whole bed in one go, especially if the sand is deep. The goal is to remove mulm while leaving enough microbes to keep the cycle stable.
Step 4: Turkey Baste The Rock
With pumps off, pulse a baster or small powerhead to puff debris from caves and overhangs. Catch the cloud with the siphon. This move keeps pores open so rock can process waste between cleanings.
Step 5: Service Filter Media
Rinse mechanical pads in old tank water until the brown rinse lightens. Replace carbon on a four-week cadence, and swap phosphate media when readings creep up or algae gains ground. Skip rinsing bio-media under the tap; chlorine in tap water harms that colony.
Step 6: Replace 10–15% With Matched Salt Mix
Pour fresh mix slowly into the sump or a low-flow corner. Bring gear back online, purge any microbubbles, and confirm the heater is submerged before powering it. Recheck salinity and temperature once flow settles.
Targets That Keep A Reef Happy
Marine livestock thrives in stable ranges. Aim for steady salinity near 35 parts per thousand and keep temperature steady in the mid-70s to low 80s °F depending on species. Many reef animals rely on bacteria to handle waste: ammonia converts to nitrite and then to nitrate, which you export with water changes, skimming, and uptake by macroalgae. A simple log helps you keep ranges steady and trends clear.
What To Clean Weekly, Biweekly, And Monthly
Not every task belongs in the same session. Use this planner to spread the load and maintain consistency without rushing.
| Task | Every | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wipe Glass, Siphon Sand, 10–15% Change | Weekly | Boost to 20% if nitrate climbs |
| Rinse Mechanical Pads | Weekly | Swap if frayed or foul |
| Replace Carbon | Monthly | More often in tanks with soft corals |
| Inspect Pumps And Skimmer | Monthly | Remove calcium crust from impellers |
| Deep Clean Return Pump | Quarterly | Soak parts in a vinegar solution, then rinse well |
| Calibrate Refractometer | Monthly | Use calibration fluid, not RO/DI |
| Test Nitrate And Phosphate | Weekly | Record values in a log |
How To Handle Tap Water And Chloramine
Many cities add chloramine to keep water safe in the pipes. Standard dechlorinator handles chlorine only. Pick a conditioner that binds both chlorine and ammonia, or run RO/DI. This avoids gill burn, bio-filter setbacks, and odd test results. If you rely on a carbon block, change it on schedule so it can remove residual disinfectants before they reach the tank. For reference, see the EPA’s page on chloraminated water and aquariums.
Sand Bed And Rock Care Without Drama
Shallow beds lift detritus easily. Deep beds hold anaerobic zones that you want to leave mostly undisturbed. When unsure, clean a patch each week rather than the whole base. With rock, aim for gentle puffs and light brushing. Keep scrapers clear of coral flesh and avoid blasting directly into polyps.
Skimmer And Mechanical Filtration Tips
A clean skimmer pulls darker waste, which means fewer nutrients left behind. Keep the neck free of slime, set the water level so foam breaks at the cone, and empty the cup before it overflows. Mechanical pads and roller mats trap fine particles; they also trap food, so swap or rinse them often to avoid nutrient spikes.
Water Change Math You Can Trust
For quick math, one gallon out of ten equals a 10% change. If nitrate sits at 40 ppm, a single 25% change drops it to 30 ppm. Repeat small changes through the week if levels are stubborn. Large swings invite salt creep, salinity drift, and temperature dips, so steady moves win here.
New Tank Versus Mature Tank
Young systems benefit from gentle handling. Keep feeding light, avoid deep sand churning, and change smaller volumes more often. As a tank matures, bio-films thicken and rock pores host more microbes. You can widen the gap between cleanings a bit, but keep testing and logging so you can react before algae gains ground.
Sump, Skimmer Cup, And Return Section
Detritus often settles in the sump. After the display work, vacuum the bottom of the skimmer chamber and the return section. Wipe the skimmer neck so foam rises cleanly, and check that the drain line is open. If salt creep builds on the rim or cords, wipe it with a damp cloth and dry the area to protect outlets.
Pump And Powerhead Care
Impellers collect calcium film and snail shells. Soak pumps in a mild vinegar bath, scrub gently with a soft brush, and rinse. Keep spare pumps on hand so flow continues while parts soak. Flow keeps oxygen high and helps the tank process waste between services.
Setting Targets For Salinity And Temperature
Match the ocean, then keep it steady. Aim near 35 ppt and a temperature range that suits your livestock. Many corals and reef fish are comfortable near 23–29 °C. Pick a setpoint and hold it with a reliable heater and a thermometer you trust. Spikes and dips do more damage than small offsets from a textbook number. NOAA notes that reef-building corals thrive in salty water around 32–42 ppt; a home target near the middle gives you wiggle room.
Why This Routine Works
Fish and inverts release waste that becomes ammonia. Helpful bacteria turn it into nitrite and then nitrate. Regular export keeps nitrate in check and clears dissolved organics that tint water and feed algae. Matching new water to tank conditions prevents shock. Small, steady moves help livestock stay calm during each service.
Keep Records To Spot Patterns
A simple notebook or app helps track cleaning dates, test results, media changes, and livestock notes. When algae flares, you can look back and see if bulbs aged out, a filter went overdue, or feeding crept up. Patterns make fixes faster and cut guesswork.
Care For Acrylic And Glass The Right Way
Acrylic scratches easily. Use pads rated for acrylic and avoid magnetic scrapers that pick up sand. For glass, a razor blade clears coralline fast. Wipe the outside with a damp cloth; keep household sprays away from seams, lids, and the sump.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Cleaning Everything At Once
Scrubbing all surfaces, swapping all media, and deep-stirring the bed in one sitting strips too much bio-film. Split deep tasks across weeks.
Pouring Untested Tap Water
Untested tap can carry copper, chloramine, and elevated TDS. Use RO/DI or a conditioner that targets chloramine specifically, then confirm salinity and pH before refill.
Letting Pads Rot In Place
Dirty pads turn into nitrate factories. Rinse or replace them on a tight cadence so trapped food does not break down in the flow path.
When To Call A Timeout
If a test shows ammonia or nitrite, stop deep cleaning and switch to light siphoning and fresh water changes until the cycle steadies. The bio-filter lives on every surface, so gentle handling preserves that crew while you correct the cause.
Printable Service Flow
1) Mix saltwater and warm it. 2) Cut pumps. 3) Scrape panels. 4) Siphon sand in sections. 5) Baste rock. 6) Rinse pads. 7) Swap carbon if due. 8) Refill with matched mix. 9) Power up gear. 10) Recheck salinity and temperature. 11) Log results.
FAQ-Free Finisher: What You’ll See After A Good Clean
Clarity returns within minutes, the skimmer pulls darker foam, and fish resume normal cruising. Algae slows on panels, rocks show detail again, and salt creep recedes. Keep the schedule steady and the tank will meet you halfway.