Keeping your freshwater aquarium clean and stable doesn’t have to be difficult—it just takes a reliable routine. A regular maintenance schedule helps ensure healthy water parameters, reduces algae buildup, and keeps your fish and plants thriving. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned hobbyist, this essential checklist will walk you through what to do weekly, monthly, and seasonally to maintain a vibrant, low-stress aquarium.
Weekly Aquarium Maintenance Tasks
1. Partial Water Change (20–30%)
Use a gravel vacuum or siphon to remove 20–30% of the water. This helps dilute toxins like ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, while removing debris from the substrate. Always treat new water with a reliable water conditioner before adding it back to the tank.
2. Glass Cleaning
Wipe the inside glass with an algae scraper, sponge, or magnetic cleaner. Avoid using regular cleaning products, which can leave residues that harm fish.
3. Quick Equipment Check
Make sure your filter, heater, air pump, and lighting are functioning properly. Look for unusual noises, blockages, or low flow.
4. Visual Fish & Plant Health Check
Look for signs of illness such as clamped fins, white spots, or discoloration. Remove any dead leaves from plants and trim as needed.
Monthly Aquarium Maintenance Tasks
1. Filter Maintenance
Rinse mechanical filter media like sponges in old tank water to preserve beneficial bacteria. Replace chemical media (like activated carbon) if needed, but never change all filter media at once.
2. Deep Substrate Cleaning
Use your siphon to reach areas under decorations and behind plants. Gently stir the substrate to prevent anaerobic gas buildup in tanks with deep gravel or sand.
3. Test Water Parameters
Use a liquid or strip test kit to check ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and KH. Catching imbalances early prevents fish stress and algae problems.
4. Wipe Exterior Glass
Use a damp cloth or aquarium-safe cleaner to clean the outside of the tank for a polished look.
Seasonal or As-Needed Maintenance
1. Equipment Deep Clean
Remove and clean tubing, impellers, or air stones to prevent clogging or buildup. This helps keep flow strong and equipment lasting longer.
2. Replant or Rescape
Trim overgrown stems, replace melted plants, and shift hardscape if you’re refreshing your tank layout. Now is also a good time to replace substrate if needed.
3. Inventory Maintenance Supplies
Restock essentials like test strips, dechlorinator, filter pads, and algae scrubbers to stay prepared.
Bonus Tips for Clean and Healthy Aquariums
- Feed only what your fish can eat in 2–3 minutes to reduce waste buildup.
- Top off water weekly to account for evaporation, using dechlorinated water.
- Quarantine new fish to avoid introducing parasites or illness to your tank.
Maintenance Made Easy with Charterhouse Aquatics
Everything you need to maintain your freshwater tank can be found in our Freshwater Maintenance Collection. From gravel vacuums and test kits to conditioners and scrapers, we stock high-quality tools and trusted brands to support clean, thriving tanks of every size.
Stick to this checklist, and your aquarium will reward you with clear water, healthy fish, and less work over time.
