How to Clean a Betta Fish Tank?

Betta fish are charming freshwater creatures, and just like their beauty, they require the same level of attention and care. One of the key factors in keeping your betta fish happy and healthy is regular tank cleaning. If you can’t think of sluggish and stressed betta and murky water in the tank, you shouldn’t avoid tank cleaning.

As a beginner, when you are cleaning your betta tank for the first time, you might feel overwhelmed or even a little scared. You might worry about hurting your fish or making mistakes. Don’t worry, though! We’ll guide you through a practical way of cleaning the betta tank without stressing your fish.

Why Tank Cleaning is Crucial for Betta Health

A well-maintained and cleaned betta tank keeps your betta happy and healthy. Dirty water can lead to toxic chemicals like ammonia and nitrites, which stress your fish and can cause diseases like fin rot.

Regular cleaning removes these toxins and keeps your tank safe for your betta. It ensures the removal of trapped detritus, uneaten food, and fish waste from gravel or sand. It keeps beneficial bacteria (Nitrifying Bacteria like Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter) alive, which break down the toxic chemicals like ammonia and nitrite.

Cleaning the tank prevents algae buildup. Algae, though not considered harmful, can consume oxygen at night and cause swings in the tank pH levels. Over time, it makes your tank look messy and blocks your view of the fish.

Bad water quality causes stress, which weakens your betta’s immune system. You might notice your betta showing signs of distress like fin rot, clamped fins, or lethargy. It can also lead to gill damage and breathing problems, affecting your betta’s overall health. If water quality isn’t maintained, it can shorten your betta’s lifespan.

Factors That Affect How Often You Clean Your Betta Tank

Cleaning your betta tank depends on numerous things: tank size, filtration, live plants, and whether it’s cycled.

The smaller the tank, the more often you’ll need to clean it. In a 5-gallon tank, waste like fish poop and uneaten food build up faster than in larger tanks (such as 10 gallons or more) because there’s less water to dilute it.

Similarly, filters act as the tank’s cleaning crew. If your tank has a filter, you’re in luck—it will reduce how often you need to clean compared to an unfiltered tank.

Plants do most of the work in tank cleaning. They absorb harmful wastes like nitrates and help keep the water cleaner for longer. A heavily planted tank requires less frequent cleaning compared to an unplanted one.

One of the most influential factors is the number of inhabitants. If you have just one betta fish, there’s less waste to worry about. But if you add tank mates, it will lead to more poop and uneaten food, making the water dirtier faster. This means you’ll need to clean the tank more frequently.

How Often Should You Clean Your Betta Tank?

Small Tanks (1-2.5 gallons, no filter)

In smaller tanks ranging from 1 to 2.5 gallons, there’s hardly enough space to install a filter. Since filtration helps with cleaning tank water, not having one in such small tanks means waste and leftover food accumulate quickly. This leads to a rapid buildup of harmful chemicals. Therefore, the tank needs cleaning very frequently.

You may need to do partial water changes (25-50%) every 2-3 days for such tanks with no filter. However, a full tank cleaning (100% water change) should be done biweekly or monthly, depending on the situation.

Medium Tanks (3-4 gallons, filtered)

Tanks of 3 gallons or slightly larger allow you to install a filter, which increases the time between cleanings. For tanks of this size, we perform partial water changes (20-30%) weekly and do a full tank cleaning every 2 to 3 months.

Larger Tanks (5+ gallons, filtered)

Larger tanks provide more ease when it comes to maintenance and cleaning. With a 5-gallon betta tank (approximately 19 liters), which is the most recommended size, we perform partial water changes every 2-3 weeks, and a full tank cleaning every 5 to 6 months.

If you have a much larger tank, such as a 10-gallon or even bigger, it offers even more convenience. Larger tanks with filters keep the water clean for a longer time, allowing you to go even longer between full tank cleanings.

Be sure to rinse the substrate and decorations in dechlorinated water and avoid using soap or harsh chemicals.

Essential Tools & Materials for Cleaning

Before starting to clean a betta tank, first of all, arrange all the essential tools and materials in advance. Use tools that are dedicated solely to tank cleaning. It will help prevent harmful chemical residues from contaminating your tank. It’s important to keep aquarium tools separate from household items.

Aquarium Gravel Vacuum/Siphon: This is a must-have tool to vacuum the debris from the bottom without removing too much water.

Bucket/Bowl: It is used to hold the old water you siphon out and the betta fish you scoop to continue with cleaning. Ensure an aquarium-purposed bucket or bowl.

Dechlorinator: Tap water usually has chlorine, which is harmful to fish. A dechlorinator helps to remove the harmful chlorine and chloramines from tap water before adding it back into the tank.

Algae Scraper/Pad: Use this to remove algae from the tank walls without scratching the glass or plastic.

Besides the above ones, keep ready all the other ordinary aquarium accessories like a heater, thermometer, filter, and water test kit.

Step by Step Guide to Clean a Betta Tank

Wash Your Hands

The first and foremost thing that most betta owners either intentionally or unintentionally ignore is washing their hands. If you clean the tank without washing your hands, all your efforts can go to waste.

Dirty hands introduce germs into the tank. If you use soap to clean your hands, make sure to wash them thoroughly to remove any soap residue. Remember, soap residue can affect the health of your betta fish.

Switch off Electric Equipment

If there is any electrical equipment, such as a filter, heater, or aquarium light, plugged in, switch it off. This will keep you in a safer zone.

Remove Old Water

The process of tank cleaning begins here. The first thing you’ll do is remove the old water. Start by scooping water out of the tank and placing it into the bowl or bucket designated for this purpose. Continue scooping until you have 60-80% of the water in the bucket.

Don’t fully empty the tank, as you will need some water left to vacuum the substrate, which cannot be done without water in the tank.

Transfer Betta to Bucket/Bowl

Transfer the betta from the main tank into a bucket that already contains the old water. Use a fish net or any safe cup for this purpose. This should be done very carefully, as the betta’s fins are fragile and can be injured. Place a lid on the bucket to prevent the betta from jumping out.

Remove Tank Accessories

Now it’s time to remove the tank accessories, such as the filter, heater, aquarium light, plants, or any other decor items. This should be done carefully, especially with the plants, as their roots may be embedded in the substrate.

Vacuum the Substrate

Tank waste, such as uneaten food, fish poop, or debris, sinks deep into the substrate, so it needs careful cleaning. While there is still some water remaining in the tank, clean the substrate using the gravel vacuum.

To do so, place one end of the siphon hose into your dedicated empty bucket. Gently push the gravel vacuum into the substrate, allowing debris to be sucked up with the water.

Make sure to vacuum the tank’s bottom really well, because any leftover waste can cause problems later on.

Also, it’s very important to drain out the rest of the water from the tank, since it might still have tiny bits of waste floating around. This helps keep the tank clean and healthy for your fish.

Clean the Tank and Decor

Clean the tank and decorations separately. First, place the container under the faucet with hot water. Then, clean the sides of the tank using an aquarium-safe scraper or a soft sponge to remove algae buildup. Be sure not to use soap or detergent, as it can harm the fish.

Next, clean the substrate (gravel) thoroughly. Use your hands to move the gravel around, shaking it side to side. This will help remove any leftover waste.

Finally, turn to the decor items set aside. Scrub them gently to remove algae and debris. Use hot water to ensure that any germs are killed. While cleaning the filter media, use the old water as the new tap water can kill the beneficial bacteria. It will not crush your nitrogen cycle.

Refilling the Tank with Fresh Water

Now that the tank and all its accessories are cleaned, place all the items—decorations and plants—back into the tank, which you removed earlier.

Next, it’s time to fill the tank back up with new, temperature-matched and dechlorinated water. Slowly add the water, using a plate to prevent disturbing your decorations too much. You can also add the original water you scooped out earlier and mix it thoroughly with the new water.

After filling the tank, plug the filter and heater back in. Make sure the temperature is correct for your betta by using a thermometer.

Return Betta to Tank

Once the new water reaches all the suitable conditions necessary for the betta fish, introduce the betta into the tank. Don’t transfer the betta directly into the tank; instead, keep it in a separate container and float the container in the aquarium for about 30 minutes. This allows the betta to adjust to the water temperature and conditions. After acclimating, carefully release it into the tank.

Post-Cleaning Observation

Take a moment to watch your betta. Look for any signs of stress, such as hiding, darting around, or staying at the surface. This is normal for a little while after cleaning, but if it lasts too long, it might be a sign of stress.

If you barely have time to clean your betta fish tank, a self-cleaning tank might be just what you need. It helps take care of the mess on its own, so you won’t have to clean it as often.