How To Sterilize Fish Tank After Fish Dies

I can still recall how heartbreaking the day was when I found two of my goldfishes floating dead in the tank. It was terrible.

However, my wife was there to console and remind me of the essential thing to do next. And it was how to clean a tank after a fish dies. If you face the same grim situation, keep in mind that you need to clean and sanitize the tank simultaneously.

Here, I have rounded up some of the proven ways how to clean aquariums after fish died. Veteran pet lovers and aquarium cleaning professionals practice and improvise these methods. I hope these processes will help you clean the tank and relieve yourself a bit from the shock.

 

How to Clean A Tank After A Fish Dies?

If you want to keep the other animals in the aquarium healthy, you should clean your tank after a fish dies. However, if you do not have any other animals in your tank, cleaning it is not immediately necessary.

In addition, if you are not sure how to clean an aquarium after a fish dies, then it is best to leave it alone until you are confident that you can do it by yourself. You can also ask for help from your local pet shop assistant or someone who knows how to clean an aquarium properly.

Here is how to clean an aquarium after fish dies:

 

Step 1

Remove any remaining water from the tank. Hold the aquarium at an angle and place it on a flat surface so that any water inside the tank can flow out of it.

If possible, remove all of the water by siphoning it out with a hose or using your hands to pour it out of the tank. Do not forget to remove any plants and decorations from your aquarium as well. In addition, take off all of the dead fish from the tank.

 

Step 2

Clean the tank with a sponge and warm water. Use a sponge to clean the sides of your aquarium and remove any algae or other types of dirt. In addition, use a sponge to clean the surface of your tank where your fish used to swim. Once you are done, rinse it thoroughly with room temperature water so that you can remove all excess soap.

 

Step 3

Fill your tank with fresh water and add some aquarium cleaners to it so that they can work their magic while cleaning the tank.

You can choose any type of aquarium cleaner, such as saltwater or freshwater cleaners, depending on what type of fish you had in your aquarium before they died. If you are unsure what cleaner to choose, ask your local pet shop assistant for advice about how to clean aquarium after fish died.

 

Step 4

Leave the tank to stand for 24 hours so that the aquarium cleaner can work its magic. After 24 hours, check if you are satisfied with the results, and if you are, you can start adding fish again. If you are not satisfied with the results, repeat steps 3 and 4 until you are satisfied.

 

Should You Clean Your Fish Tank After A Fish Dies?

If you want to keep the other animals in your tank healthy, then yes, you should definitely clean your tank after a fish dies. However, if you do not have any other animals in your tank, cleaning it is not immediately necessary, but I will still recommend it.

In addition, if you are unsure how to clean an aquarium after a fish dies, then it is best to leave it alone until you are sure that you can do it yourself. You can also ask for help from your local pet shop assistant or someone who knows how to clean an aquarium properly.

 

What Happens If You Don't Remove The Dead Fish?

If you do not remove the dead fish from your tank, it will start to rot and release ammonia into the water. In addition, if there are any other animals in your tanks, such as snails or shrimp, they may eat some of the rotting fish and could die as a result.

However, if you have no other animals in your aquarium, then leaving the dead fish there will not harm anything. However, you should still take it out because it looks unsightly and can make your aquarium look dirty. You can also get rid of any rotting fish by using a particular type of cleaner designed to break down dead animal matter and remove toxins from the water.

 

How to Remove A Dead Fish From Your Fish Tank

Below are the steps you need to take to remove a dead fish from your tank.

 

Step 1

Ensure that your fish tank is not running because doing so could make the water inside it overflow and create a big mess. Then turn off the lights to don't disturb any of the other animals in your tank.

 

Step 2

Use some kitchen tongs to carefully lift out the dead fish and place it on a piece of newspaper or a plate. Wear some rubber gloves while handling the dead fish because it can be pretty smelly, and you do not want to get any ammonia onto your hands or into your mouth. 

 

Tips on How to Clean Aquarium After Fish Died

• You should stay away from children and pets when handling a dead fish as they may try to play with it, resulting in them getting contaminated. 
• Do not throw away the newspaper or plate onto which you have placed the dead fish because it can cause pollution if thrown into trash bins or drains. Instead, put the newspaper into a plastic bag along with some household cleaners and then dispose of them properly.
• Do not leave any dead animal matter in your aquarium for too long because it can cause ammonia to build up in the water. If you have any other animals in the tank, they may eat some of the dead animal matter, which could kill them or make them very ill.

What Happens If You Don't Clean Your Tank Regularly?

If you do not clean your tank regularly, the water inside it will start to get dirty and cloudy, which can be pretty harmful to your fish and other animals.

The water will also start to smell bad, which can put off people who visit your home. In addition, if you do not clean your tank regularly, it will get dirtier quicker than if you did clean it regularly.

 

How Often Should You Clean Your Tank?

You should clean your tank at least once every three months or so, but if you have a lot of fish or a lot of plants in there, you should clean it more often than that. You should always clean your tank before adding any new fish into it, as this will help prevent any diseases from spreading amongst them.

 

Cleaning Your Tank The First Time

When you first get your tank, you should clean it very carefully to ensure no sharp edges or rough surfaces. You can ask an expert to help you if you need some advice on doing this correctly.

Once your tank is clean, it is time to test the water in it and see if it has any ammonia or nitrites. If there are none present, you are good to go and start adding your fish into the tank.

However, if there is ammonia or nitrites present, you will need to fix this problem before adding any fish because they may get sick or die due to this problem. You can buy chemicals that will remove ammonia from water, so be sure to buy some of these if necessary and follow the directions on them carefully before starting your aquarium up again.

 

Final Words

It's tough to think about how to clean a tank after a fish dies when you find your beloved water pets floating dead. But, you know you have to move on and ensure safety for the rest in the tank.

Keep the tank clean regularly and take care of your fishes with the best food and aquarium accessories from Delcela Pets. If you need something else for your pets, don’t hesitate to check our website.