Weekly aquarium maintenance checklist: the gear that changes everything
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
Well-equipped weekly aquarium maintenance takes 20 minutes: a 20 to 30 % water change, vacuuming up waste, glass cleaning and quick checks. The full kit costs 40 to 70 €, once and for all. It’s this short, regular routine — not big spring cleans — that keeps a tank healthy.
Contents · 5 sections
What gear belongs in your maintenance kit?
- Gravel vacuum (8 to 15 €): removes water and waste from the substrate in a single motion.
- Dedicated 10-12 litre aquarium bucket (3 to 5 €): never a household bucket — detergent residue is lethal.
- Algae scraper: magnetic (10 to 25 €) for routine cleaning, blade type (8 to 12 €) for stubborn algae.
- Water conditioner (5 to 15 €): with every batch of new water — see our guide to the conditioner and bacteria.
- Thermometer and water tests: a 2-minute check.
- Aquascaping scissors and tweezers (10 to 20 € for the pair): trim plants without soaking your arm.
What should you actually do each week?
In order: unplug the heater and filter; scrape the glass; siphon out 20 to 30 % of the water while running the vacuum over the substrate, zone by zone; trim overgrown plants; top up with conditioned water at a similar temperature; plug everything back in. Add a look at the fish while they eat: it’s the best moment to spot abnormal behaviour.
And the filter — do you clean it every week?
No, absolutely not: the media gets rinsed every 3 to 6 weeks, in the tank water you’ve just siphoned out, never under the chlorinated tap. An over-cleaned filter loses its bacteria. The details for each media type are in our guide to filter media, and choosing the filter itself is covered in internal vs external filter.
Which monthly checks should you add?
Once a month: a full water test (nitrites, nitrates, pH), a check of the filter flow, impeller cleaning, an inspection of seals and lid, and replacement of activated carbon if used. Log the results in a notebook or an app: slow drifts only show up over time. Find all the equipment in the accessories category.
Frequently asked questions
Can water changes be stretched to every two weeks?
In a heavily planted, lightly stocked tank, yes — while keeping an eye on nitrates. In a standard tank, weekly remains the golden rule.
Should the fish be taken out during maintenance?
Never: being caught stresses them far more than the gravel vacuum does. Work slowly and they get used to it within a few weeks.
Is the siphoned water good for anything?
Excellent for watering your houseplants: it’s rich in nitrates, a free natural fertilizer.
An accessory from our shop for this use: Stick-on digital thermometer for aquarium and terrarium glass (€18.90) · the whole shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Fishkeeping universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.