How to Clean Aquarium Gravel

A fail-proof method to vacuuming aquarium gravel

Aquarium gravel serves not only as a decoration, but also as a filter. Because of this, it tends to harbor a lot of debris and waste. Cleaning gravel also removes some aquarium water. As such, most aquarium hobbyists will plan their gravel cleaning day alongside their weekly partial water changes.^{[1]XExpert SourceAaron Bernard
Fish & Aquarium SpecialistExpert Interview. 17 July 2020.}

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Getting Started

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1
Unplug the heater, filter, and pump. Before you do anything to your tank, you must unplug the heater and turn off the filter and pump. Don't worry, the cleaning process is quick, so your fish will be fine.
- Do not remove your fish, decorations, or plants from the tank.^{[2]XResearch source}
2
Get out your aquarium vacuum. There are two tools aquarium hobbyists will use for cleaning their gravel.
- Aquarium siphons usually have a thick, plastic tube or "siphon" with a thin, flexible, tube attached to one end. Some of these may have a priming ball attached to one end.
- Plastic, flexible tubes can also be used to clean gravel. These are ideal for smaller tanks.
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The bucket must be beneath the water level. It will catch the old water.
Slowly lower the entire siphon into the tank so that all of the air gets out of the tube. Cover the end of the tube with your thumb and take it out of the tank; keep the other, open, end submerged. Place the covered end in a bucket. If you release your thumb, the water will begin to flow; if you cover the end again with your thumb, the water will stop.^{[3]XResearch source}
Some aquarium vacuums come with a rubber ball attached to the end of the siphon. Stick the end of the siphon into the aquarium and lower the end of the tube into a bucket. Plug the end of the tube with your finger, and squeeze on the priming ball. Slowly let go of the ball, but keep the end of the tube plugged. Water will begin to fill the siphon, sort of like an eyedropper or turkey baster. When you unplug the end of the tube, water will start to flow into the bucket.^{[4]XResearch source}
These types of gravel vacuums are different from all others. They do not require a bucket. Instead, they need to be hooked up to a water faucet. Simply plug the end of the Python vacuum to your water faucet and place the entire vacuum into the aquarium. When you turn the faucet on, the vacuum will begin to siphon.^{[5]XResearch source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Vacuuming the Gravel

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1
Place the end of the vacuum into the gravel. Simply stick it straight down, as far as it will go. Your thumb should still be blocking the end of the tube, and that the end of the tube is in the bucket. Once you let go of the tube, dirty water will start flowing out.
- If you have very fine-grit gravel, such as sand, don't stick the vacuum all the way down. Instead, place the mouth just over the top of the sand.
- Vacuuming is okay for freshwater tanks, but it's not a great option for saltwater aquariums, especially ones with sand. If you use a vacuum in a saltwater tank, you'll end up disturbing the bacteria in the sand and destroying your tank's micro-ecosystem.^{[6]XExpert SourceAaron Bernard
  Fish & Aquarium SpecialistExpert Interview. 17 July 2020.}
- Only vacuum a saltwater tank if you've got some crushed coral along with some, big predatory fish. In that case, vacuum every few months to clean up the build-up.^{[7]XExpert SourceAaron Bernard
  Fish & Aquarium SpecialistExpert Interview. 17 July 2020.}
2
Let go of the tube. With the end of the tube still in the bucket, slowly pull your thumb away from the end of the tube. This will start creating the siphoning effect. Dirty water will flow out of the end of the tube and into the bucket. The gravel will shake and rattle inside the tube.
- If you are using a Python, or a similar type, simply turn the water on the begin siphoning.
3
Cover the end of the tube once the water starts to run clear. How long this takes will depend on how dirty your aquarium is to begin with. When you recover the tube, the gravel will settle once again.
- If the gravel starts to go too far up the vacuum, just cover the end of the tube and let the gravel settle. Then, uncover the tube and let the water flow again.
- If you are using a Python, or a similar type, simply turn the water off the stop siphoning.
Try to keep it as straight as possible, so that you don't dislodge the adjacent debris.
5
Move the vacuum to the next patch of dirty gravel and repeat the process. Push the vacuum straight down into the gravel, and slowly release the end of the tube. When the water runs clear again, cover the tube back up and carefully lift the vacuum out.
- If your tank has any caves, rocks, logs, and other nooks and crannies, be sure to give those special attention. These areas tend to get the most waste.
- If your tank has any live plants, leave a 2 inch (5.08 centimeters) radius around the stems. Plants love organic waste. If you remove this waste, the plants won't have anything to eat.
Keep vacuuming until the water level is two-thirds of the way full. By now, you will have cleaned one-fourth to one-third of the gravel. This is perfectly fine. You do not want to clean more than that at one time. Aquarium gravel hosts a lot of good, helpful bacteria that is important for the health of your tank. You can continue cleaning the gravel the next time you do a partial water change.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Finishing Up

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1
Take the temperature of the tank's water. You have just removed a lot of dirty water, and you will need to replace it. Fish are very sensitive to water changes, so the new water will have to be the same temperature as the old.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Most tanks should have a thermometer, but if yours doesn't, you'll need to stick a clean, glass thermometer into the water.
Make sure that the bucket never came to contact with any chemicals or cleaners. Any residue left behind can be extremely deadly for your fish. Fill the bucket with water that is the same
Most tap water is not aquarium safe. Use any necessary water conditioners to remove chlorine and other harmful chemicals. You can buy these from an aquarium store or in the aquatics department of a pet store.
4
Place the bucket above the water level of the aquarium. You will be reverse siphoning the water back into the tank. The bucket must be above the water level, or the water will not siphon back properly.
- Simply pouring the water back in might seem easier, but this can cause debris to rise up and cloud the water.
If you are using a gravel vacuum with a plastic siphon, see if you can pop the flexible tube off.
Slowly let go of the tube. The water should start flowing back into the tank.
This space is important. Fish need oxygen, and if you don't leave that space, the water won't get enough oxygen for your fish.^{[9]XResearch source}
Once your aquarium is all set up again, plug the heater back in, and restart the filter and pump. Take note of when you cleaned your tank, and make a note on your calendar for the next cleaning date.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Cleaning Store-bought Gravel

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This is the only time you should be cleaning the gravel. Once your gravel is in the tank, you should only vacuum it. Gravel hosts a lot of good, helpful bacteria that are beneficial for your aquarium. Rinsing your gravel will get rid of that bacteria.
Store-bought gravel must be cleaned. It often contains dust and dirt that can be harmful to your fish. If you picked your gravel up from elsewhere, you will want to clean it as well.
The smaller your gravel is, the tighter the weave you will need. Make sure that you are not using this colander or strainer for any other purpose. Also, make sure that the colander/strainer never came into contact with soap or other detergents. If you are cleaning sand, consider using a piece of cotton instead.
If you have a lot of gravel to clean, you may need to work in smaller batches. The gravel should enough room in the colander/strainer to move around without spilling over the edges.
Use a warm or hot water setting. This will help kill any bacteria. Do 'not add any soap, detergent, or bleach. Doing so can kill your fish.^{[10]XResearch source}
Shake and jiggle the colander/strainer. Stick your hand into the gravel, and sift it about. Keep doing this until the water runs clear.^{[11]XResearch source}
Turn off the water and give the colander/strainer a final shake to get rid of any excess water. Spread the gravel along the bottom of your tank. If you still have more gravel to add, repeat the whole cleaning process for each batch.

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Question
How many years can gravel be used?
Community Answer
Gravel has no expiration date, unless the manufacturer specifically states this. It is the quality of water that determines what should be done with the substrate in a system. As long as you rinse it thoroughly during water changes and it doesn't appear dirty, it can continue to be used.
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If my gravel grows algae on it, how do I get it off without killing the good bacteria?
Noah Bretches
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You could buy snails or shrimp, which will eat the algae.
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Can I put a piece of screen inside a colander to clean the gravel?
GenderfluidBean
Community Answer
Yep! I use a mesh colander to clean gravel. You shouldn't be cleaning gravel after it's added to a tank, however.
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Tips

Leave your fish in for the clean. If you take them out, it's much more stressful; unless you have a very small bowl, it's better to keep them in.^{[12]XResearch source}
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Live plants are a great way of keeping your tank clean and healthy.
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Do not vacuum all of the gravel or replace all of the water all at once. You want some of that healthy bacteria.
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Warnings

Never use soap, detergents, or bleach to clean your aquarium, gravel, or decorations.^{[13]XResearch source}
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Never use anything that came in contact with soap, detergents, or bleach to clean your aquarium, gravel, or decorations. Instead, sterilize items by washing them with hot water.^{[14]XResearch source}
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