Depending on how many fish you have, and how messy they are, most tanks require cleaning about once every two weeks.
Cleaning should involve:
✔ Siphoning the gravel to remove any debris and uneaten food, and changing about 10-15% of the water.
✔ Wipe the glass to remove any algae
✔ Check the filter is working correctly. The filter sponges can be rinsed in water taken from the aquarium to clean them. Do not wash them using tap water, as the chlorine will kill the beneficial filter bacteria.
If your aquarium is very smelly, or you have a problem with algae, then clean your aquarium more often. However, these signs do indicate a problem that needs to be addressed. Get into the habit of testing your water quality every time you clean out the aquarium to make sure everything is OK.
