Let’s be honest. The worst part about having an aquarium is cleaning it.
It’s Saturday morning. You’d rather be sleeping in or at a mamak, but instead, you are carrying heavy buckets of water back and forth across your living room, spilling water on the floor.
Many beginners think, “My filter is running, so the water is clean, right?” Wrong. Your filter removes solid poop, but it does not remove invisible nitrates (fish pee). If you don’t remove water, your fish are basically swimming in a toilet that never gets flushed.
But don’t worry. You don’t need to spend 2 hours scrubbing. In this guide, I’ll show you the 20-Minute “Malas” Method that keeps your tank healthy without the back pain.
The Biggest Beginner Mistake (STOP DOING THIS!)
DO NOT take the fish out and scrub the tank with soap!
I see so many Malaysian unties doing this. When you scrub everything squeaky clean, you kill the Beneficial Bacteria living in your filter and gravel. These good bacteria are what keep your water non-toxic.
If you do a 100% deep clean, your tank will “crash,” the water will turn cloudy after 2 days, and your fish might die.
The Secret Weapon: The RM15 Gravel Vacuum (Siphon)
You are doing it wrong if you are using a plastic cup to scoop water out. You need a tool called a Gravel Vacuum or Siphon Pump (pam penyedut).
- What it is: A plastic tube with a hand pump attached to a hose.
- Why you need it: It sucks water and the fish poop hidden deep in the gravel at the same time, without sucking up the gravel itself.
- Cost: About RM10 – RM20 on Shopee. It is the best investment you will ever make.
The 5-Step “Malas” Water Change Routine
Do this once a week. It only takes 20 minutes for a standard 2-foot tank.
Step 1: Prep
- Unplug your filter, light, and cooling fan.
- Get a big empty bucket (baldi) ready on the floor.
Step 2: The Siphon (The Satisfying Part)
- Put the siphon head into the gravel. Put the hose end in the bucket.
- Squeeze the pump a few times to start the flow.
- Move the siphon head around the gravel. Watch in satisfaction as brown, dirty water gets sucked out!
- Stop when you have removed about 20% – 30% of the water. (Never take more than 50%).
Step 3: Clean the Filter Sponge (Crucial Tip!)
- Take the sponge out of your filter box.
- NEVER wash it under tap water. The chlorine will kill the good bacteria.
- Squeeze the dirty sponge inside the bucket of old tank water you just removed. Just get the big chunks of dirt off. It doesn’t need to be perfectly clean.
Step 4: Prep the New Water
- Fill a bucket with fresh tap water.
- Add your Anti-Chlorine IMMEDIATELY. Swirl it around.
Step 5: Refill Slowly
- Gently pour the new, treated water back into the tank.
- Pro Tip: Place a small plate on the gravel and pour the water onto the plate. This stops the pouring water from kicking up a dust storm in your tank.
- Turn all your equipment back on. Done!
Conclusion
Stop making it hard for yourself. Buy a RM15 siphon. A 20% water change every Sunday keeps your fish happy and your floor dry.
Do you have a horror story about spilling water during a water change? Share it in the comments so we can laugh together!
