General tropical fish tank cleaning should be performed in conjunction with water changes, which means no less often than weekly.

1.Gather your supplies. You will need to prepare water to replace the dirty water you’ll be removing. You can do these with chlorine neutralizer, by allowing it to sit overnight or by using bottled water. You’ll also need to have an empty container on hand for the dirty water removed and a simple siphon-type gravel vacuum (non-battery operated).

The best approach is not to buy the smallest and least expensive tropical fish tank because you want to save money.

A saltwater aquarium, and any aquarium for that matter, is a big investment in money and time, so don’t go halfway. Make sure you’ll have what you really need.

A tank that is too small can become a problem and take much more time to maintain than a tank that is the right size for your needs.

A few decades ago, plate glass tanks and goldfish bowls were the standard. Many of the tanks sold then were framed in metal and came in standard 10, 20, and 55-gallon rectangular sizes.