Overgrowth of bacteria in your fish tank can make the fish sick, or even kill them. Some of the symptoms of bacteria proliferation include observable white spots or other physical abnormalities on the fish. If this occurs, you need to perform aquarium disinfection.
Disinfecting an Aquarium with Methylene Blue vs. Other Methods
There are multiple processes for disinfecting a fish tank, however this tutorial focuses on one of the most common methods, the use of methylene blue. Another common method involves the use of chlorine bleach to disinfect an aquarium. The major difference between the two procedures is that all water and fish are removed from the tank for the chlorine bleach procedure, while the methylene blue procedure is performed with the fish and water still in the aquarium.
Gather Supplies
To perform methylene blue fish tank disinfection, you will need methyl blue and a teaspoon or eyedropper for measuring. Carefully measure out one teaspoon of methylene blue for every 10 gallons of water that the tank can hold. For instance, if the tank holds 30 gallons of water, then measure out three teaspoons of methylene blue to the tank. Likewise, if you have a 10-gallon tank, only measure out one teaspoon of the disinfectant.
Add Methylene Blue to Aquarium
Add the methylene blue to the fish tank. There is no need to remove the water, fish, or other aquarium components when using this procedure. Be sure to distribute the methylene blue as evenly as possible into the tank water. Also be aware that the water will have a light blue tint after adding the disinfectant. This is a normal part of the disinfection process. Repeat the procedure of adding methylene blue to the aquarium every other day for 10 days.
Observe Results
After 10 days of adding the methylene blue every other day, observe the tank for visible changes. Do the fish still have white spots? Ultimately you want to determine whether the tank and fish have gotten better or worse.
After evaluating the condition of the tank, repeat the procedure for an additional 10 days if the fish and aquarium water show no progress, or have gotten worse. You may also want to consider disinfecting the tank with chlorine bleach. If the tank shows improvement, refer to the preventative maintenance procedure below.
Preventative Maintenance Treatment of Fish Tank with Methylene Blue
To maintain the health of your fish tank, it is advisable to perform routine disinfection of the aquarium with methyl blue. The process of this preventative disinfection of the tank involves adding one dose (1 teaspoon per 10 gallons of water) of methylene blue every other week. Doing so can help to keep the tank full of happy and healthy fish.
Sources:
ASPCA: Aquarium care instructions (accessed 8/30/2010)
Americanaquariumproducts.com: Parasite and chemical treatments for fish tanks (accessed 8/30/2010)
Cheri Pearson - Cheri Pearson is a seasoned freelance journalist who holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of ...
