The 10 Best Aquarium Cleaning Supplies, According to a Pet Fish Veterinarian

Best Gravel Cleaner

Python Aquarium Maintenance System

$60

$55 at Amazon $57 at Chewy

$65

$60 at PetSmart

If you want to take the stress out of aquarium cleaning, then you need the Python Gravel Cleaning. After having used these to clean small tanks in a large aquarium, I’ve never used any other type. This gravel siphon hooks onto your sink and instantly creates suction to quickly drain your tank while doing effective vacuuming. There is some water lost to creating suction, so keep this in mind if you do not want to waste water.

Don’t just stir your gravel and expect your filter to grab everything for you! All fish tanks require a gravel vacuum to keep things clean. The Python system makes aquarium cleaning as easy as possible. You can vary the vacuum attachment and how fast the water flows to adapt this system to any size tank. And once you’re done vacuuming, a simple twist of the attachment and the water flows the other way, easily filling your tank! Just don’t forget the water conditioner.

^{Sizes: 25, 50, 75, and 100 feet | Materials: Plastic}

Best Glass Cleaner

Pronetcus Algae Scraper for Glass Aquariums

$13 at Amazon

Cleaning aquarium glass can seem like an endless chore but make short work of it with the Pronetcus Algae Scraper. Having made the mistake myself in using a glass scraper on an acrylic tank, be sure you know what type you have before purchasing a scraper! Glass scrapers are typically metal which will seriously screw up an acrylic tank. Hopefully, your mistake will not be witnessed by countless aquarium patrons like mine.

This scraper comes in a few different lengths, depending on the depth of your tank. It also has the ability to replace the scraper blade, 10 of which are included, which is key in keeping your tank clean as blades get nicked with use. It is an inexpensive product that will keep your glass looking pristine with minimal effort.

^{Sizes: 16, 22, and, 26 inches | Materials: Stainless steel handle, metal blade}

Best Acrylic Cleaner

Continuum Aquatics AquaBlade Scraper

$28 at Amazon View on Saltwateraquarium.com View on Fishandcoralstore.com

In all honesty, I am not a fan of acrylic aquariums since you just cannot make them pristinely clean like glass tanks. For cleaning acrylic, the best option is the Continuum Aquatics AquaBlade, a plastic scraper. All acrylic scrapers can be very frustrating to work with. Plastic scrapers will protect your acrylic tank surface, but will get nicks very easily, causing them to be less reliable over time. Thankfully, this model has easy to replace blades that can even be swapped for a glass scraper if you swap out your tank. Never swap out a glass scraper for an acrylic one! You will be sorry with even more scratches along the sides of your aquarium.

This model comes in two lengths with a solid fiberglass handle for tough scrubbing. I have used my hand directly on the scraper before to improve performance rather than hanging on to the end of the handle. If less than perfect aquarium sides bother you as much as me, I highly recommend a glass tank.

^{Sizes: 14, 24, and  35 inches | Materials: Fiberglass handle, plastic blade}

Best Spray Cleaner

Fritz Aquatics Aquarium Glass & Acrylic Cleaner

View on Fishtanksdirect.com View on Saltwateraquarium.com

If you need your tank looking its absolute best, then you’ll need Fritz Aquatics Aquarium Cleaner. This product is made for both acrylic and glass tanks and does not contain ammonia, so it is safe for your fish. Apply a few spritzes to the outside of your tank and wipe it down with a soft cloth.

Do you really need a fish-specific cleaner? Absolutely not. You can use any cleaner you desire on the outside of your glass tank provided you do not spray it directly in the tank. This can be easily solved by first spraying the cleaning cloth and then applying it to your tank. Keep in mind that some products may cause streaking on acrylic, so thoroughly do your research prior to using other cleaners. My main issue with many of these aquarium products is that no ingredients are listed, so it is hard to know what exactly you are applying to your tank.

^{Sizes: 8 ounces}

Best Algae Cleaner

API Algae Scraper

$11 at Amazon $9 at Chewy $10 at PetSmart

If algae is bothering you and not your fish, it’s time for an effective algae cleaner such as the glass and acrylic models from API. This simple, yet effective, model is ideal for removing stubborn algae with a little elbow grease. As with other products, be sure you select the right tool for your tank, be it a glass or acrylic aquarium.

I have used many of these scrapers with my own tanks and our previous fish hospital. Some algae may take a few passes with some grunt work, but these scrapers have never let me down. To apply more pressure, I hold it right above the sponge rather than the end of the handle. Since you’ll be scrubbing repeatedly, the sponge will wear down over time, but they are inexpensive to replace.

^{Length: 18 inches | Materials: Plastic handle, plastic sponge}

Best Magnet Cleaner Glass

Neptonion Magnetic Aquarium Fish Tank Algae Scraper

$9 at Amazon View on Neptonion.net

Rather than get your hands dirty in the tank, you can try an aquarium magnet cleaner. Keep in mind that not all of these magnet cleaners are created equal, and the NEPTONION Magnet Scraper is a simple, yet effective tool. Many products have weak magnets or an extra scraper attachment, which in my opinion is completely useless, so this model wins on simplicity and strong hold. Simply guide the external felt pad handle over the scrub component inside the tank and get to scrubbing.

This model also has a self-floating feature so it will not fall to the bottom of your tank after cleaning, requiring you to reach inside and fish it out. It comes in a few different sizes but will need to be rinsed after use to keep the pad fresh and clean. Highly recommended for families with smaller kids since they will be entertained to scrub externally without exposing themselves to the fish or tank water.

^{Sizes: Small (2.8 x 1.5 x 2.4 inches), large (4.3 x 2.3 x 3.5 inches), x-large (4.8 x 2.6 x 4.1 inches) | Materials: Plastic handle, felt sponge}

Best Magnet Cleaner Acrylic

Aqueon Aquarium Cleaning Magnets

$15 at Amazon $13 at Chewy $15 at Petco

Using magnets to clean acrylic tanks can be slightly tricky. Magnets utilize strong forces on both sides of the tank to effectively clean the surface and acrylic just doesn’t like this most of the time. If you cannot put your hands in the tank, however, the Aqueon Algae Cleaning Magnet is a good choice. Remember, most algae bothers people, not fish, so a little bit leftover after cleaning shouldn’t be anything to stress over.

The Aqueon magnet is easy to use and has interchangeable pads, so it can be used in a glass tank if you upgrade. Never use the same equipment between two tanks since it can be a cause of disease spread. This magnet is weighted, so after detaching, it will fall to the bottom of your tank and will need to be retrieved using the magnet or a net. Hopefully, it does not hit anything as it falls!

^{Sizes: Small (4.6 x 7.5 x 2.4 inches), medium (4.5 x 9 x 2.5 inches), large (5.2 x 10.6 x 3 inches) | Materials: Plastic handle, felt sponge}

Best Aquascaping Tool Kit

Ohtomber Aquascape Tool Kit

$8 at Amazon

For those aquascapers out there, having quality tools to keep your plants in check is a worthwhile investment. This four piece aquascape kit by Ohtomber includes a pair of curved scissors, landscaping tool, curved and straight tweezers. All these items make it easy to keep your plant life looking its best. Remember that with all aquatic plants, you need to remove dead plants as before they decay and return ammonia back to your system.

All the included tools are fairly long, between 10 and 13 inches, which makes them a little bit unwieldy for precise placement of plants. They are made of quality stainless steel so are less likely to rust and be used for many years. The teeth on the tweezers are not very tight, so it may take additional pressure to hold onto plants which can damage them inadvertently.

^{Includes: Terrain scraper, curved scissors, curved forceps, straight forceps}

Best All-in-One Aquarium Cleaning System

SEAOURA 7-in-1 Aquarium Cleaning Tool

$23

$17 at Amazon View on Seaouraofficial.com

With many all-in-one cleaning kits on the market, some have come up with useless tools simply to have more components and seem more “complete.” However, in my experience, the quality tools that you use all the time make much more sense for an all-in-one setup, which is why we recommend the 7-in-1 Aquarium Cleaning Tool by SEQOURA. This kit includes a sturdy handle that extends up to over 2 feet long with multiple heads to change out. Included is a gravel rake, large scrub brush for décor, a plant fork, “large” fish net, glass cleaning sponge and large scraper. This kit also includes a tube brush which is very handy for cleaning your filters.

This kit unfortunately labels itself as usable with both glass and acrylic tanks. This is a big problem since it likely means it won’t clean your glass very effectively and will likely scratch your acrylic tank. It is hard to design a product with both materials in mind, so if you want a deep clean, we highly recommend building your own kit from the other products listed on this post.

^{Includes: Telescopic handle, large scraper, adjustable angle brush, gravel rake, plant fork, adjustable angle flat sponge, large fish net, and aquarium filter hose brush}

Best Water Conditioner

API Tap Water Conditioner

$9

$9 at Amazon $9 at Chewy

$18

$9 at Petco

You only need your water conditioner to do one job: remove toxic chlorine and chloramine from your tap water and API Tap Water Conditioner does just that. This is the conditioner I have used myself in my own tanks for years and the one we recommend to all of our clients.

When it comes to water conditioners, it is critical to only use ONE. If you use multiple ones at the same time, you could seriously hurt your fish and their environment, especially if they have an ammonia binder. True, you won’t hurt your fish by using a little bit more than recommended, but two or three times the necessary amount is just a waste of product and could seriously harm your fish. These products may look just like water, but they certainly do not act the same way! Remember, when adding conditioner to your tank, you only need to treat the volume of new water, not the total volume of the tank.

^{Sizes: 1, 16, 64, and 128 ounces}