Never remove all of the water from an aquarium to change it. Once your tank is cycled, you will be doing weekly partial water changes.

1. Get a clean bucket, two 5 gallons if you have it. Wash your hands.

2. Siphon out no more than 25% of the water, into a bucket or sink. If using a gravel vacuum system, then suck the water out by working the vacuum in and around the substrate. This is the best way to remove water and clean muck from your tank.

3. Clean the glass with a (non-scratching) aquarium sponge to remove alge if necessary.

4. Using tapwater, adjust the temperature of the water to be equal to the water in the tank. I usually take my aquarium thermometer and hold it in the stream of water until the temperature is the same.

5. Using a bucket to transport or a gravel vacuum system refill the water level in the aquarium. You can also use a one gallon jug to slowly replace the water in the tank without disturbing the gravel.

6. If using water straight from the tap, add chemicals to neutralize the chlorine that is in the water. Your aquarium store can guide you to the best product to use for the local water systems.

7. In about an hour, test the water to make sure that the water is now in the acceptable ranges.