About This Service
Aquarium Cleaning
There is a particular point that every neglected aquarium reaches. The glass is thick with algae. The gravel has turned dark with waste. The filter is struggling and the water smells. The fish are still alive, just about, but the tank looks nothing like it did when it was first set up. Getting it back to good condition from that point takes more than a weekly wipe-down. AquariumCraft provides a professional aquarium cleaning service for homes and businesses across North West London. We carry out one-off deep cleans for tanks that have been neglected or let go, thorough routine cleans as part of a regular maintenance schedule, and remedial cleaning for tanks coming out of a disease treatment or algae outbreak. Aquarium cleaning is one of the most searched services in our niche. At 210 monthly searches across the UK, "aquarium cleaning service" and "fish tank cleaning service" are among the strongest buying signals in this market. People searching these terms are not browsing. They have a tank that needs cleaning and they want someone to come and do it. We clean all types of aquarium. Freshwater tropical tanks, cold water and goldfish setups, planted aquascapes, marine and reef tanks, and large commercial displays. The approach is different for each type and we treat them accordingly. If you are in Harrow, Wembley, Barnet, Finchley, Brent or anywhere across North West London and you need your aquarium properly cleaned, get in touch. We are local, we are experienced and we will leave your tank looking the way it should. If you are in Harrow, Wembley, Barnet, Finchley, Brent or anywhere across North West London and you need your aquarium properly cleaned, get in touch. We are local, we are experienced and we will leave your tank looking the way it should.
What Is Included on Every Visit
Full glass and acrylic cleaning inside and out using appropriate tools for each surface
Thorough substrate vacuum to remove waste, uneaten food and organic debris
Filter inspection, media rinse and cleaning carried out in tank water
Algae removal from glass, décor, heaters, pipes and equipment surfaces
Decoration and ornament cleaning where required
Partial water change using dechlorinated, temperature matched water
Full water parameter test covering ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH
Equipment inspection including heater, pump, powerhead and lighting
Live plant trimming and replanting where present
Lid and overhead lighting clean
Who This Service Is For
This service works well for a wide range of fish keepers across North West London.
Neglected Tanks
The tank has got away from you. Algae on the glass, waste in the substrate, a filter working too hard. We bring it back to good condition in a single visit.
Second-Hand Tanks
Bought a used tank and not sure of its history. We carry out a thorough clean and water quality check before you start stocking it.
Quarterly Top-Up Cleans
You carry out your own water changes but want a more thorough professional clean every few months. A practical and cost effective approach for freshwater tanks.
Commercial Premises
A tank that needs to be at presentation standard for an open day, inspection or review. We work around your schedule and carry out cleans outside business hours if needed.
How It Works
Tell Us About the Tank
Get in touch and describe the tank. Size, type, how long since it was last properly cleaned and what the main issues are. A photograph is helpful but not essential. We give you a quote based on that information before we visit.
We Assess Before We Begin
On the day of the clean we assess the tank first. We check the water parameters, look at the fish and note the condition of the glass, substrate, filter and equipment before we touch anything. This gives us a clear picture of what needs doing and in what order.
We Carry Out the Full Clean
We clean methodically. Glass first, then substrate, then filter, then equipment. We carry out a partial water change as part of the service and test the water at the end to confirm parameters are in an acceptable range before we leave.
Written Summary and Next Steps
After the clean we give you a written summary of what was done, what the parameters were and anything we noticed about the tank or equipment. If you want to move onto a regular schedule after the first visit, we offer a small discount for customers who book ongoing appointments.
Transparent Pricing
Simple, Fixed Pricing. No Hidden Charges.
Aquarium cleaning visits start from £45 for smaller tanks up to around 100 litres. Larger tanks, tanks with heavy algae build-up, marine setups and tanks requiring additional time or a more intensive clean are priced accordingly. Deep cleans for tanks that have been significantly neglected are assessed individually and quoted after the initial conversation. These take longer than a routine clean and the price reflects that. Customers who book a regular cleaning schedule receive a small discount on each visit compared to one-off bookings. There are no call-out fees and no hidden charges. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Get Your FREE QuoteFrom
£45
Per Visit
No call-out fees
No hidden charges
Discount for regular scheduled visits
Larger tanks and marine systems quoted individually
Fixed price agreed before every visit
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a routine aquarium clean and a deep clean?
A routine clean covers the regular tasks that keep a healthy tank in good condition. Glass cleaning, substrate vacuum, filter rinse, partial water change and a parameter test. It maintains a tank that is already being looked after. A deep clean goes further. It addresses heavy algae on the glass and equipment, significant waste build-up in the substrate, a filter that has not been touched for months and decoration that needs removing and cleaning separately. A deep clean is the right starting point for a neglected tank. Most customers then move onto routine maintenance visits to keep it in that condition going forward.
Will cleaning the tank stress my fish?
A thorough clean done correctly should cause minimal stress to the fish. We work calmly and methodically and we do not chase fish around the tank or make sudden large changes to the water chemistry. The main stressor for fish during a clean is rapid change in water parameters, which we avoid by matching the temperature and treating the replacement water before it goes in. In the vast majority of cases fish behave normally within minutes of a clean being completed because the conditions in the tank have genuinely improved.
Can you clean a tank that has had a disease outbreak?
Yes. A thorough clean after a disease treatment is often necessary to remove treatment residue, clear out any fish that did not survive and bring the water quality back to a healthy baseline. We ask about the disease and the treatment used before the visit so we can approach the clean appropriately. Some treatments affect the filter bacteria and we take this into account when cleaning the filter media. If the tank needs restocking after a disease outbreak we can advise on when it is safe to introduce new fish.
How often should an aquarium be professionally cleaned?
For most freshwater tanks, a professional clean every 4 to 8 weeks is a practical schedule depending on the stocking level and how quickly waste accumulates. Some people carry out their own water changes between professional visits and book us for a more thorough clean every 6 to 8 weeks. Others prefer to hand the whole thing over to us on a monthly basis. We work around whatever approach suits you. For heavily stocked tanks, goldfish setups and marine systems, more frequent visits are usually beneficial.
Do you clean the filter as part of the service?
Yes. Filter inspection and cleaning is included in every visit. We rinse the filter media in tank water rather than tap water, which preserves the beneficial bacteria that live in the filter and process ammonia and nitrite. Using tap water to clean filter media kills these bacteria and can send a tank into a cycle crash, which is one of the most common mistakes made by fish keepers cleaning their own filters. If the filter media is beyond cleaning and needs replacing, we will tell you and can replace it during the same visit.