What is the best way to wash my aquarium gravel?

There are several brand and varieties of gravel to choose from. I would be more than happy to post some of the more preferred brands here for you; however the choice is not so simple. Make sure you know what kind of gravel you need for the type of tank you have.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3577442

http://www.petco.com/product/112362/CaribSea-Instant-Aquarium-Crystal-River-Gravel.aspx

http://www.aquariumguys.com/gravel.html

Color selection is a personal choice for the most part. My personal preference is black. I have many bright fish in my tank, so they contrast nicely off the black gravel. Other people prefer beige or something a little more natural looking. I would not recommend white though; dirt shows up very easily and your tank will never look as clean as you would like it to.

It is most likely that the gravel you are using contains calcium and magnesium. This will ultimately cause the pH level in your tank to rise. You should use an inert gravel such as Swell Harlequin Gravel.

http://www.swelluk.com/aquarium/substrate-1695/gravel-1829/swell-harlequin-gravel-blue-376469.html

Most gravel sold today are pre-washed although gravel can accumulate grit in transit as the grains rub together therefore it is advise to wash them.

The aquarium gravel creates a pleasant environment and makes the aquarium look so much nicer than with a bare tank floor.

The aquarium gravel creates a pleasant habitat for fish. In this comfortable environment the fish will experience less stress and will be much healthier.

Yes, if there is no gravel in your aquarium, there are not bacteria colonies because they can only thrive in gravel environment, therefor you need to replace the water more often.

The gravel provides a home for beneficial bacteria which help dispose waste products in your aquarium, and the useful colonies of bacteria can only thrive in gravel.

Cloudy water is often a sign that you did not wash your gravel thoroughly. If you did, you may have a bacterial bloom. For crystal clear water, an ultraviolet sterilizer is the best permanent cure.

You have a few different options for cleaning the gravel inyour aquarium:1. 1. Remove the gravel from the aquarium and washit thoroughly in a strainer, under warm tap water. Depending on the number of fish you have,this should generally be done once every other week. Do not wash the gravel with any chemical orsubstance as this could be damaging to the fish!2. 2. Use a store bought orhomemade gravel/substrate vacuum. Thisallows you to clean the gravel without having to remove it from the tank.3. 3. Use only a thin layer of gravel on the bottomof your tank and exchange with new gravel each time it needs to be replaced.