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Learn how to test your aquarium water. Poor water quality stresses fish, which leaves them susceptible to disease and possibly death.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
Learn how to care for Paradise fish, recommended diet and aquarium setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
Learn how to care for Boxfish & Cowfish, recommended diet and aquarium setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on December 21st, 2025
Learn how to care for Freshwater Amphibians, recommended diet and habitat setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
Visit Petco to learn about cleanup crews and how they can help your aquarium health.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
I would recommend to have the water completely changed. New water should be ideally submitted for quality testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or a nominal fee. High ammonia levels, PH imbalances may be responsible for that as well. Oxygen concentration and quality of the filters should be determined as well. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Yes, in order to have a healthy tank and to give your fish the best environment, it is necessary. Here is a good write-up on the reasons why: https://www.petcoach.co/article/water-chemistry-basics-ph-temperature-water-hardness-waste/
Updated on September 24th, 2025
When used as instructed, plant nutrients and fertilizers designed specifically for aquarium plants will not harm aquarium fish. Allow new aquarium plants to settle and establish themselves before adding any fertilizers. Use aquarium plant substrates such as CaribSea Eco-Complete Plant Substrate http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9087 to get your plants established faster. Seachem Flourish Advance Natural Phytohormone Supplement http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=33890 will help stimulate root growth vital for overall plants health. Even though you have plants with low to moderate light requirements, be sure to use aquarium light specifically designed for planted aquarium use (sometimes called plant lights) and have the lights on between 10 and 12 hours a day. You may need to adjust the photoperiod (the amount of time the light is on) depending on how your plants are doing and to prevent unwanted nuisance algae growth.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
This cloudiness is likely due to a bacterial bloom. This can happen if a tank is not properly cycled. Changing the water may make the condition worse. The fish could have been killed by elevated ammonia or nitrite levels. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Most pet or fish stores will do this for free or for a nominal fee. If it is a new tank, allow it to properly cycle. This can take 4 or more weeks for the beneficial bacteria to populate the tank and filter. Once ammonia and nitrites are at 0.25 ppm (parts per million) or less and nitrates are at 40ppm or less, you can add fish. Goldfish are cold water fish and do best between 65 F and 72 F. They also need a larger aquarium than most fish. 20 gallons per fish plus an additional 10 gallons for each additional fish is recommended. They produce a larger than normal bio load which can quickly foul water, so a filter rated for at least twice the tank volume is strongly recommended as well.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Reptile water conditioner usually contains chemicals such as Water, Dechloraminating Agents, Synthetic Organic Polymers (Colloids), Chelating Agents, Electrolytes. The reptile conditioner usually also has a chemical that binds calcium in the water as well as a slime protecting agent that is good for amphibians and fish. Aquarium water conditioners (for fresh water fish) contains chemicals such as sulfates such as sodium thiosulfate. Thiosulfate is a Redox reducing agent. Either should be ok for reptiles or fish, however I would stick with reptile conditioner for reptile tanks or mixed (reptile and fish) tanks and for aquaria with fish only I would use specific aquarium water conditioner. The main reason to use a water conditioner is to remove chlorine in water. This, however, can also be attained by leaving the aquarium water fresh from the tap sitting over night. The chlorine will dissipate.
Updated on September 24th, 2025