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What is activated carbon and should you add it to your aquarium filter? Learn about activated carbon's uses, maintenance, and how to add it to your filter.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
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
Discover the fish tank filter system that’s right for your aquarium. Learn about mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration at Petco.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
Tanks with live plants can be excellent additions to your home, bringing a touch of nature indoors. Learn how to take care of aquatic plants.
Updated on November 6th, 2025
Do you have questions about brown algae (diatom)? Visit Petco and learn the causes, how to get rid of & how to prevent it.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
Thanks for reaching out about Fishy. A UV sterilizer will only help if a bacterial component is adding to the cloudiness. More intense water changes are the best way to remove nitrates. Monitor feeding to limit excess, vacuum bottom of tank to remove degrading detritus. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Pimafix is an acceptable "natural" antifungal treatment. Melafix is for bacterial infections. Kanamycin, erythromycin or metronidazole are good broad spectrum antibiotics. Fungus Cure (by API) is an excellent antifungal. You can find these medications in the aquarium section of most pet stores or even online. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated. The cornerstone of any treatment is to first maintain pristine water quality and stable chemistry.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Its the amount of light that can promote algae overgrowth. Limit lighting to 6-8 hours daily. Monitor water temp as well. Do not overfeed and remove dead/dying plant matter to also limit algae. You can remove any tank furniture and scrub them clean.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Thanks for reaching out. Have you tested water quality for pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Correct problems. Don't see any signs of external lesion on the pictures, except fine erosion, and possible gravid fish. A veterinary visit is probably needed to trouble shoot for disease. Randomly adding chemicals to the water could have detrimental effects. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
It depends on how big the tank is as well as the type of filter in use. Smaller tanks and more heavily stocked tanks will require more frequent water changes, about 20% every week or two. Check the chemistry (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH) regularly. This will give you a better idea of when to perform tank maintenance. Tetras and platys are schooling fish and ideally, do better in groups of at least 5 or six.
Updated on September 24th, 2025