Healthy Aquarium

8/11/2019 Healthy Aquarium

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Your Healthy Aquarium



FISH CARE TIP

At PETCO, Thinking Greenmeans “Going Blue”



I nt r o d u c t i on

INTRODUCTIONOwning an aquarium is one of the best waysto reduce the stress of daily life, and can bea beautiful focal point for any room in yourhome.

An aquarium brings a beautiful piece ofnature into your home. Just as the rest of theworld is “Thinking Green” by going naturalwith their pet products, our Aquaticsdepartment is “Going Blue.”

PETCO believes in taking a preventativeand healthier approach to maintaining youraquarium. If you follow the simple guidelinesin this book you can keep and maintain anamazing aquarium with great results.



FISH CARE TIPTap water is not safe for yoursh until it has been properlytreated with water conditioner.



W at er C on d i t i oni n g

WATER CONDITIONINGOne of the most important parts of making your aquarium water safe for sh isconditioning the water. People sometimesassume untreated or regular tap water can

be used as aquarium water. Tap water is notsafe for sh until it has been properly treated.This should be done every time you addwater to your tank, whether it’s due toevaporation or you’re performing awater change.

Prepare the water in 2 easy steps:1. Use a water conditioner2. Add benecial bacteria to the water

Water conditioners make tap water safe forsh by removing chlorine, chloramines andheavy metals.

Benecial bacteria supplements are achemical free way to cycle your water.



Water ConditionerWater conditioners are used primarily toremove chlorine, chloramines and heavy

metals from tap water. Some brands alsohave additives such as aloe extracts andechinacea to help sh maintain their slimecoat and reduce stress. This is important asstress is one of the largest contributors to sh

illness. PETCO uses and recommendsAqua Plus water conditioner.



Benecial BacteriaAdding a benecial bacteria supplement to

your water is a chemical free way to cycle

the water. Cycling the water aids in thebiological ltration of your aquarium andhelps to reduce the loss of new aquatic life.By naturally reducing sh waste in the water,benecial bacteria is a great way to maintain

water quality in existing tanks. PETCO usesand recommends Microbe Lift Special Blend.



FISH CARE TIPA good rule of thumb is tochange 20% of your waterevery 2 to 3 weeks.



M

ai nt en an c e

MAINTENANCETo keep your aquarium inhabitants healthy, you must maintain your tank properly.There are several easy steps to take:1. Perform regular water changes

2. Add benecial bacteria products3. Test your water regularly

Doing this on a regular basis will keep yourtank clear and beautiful and greatly reducethe chance of your sh getting sick.

Performing regular water changes is thesingle most important task you can do to keepthe water clean and safe for your sh.

Adding a benecial bacteria supplement isimportant to maintain water quality.

Maintain a healthy environment by testing your aquarium water regularly.



Water ChangesA general guideline of how much water youshould change is 20% of the total water

volume, every 2-3 weeks. For example: ina 50 gallon tank, you would change out10 gallons. In a 10 gallon tank, you wouldchange out 2 gallons. To perform the waterchange you will need a bucket and a

gravel vacuum.



Water Changes continued • Siphon the water into a bucket using a

gravel vacuum.

• Dispose of the old water.• Fill the bucket with clean water.• Add water conditioner and a bene cial

bacteria supplement.• Ensure the water temperature of the water

in the bucket is within 3 degrees of thewater in the aquarium.• Slowly pour the water into the tank.



Benecial BacteriaAdding a benecial bacteria supplement willboost your tanks natural biological lter. This

reduces the need for cleaning by serving asan organic waste degrader. These productslower ammonia and nitrates naturally whenused on a regular basis. Benecial bacteriasupplements can also improve water

clarity and remove odor caused by shwaste. PETCO uses and recommendsMicrobe Lift Special Blend.



Testing Your WaterWater should be tested on a weekly basis.Testing can identify potential water issues

before they occur. Water testing checks youraquarium’s pH, nitrite, nitrate andammonia levels. Bring a sample of yourwater to PETCO and an associate can test

your water for you, or you can purchase a kit

to test your water at home. PETCOrecommends API Water Test Kits.



FISH CARE TIP

Check your sh weeklyfor any signs of illness.



H e al t h S ol ut i on s

HEALTH SOLUTIONSPETCO is the industry leader in helping cure your sh through a healthy and safe process.This can be done by either:1. Setting up a hospital tank

2. Treating your aquariumBoth methods have been proven successful,and best of all, they’re both natural which ishealthier for your aquarium water, your sh,and most importantly you.

A hospital tank is usually up to 10gallons and used to isolate sick sh.

If you are unable to set up a separatehospital tank, the next best thing is totreat the entire aquarium. This isaccomplished by controlling the watertemperature, performing water changes andby adding API Freshwater Salt.



Setting Up a Hospital Tank A hospital tank is usually a tank up to 10gallons used to isolate sick sh. It should

consist of a tank, lter, heater, freshwater saltand a few plastic plants to provide cover for your sh. Fill the tank with water. Add waterconditioner and benecial bacteria. Turn onthe lter and set heater between 80-82

degrees. To treat sh, add API FreshwaterSalt as directed. PETCO recommendsAqueon Water Conditioner.



Treating the Entire AquariumTreating your entire tank is accomplished byincreasing the water temperature 2-4 degrees(not to exceed 82 degrees) and by addingAPI Freshwater Salt as directed.Note: It is important to test your water on adaily basis while you are treating your shfor illness. Water parameters need to remain

constant so sick sh can focus on healing.PETCO uses and recommendsAPI Aquarium Salt.



Your Healthy Aquarium

Healthy Aquarium

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