Your Healthy

Aquarium
FISH CARE TIP
At PETCO, Thinking Green
means Going Blue
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INTRODUCTION
Owning an aquarium is one of the best ways
to reduce the stress of daily life, and can be
a beautiful focal point for any room in your
home.
An aquarium brings a beautiful piece of
nature into your home. Just as the rest of the
world is Thinking Green by going natural
with their pet products, our Aquatics
department is Going Blue.
PETCO believes in taking a preventative
and healthier approach to maintaining your
aquarium. If you follow the simple guidelines
in this book you can keep and maintain an
amazing aquarium with great results.
FISH CARE TIP
Tap water is not safe for your
sh until it has been properly
treated with water conditioner.
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WATER CONDITIONING
One of the most important parts of making
your aquarium water safe for sh is
conditioning the water. People sometimes
assume untreated or regular tap water can
be used as aquarium water. Tap water is not
safe for sh until it has been properly treated.
This should be done every time you add
water to your tank, whether its due to
evaporation or youre performing a
water change.
Prepare the water in 2 easy steps:
1. Use a water conditioner
2. Add benecial bacteria to the water
Water conditioners make tap water safe for
sh by removing chlorine, chloramines and
heavy metals.
Benecial bacteria supplements are a
chemical free way to cycle your water.

Water Conditioner
Water conditioners are used primarily to
remove chlorine, chloramines and heavy
metals from tap water. Some brands also
have additives such as aloe extracts and
echinacea to help sh maintain their slime
coat and reduce stress. This is important as
stress is one of the largest contributors to sh
illness. PETCO uses and recommends
Aqua Plus water conditioner.
Benecial Bacteria
Adding a benecial bacteria supplement to
your water is a chemical free way to cycle
the water. Cycling the water aids in the
biological ltration of your aquarium and
helps 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 uses
and recommends Microbe Lift Special Blend.
FISH CARE TIP
A good rule of thumb is to
change 20% of your water
every 2 to 3 weeks.
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MAINTENANCE
To 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 products
3. Test your water regularly
Doing this on a regular basis will keep your
tank clear and beautiful and greatly reduce
the chance of your sh getting sick.
Performing regular water changes is the
single most important task you can do to keep
the water clean and safe for your sh.
Adding a benecial bacteria supplement is
important to maintain water quality.
Maintain a healthy environment by testing
your aquarium water regularly.
Water Changes
A general guideline of how much water you
should change is 20% of the total water
volume, every 2-3 weeks. For example: in
a 50 gallon tank, you would change out
10 gallons. In a 10 gallon tank, you would
change out 2 gallons. To perform the water
change 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 benefcial
bacteria supplement.
Ensure the water temperature of the water
in the bucket is within 3 degrees of the
water in the aquarium.
Slowly pour the water into the tank.
Benecial Bacteria
Adding a benecial bacteria supplement will
boost your tanks natural biological lter. This
reduces the need for cleaning by serving as
an organic waste degrader. These products
lower ammonia and nitrates naturally when
used on a regular basis. Benecial bacteria
supplements can also improve water
clarity and remove odor caused by sh
waste. PETCO uses and recommends
Microbe Lift Special Blend.
Testing Your Water
Water should be tested on a weekly basis.
Testing can identify potential water issues
before they occur. Water testing checks your
aquariums pH, nitrite, nitrate and
ammonia levels. Bring a sample of your
water to PETCO and an associate can test
your water for you, or you can purchase a kit
to test your water at home. PETCO
recommends API Water Test Kits.
FISH CARE TIP
Check your sh weekly
for any signs of illness.
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HEALTH SOLUTIONS
PETCO 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 aquarium
Both methods have been proven successful,
and best of all, theyre both natural which is
healthier for your aquarium water, your sh,
and most importantly you.
A hospital tank is usually up to 10
gallons and used to isolate sick sh.
If you are unable to set up a separate
hospital tank, the next best thing is to
treat the entire aquarium. This is
accomplished by controlling the water
temperature, performing water changes and
by adding API Freshwater Salt.
Setting Up a Hospital Tank
A hospital tank is usually a tank up to 10
gallons used to isolate sick sh. It should
consist of a tank, lter, heater, freshwater salt
and a few plastic plants to provide cover for
your sh. Fill the tank with water. Add water
conditioner and benecial bacteria. Turn on
the lter and set heater between 80-82
degrees. To treat sh, add API Freshwater
Salt as directed. PETCO recommends
Aqueon Water Conditioner.
Treating the Entire Aquarium
Treating your entire tank is accomplished by
increasing the water temperature 2-4 degrees
(not to exceed 82 degrees) and by adding
API Freshwater Salt as directed.
Note: It is important to test your water on a
daily basis while you are treating your sh
for illness. Water parameters need to remain
constant so sick sh can focus on healing.
PETCO uses and recommends
API Aquarium Salt.
Your Healthy
Aquarium