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Choosing the right substrate for your aquarium is important and provides an area for beneficial bacteria to grow which keeps your aquatic environment safe.
Updated on June 19th, 2026
GloFish are brilliantly colored and beautiful fish. Learn how to care for GloFish, what to feed them, how long they live, their ideal tank size and more.
Updated on April 9th, 2026
Learn how to pick the right aquarium plants, substrate, lighting, and fertilizers to ensure that your aquarium plants thrive and stay healthy.
Updated on July 17th, 2026
Gravel vacuuming helps remove solid waste from your substrate. Learn about the different types of gravel vacuums available & how to clean your fish tank.
Updated on June 19th, 2026
Learn how to care for live rock & sand. Live rock serves as a platform for coral and invertebrates and provides a surface for beneficial bacteria to live.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
Our Standard Aquarium Plant Pack provides a convenient solution for your dilemma. This package includes Micro Sword or Dwarf Hairgrass, Anubias Nana or Anubias Barteri Round Leaf, Java Fern, Red Cryptocoryne or Green Cryptocoryne, Water Sprite, Hornwort, and Cabomba. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=768+2145+2146&pcatid=2146 A substrate specifically designed for live aquarium plants such as CaribSea Eco-Complete Plant Substrate is recommended for long-term success. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9087 Be sure to provide proper lighting conditions by employing aquarium light fixtures specifically designed for planted aquarium use.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Ideally, no. It is better to use coarse small rocks instead of sand and in general it would be better to get them from the store where they come already clean and free of other organisms which may affect the environment of the tank. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
That's terrific news! It is great to read of your frog's recovery. Most keepers will keep a bare bottom tank. This will prevent ingestion of substrate and makes finding food easier for the frogs. It also makes it easier to keep the tank clean. Sand would be fine. If they inadvertently ingest some, it should pass easily. If you decide on gravel or river rock, make sure it it large enough to prevent ingestion.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Sand substrate is always a problem as it promotes decay and anaerobic bacteria. If you need sand in a tank for a fish species (none of the ones you mentioned above actually need sand) you should not use it in the whole aquarium , but only in a small spot to accomodate the fish. Rust-colored spots on the glass and gravel are due to diatom algae. They likely were brought in with the silicates in the sand.Diatom algae need the silicates to make a shell they carry around with them. Remove the silicates, and the algae should die. Removing silicates can be done with a silicate and phosphate filter, or, in your case, I would remove the sand completely and refill your aquarium with washed gravel. Algae also need lots of nutrients, so if you overfeed your fish, algae will increase. Feed only what your fish eat in one minute, no more.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Thanks for your question about your fish, and congratulations on your new family members! I didn't see how recently the tank was set up, but there are a couple of things that could be going on. I would start by checking your water quality - any abnormalities in water quality can make fish have abnormal behaviors, and the water looks a bit murky in the photos you provided. There may be parameters that need to be addressed depending on what you find. If you do not have a water quality kit, they can be purchased at the pet store or an aquarium store, or you can take a sample of your water in for evaluation to these places as well. Some will charge a small fee for this service, just so you are prepared. Also, with recent tank set ups, it can be stressful for fish as they are in a new habitat. I would recommend keeping the light on for only a few hours per day to start, as the bright lights can be shocking for them (since fish don't have eyelids). Gradually you can increase the length of time that the lights are on so that you reach a cycle of 10-12 hours of light and 12-14 hours of darkness for them. I hope this gives you a place to start, and I wish you and your mom the best with the new pets!
Updated on September 24th, 2025