Tetra Fish Filters & Media Deals

Complete Tetra Care: Tank Setup, Food, & Compatibility Tips

Learn how to care for a Tetra, recommended diet & habitat setup. Find the right food, supplies & equipment at your neighborhood Petco.

Updated on April 9th, 2026

Petco Filters: Complete Aquarium Filtration Guide

Discover the fish tank filter system that’s right for your aquarium. Learn about mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration at Petco.

Updated on June 19th, 2026

Master Aquatic Plant Care: Lush Aquarium Plants & Happy Fish

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

Freshwater Semi-Aggressive Fish: Top Secrets for a Thriving Tank

Learn how to care for semi-aggressive fish, recommended diet & aquarium setup. Find the right food, supplies & equipment at your neighborhood Petco.

Updated on April 9th, 2026

Freshwater Aquarium Plant Maintenance Guide

Learn how to pick the right aquarium plants, substrate, lighting, and fertilizers to ensure that your aquarium plants thrive and stay healthy.

Updated on June 19th, 2026

First fish tank: What Tetras and supplies for my 12-inch tank?

Before you buy any fish, you will need to set up the tank. A basic set up includes: a tank, filter, hood/light, heater, gravel and some decor. The tank should run without fish for at least 4 to 6 weeks. This gives it time to cycle. The Nitrogen Cycle is critical to the health of the tank and any fish you will be keeping. During this time, beneficial bacterial will populate the filter and substrate (gravel). These bacteria will be responsible for breaking down fish wastes and other wastes (uneaten food, dead plants, etc.). You will need a home test kit to monitor water chemistry (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH) or you will have to submit water samples for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. At first, you will see high levels of ammonia and nitrites. Over time, as bacteria grow, these levels will drop. When ammonia and nitrites are at 0 ppm and nitrates are below 20 ppm, you can consider adding fish. Regular (every 1 or 2 weeks) partial water changes as we

What fish and supplies are best for a beginner's small tank?

Without anything to use for scale, it is hard for me to tell how big your tank is, but in general it seems very small. Also, the water that is in the tank appears very cloudy right now, so that would be the first place to start. Water quality is very important, and will make or break your ability to house and care for fish. I would recommend getting a good filter system (you can visit a local pet store to assist you with brands in your area, as I am not familiar with what you can get in India). Be sure to bring the measurements (height, length, width) of your tank, or the gallons or liters so they can tell you what capacity of filter you will need. Everything else will depend on what types of fish you get - if you plan on getting multiple fish, they will need to be small - a general rule of thumb is one square inch of fish per gallon of water. Depending on the species you get, you may need to also get a bubbler to ensure there is enough oxygen in the water for them, and you will also

20-gallon tank setup: What fish and supplies do I need to get started?

A fish tank will need a filter, a light/hood and a heater. Make sure the filter is rated for at least twice the tank volume. The heater should be adjustable since water temperature will depend on the species of fish. Good "starter" fish include Tetras, Mollies, Danios or Tetras. A new tank should be set up and left running empty for several weeks before adding fish. A pinch of flake food can be sprinkled in daily. This "cycling" will allow a population of beneficial bacteria to colonize the tank and filter. These bacteria will break down wastes (ammonia, nitrites and nitrates) which are toxic to fish.

My Tetra fish keep dying. What's causing this despite my best care?

I am so sorry that you are having this problem! With multiple die offs of fish, one of the first things to consider is that the water quality may need to be addressed. I didn’t see you mention in your post whether you have been able to assess that or not, but it would definitely be something to evaluate. Things like high ammonia, high nitrites, and high nitrates can be devestating for fish. Also, if your filters are not working properly, or are not in the correct set up, that can also contribute to fish death. From the clarity of your water and the lack of substrate and tank furniture, it makes me more suspicious of this contributing to your issues. The other major reason for multiple fish deaths are infectious diseases (bacteria, parasites, fungus) - but ideally these would be diagnosed by a veterinarian. There are many over-the-counter medication treatments at pet stores for these, however they can be damaging to your water system, so ideally would not be used unless you know the p

When should I change my aquarium filter for a healthy fish tank?

How frequently to change the filter depends on what type of filter you have. There are mesh filters that filter large particles of uneaten food, feces, etc. - these often just need to be rinsed to remove the material and that is it. If they get damaged in any way, that is when they need to be replaced. Other filters that remove toxins - often carbon filters or ammonia filters, have a set time frame that they should be changed with. This time frame is often set by the manufacturer, and usually ranges between 1-3 months, but you can look at the package or talk to the pet store where you purchased it for more guidance. The biological filter, which is made up of a surface for bacteria to live on, usually don’t need a great deal of cleaning as you can kill all of the good bacteria. I hope that helps to answer your question - if you need further assistance, I would recommend a store with fish experience, or we can do a consultation together here as well! Good luck!