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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 October 29th, 2025
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 29th, 2025
Learn how to pick the right aquarium plants, substrate, lighting, and fertilizers to ensure that your aquarium plants thrive and stay healthy.
Updated on October 29th, 2025
Discover how to hardscape your aquarium here at Petco. Visit Petco and check out aquarium hardscape ideas, solutions and much more for your fish.
Updated on October 29th, 2025
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 October 29th, 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 August 12th, 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 August 12th, 2025
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! 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 August 12th, 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 August 12th, 2025
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
Updated on August 12th, 2025