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  1. How to use the Quarantine Medication Trio If you just purchased some new fish, we recommend using a trio of quarantine medications – Fritz Maracyn, Aquarium Solutions Ich-X, and Fritz ParaCleanse – to treat any bacterial, fungal or parasitic diseases they may have. This is the same three broad-spectrum medicines that we use on all fish that enter the Aquarium Co-Op retail store. These medicines can all be used at the same time and are completely safe for all freshwater fish, shrimp, snails, and other invertebrates. Follow these dosin...
  2. How do I plant my anubias, java fern, or other rhizome plant? The most popular types of rhizome plants include anubias, java fern, and bolbitis. They all have a rhizome, which is like a thick, horizontal stem or trunk. All the leaves and stems grow upwards out of the rhizome, while the roots grow downwards from the rhizome. The great thing about rhizome plants is that you don’t need any substrate to grow them. You can wedge them between cracks in rocks or mount them to driftwood using super glue gel or sewing thread. (For more details on how to use supe...
  3. How do I plant my cryptocoryne? Cryptocoryne plants, also known as “crypts” for short, are a kind of rosette plant that requires substrate and needs root tabs to grow well. Common types include Cryptocoryne wendtii, Cryptocoryne spiralis, and many other species. Similar to sword plants, you want to bury their roots while keeping the crown of the plant above ground. Crypts are very prone to melting whenever they’re introduced into a new aquarium, so don’t throw away your crypt if its emersed leaves fall off. Once the plant g...
  4. How do I plant my Amazon sword or other type of sword plant? Swords are classified as a rosette plant, which means all the leaves grow out of the base of the plant in a circular pattern. Examples include the Amazon sword, red flame sword, and dwarf chain sword. Many sword plants grow very tall, so make sure to plant them in the midground or background of the aquarium so they won’t block your view of other plants. Use your fingers to dig a hole in the substrate and bury the roots of the sword, or you can use planting tweezers to push the plant roots int...
  5. Should I remove the pot from my aquarium plant? Most plants purchased from Aquarium Co-Op come in a plastic pot stuffed with rock wool. In most cases, you want to remove this little basket and the stuffing, unless you plan on using an Easy Planter decoration. Follow these instructions to easily remove your plant from its packaging: Squeeze the pot to push out the plant and rock wool. If the roots are overgrown and tangled, you may need to trim them back a little to free the basket. Split the rock wool in half, and take out the plant in th...
  6. Can I use the Quarantine Meds Trio all at the same time? Yes, the trio of quarantine medications (which contains Maracyn antibiotic, ParaCleanse antifungal, and Ich-X anti-parasitic medicines) can all be used at the same time. We have thoroughly tested this combination on thousands of fish that we bring into our retail store. However, if your sick fish is very weak, it may be easier on their bodies to space out the treatment. For exact instructions on how to use the quarantine med trio (either all at once or one at a time), read our article on how...
  7. Which sponge filter size should I use? Aquarium Co-Op sponge filters come in four different sizes. You can visit the product page to see their exact dimensions, but generally we recommend: Nano = 5 gallons and up Small = 10 gallons and up Medium = 20 gallons and up Large = 40 gallons and up
  8. How to treat fin rot Fin rot often comes from a bacterial infection that is caused by dirty water, fin nipping, or other sources of stress. Follow these 5 easy steps to cure fin rot and prevent it from coming back.
  9. Which pre-filter sponge should I get? Prefilter sponges are great for covering filters intake tubes to prevent small items (e.g., leaves, fish food, baby fry) from getting sucked up and to grow more beneficial bacteria. To figure out which pre filter sponge will fit your filter the best, measure the diameter of the filter's intake tube. Then match it up with the appropriately sized pre-filter sponge: Mini pre-filter sponge: 0.5 inch hole without much give Medium pre-filter sponge: 0.5 inch hole with some stretch to give Larg...
  10. How to get help from Aquarium Co-Op Learn More Browse through our many free resources to help you learn more about freshwater fish, aquarium equipment, or live plants. We have released hundreds of videos and articles and continue to put out new content every week. Read our blog for in-depth articles Watch our YouTube videos Search our FAQs for commonly asked questions Ask Questions If you've looked through our educational content and still can't find the information you need, join our Facebook group or our online foru...
  11. How do I make my air pump quieter? If you bought an air pump from the pet store, most likely it’s a diaphragm air pump, which uses a diaphragm that rapidly vibrates back and forth to suck in air from its surroundings and then push that air into your fish tank. This vibration unfortunately can become quite noisy over time. Try these solutions to make it quieter: Place a small towel, block of foam, or other soft material under the air pump to cushion the vibrations. Make sure the air pump (and its cushion) is resting on a solid...
  12. Do I need an air pump for my aquarium? An air pump is a mechanical device that sits outside of the fish tank and uses electricity (either from a wall outlet or battery power) to pump air into the aquarium. The air travels from the air pump to the fish tank decoration or device, creating bubbles that float to the surface and pop. You only need an air pump if you are using an aquarium device, such as: Air stone Aquarium bubbler Sponge filter Undergravel filter Corner box filter Moving bed filter Fish tank decoration or ornament Bre...
  13. How do I get a free sticker? To show our appreciation for your patronage, we sometimes like to include a free aquarium fish sticker with online orders. Fans often use them to decorate their water bottles, laptop, fish tank stand, notebooks, and more. There is no way to choose which decal you get. However, if you have your heart set on that one special sticker to complete your collection, you can purchase them on our Merchandise page.
  14. How do I become an Aquarium Co-Op member? We currently offer free content, like weekly blog posts and YouTube videos, but if you would like to support our efforts, you can help by purchasing from our store and/or become a member of our YouTube channel. Membership perks include: Exclusive members-only videos Photos and status updates Members-only questions during live streams Loyalty badges next to your name in comments and live chat Custom emojis to use in comments and live chat To join, you must create a YouTube account and sign ...
  15. Is Easy Green fertilizer safe for fish, shrimp, and snails? Yes, Aquarium Co-Op's Easy Green liquid fertilizer is completely safe for all fish, shrimp, snails, and other invertebrates. Follow the directions and dose your aquarium with Easy Green up to 20–50 ppm (parts per million) nitrate to give your plants the essential nutrients they need to thrive.
  16. Which aquarium light fits my fish tank? Not sure which aquarium light to get for your planted tank? Check out our Aquarium LED Light Guide to figure out the right light for your tank size.