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My water is green!
This is due to algae in the water. A few things can cause excess algae. The first thing is direct sunlight on the tank. Make sure your aquarium is positioned where this can’t occur.The next thing is excess nutrients. We suggest you have 1” of fish per 1 gallon of water. For example, a 10-gallon tank should only have 10 fish that are 1” each. More than this will elevate ammonia and nitrite levels. As a result, the algae will have plenty to feed on.To solve the problem of green water, do a 50% water change. Scrub down the insides of the glass (but please…no soap!). Remove any artificial plants and ornaments, and pour boiling water over them. Wait one whole day, then do a 25% water change. Cut back on your feeding. Your fish should eat all the food in 2 minutes or less.This should help get your tank in good shape. You may also buy a uv-clarifier; this will take care of the algae in no time.

My water has a very bad smell to it. How can I eliminate the smell?
The first thing you should do is test your water for high ammonia and nitrite levels. A bad smell is usually a sign that excess waste is in the tank, usually excess food. To correct the problem, change out 50% of the water, wait 1 whole day, then change out 25% more of the water. Make sure when you feed the fish; they are eating all the food in 2 minutes or less. You should have 1 gallon of water per 1 inch of tropical fish. Have 3 gallons of water per 1 inch of goldfish. Make sure the water is properly filtered as well.

How much Tetra AquaSafe® do I add per gallon of water?
You should add 8 drops of AquaSafe® per 1 gallon of water. For example, a 2-gallon aquarium will need 16 drops of Tetra AquaSafe®. The 3.3-ounce size has a dropper built into the bottle.

Why should I test the water in my aquarium?

In nature, waste products from decaying matter, fish waste, and other animal waste are naturally filtered. The harmful ammonia and nitrites are removed by bacteria and plant life. The substrate at the bottom of a body of water will absorb harmful chemicals like a natural filter. The actual size of rivers and lakes will keep water healthy for animals. The larger a body of water, the less lethal any harmful chemicals will be to its inhabitants. In an aquarium, the natural filtration is replaced by equipment which filters the water. The larger the aquarium you own, the easier it is the keep the water healthy. To ensure the ammonia and nitrite levels have not reached harmful levels, be sure to test the water.

To understand how filtration occurs, one needs to understand the cycle. Fish waste and other decomposing material will produce ammonia (NH3). In high quantities, this chemical will kill animals in an aquarium.

There are two types of ammonia, lethal NH3 and non-lethal NH4. When a tank is first started, the NH4 levels will elevate and cloud the tank. NH4 will be produced by the fish’s protective slime-coat. This will only last about 4 to 6 weeks before disappearing. It is natural for a new tank to experience this “Nitrogen Cycle” in the first two months.

The Nitrogen cycle is not to be confused with the production of NH4 from waste material (uneaten food, bits of plants, fish waste, etc.). The ammonia (NH4) will change to nitrite and then nitrate before it leaves the system. Both of these chemicals can be lethal to animals.