Can I order products directly from the Aquarium Products website?
Aquarium Products does not sell any of its products or medications directly to the general public.  We strictly sell to pet supply distributors and wholesale accounts only.  If you are interested in purchasing any our products and can not find them at your local pet store, please call our customer service department at (800) 368-2507 and we will try to help locate a store in your area that stocks our products.
 
 
My larger fish are not eating the Gel-Tek medication?
Larger fish have a tendency to overlook the small Gel-Tek droplets in large aquariums.  We recommend mixing Gel-Tek with your fish’s favorite flake food or pellets.  To help keep the ingredients together, put them in freezer for a few hours to allow the mixture to lightly harden.  For extremely large fish, try a medical syringe (with the needle removed) or kitchen baster and inject the Gel-Tek directly into the mouth of the fish.  
 
 
Why should I use a quarantine tank?
A quarantine tank is always recommended for treating sick fish.  A quarantine tank will protect your valuable aquarium investment if a problem or illness should occur.  In addition to preventing the spread of disease, a quarantine tank can allow new fish to become adjusted and observed before release into the aquarium.  You can safely treat a quarantine tank without the risk of killing any livestock or disrupting water quality issues in your aquarium.

 
Why are my fish always getting sick?
Most often fish become sick because of poor water quality.  Poor water quality can also hinder a medication’s effectiveness. Test your water quality before, during, and after medication use to ensure the water quality levels are at the proper levels.
 
 
How can I control the algae in my aquarium?
People love to watch the flurry of activity when aquarium fish are fed.  Often, we’re tempted to perform the feeding 2 or 3 times a day, which is fine if the fish consume all of the food within a couple of minutes.  The problem starts when the uneaten food starts to build up in the aquarium.  This “overfeeding” of food is the most common source of algae favorite nutrients; phosphates and deadly ammonia.  Aquarium algae will thrive on these nutrients as well as fish waste.  Feed your fish once a day or give smaller portions 2 to 3 times daily to help prevent the build-up of unwanted nutrients.
 
A common source of algae comes from excessive lighting problems.  Many hobbyists leave their aquarium lights on too long which promotes algae growth.   Put your aquarium lights on a timer to imitate an actual day/night schedule.  Keep lights on for 10 to 14 hours per day for planted tanks and 6 to 10 hours for tanks without live plants.  Most green algae thrive in bright light whereas most red or brown algae species thrive in low light levels.
 
An aquarium requires regular water changes in order to maintain a healthy environment for aquatic life to thrive.  Ideally, 10% weekly (30% monthly maximum) is recommended for a lightly populated aquarium.  Heavily populated aquariums or tanks which contain fish that give off large amounts of waste (such as Oscars and goldfish) should perform about 15 to 20% weekly water changes.  We recommend using our Genesis when performing water changes.  It is a tap water conditioner that removes chlorine and chloramines and neutralizes heavy metals found in tap water.  It is also recommended to siphon dead plant matter, fish waste and uneaten food from the gravel bed when performing water changes. 
 
Keep algae’s nutrients out of the aquarium with the proper filter media.  Carbon keeps your water crystal clear and removes the dissolved organic material from the water.  For best results, filter cartridges and media should be removed and replaced once a month.  Our C-100 is great for absorbing harmful ammonia from the aquarium water.  Just place them into your filter or bury in the gravel bed to start purifying the water instantly.
 
Stocking your aquarium with a “cleaning crew” of fish will also help with unwanted algae problems.  Algae eating plecos come in a variety of sizes and help control algae in the aquarium.  There are also a variety of Corydoras catfish that will work endlessly searching for uneaten food that has fallen to the bottom or buried in the gravel in the bed.  Certain types of algae eating snails and freshwater shrimps are also available at many fish stores to help prevent the spread of algae.  Consult an aquarium specialist at your local fish store for compatibility with your current community of fish.