How do I plant my stem plants? Stem plants are known for growing vertically from a single stem with leaves coming out directly from the stem. Think of bacopa, moneywort, and Pogostemon stellatus. To prepare the plant, remove the basket, ring, or rubber band wrapped around the base of the stems. Plant each stem deeply, at least 2 to 3 inches into the ground, which means the substrate may cover some of the bottom leaves. Don’t plant the stem plants all in a single bunch but rather individually with a little space between so ...

How do I plant my bulb plant? The banana plant, dwarf aquarium lily, tiger lotus, and aponogetons (also sold as “betta bulbs” at pet store chains) are all types of plants that grow from a bulb or tubers. Rinse the bulb or tubers to remove any rock wool or loose substrate covering it, and place it on top of the substrate. If the bulb starts floating, you can either wait for it to sink or place it loosely under a piece of hardscape to keep it weighed down (until it develops roots that will firmly anchor it into the substrat...

How do I plant my moss? Mosses are similar to rhizome plants in that they don’t require substrate and can be attached to hardscape via thread or glue. In fact, instead of being packaged in pots, they’re usually sold already affixed to a mesh rectangle, driftwood, or decor. Moss can also grow as a large, free-floating mass, which is great for colony breeding since baby fish can easily hide from the adults in the dense coverage. Java moss and Christmas moss are some of the most readily available varieties on the marke...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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

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.

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.

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...

What are Aquarium Co-Op's contact details? Need Advice? Join our Facebook group or the online forum to get advice and answers to your questions from our staff and like-minded enthusiasts. Come Visit Us! Retail store hours are Monday to Friday from 11AM - 7PM and Saturday to Sunday from 10AM - 7PM Retail Store Info: 9661 Firdale Ave, Edmonds WA 98020 Need Further Help? If you are having issues with your shipping, please use the inquiry form or send us an email to shipping@aquariumcoop.mom

How to install an aquarium air pump An air pump is responsible for sucking in air from outside of the fish tank and pumping it into a submerged aquarium apparatus. Therefore, you need a few air pump accessories to guide the air flow in the right direction and at the right pressure. For most beginners, we recommend getting a roll of airline tubing and check valve to get started. Use airline tubing to connect the air pump outside of the aquarium to the aquarium device (e.g., sponge filter, fish tank decoration, etc.) inside the...

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...