Simple Care Guide

Planted Aquarium Care

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Discover simple, step-by-step guides created by API® experts to help you keep your water healthy and your fish thriving. Search for specific topics or explore our categories below — from freshwater to planted tanks and ponds — to care routines, water tips, and product recommendations tailored to your setup.

Water Problem Solving

When you first notice an issue in your planted aquarium, one of the first and most helpful steps you should take is water testing. The API FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT measures the key indicators of aquarium health: pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate. This highly accurate, economical, and easy-to-use kit performs over 800 tests, and includes precise color charts and information on how to correct unsafe water conditions. For planted saltwater aquariums, try API SALTWATER MASTER TEST KIT, which performs over 550 tests with high range pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate test reagents. Any unsafe water conditions can stress the fish and may prevent the fish from healing (or cause problems for your plants), so it is essential to correct any water problems before additional treatment.

Another option for efficient water testing is API 5-IN-1 TEST STRIPS, which work quickly and easily to measure 5 key water parameters: pH, Nitrite, Nitrate, Carbonate Hardness, and General Hardness. This kit comes with information on how to correct unsafe water conditions, and contains highly precise color charts for easy comparison to test results.

Identifying the Problem

5-IN-1 TEST STRIPS

SALTWATER MASTER TEST KIT

FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT

Clearing The Water

At times, aquarium water in an established tank may become cloudy due to suspended particles. Your quick solution is API® ACCU-CLEAR™ water clarifier that will rapidly clear hazy aquarium water by clumping small suspended particles together to form larger particles, which the aquarium filter can then more easily remove. API ACCU-CLEAR water clarifier not only treats the symptoms of a cloudy aquarium, but directly removes the material that is causing the problem. Use as needed to maintain clear aquarium water.

ACCU-CLEAR™

Controlling Algae

Treating Ammonia

Toxic ammonia is never safe for fish, even in small amounts. If test results show the presence of ammonia in your planted aquarium, act quickly: perform a partial water exchange, then neutralize the remaining ammonia with API® AMMO-LOCK™ ammonia detoxifier or remove the ammonia entirely with API AQUA ESSENTIAL™ water treatment.

API AQUA ESSENTIAL water treatment works to completely remove toxic ammonia from your aquarium water, in addition to harmful nitrite and nitrate. Consider this your all-in-one water conditioner to make aquarium conditions instantly healthy and safe for your fish.

AQUA ESSENTIAL™

AMMO LOCK™

Raising Aquarium pH

In order for fish to thrive, the water needs to be kept at the same pH level that is best suited for their type and best mimics their natural habitat conditions. For instance, a pH of 6.5 – 7.5 is ideal for keeping an aquarium containing most live plants.

When aquarium pH levels show that pH is too low, use API® pH UP™ pH adjuster in your planted aquarium to raise it. This liquid solution works fast, is easy to use, and is colorless – it will not cloud or color aquarium water. API pH UP pH adjuster is also phosphate and nitrate-free, and will not encourage algae growth. This formula includes carbonates (KH) to ensure that your tank remains stable and replenished any carbonates that may have been utilized by plants.

pH UP™

Lowering Aquarium pH

In order for fish to thrive, the water needs to be kept at the pH level that is best suited for their type and best mimics their natural habitat conditions. For instance, a pH of 6.5 – 7.5 is ideal for keeping an aquarium containing a variety of most live plants.

When aquarium pH levels show that pH is high, use API® pH DOWN™ pH adjuster to lower it in your planted aquarium. This liquid solution works fast, is easy to use, and is colorless – it will not cloud or color aquarium water. API pH DOWN pH adjuster is also phosphate and nitrate-free, and will not encourage algae growth.

pH DOWN™

For Clean, Clear Water

Fish release organic materials into an aquarium through their waste. Algae and uneaten fish food also result in aquarium pollution, and can degrade water quality if left untreated. API® BIO-CHEM ZORB™ filtration media contains the highest grade resin/carbon blend available on the market today for the superior removal of aquarium pollutants, including colors and odors, and it removes light-blocking impurities for improved growth of plants in planted aquariums. This breakthrough water filtration technology is more effective than carbon alone, and is available in ready-to-use pouches or cartridges to fit most filters.

BIO-CHEM ZORB™

Removing Phosphate

Phosphate is released by fish waste, decaying organic matter, and tap water sources. API® PHOS-ZORB™ filtration media is a special filtration media that selectively removes phosphate and silicate, which can cloud aquarium water or contribute to algae growth, keeping your aquarium clean and clear. API PHOS-ZORB filtration media does not remove trace elements or affect pH, and is safe for all fish and plants. Available in a ready-to-use pouches or cartridges to fit most filters.

PHOS-ZORB™

Removing Toxic Compounds

When starting a new planted aquarium, toxic ammonia and nitrite commonly spike as the nitrogen cycle begins to develop. API® NITRA-ZORB™ filtration media is a special filtration media that removes ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate from aquarium water, restoring safe aquatic conditions for fish, and may be used in both new and established aquariums whenever harmful chemicals are detected. API NITRA-ZORB filtration media may be recharged for extended use, and is available in ready-to-use pouches or cartridges to fit most filters.

NITRA-ZORB™

Treating Nitrite

Nitrite is another compound in the nitrogen cycle that is toxic to your fish even at low levels. If test results show the presence of Nitrite in your aquarium, act quickly: perform a partial water change, then neutralize Nitrite with AQUA ESSENTIAL™ water conditioner.