1. You should take out any carbon filters in the aquarium when you are medicating your fish. The carbon in the filter will remove the medicine from the water, so it is best to remove it all together.
2. It is not advisable to leave your aquarium lights on at all times for the aquarium. You should keep the lights on for 8-12 hour periods at a time. If you want to keep the tank lights on when you arrive home, simply get a timer for the lights so your fish stay on a schedule.
3. You should be sure to rinse out all of the materials you are going to be placing in the aquarium with water. Do not use soap or detergents, soap can cause toxic results for the fish in your aquarium. Just rinse the equipment with distilled water.