6 Best Water Conditioner for Aquariums (2023 Reviews)
Aaron Boyd
Keeping your pretty fish in the aquarium happy is good and to achieve that, you have to make sure they’re healthy.
In order to do so, you have to keep the aquarium water safe for the fish. Directly adding tap water to your fish tank is the last thing you want to do. Why?
Because the tap water contains harmful elements for your precious fish and has to be conditioned for the fish to be safe.
Your best shot is a water conditioner, that’s why we’re here with a list of the best water conditioners for aquariums along with a quick, yet detailed guide on how to use it. Let’s dive into it.
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Table of Contents
API TAP Water Conditioner
[amazon box=”B004LO9KSY”]
API tap water conditioner is a highly concentrated solution that instantly neutralizes chlorine, chloramines, and other unhealthy compounds to condition your tap water within your fish tank.
It comes in several volumes, from 1.25 oz to 64 oz bottles.
You can use it for new tanks or when changing the tank’s water. It can be used for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums.
We like the value given for its affordable price. We think this conditioner gives remarkable results within large tanks with its highly concentrated formula.
- Lasts long, 3 drops per gallon
- Detoxifies heavy metals
- Its highly concentrated formula needs fine measuring when used in small tanks
- It has a strong odor
- It forms a foamy film on the tank’s water surface
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Seachem Prime Fresh and Saltwater Conditioner
[amazon box=”B00025694O”]
Seachem Prime is a complete conditioner type. Well known for its effectiveness and reliability, it doesn’t affect pH levels, it removes both chlorine and chloramine, detoxifies heavy metals, breaks down ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites.
For a complete conditioner, the price is very budget-friendly. With two size options of bottles from 50 ml to 2 Litres, with its concentrated formula 50 ml bottle treats up to 500 gallons tank.
- Protects fish slime coat
- Lasts long
- Enhances the efficiency of your tank’s biofilter function
- Contender for the best water conditioner for aquarium
- Foul odor
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Video: “Prime water conditioner review”
Natural Rapport Aquarium Water Conditioner
[amazon box=”B016VV93SG”]
Natural Rapport Water Conditioner is designed to be used in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums.
It removes chloramine, ammonia, nitrite, eliminates chloramines, and detoxifies heavy metals.
The formula used includes 11 active ingredients working together to eliminate unhealthy elements while providing electrolytes and enhancing the fish slime coat.
The Natural Rapport conditioner is a bit on the expensive side. But the all-in-one formula is definitely worth it.
- It buffers pH
- It can remove copper, zinc, and lead
- Doesn’t provide good bacteria
- The tank has to be cycled every time you add it
- Only available in one size (16 oz)
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Aqueon Tap Water Conditioner
[amazon box=”B0010729SS”]
The Aqueon Tap water conditioner is a safe product that neutralizes chlorine and chloramines. It helps in restoring the natural slime coat to gills and skin.
The conditioner comes in bottles with 8 oz, 16 oz or a gallon at a very affordable price.
- No wait time required
- The excess quantity won’t harm the fish
- It leaves a foamy film on the tank’s water surface
- It isn’t suitable for saltwater tanks
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Tetra AquaSafe Plus Water Conditioner
[amazon box=”B0002563JA”]
One of the earliest products in the market. Tetra Aquasafe Plus water conditioner neutralizes chlorine, chloramine, and heavy metals.
This conditioner has an awesome feature, it helps your fish by adding an extra slime layer, it protects and enhances the fish slime coat which is a huge plus for your pretty fish.
We like that it comes at a moderate price and that it’s available in different sizes. You can buy this conditioner in bottles from 1.69 oz to 33.8 oz.
- Biopolymers within seaweed extracts are added to the formula to support beneficial filter bacteria development
- Fast removal of unhealthy elements
- It helps to eliminate the tank’s pollution and strengthening the bacterial bed
- Bottles aren’t sealed
- Dosage instructions don’t cater to small size containers
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Video: “Aquarium Product Review Aquasafe Water Conditioner”
Tetra BettaSafe Water Conditioner
[amazon box=”B000HHO7DW”]
One of Tetra’s main products is the BettaSafe water conditioner. It gives a fast-working, and an easy-to-use water conditioner/.
It neutralizes chlorine, chloramines, heavy metals, detoxifies ammonia, and acts as stress-reducing slime.
It’s a perfect choice for smaller tanks and betta bowls. Basically when filtration and water circulation are to a minimum.
It’s available in bottle sizes 1.69 oz and 50 ml.
- Provides a protective slime coat
- Lasts long
- Bottles aren’t sealed
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What’s a Water Conditioner for Aquariums?
A water conditioner is a substance either in liquid or solid form that improves the condition of the water in an aquarium.
Tap water is treated by governmental agencies to protect us, the humans, from all sorts of bacterias, viruses, and other harmful elements. They do so by adding specific chemicals such as chlorine, ammonia, and others.
Tap water might contain heavy metals residues like lead and copper.
For your fish, such chemicals and metal residues are poisonous. For you to eliminate the risk of such chemicals and heavy metals, you need to use water conditioners for aquariums. Doing so will neutralize those elements keeping your fish safe, healthy, and happy.
How Does Water Conditioner for Aquariums Work?
A water conditioner is composed of specific chemical compounds. Once released into tap water, they initiate a reduction process.
The process breaks the bonds between chlorine and nitrogen atoms. Resulting in chlorine and heavy metals reduction.
Types of Water Conditioners for Aquariums
There are various types of water conditioners that tackle different things. Let’s view the mainstream ones.
Dechlorinators
This is the most common water conditioner for aquariums. Once added, it immediately removes chlorine.
It doesn’t act on ammonia and heavy metals though, which makes it a limited weapon in your arsenal.
Chloramine Neutralizer
Tap water contains both chlorine and ammonia When both combine they form chloramine, a toxic metal which fatal to fish.
Chloramine neutralizers are used as water conditioners. They remove chlorine, neutralize both ammonia and Chloramine, and increase ph levels within the aquarium.
Some Chloramine neutralizers can deal with heavy metals.
Complete Conditioners
As the title implies such water conditioners handle the majority of toxic elements in any aquarium.
This type is preferred for large aquariums. It removes chlorine, neutralizes ammonia and chloramine. And on top of that it increases pH levels, deals with heavy metals, and protects the vital fish slime coat.
When and How to Add Water Conditioner for Aquariums
The water conditioner for aquariums is mainly used for freshwater tanks.
Every time there’s a need to top off or do a complete water change of the aquarium, you should add a water conditioner.
The instructions to follow when adding water conditioners for aquariums may vary according to the manufacturer.
The needed water conditioner droplets, number of caps, or tablespoons all depend on the aquarium size and number of gallons used. The instructions should provide you with the proper dosage.
Always add the water conditioner to the tap water in a separate container prior to filling the tank. Or you can remove the fish to a temporary container, add the tap water along with the water conditioner then return the fish to the original filled tank.
Make sure that the water conditioner is fully dissolved prior to having the fish settle in.
If it’s a new tank, follow the instructions and add a daily dosage of water conditioners until the tank is neutralized.
For tanks with size less than 20 gallons only a couple of drops of water conditioner will do. You might opt to use a syringe or a sort of eye dropper to control the droplets.
Benefits of Using Water Conditioner for Aquariums
Once you begin to use water conditioners, you’ll notice the benefits they provide. The following are just a few:
- Very easy to use.
- You can use the available tap water, no need for an alternative water source
- Economical as the value per gallon is low
- Strong capability of eliminating ammonia and chloramine from the water
- Promotes a healthy natural slime coat
- Prolongs the lives of your fish by keeping tank water in good condition
- Won’t impact the pH level in your aquarium negatively
- Some support beneficial bacteria in the water
- Low to zero maintenance
Tips for Using Water Conditioners for Aquariums
Video: “How to Purify Tap Water for Your Aquarium : Aquariums & Fish Care”
To avoid such sudden changes in chemical compounds, don’t make the fish exposed directly to the water conditioners formula. Allow a couple of hours for the formula to work on the tap water and be fully stabilized prior to introducing the fish again.
Preferably, if the water conditioner comes with a dosage cap, use it. The overuse of some conditioners can be damaging to the health of your fish.
Some water conditioners are designed for specific fish type. Reading the attached pamphlet is crucial to make sure it’s safe for your fish.
Another thing you need to do is a regular check of the tank’s water. You always need to know the levels of pH, nitrates, nitrites, and other relevant parameters.
Most of the water conditioners are compatible with tank’s filtration systems. However, some specialty conditioners may cause issues. So refer to the instructions to avoid them.
A good water conditioner formula should provide necessary electrolytes to the tank’s water. This will stimulate the health of the tank dwellers.
An extra plus is that water conditioners can be used to care for live or aquatic plants as well.
Also note that If stored properly away from direct sunlight, in a cool dry place, water conditioners can last for a long time.
Bearing in mind all the above tips, you can benefit from the fact that most of the brands can be used interchangeably. The fish won’t be affected by the change.
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Wrap Up
Keeping the fish tank clean, clear, safe, and stable will be your task. Adding tap water alone won’t do.
Tap water can’t be used in aquariums without first removing unhealthy compounds for the fish to be safe. Such compounds can be a source of health issues for the fish like trouble breathing, gill damage, skin tear, and death.
Water conditioner for aquarium can help avoid such ailments and keep the fish safe.
Our recommended water conditioner for aquariums is Seachem Prime Fresh and Saltwater Conditioner. It gives you an all-in-one solution. Its budget-friendly price and the fact that it’s a complete conditioner makes it a contender for the best water conditioner for aquarium and a product to go for to keep your fish safe and happy.
If you’ve got a small to mid-size tank, you can go for API TAP Water Conditioner . A very affordable product that does the job when water filtration and circulation is limited.
You now know the benefits of water conditioner for aquariums. Pick one from the provided best water conditioners for aquarium, and make sure to use it to keep your fish living environment healthy and stress-free.
