When it comes to having the aquarium, there are many things that go into the maintenance part. One thing that you can never forget is the maintenance of the aquarium water.
As part of maintaining the water, you have to use a water conditioner for the aquarium. This is because sometimes people even add tap water to the aquarium before treating it.
So, what is the best aquarium water conditioner? We get to answer that question below with a list of the top performance water conditioners for your aquarium.
Table of Contents
Why Use Water Conditioner in Aquarium?
The water conditioners come in handy when it comes to treating the tap water so that it is safe for the fish to use.
The conditioners will eliminate the chlorine commonly found in the water found in the tap. Chlorine as a chemical is good for keeping the bacteria and other microorganisms out so that you can use the water for human consumption.
The same level of chlorine chemical that is safe for humans can easily be toxic and kill the fish in the aquarium. You have to use the water conditioner to help with eliminating the chlorine and chloramine that might be in the water.
It is not just about removing the chlorine chemical, the water conditioner is also good for removing the heavy metals in the water. It is common to find such heavy metals in your tap water.
It should also be great when it comes to removing the ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates in the water. As you can see, you always end up with clean water in the end.
Depending on the water conditioner, it can also help with creating a slime coating important for protecting the fish. In general, you should have a safe environment for aquatic life.
When it comes to a powerful treatment for your aquarium, the Seachem brand doesn’t disappoint. It is a concentrated and complete conditioner. Plus, it works for saltwater and freshwater tanks to remove chloramine and chlorine.
The product permanently and immediately removes chloramine and chlorine from the water. That way, your biofilter can remove nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia. Plus, everything gets detoxified after a short 48 hours.
Seachem Prime works hard to detoxify the heavy metals, ammonia, and nitrites found in regular tap water. Though they are typical and safe levels, it isn’t appropriate for the fish. Therefore, your tetra, beta, and other fish have a safe environment in which to live.
You can use this in an emergency. Use a 5x dose of the product for nitrite and ammonia in the water. Just use half a dose if water temperatures are more than 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use one capful of the product for 50 gallons of replacement or new water. Add it to the freshwater first before your fish. If you have high chloramine amounts, consider a double dose.
2. API Stress Coat Water Conditioner
For those who want a kit to use, the API brand has you covered. You get the Stress Coat, Stress Zyme, and Tropical Flakes. The two bottles are 16 ounces, while the flakes are 1.1 ounces.
Of course, the goals of the products are to make your tap water safer for fish. It can also protect your fish because of the dual-action formula.
The Stress Coat is designed to remove chloramines and chlorine. Plus, it can detoxify heavy metals. It can also replace the slime coat on your fish. This product has also been proven to reduce the stress on your fish. It contains Aloe Vera, as well, which has healing properties.
Next, you’ve got Stress Zyme. It eats the sludge in the tank. This helps to keep your decorations and gravel clean. Of course, it can reduce how much work you have to do to maintain the aquarium. Improving the biofilter is also one of its goals. You can add more beneficial bacteria to your aquarium.
The Tropical Flakes are fish food. It features the right nutrients. This ensures that your freshwater fish have a balanced and complete diet.
3. API Tap Water Conditioner
It’s tough to condition your tap water to house fish in an aquarium. The API brand features a conditioning product. This can instantly neutralize chloramines, chlorine, and other chemicals.
Therefore, your tap water is safe for the fish. In a sense, the chemicals in tap water do a lot of damage to your fish. They can cause tissue irritation, gill destruction, and death.
The product is a highly concentrated formula. Therefore, you are not going to need a lot of it each time. It is best to use it when you change or add water.
You should also use this product whenever you add new fish. It can be used in saltwater and freshwater aquariums.
Dosing instructions are to add 1ml for 20 gallons of water. This can detoxify heavy metals and remove chlorine. To get rid of chloramines, you need 5ml per 30 gallons of water.
Along with that, you should feed your fish two times a day. You can use API fish food, which is designed to work with other API products. That way, your fish are healthy and active.
4. Tetra AquaSafe Plus Water Conditioner/Dechlorinator
If you’re worried about your fish being hurt from tap water, you need the Tetra Aquasafe brand. It is a water conditioner, but it also dechlorinates, as well. You are going to find that it works in just seconds.
The product neutralizes heavy metals, chloramines, and chlorine that is in tap water. These things can be very harmful to your fish.
It features a slime coat protective barrier. This can protect fish from cuts. However, it is also going to help their wounds heal faster.
You can use this product with marine and freshwater fish. The advanced formula also provides clearer water. This means that you have to do less maintenance on the aquarium to keep it looking its best.
The dosing is quite easy to understand. One teaspoon is going to treat 10 gallons of water. Therefore, you need to know your aquarium size to use it effectively.
Plus, this product contains biopolymers (seaweed extract). This works to develop more beneficial filter bacteria. That way, the water is healthier and reduces pollution because the bacterial bed has been strengthened.
5. Natural Rapport Aquarium Water Conditioner
Sometimes, you want a professional-grade water conditioner. The Natural Rapport brand is essential. It works for saltwater and freshwater aquariums.
You do not need separate accessories, chemical kits, or supplies to treat slime coats and stress coats. This chlorine remover does everything for you with just one step.
It’s advisable to use a treatment during any water changes to help goldfish, betta, and other fish thrive. The product adds electrolytes, balances pH, and adds a slime coat to your fish. Plus, it is safe for saltwater plants, marine invertebrates, and crustaceans.
When you use the product, it works quickly to remove harmful bacteria. These include nitrates, ammonia, chloramine, chlorine, and heavy metals.
It also makes the tap water safe instantly because it detoxifies and removes chemicals from the water. Therefore, it is safe, effective, and recommended for live reefs. The product works for exotic fish and betta, as well as others.
There are 11 active ingredients in this conditioner. It can work with the water to add protective slime coats and electrolytes. However, it also gets rid of all the bad stuff in the water.
6. Aqueon Tap Water Conditioner
Now is the time to protect your tap water so that you don’t have to buy special water for your aquarium. To do that, you should use the Aqueon brand of conditioner. It’s best to use it when you fill up your aquarium, add fish, and perform any water changes.
This product is designed to work instantaneously. Therefore, the moment the right dose is added to the water, the fish are safe.
You can also find that this conditioner is a supplement for your fish. If they have ever been netted, stressed, or transported, it can keep them healthy and safe.
The product is designed to detoxify heavy metals. It also works on ammonia and other elements that are often found in tap water. Plus, it gets rid of the negative things found in fish waste.
That means you don’t have to clean the aquarium as often. The conditioner works to keep the decorations and water clean, making maintenance easier and quicker.
Of course, the conditioner is formulated for smaller bowls. This helps because water circulation and filtration are often limited.
7. Fluval Water Conditioner for Aquariums
You are sure to be impressed with the Fluval brand of water conditioner. It is designed to make your tap water safe for your fish.
Of course, it does that by neutralizing chloramines, chlorine, and heavy metals. Plus, it is also there to protect the mucous membranes of your fish. Often, these areas are quite sensitive and need a little extra help.
Fluval has patented its formula, which is designed to reduce stress on your fish. Plus, it can be used in saltwater and freshwater applications. The goal of the product is also to protect your fish’s fins and scales.
That way, the fish do not get inflammation and other conditions. Abrasions, torn fins, and scrapes are possible in the aquarium. Now, the fish can heal faster when you use this product.
Make sure that you use this conditioner when you add new water to the tank. It is also suitable for water changes and when you set up a new tank.
If your goal is to remove chlorine, you should use 5ml per 10 gallons. Those who want to protect their fish’s fins and scales and remove chloramine should use 10ml in 10 gallons of water.
8. Tetra EasyBalance Plus Water Conditioner
As your aquarium ages, its water chemistry changes. EasyBalance Plus from Tetra can prevent a variety of harmful conditions that are caused by those changes.
Using it regularly can help you have a healthy aquarium and makes maintenance a breeze. The product regulates alkalinity and pH and keeps them at optimal levels. It can also reduce phosphates and nitrates (waste from the fish).
If that weren’t enough, the conditioner also adds minerals, electrolytes, and vitamins. These are necessary to have vibrant and active fish.
Please keep in mind that this product is not a conditioner for tap water. Therefore, it cannot neutralize chloramines or chlorine. If you add tap water to your aquarium, you should use this product and follow directions.
You should also understand that this product can’t be used for aquariums that have low oxygen conditions. You need proper aeration and can use an air stone if necessary.
Make sure to shake the bottle before you use the product. The screw cap is a measuring cup, so just fill it to the right ring line. One teaspoon is necessary for five gallons and a full cap for a 10-gallon tank.
9. KordonNovAqua+ Plus Water Conditioner
Whether you have a freshwater or saltwater aquarium, you can use the NovAqua+ from Kordon. It is designed to remove the heavy metals often found in your tap water. Plus, it can detoxify chloramine and chlorine.
If that weren’t enough, it can also give your fish vitamins and immunizers. These are important so that your fish stay healthy. The product also adds a protective skin slime to the fish.
This protects it from the dangers found in the tank. You may not realize it, but your fish can get cuts and abrasions. This slime protection ensures that there is less of a chance that your fish can get cut, but it can heal faster if it happens.
You are going to be happy that this product also is safe for the plants in your aquarium. It removes chlorine and chloramine so that all living things are protected and secure.
When it comes to using the right amount of the conditioner, the instructions are on the back of the bottle. It is quite easy to read and understand. Just add one teaspoon of the product for every 10 gallons of water in the tank.
10. Kikari USA AHK72236 Ultimate Cloram-X Water Conditioner
Those who want a fully functioning water conditioner are going to like the Kikari brand. It’s one of the world’s first that can do it all. You just need one bottle, and it has everything you could possibly need.
This means you can create the right environment for all of your aquatic pets. It is designed to remove ammonia and chlorine. Plus, it also destroys chloramines.
If that weren’t enough, this product can detoxify the water to remove nitrites and heavy metals. This can include copper.
With all that it does, you may be surprised to learn that it can also replace the slime coat on your fish. That way, they are protected from cuts and abrasions they may get while swimming around in the aquarium.
The conditioner can also boost the alkalinity of the water while adding essential electrolytes that your fish require. You are also going to find that it ages the water on contact, making it safe for exotic fish, as well.
Plus, your fish are less stressed when you use it. If they’ve recently been moved, it can help to calm them down.
11. TankFirst Complete Aquarium Water Conditioner
Many people find that water conditioners smell horrible. The TankFirst brand recognized this issue and stopped it. It features a natural additive that doesn’t produce the noxious odor while being effective.
Though your fish probably don’t mind the smell, you do. Now, you don’t have to worry.
The formulation is designed to be cutting edge. It can make your tap water instantly safe because it removes many contaminants. These include chlorine, chloramine, nitrites, ammonia, and heavy metals. This conditioner is complete and can be used in reefs, marine, and freshwater aquariums.
One bottle of the conditioner is 16.9 ounces and can treat up to 1,000 gallons of water. You only need one capful, which is one teaspoon, in every 10 gallons.
This product is proven to use with saltwater and freshwater species. These can include live corals, snails, and shrimp. Even sensitive fish are safe when this product is used.
You should use this conditioner when you add water because of evaporation. Also, consider using it for water changes and when you can measure nitrite and ammonia levels, as well.
12. MicroBacter7 – Bacteria & Water Conditioner
People with aquariums need a complete bioculture and water conditioner. It’s tough to find the right one, but the MicroBacter7 brand might be beneficial. It can help you establish a biological filtration system for your new aquarium.
If you already have one set up, you can still use this product. With it, you can reduce nitrates, nitrogen, nitrites, ammonia, phosphates, and organic carbon. Plus, it works in freshwater and marine aquariums.
The product includes enzymes and microbes that are essential and effective for your fish. It has also been tested by a veterinarian pathologist and is recommended throughout the country.
Of course, that’s not all the product does. It can encourage growth for photosynthetic organisms. Plus, it can increase oxygen concentrations and reduce the production of hydrogen sulfide.
You are also going to find that it can provide you with a healthier substrate in the aquarium. This means that you have to do less cleaning and fewer water changes. The product also improves the water quality so that you can see your beautiful fish swim and play all day long.
What is the Best Aquarium Water Conditioner?
When it comes to picking the best aquarium water conditioner, it is all about having a model that can deliver on performance always. You do not want to pick one with too many additives that do not even deliver on performance.
For the list above, you can always settle for the Seachem Safe as it is one of the best of the many available in the industry. The model will deliver exemplary performance for cleaning the water with ease. The impressive concentrated solution also cuts down the nitrites and nitrates you can find in the aquarium water.
How Does the Aquarium Water Conditioner Work?
The water conditioner is important when it comes to cleaning the water and make it safe for the fish. So, how does the water conditioner actually work? It is quite simple if you get to understand the chemistry behind it all.
The conditioner will start by neutralizing the chlorine in the water. This is done through the formation of the ionic bonds and thus it will render the chlorine in the water to harmless components. Once this happens, the water should then be safe for aquatic life.
The same chemical process will happen when it comes to removing other components such as chloramine and heavy metals.
When to Add Water Conditioner to the Aquarium?
There various times when you can add the water conditioner to the aquarium water. The first one is when you are setting up the new aquarium. You have to make sure that the water is prepared the correct way so that it can receive the new incoming fish.
The other option would be when you are doing a water change. This is if you accidentally or had no option but to use the tap water. With the water conditioner, you should create an environment safe again for the fish.
How Much Water Conditioner to Use in Fish Tank?
There is no easy way to answer this part, but it all depends on the water conditioner. There are those conditioners that might be too concentrated when it comes to using it for your tank.
It is therefore important to follow the instructions given by the manufacturer. This makes sure that you only get to use the right amount depending on the size of your tank.
The manufacturer will always send you the dosage instructions together with the product.
How Often to Use Water Conditioner in the Aquarium?
Just because you see that it comes with many benefits, it does not mean that you have to use it daily.
Most manufacturers recommend that you only get to use the water conditioner once a week when doing the water changes. Another time could be when setting up the aquarium for the first time.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that you now know may be why your fish has been dying all along. You cannot just add tap water to the aquarium and expect the fish to survive.
Now that you know more about the water conditioners, then you should be in a position to have one of the best products for your aquarium today. Each of the models reviewed above will give you the right performance that you deserve when it comes to treating the water. You can pick based on preference.
Great information for a new aquarium owner.
Quantum Water Primer totally should be on the list