So you just got yourself a fish tank. Congratulations! You are now a proud fish owner. Perhaps you have plenty of experience in raising fish in the past and is one of the seasoned veterans. No matter which category you fall into, you are here to learn about water conditioners for your pet fish. Raising fish is a delicate task and you did the right thing by coming here.

As you may already know, you need a water conditioner to detoxify the water so as to make it habitable for your fish.

But a quick Google search later and you realize that the market is chock-full of water conditioners. For a beginner fish owner, they may feel overwhelmed. It is enough to give a veteran fish owner a headache.

But don’t worry because we are here to help.

In this article, we will recommend some of the best water conditioners and tell you exactly why they are our top picks.

Other than that, we will go over how a water conditioner works and other points of considerations so you can make informed purchase decisions.

To begin, let us talk about water conditioners. What are some of the things you should consider when purchasing one?

Points of Consideration when Choosing a Water Conditioner

Not all tap water conditioners are created equal, but what we recommend here should cover all your needs. For future reference, there are a few things to keep in mind when you are in the market looking for a tap water conditioner:

The Tank Type: Freshwater or Saltwater

First and foremost, you should know what kind of fish you raise. Are they freshwater or saltwater fish?

But you do not need to stress too much here because you can get away with almost any water conditioner. Many water conditioners can be used with both salt and freshwater tanks. You can tell whether it is for salt or freshwater by reading the label.

In fact, you should read the label. Certain water conditioners are for either saltwater or freshwater. And it is better to spend a few seconds reading the label than regret your purchase later.

This is especially true if you own a saltwater tank because it is not as straightforward as a freshwater tank.

You should go the extra mile and find out what other compounds your saltwater tank may need and then supplement that with the right water conditioners and treatments. Your fish will appreciate it.

What Kind of Things It Can Remove From Your Tank

Before we can understand why water conditioners are important, we need to understand why the water that comes from the tap is safe to drink.

In the past, the water suppliers used chlorine to disinfect water, so you can drink without having diarrhea. But chlorine is toxic for your fish.

There are a few ways to remove chlorine such as boiling the water or let it sit for a long time. One of the effective solution is to use sodium thiosulfate. It can remove chlorine immediately.

Now, depending on where you live, your water may use another compound called ammonia. This combined with chlorine, creates chloramine.

So even if you apply sodium thiosulfate to your tank, you will only take away the chlorine, not ammonia.

Chlorine, ammonia, let alone chloramine, are all toxic for your fish.

Depending on the products, you can remove and detoxify:

So it is worth checking which category your water conditioner falls under. Some water conditioners help in keeping the nitrite and nitrate under control.

Some of them even contain additives that improve the slimy coating of your fish.

Product Concentration

Product concentration is just as important. Some water conditioners have higher concentration formula than others. If you only need a small amount to purify a large amount of water, then it is high in concentration.

It is possible to over-condition your water, especially with a highly concentrated formula water conditioner. While some say that you are unlikely to over-condition your water, some people have reported that their pet fish died when they used a highly concentrated conditioner in their small tank.

Make sure you follow the instructions and do the math so you know exactly how much water dechlorinator you need in a gallon.

Other Functions

Some water conditioners do more than just detoxify the water. It is worth investing in water conditioners that have other special properties.

Additional coating

Many fish owners look for protective properties in their water conditioner. That comes in the form of slime coating or other substances that protect your fish’s sensitive mucous membrane and gills from scratches. The additional coating can help your fish heal from those scratches.

Beneficial minerals and bacteria

To make your aquarium feel like home, you want to recreate your fish’s natural environment. Water conditioners only make the water habitable, but not comfortable. So, you want to introduce beneficial minerals and bacteria. Some water conditioners can do that and a few even reduce stress in your fish and promote vitality, activity, and breeding behaviors.

Top 5 Tap Water Conditioners Comparison Table

(*): To treat the same amount of tap water, depending on the concentration of each product, we will need a different amount of usage when using different products.

The cost effectiveness is determined by comparing the cost of each product when treating the same amount of tap water.

1. Seachem Prime Fresh and Saltwater Conditioner

The Seachem Prime water conditioner is the best tap water conditioner you can find. It is advertised to have the ability to detoxify the water by removing chloramine, chlorine, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, copper, lead, and other harmful substance from the water in an instant.

Another huge plus it has going for it is its efficiency. You only need a small amount to detoxify a large amount of water. That also means you can use this conditioner for a long time.

Pros:

Cons:

The recommended dosage is 5 ml per 200l (or 50 gallons). It is to be applied when you change the water in your tank or to be applied in the water that you add to the tank. But you do not need to break out your measuring cup because you can use the cap. Each cap thread is about 1ml if you want to purify a lesser amount of water.

If you want to add the conditioner directly into your fish tank, make sure you base the amount according to the volume of the water in the tank.

The dosage changes depending on the situation.

2. API Tap Water Conditioner

The API Tap Water Conditioner is also a favorite among many fish owners due to its concentration. This water conditioner has the highest concentration compared to all other water conditioners out there. It means you just need to pay the least amount of money in order to detoxify the water.

It removes many harmful waterborne chemicals such as chloramine, chlorine, and others to make your tap water habitable for your fish.

It also neutralizes other chemicals that can destroy fish gills, tissue irritation, and fish death.

Pros:

Cons:

Having a high concentration product means you will not need to use as much conditioner to detoxify your water.

That means you won’t need as much conditioner to detoxify your tank, so the conditioner will last you a very long time. This makes the API conditioner a great value.

The recommended dosage is just 1ml per 60 liters (15 US gallons) of water. If your water contains chloramine, then you need 3ml per 60 liters (15 US gallons) of water.

It is best that you use it if your aquarium contains 20 gallons of water or more. Although the product is concentrated, you can still use it for small water tanks. You just need to do some math to find the right dosage.

Finding the right dosage should not be difficult. You will get a detailed instruction that comes with the conditioner. You just need to follow the instructions and you should not have any issue detoxifying the water. This water conditioner works with both saltwater and freshwater tanks.

3. Tetra AquaSafe Plus Water Conditioner

Another great aquarium dechlorinator in our selection is the Tetra AquaSafe Plus. The AquaSafe Plus can detoxify the water the same way as the Seachem Prime, although the company did not promise that the effect will be instantaneous. But it is fast enough – at a few seconds, as advertised.

Another thing this conditioner has going for it is its additive.

That means when you apply this to your water, your fish will get the slimy coating which helps protect them from abrasions and heal wounds faster.

Pros:

Cons:

Another thing worth pointing out is that the Tetra AquaSafe Plus contains beneficial materials that are lacking in normal tap water. These materials help your fish thrive.

The recommended dosage is one teaspoon (5ml) for every 10 gallons of water.

4. Aqueon Tap Water Conditioner

The Aqueon water conditioner works best when you have a small tank. 

This conditioner also contains additives that restore the slime coating of your fish to help them heal and protect them from abrasions.

Pros:

Cons:

Although it only works with freshwater tanks, it is still a great aquarium dechlorinator because of the additives that give the slime coating.

The recommended dosage is 5ml per 10 US gallons. You should receive a detailed manual that comes with the water conditioner, so you can detoxify your water properly.

It is advertised that your water will be detoxified instantly the moment you apply the conditioner. But just to be safe, purify the tap water in a separate container and let it sit for 30 minutes or so before you add it to your tank.

5. Fluval Water Conditioner

Finally, we would like to present the Fluval water conditioner. It removes chlorine, chloramine, as well as other toxic metals.

This water conditioner also comes with a special formula that reduces stress for your finned friends.

Pros:

Cons:

The recommended dosage is 5ml per 10 US gallons. If your water contains chloramine or you want to provide additional protection to your fish’s scales and fins, consider applying 10ml per 10 US gallons.

Our Picks:

The Best One – Seachem Prime

Okay, so why did we wholeheartedly recommend the Seachem Prime water conditioner? Based on over 3,000 ratings on Amazon and other reviews, we can say with certainty that this is the best tap water conditioner.

For one, it is very potent. You only need a small amount to detoxify a huge quantity of water. That means your product won’t run out for a long while.

Another reason is that the detoxification effect is almost instantaneously, so you do not need to sit around waiting anxiously until the conditioner settles in.

The Most Affordable One – API

The API TAP water conditioner has received recognition from many customers as one of the best tap water conditioners.

Unlike the Seachem Prime, the API is odorless. The smell from Seachem Prime can be unbearable for some people, so the API is an excellent alternative.

Other than that, the API conditioner also has the highest concentration among all the water conditioners in the market.

That means you only need to apply a small amount to purify a large amount of water. Just a bottle of the API conditioner can last you a very long time, making it a very cost-efficient solution.

Related Questions

Now that you know what water conditioner is best for your needs, what else is there to know about water conditioners?

Actually, there are a few more things we want to cover. All of these tips we will give you below will help you get the most out of your water conditioner and keep your fish alive and happy.

What is a Tap Water Conditioner

A tap water conditioner is a detoxifier that you apply to the tap water to purify it and to make it safe for your fish. There are many types of water conditioners, which we will cover later. But the general idea is that it neutralizes toxic elements inside the water.

Many commercial tap water conditioners can purify both fresh and saltwater, although it is worth reading the label first. Other than that, you may want to understand what kind of substance your water supplier uses to detoxify their tap water so you can get the right conditioner.

How Does it Work?

A tap water conditioner works when you apply it to the water. Depending on the product, it will seep into the water and cause a chemical reaction with certain toxic elements in the water, neutralizing them.

That means the water conditioner converts the toxic substance into a harmless one that either stays in the water or is removed by your filter.

Certain water conditioners also contain special additives that add beneficial minerals to the tank. That could promote good bacteria, activities in your fish, or provide an additional protective coating.

Some even contain substances to help keep your tank clean, such as those that neutralize nitrate that promotes algae growth.

Water Conditioner Types

There are three main types of water conditioners, each of which has their own special functions. Knowing these will help you choose the correct conditioner for your tank. They are:

De-Chlorinators

This is the most basic form of water conditioner, albeit almost outdated nowadays. Back in the day, water suppliers use chlorine to make tap water safe to drink. But the chlorine is not safe for the fish. That is why you need dechlorinators to purify your water.

Nowadays, things got more complicated because more and more water suppliers use chloramine, which is safer for you but not for your fish. Here, dechlorinators are not enough to purify the water. This is where chloramine neutralizers come in.

Chloramine neutralizer

Chloramine neutralizers are designed specifically to remove chloramine in your water. Chloramine is the combination of chlorine and ammonia, both of which are toxic for your fish.

Using dechlorinators alone will leave ammonia in the water. As such, you want to use a chloramine neutralizer to make your water safe for your fish.

Complete Conditioners

The complete conditioner does what it says on the tin. This is perhaps the best option for many beginner fish owners because you are getting everything in one neat package.

The complete conditioner can remove every toxic substance in the water that may harm your fish. That means it will remove chloramine, chlorine, ammonia, and other toxic metals such as lead and copper from your tank.

If you are unsure what kind of substance your water provider used to treat their water, then the safest option is to detoxify it with a complete conditioner.

How and When to Use It

Using a water conditioner is pretty straightforward.

You simply have to measure how much water you need to purify, the recommended dosage, and calculate how much water conditioner you need.

Then, pour the conditioner into the water you want to purify in a separate container before you pour the purified water into your fish tank. Make sure you follow the instructions closely.

So, how often should you use water conditioners?

It depends on how often you change or add new water to the tank. It is best that you change your water weekly, so you should use water conditioners during the water change.

Proper Usage

Applying a water conditioner is simple, but you should exercise caution. There are two common mistakes that both rookie and veteran fish owners make. They are:

Purify, then Pour

The most common mistake that many fish owners make is that they add the conditioner while the fish is still inside the water.

This can quickly lead to the death of all your fish in one fell swoop. Therefore, make sure you detoxify the water first before you add it to the tank.

While some water conditioners claim that it can detoxify the water in a matter of seconds, it is best to let it sit for a few hours. By then, the chemical reactions should be completed and the water should be safe and habitable for your fish.

It is better to wait a bit longer than having to deal with the loss of some, if not all, your fish.

You see, when you put unpurified tap water into the tank, then add the conditioner, the chlorine and chloramine may not be removed immediately. Your fish can still come into contact with this toxic substance and can die from it.

So, let the conditioner do its magic before you add the newly-purified water in.

Use the Right Dosage

It’s not just the waiting time, either. You also need to use the right amount or dosage.

You can get away with overusing the conditioner, but it can depend on the product concentration and the manufacturer.

Some designed their products to be safe even when overused. Even so, it is still good practice to use the right dosage.

So, how many drops do you need in a gallon?

It depends on the conditioner you use. There should be a pamphlet that comes with the conditioner that will tell you everything you need to know. Some conditioners come with a cap that doubles as a measuring cap for just the right dosage.

How to Make Tap Water Safe for Your Fish without Conditioner

If you wish to purify your water without using a water conditioner, then you have a few options at hand.

You can let it sit, which can take 4 and a half days for 10 gallons of water, or use ultraviolet lights, circulation, and aeration to speed up the process.

However, the best and quickest method is to boil the water. On average, you only need to boil 10 gallons of water for 6 to 8 minutes to completely remove chlorine.

But, chloramine is a different story. What’s the difference?

Chlorine in the water can evaporate if you let it sit after a while. Chlorine is “free” and it is instilled into the water using pipe pressuring. So when the water leaves the pipe, chlorine is no longer contained by the pressure and can start to evaporate.

But chloramine does not evaporate as easily. You will need to spend more time boiling the water to completely remove chloramine. So, how long does it take to purify via boiling?

First, test your water to see the ppm ( parts per million) level of your water. When you have that number, compare it to the list below and multiply or divide accordingly:

• 10 gallons for 1 ppm of chlorine needs 4 minutes of boiling
• 10 gallons for 1 ppm of chloramine needs 65 minutes of boiling

So, if your water tests for 2 ppm of chloramine, then you may need up to 130 minutes for just 10 gallons.

It is worth checking with your water provider to know whether they use chlorine or chloramine in their water.

But as you can see, it takes a lot of time to boil away the chloramine or just chlorine in the water. This can be a big pain. Hence, if you can get your hands on water conditioners, use those instead.

That way, you do not have to go through the trouble of boiling a lot of water when you need to add new water to the tank.

Conclusion

To conclude, we can say with certainty that Seachem Prime water conditioner is the best water conditioner. It is affordable, long-lasting, and very potent in its detoxification and time it needs to do so. It is an ideal option for both beginner fish owners and seasoned aquarium enthusiasts alike.

With all that said and done, this is everything you need to know about water conditioners. With this knowledge, you will be able to make informed purchase decisions. That means you will get the most out of your money and your finned friends can swim happily inside your fish tank.

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