Water conditioner is a staple for aquarium keeping because it offers the easiest way to maintain and clean your water. But not all aquarium water conditioners are created equal.
Our reviews will provide you with the best aquarium water conditioners available in 2002. From the most effective to the best value, you are sure to find what will work best for you. There’s also a buyer’s guide to help you shop and answer all your questions about water conditioners.
Tetra AquaSafe Plus Freshwater & Marine Aquarium Water Conditioner saves you time when setting up your aquarium. This water conditioner is a fast-acting formula that works almost instantly. This doesn’t mean that Tetra skimps on effectiveness. This product will completely neutralize all unwanted contaminants in your tap water, removing both chlorine and harmful metals. Along with a precise measuring cup to avoid overdosing, these factors make it one of the best overall water conditioners available.
In addition to being a superior water conditioner, Tetra AquaSafe Plus adds minerals that fish need into your water. There’s not much to complain about with this product, other than that it is difficult to measure out for tanks under 10 gallons. You will need to use a pipette or syringe for extra small tanks for measuring.
Pros
Works quickly
Neutralizes all contaminants
Easy to measure out
Provides mineral supplementation for your water
Decreases the frequency of water changes
Cons
No clear measurements for small tanks
2. Fluval Biological Enhancer Water Conditioner— Best Value
The best aquarium water conditioners for the money is Fluval Biological Enhancer Water Conditioner. This inexpensive conditioner contains added herbal extracts to reduce stress in your fish, particularly when moving them to a new tank. Another great feature of this product is that it contains all-natural ingredients.
This budget-friendly, chemical-free product works just as well, if not better, than many others. You won’t need to use that much to get your water quality up; you need only about 0.5 mL per gallon of water, so one bottle goes a long way. The water should clear up within 30 minutes. The only downside is that the smallest measurement on the cap is for a 20-gallon tank.
Pros
Herbal extracts to reduce fish stress
All-natural ingredients
Safe for salt and freshwater
Use a small amount for good results
Works efficiently
Cons
No cap measurement below 20 gallons
3. API Stress Coat Water Conditioner — Premium Choice
API Stress Coat Water Conditioner isn’t just a water conditioner; it doubles as a fish treatment. Occasionally, fish lose their slime coating under stressful conditions, like when you change their water. API offers treatment for your water and helps your fish regain their slime coating. It takes 15–30 minutes to work, at which point, all chlorine and dissolved metals are removed, and your aquarium is safe for fish.
API Stress Coat Water Conditioner contains herbal extracts to reduce fish stress and help injured fish heal and recover faster. However, you need to be extremely careful of how much product you add to your water. The additives are easy to overdose on, so make sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions on dosing. This product is also on the expensive side, which why it is a premium listing.
Pros
Heals slime coating on fish
Fast acting
Helps injured fish heal
Herbal extracts to reduce stress
Cons
Easy to overdose
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TankFirst Complete Aquarium Water Conditioner detoxifies your water and removes chlorine, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and heavy metals. The best thing about this product is that it doesn’t have a strong odor like many others. The concentrated formula offers good value, as you don’t need to use much of the product for it to be effective.
The biggest downside of TankFirst is that it doesn’t improve your water in any way, nor does it promote the regrowth of your fish’s slime coat. However, it does do a good job of cleaning the water.
SeaChem water conditioners are frequently recommended products for hobbyists. They’re simple to use, and easy to measure out, and it’s harder to overdose on your tank than some other products. SeaChem offers a highly concentrated formula, so two drops will treat 5 gallons of water. Since it comes in a giant jug, you’ll only have to purchase a water conditioner once every year or two.
SeaChem Prime Conditioner works in under 2 minutes for tanks with submersible pumps. If you don’t have a pump, you’ll still see results in 15–30 minutes. It will neutralize chlorine, ammonia, and nitrates and is safe to double dose if you have nitrate or ammonia spikes.
The only thing that we don’t like about this water conditioner is its foul smell. We advise conditioning your tank with the window open, so your room doesn’t retain the odor.
Pros
Highly concentrated
Works almost instantly
Removes ammonia and nitrates
Low risk of overdose
Cons
Foul odor
6. Fritz Aquatics Complete Water Conditioner / Dechlorinator
Fritz Aquatics Complete is a jack of all trades if you’re looking for a water conditioner with multiple benefits. It’s a good product for removing large amounts of chlorine from your tap water, and it softens your water at the same time. It takes about an hour to work, but it removes excess nitrates and ammonia.
There are some a few things that this water conditioner doesn’t do that you may appreciate. It doesn’t alter the pH of your water, which is abnormal for conditioners that remove ammonia. There’s not much to complain about other than the chemical smell. It’s reminiscent of rotten eggs but disappears after about 15 minutes.
Jungle Start Right Complete Water Conditioner offers the neutralization of dangerous compounds in tap water and protects your fish’s slime coat. This product contains aloe, which is an antiseptic, so if you have sick or injured fish, this is a huge bonus, as it will help promote healing.
The downside to aloe is that it tends to clog up aquarium filters. This product doesn’t do so,however. There’s also no risk of overdosing on this water conditioner, making it a good choice for beginners or hobbyists who don’t want the risk.
There isn’t much to complain about with Jungle Start. It does take a bit longer to work than many other products, but overall, it does a good job.
For a saltwater-only water conditioner that makes your tap water into a carbon copy of seawater, look no further than Fluker’s Saltwater Concentrate/Water Conditioner. This product is easy to use; you can mix it up with a bowl and a teaspoon. You don’t have to prepare your water in buckets; simply add Fluker’s to your aquarium. It dechlorinates and adds just the right amount of salt with only a couple of drops.
If you’re keeping crabs or other aquatic creatures, they can be finicky around treated water. If you find that this is the case, you may have to add additional salt, as the product doesn’t contain enough salt to keep all sea creatures happy.
Pros
Almost perfectly mimics seawater
Easy to use
Safe for hermit crabs and other marine invertebrates
Brightwell Aquatics Blackwater offers an aquarium water conditioner that mimics blackwater river conditions. It does this by introducing beneficial minerals into your water, along with other chemicals. It doesn’t change your water color, but it basically mimics the chemical makeup of blackwater. If you have live plants in your aquarium, this can help them thrive. Blackwater conditions can also help fish to spawn, so beware of suddenly having an overstocked tank.
If you want your aquarium to look like blackwater river water, you will be disappointed. This conditioner doesn’t tinge the water brown, but it does make it slightly green for a short period after adding the product.
Python Multi-Purpose Water Conditioner deactivates the chlorine in your tap water, so you don’t have to use distilled water in your aquarium. This product also significantly decreases your ammonia levels and works relatively fast. Python conditioner contains herbal extracts to calm your fish and leave them happier than they were before the water change.
The biggest issue with this product is its cost. While it isn’t necessarily more expensive than most other water conditioners, you need to use twice the amount to effectively dechlorinate and condition a similar volume of water. If you have a big tank, this could become a serious downside in the long term.
Pros
Contains herbal extracts to promote calm fish
Easy to use
Effective dechlorinator
Cons
Must use twice as much conditioner to treat your water
Buyer’s Guide: Buying the Best Aquarium Water Conditioner
What to Look for For in an Aquarium Water Conditioner
With so many types of water conditioners, it’s understandable to be confused about which one is best. Here are a few things to consider.
Safety and aquarium compatibility
While most water conditioners are safe for freshwater and saltwater aquariums, not all are. Some are also better for certain types of fish. Ensuring that you have the right product for your needs is the most important consideration when making a purchase.
Decontamination time
Ideally, you want a water conditioner that is effective in the shortest amount of time possible. Even if you’re only doing a partial water change, it’s stressful on your fish. The shorter amount of time that it takes to do the water change, the better, which means you need a conditioner that works fast.
Additional Benefits/Effects
Many water conditioners have added ingredients to benefit your water or your fish. Their main job is to remove chlorine, but some also neutralize nitrates and ammonia. Others even promote healing and slime coat regrowth.
Image Credit: Sergii Figurnyi, Shutterstock
Cost
The price on the bottle doesn’t always represent the overall cost of your water conditioner. Look into how many gallons of water the bottle treats. Some only require a couple of drops, while others may require multiple capfuls.
Conclusion
Hopefully, these reviews have given you a good idea of which aquarium water conditioner is right for you. We recommend Tetra AquaSafe Plus Freshwater & Marine Aquarium Water Conditioner as the best overall aquarium water conditioner. It is fast-acting and effective at removing all tap water contaminants, and has added minerals to make your aquarium a healthy environment for your fish. The best value is Fluval Biological Enhancer Water Conditioner. This all-natural product contains herbal extracts to reduce fish stress. It’s fast, effective, and available at a budget-friendly price tag.
Chelsie is a freelance writer who is passionate about helping owners and pets live their best lives. She resides in rural Alberta, Canada with her husband and two sons, and is currently a pet parent to four horses, four cats, and a border collie.
