Seachem is a large name in the field of aquarium products. Their products help aquarists to keep their aquariums healthy. Their products help maintain the proper water chemistry and provide chemical and biological filtration for your needs.
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If you’re looking for something to make your aquarium hobby easier, read on to learn about Seachem.
Seachem Prime Conditioner
- POWERFUL TREATMENT: Seachem Prime is a complete and concentrated conditioner for both freshwater and saltwater fish tanks, working hard to remove chlorine and chloramine.
- USE: Use 1 capful (5 mL) of Seachem Prime for each 200 L (50 US gallons) of new or replacement water.
- SAFETY: In case of an emergency, the 5x dose of Seachem Prime may be used for both ammonia and nitrite.
The Seachem Prime conditioner combines de-chlorination while reducing ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. It also helps fish build a coat of slime to protect them from infection.
Benefits of Seachem Prime:
- Multifunctional: neutralizes nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and heavy metals while also dechlorinating
- Works instantly during water changes
Of all the products here, Seachem Prime is the one I’d want on hand at all times when doing aquarium maintenance. It rolls several functions into a single bottle yet is entirely safe for regular use.
What To Know Before You Use Seachem Prime
Seachem prime has a sulfur smell to it, which is normal. One can of prime remove toxins from up to 50 gallons of water. When changing your aquarium water, remove the old water, put in the recommended amount, and refill your tank.
Things To Consider When Buying a Conditioner
- What challenge is your aquarium having? The problem you are trying to solve will help you find the conditioner that is right for you. If you have more than one problem, get a conditioner that can handle multiple issues simultaneously.
- Consider the size of your aquarium. The size of your aquarium will let you know how much you’ll need to use. You’ll also need to prevent overuse or underuse because it is important to the lives of your aquatic tankmates.
Seachem Stability
- TREATMENT: Stability is formulated specifically for the aquarium and contains a synergistic blend of aerobic, anaerobic, and facultative bacteria which facilitate the breakdown of waste organics, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.
Seachem stability can make cycling your aquarium quicker than taking weeks or months. Stability has the beneficial bacteria needed to re-start your tank. Stability bacteria are in spore form, unlike some other products.
Benefits of Seachem Stability:
- Lots of beneficial bacteria
- Cycles your aquarium in a week
What To Know Before You Use Seachem Stability
Seachem stability works best when used with biological filtration. Make sure to turn off your UV or ozone light when using this product and shake well before use.
Seachem Purigen
- SELECTIVITY: Seachem Purigen is an organic filtration resin that works hard to remove nitrogenous compounds and waste produced by fish, corals, and even plants, making your water crystal clear.
- CAPACITY: Being both spherical and macroreticular, Seachem Purigen has microscopic pores that increase its usable surface area to many times that of a purely spherical resin.
Purigen is an absorbent that rids the tank water of impurities. It is made from a synthetic polymer that can rid your tank of soluble and insoluble impurities.
Purigen also controls nitrate, ammonia, and nitrate levels. If these levels aren’t controlled, they can release toxic compounds into your tank.
Benefits of Seachem Purigen
- Reusable
- Porous for high surface area
- High affinity for problem molecules
What To Know Before You Use Seachem Purigen
Before using purigen, there are a few things to be aware of. If you begin to smell chlorine, it’s best to avoid re-use.
How To Use Seachem Purigen
To use Purigen, follow these simple steps:
- Soak purigen in a solution of water at a ratio of 1:1.
- Soak the purigen for 24 hours in a non-metallic container.
- Rinse and soak in a dechlorinating solution for 8 hours. Use 2 tablespoons of dechlorinating solution per cup of water.
- If you’re using it in fresh water, soak it for at least 4 hours.
- After step 4, you can re-use Purigen.
Seachem Matrix
- Made in United States
- Package Dimensions : 3.75 L x 8.0 H x 3.75 W (inches)
- Package Weight : 2.0 pounds
The Seachem matrix is ideal for removing nitrogen waste from your tank. Macro pores allow the Matrix to eliminate ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite. This can also be rinsed without damaging the internal filter and is compatible with most filters.
Benefits Of Seachem Matrix
- Easy to clean
- Works with sump, top, and canister filters, as well as others
- It allows a huge surface area for getting rid of bacteria
What To Know Before You Use Seachem Matrix
You’ll need to pre-wash the Matrix before adding it to your tank to prevent dust particles in your tank that can be harmless to your aquarium and fish. Not pre-washing your matrix can also make the fresh water cloudy.
You will also need to rinse your Matrix regularly because the pores can get clogged over time with debris. If it is blocked, beneficial bacteria in the pores cannot feed on the ammonia and nitrates, leading to impurities in tank water.
How To Use Seachem Matrix
Matrix works for many filters, so it can be used with almost any filter. It usually works best with canister filters. Per 50 gallons of water, 500mls of water will work.
Seachem Flourish for Planted Aquariums
- ENHANCER: Seachem Flourish Advance is an advanced formula contains phytohormones, minerals, and nutrients that dramatically stimulate the growth of both roots and shoots in aquatic plants.
- ADVANCED FORMULA: With regular use, Seachem Flourish Advance enhances mineral absorption and improves disease resistance.
Seachem Flourish is a fertilizer that provides all the necessary nutrients for plants to grow, including iron and calcium. While other brands provide all the nutrients, Seachem can be customized to fit your needs.
Benefits of Seachem Flourish:
- It gives plants the perfect blend of nutrients
- Low phosphorous content to prevent algae growth
What To Know Before You Use Seachem Flourish
Seachem Flourish isn’t recommended for beginners because dosing can be tricky. If you overdose on your aquarium with Flourish, it can cause algae overgrowth.
Seachem Equilibrium Mineral Balance & GH Water Treatment
- EQUILIBRIUM: Does not contain sodium or chloride (which can be detrimental to a planted aquarium at elevated levels).
- SUITED FOR: Equilibrium is preferably suited for use with RO (reverse osmosis) and DI (deionized) water or any mineral deficient water.
Seachem Equilibrium is used to stabilize mineral balance and water hardness. It contains no sodium or chloride to affect plants, so it is ideal for planted aquariums.
Benefits of Seachem Equilibrium:
- It gives essential minerals for plants, invertebrates like shrimp, and certain fish
- It doesn’t evaporate from the tank
- Can be bought in amounts that can last years
What To Know Before You Use Seachem Equilibrium
Before you use Equilibrium, be sure to check your water hardness. Add more only after the water changes. As water evaporates, the concentrations of minerals in equilibrium will become more concentrated.
Seachem Flourite Natural Substrate for Planted Aquariums
- GRAVEL: Seachem Flourite Black is a specially fracted stable porous clay gravel for the natural planted aquarium. Its appearance is best suited to planted aquaria, but may be used in any freshwater aquarium environment.
- AQUARIUM BED: Gravel modifiers such as laterite are not necessary when using Seachem Flourite Black as this product is most effective when used alone as an integral substrate bed, but it may be mixed with other gravels.
Seachem Flourite is clay gravel that absorbs beneficial compounds in the water, like essential nutrients. It doesn’t have an effect on water chemistry and won’t soften over time.
Benefits of Seachem Flourite:
- Grabs and holds nutrients for plants
- It has a long lifespan
- Brightly colored for an aesthetically pleasing aquarium
What To Know Before You Use Seachem Flourite Substrate
When using Seachem Flourite substrate, there may be some initial cloudiness to the water that will fade within a few days. It can also be very dense, so be careful when placing your plants in your aquarium.
Seachem Safe
- The complete and concentrated conditioner for both fresh and salt water
- Removes chlorine Chloramine and ammonia
- Converts ammonia into a safe nontoxic form that is readily removed by the tank's Bio Filter
Seachem safe is a water conditioner that removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water to make it safe for your tank. These chemicals are harmful to fish and the beneficial bacteria in your tank.
Benefits of Seachem Safe:
- Detoxifies Nitrates, ammonia, and nitrites
- Non-acidic
- Versatile
- Can build up beneficial bacteria
What To Know Before You Use Seachem Safe
Similar to prime, seachem safe has an initial sulfur smell to it.
How To Use Seachem Safe
Depending on package size, the use can be different. It’s best to dose for the full water volume of your tank.
- For the 50 gram container of Safe, use 200 mg per 50 gallons to reduce chlorine, chloramine, and ammonia.
- For all other sizes, use 1/4 tsp for every 300 gallons to reduce chlorine, chloramine, and ammonia.
Safe can be added directly to the aquarium, but it’s best to add it after a water change. If you add directly to the aquarium, base it on the full aquarium volume. A double dose can be used if your chloramine concentration is extremely high. In an emergency, you can use up to 4 times the normal dose to detoxify nitrite and nitrate. If the temperature is below 86 degrees Fahrenheit and the levels of chlorine and ammonia are low, use half a dose.
Alternatives & Conclusion
There is a large variety of Seachem products for every problem you may encounter in your tank. Seachem products can help you maintain optimum water quality. However, seachem isn’t the only name in the game.
Consider an API water conditioner if Seachem Safe or Prime is too expensive. It works the same but is more affordable. The only difference is that it doesn’t control ammonia, only nitrates, and nitrites. It also doesn’t create the slime layer on your fish that Seachem Prime does.
If The Seachem Matrix doesn’t work for your tank, consider the Fluval Biomax. The Fluval Biomax is extremely comparable to the matrix and controls all the same chemicals. It is also a little less expensive than the Seachem Matrix. The only downside is that you may have to replace the Biomax before your matrix, but this depends on your tank.
If you’re looking for an alternative to the Seachem Purigen, try the Polyfilter by Poly-Bio Marine. Like the Seachem purigen it also turns brown when exhausted, so you won’t discard it too early. The Polyfilter also changes colors for specific problems like ammonia. They can also be cut to fit any filter. For more information about the Polyfilter, watch this video.
Glosso Factory Aquarium Fertilizer is a great alternative to Seachemn Flourish. It’s a little less in cost and is an excellent value.
An alternative to Seachem Flourite Caribsea Eco-Complete is similar in price and function. It looks like aqua soil if you’re looking more for that type of look, and it can also help to cycle the aquarium.
No matter what problem you want to solve in your aquarium, there is a product for your budget and needs.
