Conditioning Your Fish Tank With Seachem Prime

Summer Davis
by Summer Davis
To remove chlorine from tap water so that it’s safe for your aquarium, you’ll need a prime water conditioner. And Seachem Prime is what the pros recommend.


There seems like there are a million water conditioners on the market for aquariums. The main objective for a water conditioner is to remove chlorine from tap water and make it safe for the fish and inverts in the tank. Water conditioner falls under the category of “don’t go cheap,” because it truly is THAT important.


The brand that I, and many other fish enthusiasts swear by, is Seachem Prime. The initial cost is more than the local big box store’s selection, coming in around $5 for a 100ml bottle, $11 for a 500ml bottle, up to a gallon jug that runs in the $40 ballpark. Depending on the tank size and amount of tanks you run, there are enough size options to suit any budget.


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Where Seachem Prime differs from the run of the mill big box brands is that it takes a lot less to do a lot more. A cap full will work for 50 gallons of water, so a bottle can potentially last for months. Competing brands take five teaspoons to treat the same amount, plus they remove less.


Most water conditioners will claim to remove chlorine and chloramine, both harmful substances that are found in tap water. Prime will do that will and also remove ammonia, which can save and protect fish during a nitrogen cycle. It also detoxifies nitrite and nitrate during the cycle. These perks are invaluable in the fish world, as nitrogen cycles are constantly in motion, be it in new tanks, or just a mini cycle in an existing tank. When using Prime, chances are you won’t even know that a cycle has occurred because it will take care of it for you.


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The only con (if you really want to call it that) is that Seachem Prime has an initial sulfur smell. However, you’ll only catch a whiff when pouring in the initial dosing, o. Once it’s distributed in the water, you’ll never be able to smell it.


Using the product is simple, as well. One cap full will remove toxins from 50 gallons of water, using the cap requires a steady hand as it is easy to overfill and spill the product. I prefer to use a medicine dropper instead just to eliminate waste and avoid spillage.


When doing a water change, simply remove the old water, put the recommended amount of Prime into the tank and refill. Some people prefer to wait until the tank is filled, while others dose Prime then fill. It honestly does not matter, and it is all in personal preference.


Seachem has an entire line of aquarium products that are excellent, while Prime is my personal favorite, they also offer products that encourage plant growth, stabilize the water conditions, clear up cloudy waters, etc. I would certainly recommend any one of their products as they are tried and true, and well worth the money. I spent hundreds of dollars on products that simply didn’t work before coming across Seachem products, and despite costing more initially, they were a much better product that tends to last longer over all.

Summer Davis
Summer Davis

Summer Davis is the mom of three kids, four dogs, and several tanks of fish. She boasts a passion for all animals, whether they are in the water or on land. This fish aficionado has kept many different species in her time, but holds a special place in her heart for wild and domestic bettas. When she's not talking about fish, Summer "spins" her extra time as the director of a baton twirling organization."

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