Betta Water Conditioner

An important, but often overlooked part of a small tank setup is using a water conditioner for betta fish. Classifying all products can be tricky, especially for novice aquarists. I was very confused about these treatments when I started breeding fish!

A good water conditioner removes harmful chemicals from tap water. Making it safe for your betta fish.

comparison Table

Custom	SiteStripe Image	Title	Review	Buy
TopBest Pick		Tetra BettaSafe Water Conditioner	4.5/5.0	Check Price
Top Performance		Aqueon Betta Bowl Plus Water Conditioner & Dechlorinator	4.6/5.0	Check Price
cheapest		Zoo Med Betta H2O Conditioner	4.6/5.0	Check Price

Many pet stores make it seem like you can buy a betta fish, throw it in a bowl and feed it every now and then for a healthy fish.

The reality is that bettas need tanks of at least 2.5 gallons with frequent water changes, and tap water can kill them because it contains toxic chemicals like chlorine and ammonia.

That’s where the water conditioner comes in. Add a few drops (actual dosage varies, so read the label) of the water conditioner to the tap water before adding it to your betta tank for the first time or after a water change.

This will help protect your betta fish from harmful chemicals found in tap water and will keep them healthy and happy for years to come. With so many products to choose from, how do you know which one is the best Betta water conditioner?

So how do you choose the best Betta water conditioner for your tank? It’s not as hard as it seems! There are just a few details to keep in mind, and in this quick guide, I’ll break them down and teach you how to pick the perfect product for your tank.

Not only have I looked at the best options, I’ve also compared them all so that you get not only the most effective, but also the best betta water conditioner that lasts the longest.

The 9 Best Betta Water Conditioner for Betta Fish Tanks

Best Betta Water Conditioner Reviews

1. Tetra BettaSafe Water Conditioner

When used as directed with other beta fish care best practices, this is a great product for making tap water safe for your fish.

Detoxifies ammonia and neutralizes chemicals such as chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals to create an ideal environment for your fish. Plus, it adds a protective mucus layer to your betta, helping it fight off disease and parasites.

This product will leave your aquarium clean and your fish healthy and happy. It’s more concentrated than other water conditioners, meaning you need to use less and still get great results.

Although it is marketed for use with bettas, it can be used for all tropical fish, which is an advantage if you have other tanks of fish in addition to bettas.

Tetra has been a trusted name in seafood for decades, so you can rely on them to make quality products for all your seafood needs.

2. Aqueon Betta Bowl Plus Water Conditioner & Dechlorinator

Specially designed for small tanks without filter systems, this is a pretty good value for a water conditioner. Many reviews say that this product works well, but it is not as good as other products, and the small bottle is only suitable for occasional water changes in very small bowls or tanks.

Not only does this product make tap water safe for bettas, it also contains trace elements that promote good health, bright colors, and natural protection against mucous membranes. This water conditioner is made in the USA, so you don’t have to worry about contamination from a poorly supervised China factory.

Overall, this is a good product, but it’s not necessarily the best value. Other products offer the same benefits but are more profitable.

3. Zoo Med Betta H2O Conditioner

This water conditioner is more concentrated than other brands, so you will need to use less each time you change your betta water. It works immediately to detoxify nitrites and other heavy metals, while also relieving stress and promoting healing.

It comes in a handy dropper bottle, which is easier to use than trying to measure small measuring spoons. It is a bit more expensive than other water conditioners, but it can still be a good value because it is more concentrated than other brands.

4. API Splendid Betta Complete Water Conditioner

This product helps prevent gill destruction, tissue irritation and fish kill. Contains aloe vera and tea tree oil to help heal fish and reduce inflammation. Aloe vera and tea tree oil distinguish API products from others. These natural ingredients can help your betta fish thrive.

Since the instructions for this formula specify how many drops to use per small unit of water, it is easier to use in smaller tanks than products that require a certain number of scoops per gallon. It has a great value and can be used for all tropical fish.

5. API Stress Coat Water Conditioner

API Stress Coat was my favorite water conditioner for many years and is still something I always have on hand. Like the other products on the list, it removes chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals from tap water. It was also the first product to contain aloe vera and minerals to help maintain a healthy mucus layer.

Even if you don’t use it for routine maintenance, Stress Coat comes in handy if you have a sick or injured beta fish. It is safe to use between water changes and if your fish is not feeling well you can use a double dose of this conditioner to help them recover. I always use this to condition my hospital and grow tanks.

6. Seachem Prime Fresh and Saltwater Conditioner

There’s a reason Seachem Prime is the product that so many expert fish breeders rely on for their aquarium maintenance. Quickly removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. It also binds nitrites and toxic ammonia for up to 48 hours, allowing your filter to remove them from your aquarium. This is my favorite general purpose product!

The highly concentrated formula is perfect for treating a wide variety of tank sizes and is especially useful if you have a 50 gallon or larger tank. But it’s not hard to measure a few drops per gallon for betta bowls and small tanks. Since it also attacks ammonia, this is a great option to use between water changes.

7. Seachem Betta Basics

Another option from Seachem is their Betta Basics formula. Specially designed for small betta fish containers and nano tanks, Basics is a buffered conditioner that helps keep the water neutral (pH 7.0). It removes chlorine and chloramines and detoxifies ammonia that builds up between water changes.

The bottle makes it easy to handle small amounts of water, even less than a gallon if you do a 10% water change in a nano tank. The formulation is much more dilute than Seachem Prime. That said, this product can be toxic to invertebrates, so don’t use it if you have small shrimp in the tank with your betta fish.

8. API Betta Water Conditioner

API is known for its high quality aquarium products and the Betta Water conditioner is no exception. It is specially designed for bettas and quickly removes chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals from your aquarium. The patented formula stimulates the formation of the slime layer of your betta fish and helps keep it healthy.

API Betta Conditioner is a perfectly diluted formula for dosing aquariums. However, it is a little too thin to use in bowls larger than 5 gallons. You would have to use too much product to make it profitable. If you have a small bowl for betta fish and you change the water regularly, this could be a good option for you.

9. Zoo Med Betta H2O Conditioner

If you have a small betta aquarium and want a conditioner that is very easy to use, check out Zoo Med Betta H2O. This formula is ideal for aquariums and small aquariums. Removes chlorine, chloramine, nitrite and heavy metals from tap water. It also helps to keep fish healthy by promoting the formation of their slime coat.

The Zoo Med bottle has a specially designed tip that makes it easy to add the right dose of conditioner to your aquarium. When you invert the bottle and squeeze, the drops of conditioner come out easily and accurately. Just count the right number of drops for your tank size and voila!

What is the Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish?

Tetra Betta Safe is the best water conditioner for betta fish. It neutralizes ammonia, chlorine, chloramine and heavy metals while adding a protective layer of sludge to your betta. It is more concentrated than other water conditioners, so you end up using less of it.

This product keeps fish healthy and tanks clean. Tetra has been a top and trusted name in seafood for decades, so you know they have quality products. Many customers love how great this product is.

How to Use the Betta Water Conditioner?

Tap water contains chemicals that are harmful to betta fish and distilled water lacks beneficial minerals for betta fish.

Every time you add water to your betta aquarium and every time you clean the tank and replace all the water, you should add a water conditioner to the tap water to prepare the water so that it is safe for your betta fish.

In general, you want the water to be at room temperature before adding it to your beta aquarium. It is best to prepare fresh water for your betta aquarium for a few hours or even overnight before adding it to the aquarium so that it can warm up or cool down to room temperature before adding it to your aquarium.

Fill a large pitcher or bowl with the amount of water you want to add to the aquarium and add water conditioner according to the directions on the bottle. Many formulas suggest adding ½ teaspoon of water conditioner per gallon of water, but directions vary from product to product.

Before adding the new water to your betta fish’s tank or tank, fill a small tank with “old” water from the tank. Carefully scoop your betta fish out of the tank with a small net and place it in the container filled with “old” water, then remove the desired amount of water from the tank and add the new conditioned water.

When it’s time to change all the water and clean the tank, make sure to rinse the gravel, tank and any decorations with very hot water but NO SOAP. Soap scum, which can kill your betta fish, is nearly impossible to rinse off completely. After you put the gravel and decorations back in the tank, let them cool before adding the new water.

For best results, use a thermometer after adding the new water to the tank to make sure it matches the temperature of the “old” water your betta is in.

Now you can gently lift your beta fish with a small fishing net and return it to your tank with the cool, conditioned water.

How Much Water Conditioner for Betta Fish?

Each formulation includes instructions on how much water conditioner to add for best results. Typical instructions are to add 8 drops of water conditioner per gallon of water, 16 drops per gallon of water, and half a teaspoon per gallon of water, but always check the package for the instructions for that product, as some products are more or less diluted than others.

Adding too much of a more concentrated formulation or too little of a more dilute solution can kill your fish.

Conclusion

Adding water conditioner to your best betta fish’s aquarium is a critical part of keeping it alive and healthy. You should use a water conditioner every time you add water to your betta aquarium.

On average, you should change 25% of the water in your betta aquarium at least once a week and all the water about once a month. Smaller tanks require more frequent water changes because they usually don’t have filters to clean the water, and larger tanks will change water less often because dirt is more easily drained and can be captured through the use of water filters.

Keeping your beta fish water clean and conditioned is a critical part of keeping your fish alive, healthy, happy, and active. Tanks that aren’t cleaned often are a common source of sick fish, so when in doubt, change the water more often and follow the directions on the water conditioner bottle to make sure you’re using it correctly.

With a little work and the Best betta water conditioner, your betta can live many healthy years.