[Updated 2023] Top 9 Best Betta Water Conditioner – Makes Tap Water Safe for Bettas

[Updated 2023] Top 9 Best Betta Water Conditioner – Makes Tap Water Safe for Bettas

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

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Top Performance Aqueon Betta Bowl Plus Water Conditioner & Dechlorinator4.6/5.0Check Price
cheapest Zoo Med Betta H2O Conditioner4.6/5.0Check 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

Best Betta 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.

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2. Aqueon Betta Bowl Plus Water Conditioner & Dechlorinator

Best Betta Water Conditioner

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.

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3. Zoo Med Betta H2O Conditioner

Best Betta Water 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.

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4. API Splendid Betta Complete Water Conditioner

Best Betta 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.

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5. API Stress Coat Water Conditioner

Best Betta 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

[Latest 2023] Top 10 Best Aquarium Water Conditioner Review

[Latest 2023] Top 10 Best Aquarium Water Conditioner Review

The water conditioner is a staple in my aquarium kits. The easiest way to ensure your water is aquarium safe.

But not all are of equal quality when it comes to how much you get for your money.

Comparison Table

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Top PerformanceAPI Tap Water Conditioner4.7/5.0Check Price
cheapestNatural Rapport Aquarium Water Conditioner4.5/5.0Check Price

When it comes to owning the aquarium, there are many things that go into the maintenance section. One thing you should never forget is aquarium water maintenance.

As part of water maintenance, you should use an aquarium water conditioner. This is because sometimes people even add tap water to the aquarium before treating it.

That process involves changing some of the water, but tap water contains chemicals, minerals, and heavy metals that keep the water safe for us to drink, but make it deadly for fishing. Fortunately, you can solve that problem by using a tap water conditioner.

But how long does it take for the water conditioner to work? And what is the best aquarium water conditioner? In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about tap water conditioning products, including detailed water conditioner reviews and our personal recommendations.

So what is the best aquarium water conditioner? We can answer that question below with a list of quality water conditioners for your aquarium.

The 10 Best Water Conditioners For Your Aquariums

Best Aquarium Water Conditioner Reviews

1. Seachem Safe

Best Aquarium Water Conditioner

When it comes to a potent treatment for your aquarium, the Seachem brand does not disappoint. It is a concentrated and complete conditioner. It also works for salt and fresh water tanks to remove chloramine and chlorine.

The product permanently and immediately removes chloramine and chlorine from the water. In this way, your biofilter can remove nitrates, nitrites and ammonia. Plus, everything detoxes after a short 48 hours.

Seachem Prime works hard to detoxify heavy metals, ammonia and nitrites in ordinary tap water. While these are typical and safe levels, they are not suitable for fishing. Therefore, your tetra, beta and other fish have a safe environment to live in.

You can use this in case of emergency. Use a 5 times higher dose of the product for nitrite and ammonia in the water. Only use a half dose if the water temperature is above 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

Use one product cap for 50 gallons of new or replacement water. Add it to fresh water for your fish first. If you have large amounts of chloramine, consider a double dose.

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2. API Tap Water Conditioner

Best Aquarium Water Conditioner

It is difficult to condition tap water to house fish in an aquarium. The API brand presents a conditioning product. This can immediately neutralize chloramines, chlorine and other chemicals.

Therefore, tap water is safe for fish. In a sense, chemicals in tap water do a lot of damage to fish. They can cause tissue irritation, gill destruction, and death.

The product is a highly concentrated formula. So you don’t need a lot every time. It is better to use it when you change or add water.

You should also use this product when adding new fish. It can be used in freshwater and saltwater aquariums.

Dosage instructions are to add 1 ml per 20 gallons of water. This can detoxify heavy metals and remove chlorine. To get rid of chloramines, you need 5 ml per 30 gallons of water.

In addition, you should feed your fish twice a day. You can use API fish food, which is designed to work with other API products. This keeps your fish healthy and active.

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3. Natural Rapport Aquarium Water Conditioner

Best Aquarium Water Conditioner

Sometimes you want a professional quality water conditioner. The Natural Rapport brand is essential. It works for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums.

You don’t need separate accessories, chemical kits or supplies to deal with slime layers and stress layers. This chlorine remover does it all for you in one simple step.

It is advisable to use a treatment during each water change to help goldfish, bettas and other fish thrive. The product adds electrolytes, balances the pH and adds a layer of sludge to your fish. It is also safe for saltwater plants, marine invertebrates and crustaceans.

When you use the product, it works quickly to kill harmful bacteria. These include nitrates, ammonia, chloramine, chlorine and heavy metals.

It also instantly makes tap water safe by detoxifying and removing chemicals from the water. Therefore, it is safe, effective and recommended for living reefs. The product works for exotic fish and betta, among others.

This conditioner contains 11 active ingredients. You can work with water to add protective layers of sludge and electrolytes. However, it also takes all the bad stuff out of the water.

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4. Fluval Water Conditioner for Aquariums

Best Aquarium Water Conditioner

You will definitely be impressed by the Fluval brand water conditioner. It is designed to make tap water safe for fish.

Of course it does this by neutralizing chloramines, chlorine and heavy metals. In addition, it also protects the mucous membranes of the fish. These areas are often quite sensitive and need a little extra help.

Fluval has patented their formula, which is designed to reduce stress on your fish. In addition, it can be used in fresh and salt water applications. The purpose of the product is also to protect the fins and scales of your fish.

This way the fish do not get inflammation or other disorders. In the aquarium, abrasions, broken fins and abrasions can occur. Now fish can heal faster if you use this product.

Be sure to use this conditioner when adding new water to the tank. It is also suitable for water changes and when installing a new tank.

If your goal is to remove chlorine, you should use 5 ml for every 10 gallons. Those who want to protect the fins and scales of their fish and remove chloramine should use 10 ml in 10 gallons of water.

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5. KordonNovAqua+ Plus Water Conditioner

Best Aquarium Water Conditioner

Whether you have a freshwater or saltwater aquarium, you can use Kordon’s NovAqua+. It is designed to remove heavy metals commonly found in tap water. It can also detoxify chloramine and chlorine.

As if that weren’t enough, you can also provide your fish with vitamins and immunizers. These are important for your fish to stay healthy. The product also adds a protective layer to the skin of the fish.

This protects you from the dangers in the tank. You may not realize it, but your fish can get cuts and scrapes. This slime guard reduces the chance of your fish getting cut, but it can heal faster.

You will be happy to know that this product is also safe for your aquarium plants. Eliminate chlorine and chloramine so that all living things are protected and safe.

When it comes to using the right amount of conditioner, the instructions are on the back of the bottle. It is quite easy to read and understand. Just add a teaspoon of the product for every 10 gallons of water in the tank.

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6. TankFirst Complete Aquarium Water Conditioner

Best Aquarium Water Conditioner

Many people think that water conditioners smell terribly. The TankFirst brand recognized this problem and stopped it. It has a natural additive that does not produce the noxious odor while being effective.

While your fish probably won’t mind the smell, you will. Now you don’t have to worry.

The formulation is designed to be groundbreaking. It can make tap water safe right away because it removes many contaminants. These include chlorine, chloramine, nitrites, ammonia and heavy metals. This conditioner is complete and can be used in reef, marine and freshwater aquariums.

A bottle of conditioner weighs 16.9 ounces and can treat up to 1,000 gallons of water. You only need one lid, which is one teaspoon, for every 10 gallons.

This product appears to be used in freshwater and saltwater species. These can be live corals, snails and shrimp. Even sensitive fish are safe when using this product.

You must use this conditioner when adding water due to evaporation. Also consider using it for water changes and also when you can measure nitrite and ammonia levels.

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7. MicroBacter7 – Bacteria & Water Conditioner

Best Aquarium Water Conditioner

People with aquariums need a complete bioculture and water treatment. It’s hard to find the right one, but the MicroBacter7 brand can be helpful. It can help you set up a biological filtration system for your new aquarium.

If you already have one set up, you can still use this product. It allows you to reduce nitrates, nitrogen, nitrites, ammonia, phosphates and organic carbon. In addition, it works in marine and freshwater aquariums.

The product contains enzymes and microbes that are essential and effective for your fish. It has also been tested by a veterinary pathologist and is recommended nationwide.

Of course, that’s not all the product does. It can stimulate the growth of photosynthetic organisms. In addition, it can increase oxygen concentration and reduce hydrogen sulfide production.

You will also find that it can provide you with a healthier substrate in the aquarium. This means you have to clean less and change less water. The product also improves water quality so you can watch your beautiful fish swim and play all day long.

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8. Hagen Fluval Water Conditioner

Best Aquarium Water Conditioner

Look at the price of the 16.9 ounce container, it seems reasonable.

However, you will use it faster because you need 10 ml for 10 gallons.

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9. Tetra AquaSafe PLUS

Best Aquarium Water Conditioner

This is another cheaper alternative to Prime in terms of volume, especially for a 1-liter (33.8-ounce) container.

However, it is expensive in terms of how many gallons it can actually handle. That’s because you need 5 ml for 10 gallons or 7 drops per gallon. So we do the math, and 1 liter can only treat 2,000 gallons.

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10. Aqueon Tap Water Conditioner

Best Aquarium Water Conditioner

Aqueon is a very popular brand of tap water conditioner that immediately neutralizes chlorine and chloramines, in addition to detoxifying ammonia, heavy metals and fish waste. As an added benefit, Aqueon Tap Water Conditioner helps restore the fish’s natural sludge layer that can be lost when fish are transported or fished. This water conditioner also helps reduce stress on fish, making it a great option for new setups.

The correct dosage of water conditioner is easy to measure using the calibrated dosing cap.

This is one of the cheapest water conditioning products we’ve seen, but it pretty much does what all the other brands do at a slightly lower price.

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Why Use Water Conditioner in Aquarium?

Water conditioners are helpful when it comes to treating tap water to make it safe for fish.

Conditioners remove chlorine commonly found in tap water. Chlorine as a chemical is good at keeping bacteria and other microorganisms away so you can use the water for human consumption.

The same level of chemical chlorine that is safe for humans can easily be toxic and kill the fish in the aquarium. You must use the water conditioner to remove any chlorine and chloramine in the water.

It’s not just about removing chemical chlorine, water conditioner is also good at removing heavy metals from water. Such heavy metals are often found in tap water.

It should also be great when it comes to removing ammonia, nitrites and nitrates from water. As you can see, you always end up with clean water.

Depending on the water conditioner, it can also help to create an important layer of sludge to protect the fish. In general, you should have a safe environment for aquatic life.

 

What is the Best Aquarium Water Conditioner?

When it comes to choosing the best aquarium water conditioner, it’s all about a model that can always deliver performance. You don’t want to pick one with too many additives that won’t even perform.

For the list above, you can always settle for Seachem Safe as it is one of the best of the many available in the industry. The model offers exemplary performance to easily clean the water. The impressive concentrated solution also reduces nitrites and nitrates that you can find in aquarium water.

 

How Does the Aquarium Water Conditioner Work?

The water conditioner is important when it comes to cleaning the water and making it safe for fish. So how does the water conditioner really work? It’s pretty easy once you understand the chemistry behind it.

The conditioner starts by neutralizing the chlorine in the water. This is done by the formation of ionic bonds and will thus turn the chlorine in the water into harmless components. Once this happens, the water must be safe for aquatic life.

The same chemical process will take place when it comes to removing other components such as chloramine and heavy metals.

 

Which Water Conditioner is Best?

After reading this article, guess which one I decided I preferred.

Yes, Seachem Prime.

And no, Seachem doesn’t pay me a lot of money to promote their products.

Although, if they wanted to give me a big check, I wouldn’t worry about it either.

I promised myself that I would keep an open mind while writing this article. I knew I preferred Prime, but everyone should always be open to new information, including myself.

But I have to admit that after looking at the numbers for all these different products, I came to the conclusion that Prime is the best water conditioner.

I don’t really believe the aquatic experts’ claim that Prime’s odor bothers aquarium fish. I’ve added Prime to my tanks literally hundreds of times now.

The fish don’t try to escape the new water or swim away if I fill the tank right away.

So it all boils down to this: I want a water conditioner that removes chlorine/chloramines, detoxifies nitrites and nitrates, and is reasonably priced. Prime is the clear winner.

 

Conclusion

There is no doubt that you now know that this could be the reason why your fish has been dying all the time. You can’t just add tap water to the aquarium and hope the fish will survive.

Now that you know more about Best Aquarium Water Conditioner, you should be able to have one of the best products for your aquarium today. Each of the models discussed above will give you the performance you deserve when it comes to treating your water. You can choose according to your preferences.