Aquarium Water Treatments

The Seachem Pristine Water Conditioner for Fish Tanks improves water quality through bio-augmentation, a non-chemical and natural method. The bacteria in Pristine are a one-of-a-kind blend that has been specifically developed for hardiness and adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions. It contains bacteria that decompose excess food, waste, and detritus in freshwater and marine systems. Excess nutrients (e.g., ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites) may also be reduced, which may fuel the growth of nuisance and disease-causing organisms. Pristine improves the health of the aquatic environment by increasing water clarity.

The bacteria species in Pristine thrive in both fresh and salt water and can utilize a wide range of organic compounds, including fats, which can cause unsightly films. This bacterial blend, unlike traditional nitrifying bacteria, can adapt to harsh or low oxygen environments and continue to multiply and improve water conditions. Established bacterial colonies produce biopolymers that trap particulates and improve water clarity.

The Seachem Stability Water Conditioner for Fish Tanks quickly and safely establishes the aquarium biofilter in freshwater and marine systems, preventing the number one cause of fish death, "new tank syndrome." It represents the current state of the art in natural biological management and is the result of nearly a decade of research and development.

Stability is an aquarium bacteria that contains a synergistic blend of aerobic, anaerobic, and facultative bacteria that aid in the breakdown of waste organics, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Stability bacteria do not fix sulfur and do not emit toxic hydrogen sulfide. Because it is completely safe for all aquatic organisms and plants, there is no danger of overuse. 

Competing products make use of bacteria that are naturally unstable. Temperatures, pH, organic loads, and other growth and development factors all fall within a very narrow range. When any of these parameters are out of range, the bacterial culture quickly dies. Stability isn't limited in this way. The Stability's bacteria strains require a wide range of environmental conditions to grow. Stability simply becomes more effective as other bacteria die off (usually due to high organic loads caused by an organism's undetected death).

The Seachem Flourish Water Conditioner for Fish Tanks is a complete plant supplement for the natural freshwater aquarium. It is high in microelements, trace elements, and other nutrients. These include calcium, magnesium, iron, and other important elements that have been shown to benefit aquatic plants. As needed, use Flourish Nitrogen, Flourish Phosphorus, or Flourish Potassium for macro element (NPK) fertilization. Flourish is suitable for invertebrates such as shrimp.

Flourish is meant to be combined with other macro and micronutrient supplements. Other manufacturers attempt to include ALL necessary nutrients, resulting in micronutrient overdoses in an attempt to increase macronutrient levels.

Seachem Flourish Excel Water Conditioner contains bioavailable organic carbon. It is specifically designed for planted aquariums because all plants require a carbon source. This is usually derived from CO2, but it can also be derived from simple organic compounds (such as photosynthetic intermediates).

The use of CO2 injection or Flourish Excel does not preclude the use of the other. Because the processes of producing photosynthetic intermediates and building on them occur concurrently, using Flourish Excel alone or in conjunction with CO2 can provide a significant benefit. The combination is especially useful when continuing to add CO2 could result in dangerously low pH levels. Flourish Excel also has iron reducing properties that promote the ferrous state of iron (Fe+2), which is easier for plants to use than ferric iron (Fe+3).

Plants require CO2 to produce longer chain carbon compounds known as photosynthetic intermediates. Compounds such as ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate, and 2-carboxy-3-keto-D-arabinitol 1,5 bisphosphate are examples of photosynthetic intermediates. Despite the complicated names, the structures are quite simple (5 carbon chains). Flourish Excel does not contain these specific compounds, but it does contain one that is very similar.

By using Flourish Excel, you avoid the use of CO2 and introduce already finished, structurally similar compounds. Flourish Excel can be used in the carbon chain building process of photosynthesis due to its structural similarity. Simple chemical or enzymatic steps can easily convert it to any of the above-mentioned compounds (or a variety of others).

The Seachem Flourish Advance Water Conditioner for Fish Tanks is an all-natural, biologic plant growth enhancer. It is specifically designed for plant-filled aquariums. Its advanced formula contains phytohormones, minerals, and nutrients that significantly increase the growth of roots and shoots in aquatic plants. Phytohormones are a class of naturally occurring compounds that play critical roles in regulating plant growth in a variety of developmental processes such as cell division, shoot meristem formation and activity, photosynthesis gene expression induction, leaf senescence, nutrient mobilization, seed germination, root growth, and stress response. It also improves mineral absorption and disease resistance when used on a regular basis. It is completely non-toxic and safe for all plant species, as well as fish and aquatic organisms.

The Flourish Advance works to stimulate root growth beneath the surface for the first ten to fourteen days after application. Following the initial induction period, the plants' leaves and stems will grow significantly faster.

The Seachem Flourish Iron Water Conditioner for Fish Tanks is a ferrous iron gluconate supplement with a high concentration (10,000 mg/L). It is specially designed for aquariums with plants. Plants can benefit from Flourish Iron much more easily because ferrous iron gluconate is already in the ferrous form, so they don't have to expend energy reducing it. Contrary to what other manufacturers may claim, gluconate is not toxic to plants or fish. In fact, due to the relatively weaker iron-gluconate bonding compared to iron-EDTA bonding, ferrous gluconate is better suited to foliar feeding than iron-EDTA. Furthermore, ferrous gluconate has the added benefit of being a carbon source.

Iron is immobile in plants. This means that plants cannot divert iron from older to newer leaves. As a result, deficiency symptoms appear first on new or young leaves. Because plants use iron to produce chlorophyll, a lack of iron causes chlorosis or yellowing of the younger leaves. Stems can also be short and slender. If the deficiency is severe and prolonged, each new leaf emerges lighter in color than the previous leaf.

When selecting an iron supplement, it is critical to understand the distinction between the two types of iron. The iron will be in one of two oxidation states: ferrous (+2 charge) or ferric (+3 charge). The preferred iron form is ferrous iron, which is soluble in water at any pH. Ferric iron, on the other hand, is only soluble below a pH of around 5.5; if the pH is higher than 5.5, which is more likely in a planted aquarium, the ferric iron will become insoluble and precipitate, settling in the root zone. Foliar absorption is rendered impossible once this occurs.

The Seachem Flourish Nitrogen Water Conditioner is a highly concentrated (15,000 mg/L) nitrogen source blend. Nitrogen is one of the three major macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium: NPK) required by plants and is frequently the limiting factor to growth in a flourishing system. It provides nitrogen in both nitrate and ammonium forms, which are preferred by plants. However, no free ammonia is produced because the ammonium in Flourish Nitrogen is complex and unavailable to the plants until it is used. Following the conversion of urea, ammonium becomes available (carbamide). Flourish Nitrogen also contains nitrate for plants that can readily utilize nitrate. Use in conjunction with Flourish Phosphorus and Flourish Potassium for maximum benefit. Flourish Nitrogen is not harmful to invertebrates such as shrimp.

The Seachem Flourish Phosphorus Water Conditioner for Fish Tanks Phosphorus is one of the three macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium: NPK) required by plants and can frequently become the limiting factor to growth in a flourishing system.

Flourish Phosphorus is a potassium phosphate solution (4,500 mg/L phosphate) that takes the guesswork out of phosphate dosing. Unlike competing, products that mix nitrate and phosphate in a fixed ratio, Flourish Phosphorus (which is nitrate free) allows you to dose phosphorus according to the needs of your plants without the risk of overdosing nitrates.

When used as directed, Flourish Phosphorus will enhance and accelerate the growth of aquatic plants while inhibiting algae growth. Use Flourish Nitrogen and Flourish Potassium for maximum benefit. Flourish Phosphorus is suitable for invertebrates such as shrimp.

The Seachem Flourish Potassium Water Conditioner for Fish Tanks has a potassium concentration of 50,000 mg/L, making it ideal for natural planted aquariums. Potassium is one of several elements that are critical to sustaining vigorous growth in a planted aquarium. Potassium depletion can occur in a rapidly growing system or when the source water has low mineral content. In these cases, potassium may become a growth-limiting factor. Use Flourish Potassium to prevent potassium deficiency (which manifests as yellowing in older leaves) and to maintain the highest level of growth.

Potassium nitrate and potassium phosphate are the most easily obtained potassium sources. Both of these sources contribute nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, making it nearly impossible to achieve a specific NPK ratio. Flourish Potassium is made from potassium sulfate, which allows the user to adjust potassium levels without affecting nitrogen or phosphorus.

The Seachem Flourish Trace Water Conditioner for Fish Tanks provides a wide range of trace elements that have been shown to be essential for proper plant health and growth (see below for signs of deficiencies). Trace elements are typically depleted through use, oxidation, and precipitation. The latter two processes happen faster than with other micronutrients. As a result, it is critical to restoring trace elements on a regular basis. Invertebrates, such as shrimp, are not affected by Flourish Trace.

We usually suggest starting with Flourish and/or Flourish Tabs. These contain a wide range of micronutrients (vitamins, amino acids, and so on) as well as micro and trace elements (iron, manganese, nickel, cobalt, and so on) that improve plant health and growth. If the growth rate is rapid, the trace elements in Flourish are often used faster than the other components, so using Flourish Trace in addition to Flourish and/or Flourish Tabs would be beneficial.

The Seachem AmGuard Water Conditioner for Fish Tanks detoxifies toxic-free ammonia in a safe, quick, and efficient manner. It is suitable for treating emergency situations and is safe to use during tank cycling. The AmGuard is the most powerful liquid ammonia binder available. It detoxifies free ammonia in minutes and does not degrade for nearly 72 hours. That's at least twice as long as the products of our competitors. Unlike competing products, AmGuard converts it into a safe, non-toxic form that the tank's biofilter easily removes. It has no effect on pH.

Ammonia exists in two states: free and ionized. The only toxic form is the free form. Traditional ammonia test kits convert all ammonia to free ammonia by raising the pH to 12–14; AmGuard cannot function at this pH, resulting in a false positive reading. Use Seachem Stability® and Matrix for long-term ammonia control. To directly monitor free ammonia levels, use Ammonia Alert® or MultiTest Free & Total Ammonia. AmGuard removes chlorine and chloramines as well.

The Seachem Safe Water Conditioner for Fish Tanks is a comprehensive and highly concentrated dry conditioner for both fresh and saltwater. Safe eliminates chlorine and chloramine while detoxifying ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. It is non-acidic and has no effect on pH. Another advantage for reef enthusiasts is that Safe will not over-activate skimmers.

The Safe can be used to reduce ammonia/nitrite toxicity during tank cycling. It contains a binder that renders ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate non-toxic, allowing the Biofilter to remove them more efficiently. Use at startup and whenever water is added or replaced. Use Seachem StressGuard when transporting or quarantining fish. Use Stability® when adding new fish. Both are excellent for use with Safe.

The Seachem Reef Dip Water Conditioner for Fish Tanks contains elemental iodine complexed to a protective slime coat that disinfects corals safely and gently. It has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal properties. It can be used either prophylactically (when there is no evidence of disease) or to treat diseased specimens. It is suitable for both stony and soft corals. It is also non-toxic to anemones and polyps.

The Reef Dip creates a protective slime coat complex that coats the coral, allowing the iodine to remain in contact with the infected site for extended periods of time. Furthermore, the slime coat prevents infection from returning to the site.