Seachem Prime 500 mL — Ultra-concentrated aquarium water conditioner

Seachem Prime 500 mL is the world's most widely used and recommended water conditioner for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Its ultra-concentrated formula has made it the number one choice of professional and passionate hobbyists for decades. A single 500 mL bottle of Seachem Prime treats up to 10,000 liters of water—unrivaled effectiveness in the aquatic conditioner market.

At ReefSolution in Laval, Quebec , Prime is one of the products we consistently recommend to every aquarist, beginner or experienced. It's the first product to buy before even filling an aquarium, and the last thing you'd want to be without in case of an emergency.

What Seachem Prime does for your aquarium

Tap water used in Canada contains chlorine and chloramines—disinfectants added by municipalities to make it potable, but which are toxic to fish, corals, and the nitrifying bacteria in your biological filter. Without treatment, simply adding tap water can severely stress your fish or disrupt your biological cycle within hours.

Seachem Prime goes far beyond a simple chlorine remover. Its advanced formula works on several fronts simultaneously:

• Neutralizes chlorine instantly and completely
• Neutralizes chloramines — unlike basic chlorine removers that release ammonia by breaking the chlorine-ammonia bond, Prime permanently neutralizes both components
• Detoxifies ammonia — converts toxic ammonia (NH3) into a non-toxic form (NH4+) without interfering with the nitrogen cycle or blocking nitrifying bacteria
• Detoxifies nitrites — protects against nitrite spikes during cycling or biological shock
• Detoxifies nitrates — temporarily reduces stress related to high nitrate levels
• Removes heavy metals — chelates heavy metals present in tap water such as copper, lead and zinc

Seachem Prime — The Essential Emergency Solution

One of Seachem Prime's most valuable properties, often overlooked by beginners, is its ability to serve as a rescue solution during an ammonia or nitrite crisis . If your tests indicate a dangerous ammonia spike—following the death of a specimen, overfeeding, or a biological crash—a double dose of Prime immediately detoxifies the ammonia present and gives your nitrifying bacteria time to recover, thus protecting your fish and corals until the situation stabilizes.

This property makes Prime not just a routine water conditioner, but a true crisis management tool that every serious aquarist should have on hand at all times.

Dosage and Use

The standard dosage of Seachem Prime is 5 mL per 200 liters of water during regular water changes. For emergency situations (ammonia or nitrite spikes), use a double dose of 5 mL per 100 liters. Prime can be dosed directly into the aquarium or added to the replacement water before introduction.

• 500 mL size: treats up to 10,000 litres — ideal for medium to large aquariums and frequent water changes
• Frequency: at each water change, during initial filling, and in case of a chemical emergency
• Compatibility: 100% compatible with saltwater, freshwater, coral reefs, invertebrates, and shrimp
• No impact on pH — Prime does not change the pH of your water
• No impact on biological filtration — nitrifying bacteria continue to process ammonia normally

Why Prime Is Different From Other Conditioners

The aquatic water conditioner market is saturated with cheap products that do the bare minimum—neutralize chlorine. Seachem Prime stands out in several key ways:

Exceptional concentration

Most conditioners require 5 mL for 10 to 20 liters. Prime treats 200 liters with the same amount. This extraordinary concentration means the 500 mL bottle lasts much longer than its seemingly equivalent products, making Prime very economical despite a slightly higher purchase price.

Full spectrum of protection

Chlorine, chloramines, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, heavy metals—Prime covers the full spectrum of common tap water contaminants and biochemical problems in a struggling aquarium. Basic conditioners often only treat chlorine and partially treat chloramines.

Proven reliability over decades

Seachem has been manufacturing Prime for over 30 years using the same core formula, continuously improved by their research and development department. Millions of aquarists worldwide trust it—a level of field validation that no newer product can match.

Total safety for invertebrates and corals

Many conditioners contain aloe vera agents or coating proteins that can harm sensitive invertebrates and corals. Prime uses only pure chemical compounds, carefully selected for their absolute safety for even the most delicate marine life.

Seachem Prime in a Canadian Reef — Specific Considerations

In Canada, water quality varies considerably from city to city and season to season. Municipalities such as Laval, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary use mixtures of chlorine and chloramines, the concentrations of which can fluctuate, particularly in the summer when treatment demand increases. At certain times, chlorine spikes can occur without warning.

Seachem Prime is formulated to handle even these unforeseen variations — its neutralizing capacity far exceeds the standard doses used by Canadian municipalities, giving you a considerable margin of safety in all circumstances.

Furthermore, aquarists who use reverse osmosis (RO/DI) and remineralize their water with sea salt often add small amounts of tap water or use hoses that may contain traces of metals. Prime then acts as an additional safeguard to eliminate any unwanted residue.

How to Integrate Prime into Your Maintenance Routine

A well-established aquarium maintenance routine is key to a healthy reef in the long term. Here's how to effectively incorporate Seachem Prime:

• Weekly water changes: prepare your replacement water the day before, add Prime and salt, let it circulate for 12 to 24 hours before introduction to ensure perfectly balanced temperature and pH.
• Biological emergencies: always keep a bottle of Prime accessible — in case of an alarming ammonia reading, dose immediately without delay
• New specimens: During acclimatization using the drip method, a few drops of Prime in the acclimatization container neutralize any ammonia accumulated in the transport water.
• RO/DI replacement water treatment: Even if the reverse osmosis water does not contain chlorine, a dose of Prime during remineralization protects against any residual contaminants in containers or pipes

Why buy Seachem Prime from ReefSolution?

• Authorized Seachem reseller in Canada since 1999 — genuine product, stored under optimal temperature conditions
• Always in stock — Prime is a product we order regularly so we never run out
• Passion and genuine expertise — Stéphane has been practicing reef aquariums since the age of 12, and Prime is part of his weekly routine
• Physical store in Laval, Quebec — available in store or online
• Secure delivery across Canada — packaging suitable for liquid products
• Bilingual support — questions about dosage or use? Our team will answer you in French and English.