Purigen 100 ml to 500 ml — Regenerable Organic Resin 500% More Efficient - Seachem

Seachem Purigen is a premium synthetic adsorbent — not an ion exchanger, not a carbon blend — built to trap nitrogenous organic waste at the source, before it ever becomes ammonia, nitrite or nitrate. Its spherical, macroreticular bead structure boosts the working surface area, and Seachem rates its rate and capacity at more than 500% beyond competing products. It works in saltwater and freshwater alike, with minimal impact on trace elements, and we carry it in three sizes: 100 ml sachet (3.4 fl oz), 250 ml (8.5 fl oz) and 500 ml (16.9 fl oz).

Seachem's own demo above shows the resin at work and what depleted beads look like.

Coverage per size

Seachem's official figure: 250 ml treats up to 1,000 L (250 US gal) for a maximum of six months. At the same ratio, the 100 ml sachet covers about 400 L (100 US gal) and the 500 ml about 2,000 L (500 US gal). Depletion is visual — the beads darken to deep brown, then black.

How to run it in a reef tank

Rinse before use, then load the resin into a filter bag with a mesh of 180 microns or finer — Seachem points to its own The Bag, made exactly for this. Place the bag where water actually moves: a canister filter, a media chamber, or a high-flow section of the sump. The more water crosses the resin, the harder it works.

Regeneration — Seachem's official protocol

This is Purigen's whole appeal: you don't throw it out, you recharge it. The manufacturer's protocol, word for word where it counts:

• Soak for 24 hours in a 1:1 bleach/water solution, in a non-metallic container, in a well-ventilated area, out of reach of children.
• Use regular household bleach at 8.25% hypochlorite — no scent, no dyes, and never the "splash-less" type.
• Rinse well.
• Soak for 8 hours in a solution of 4 tablespoons of Prime or 16 g of Safe per cup of water, then rinse well.
• Freshwater only: 4 hours with 2 tablespoons of buffer (Discus Buffer or Neutral Regulator) per cup of water, then rinse.
• Original color and activity are restored.

Manufacturer's cautions

• Do not reuse if a chlorine smell is detectable. When in doubt, check with a residual chlorine test kit.
• Some amine-based slime-coat products can permanently foul Purigen and make regeneration difficult. Prime and Safe are not amine-based and are compatible.
• Store unused Purigen in a bit of water so the beads don't shrink and crack.

Available sizes

• 100 ml sachet (3.4 fl oz) — UPC 000116016506
• 250 ml (8.5 fl oz) — UPC 000116016605
• 500 ml (16.9 fl oz) — UPC 000116016308

Why buy from ReefSolution

In business since 1999, with over 118,000 orders processed since 2010. In-store advice in Laval, QC, shipping anywhere in Canada.

To build out the full filtration chain:

• Seachem MatrixCarbon — the activated carbon from the same family, complementary to Purigen in the chemical stage.
• Seachem Matrix — the biomedia that takes over next: mechanical, chemical, then biological.

Our advice

Purigen is a good replacement for carbon, and it's very clean. It's a bit more aggressive than regular carbon. It won't polish the water any better, but it will fix the problem I often associate with carbon: lateral line disease. You'll run into fewer problems with Purigen than with carbon — especially the cheap carbons.

— Stéphane, Aquarium ReefSolution

Frequently asked questions

How do you recharge Purigen with bleach?

A 24-hour soak in a 1:1 bleach/water solution (8.25% hypochlorite, no additives), a good rinse, then an 8-hour neutralizing soak in Prime or Safe and a final rinse. The full protocol is laid out above.

How long does Purigen last?

Up to six months per charge according to Seachem, at 1,000 L (250 US gal) per 250 ml. The color tells you everything: deep brown or black beads are spent.

Purigen or activated carbon?

Both are chemical filtration, but they work differently: Purigen targets nitrogenous organics and can be recharged, carbon grabs a wider range and gets replaced. Our advice above gives you the store's take.

Which products make Purigen unrecoverable?

Amine-based slime-coat products, which Seachem says can foul it permanently. Prime and Safe contain none and are compatible.