{"product_id":"seachem-acid-regulator","title":"Seachem Acid Regulator","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSets and holds a genuinely acidic pH for blackwater fish.\u003c\/strong\u003e Seachem Acid Regulator is a dry, phosphate-buffered regulator that drives freshwater down to pH 4.5–5.5 and holds it there, softening the water on the way by precipitating calcium and magnesium. One level teaspoon (5 g) treats 40 L. It is built for wild-caught soft-water species and blackwater setups, not for general community tanks that only need a small pH trim.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHolds pH at 4.5–5.5\u003c\/strong\u003e — a true acidic target, not a nudge downward, and it resists creeping back up between water changes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoftens as it acidifies\u003c\/strong\u003e — precipitates calcium and magnesium out of solution, so general hardness falls alongside pH.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContains conditioning agents\u003c\/strong\u003e — Seachem includes slime-coat conditioners in the formula, which matters when you are moving fish into acid water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOne teaspoon, 40 litres\u003c\/strong\u003e — a simple, repeatable dose that scales cleanly from a quarantine tub to a rack.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePairs with Neutral Regulator\u003c\/strong\u003e — blend the two to land anywhere between pH 5.8 and 6.8 instead of bottoming out.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFour pack sizes\u003c\/strong\u003e — 50 g through 1 kg, sized for a single species tank or a breeding room.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eThe catch you should know about\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a phosphate-based buffer. That is not a flaw, but it has consequences: it will register on a phosphate test kit, and in a brightly lit tank the phosphate can feed algae. If you are running a planted display, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-acid-buffer\"\u003eSeachem Acid Buffer\u003c\/a\u003e is the non-phosphate route and the better choice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrecipitating calcium and magnesium can also cloud the water briefly after dosing. That clears on its own as the precipitate settles or is filtered out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDose and response\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDose daily until you reach the pH you want, then dose once monthly or at water changes to hold it. Results are cleanest in unbuffered water — RO, DI or rainwater. Hard tap water carries carbonate that actively fights the regulator, so expect to use more and get less.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater volume\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDose\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eApproximate measure\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.125 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1\/40 teaspoon\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.5 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1\/10 teaspoon\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 level teaspoon\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e25 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 level teaspoons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDechlorinate tap water with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-prime\"\u003eSeachem Prime\u003c\/a\u003e before it goes in. To sit higher than 5.5, blend with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-neutral-regulator\"\u003eSeachem Neutral Regulator\u003c\/a\u003e and work to Seachem's ratio chart for a target between pH 5.8 and 6.8.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich pack size do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePack\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFull 5 g doses\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDoses for a 200 L tank\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSuits\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA quarantine tub or a small species tank, or a first trial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOne blackwater display kept acidic year round\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e500 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTwo or three tanks, or a large tank on RO\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBreeding racks and fish rooms running acid water permanently\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA full dose is the 5 g that treats 40 L. The bring-down phase is dosed daily, so the first fortnight uses far more than maintenance does.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAcid Regulator or Acid Buffer?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e \u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAcid Regulator\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAcid Buffer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePhosphate\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePhosphate-buffered\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eContains no phosphate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eUsual target\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH 4.5–5.5 alone, 5.8–6.8 with Neutral Regulator\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH 6.0–8.0 with Alkaline Buffer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEffect on hardness\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoftens by precipitating calcium and magnesium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eConverts carbonate alkalinity into dissolved CO2\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePlanted tanks\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot the first choice under strong light\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes — the carbonate it removes becomes plant-available carbon\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDose rate\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 g per 40 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 g per 80 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlackwater and soft-water setups run at a genuinely acidic pH\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWild-caught species from acid habitats, once acclimated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBreeding and conditioning tanks where low pH and low hardness are the goal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRO, DI and rainwater being taken to a set acidic target\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMarine, reef and brackish systems of any kind\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRift lake cichlids and livebearers, which want the opposite — see \u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-alkaline-regulator\"\u003eSeachem Alkaline Regulator\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFish not acclimated to acid pH. Seachem states the product is safe for freshwater fish already acclimated to acidic water, which is a real qualification, not boilerplate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrightly lit planted displays, where the phosphate content works against you\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEstablished tanks with a heavy biological load being changed quickly — nitrification slows sharply below pH 6\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSafety and handling\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with skin and eyes, and wash hands after dosing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDissolve the measured dose in a cup of tank water and add it near flow rather than tipping powder onto the substrate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMove pH gradually. A drop of about 0.2 pH per day is far safer for fish than a fast correction, and low pH also suppresses your biological filter, so watch ammonia while you descend.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStore sealed and dry, and keep a dedicated measuring spoon for it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-neutral-regulator\"\u003eSeachem Neutral Regulator\u003c\/a\u003e — blend with it to hold a target between pH 5.8 and 6.8 rather than going all the way down.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-ph-alkalinity-kit-75-tests\"\u003eSeachem pH \u0026amp; Alkalinity Kit, 75 tests\u003c\/a\u003e — you cannot manage an acid tank on guesswork, and alkalinity is the number that tells you whether the pH will hold.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-multitest-phosphate-75-tests\"\u003eSeachem MultiTest: Phosphate\u003c\/a\u003e — worth having on hand, since this is a phosphate buffer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-prime\"\u003eSeachem Prime\u003c\/a\u003e — dechlorinates and detoxifies ammonia, which matters more than usual while the filter is adjusting to low pH.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-acid-buffer\"\u003eSeachem Acid Buffer\u003c\/a\u003e — the phosphate-free alternative for planted tanks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and Australian notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSupplied as a dry powder in a sealed tub. Faults, short fills and misdescription are covered by the consumer guarantees under Australian Consumer Law, which apply in addition to anything the manufacturer offers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eIs Seachem Acid Regulator phosphate-free?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Seachem Acid Regulator is a phosphate-buffered product and contains conditioning agents. It will show up on a phosphate test, and under strong lighting that phosphate can feed algae. If you need a phosphate-free way to lower pH, Seachem Acid Buffer is the one to use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow low will it actually take my pH?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn its own it targets pH 4.5 to 5.5. Blended with Neutral Regulator to Seachem's ratio chart it will hold anywhere from 5.8 to 6.8. Hard, high-alkalinity tap water resists the change, so soften or use RO water first if the pH will not settle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy has my water gone cloudy after dosing?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe regulator softens water by precipitating calcium and magnesium out of solution, and that precipitate is what you are seeing. It settles or filters out within a day or so and is not a sign of a fault.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCan I use it in a tank with an established filter?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, but descend slowly. Nitrifying bacteria slow markedly below pH 6 and largely stall around pH 5, so a fast drop can leave ammonia unprocessed. Test ammonia daily while you are bringing the pH down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eIs it safe for shrimp, snails and plants?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeachem states the product is safe for freshwater fish acclimated to acid pH and does not publish a specific invertebrate clearance. Shrimp and snails need carbonate and calcium for their shells and moults, and this product removes both, so it is a poor match for an invertebrate tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow often do I dose once I reach my target?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce monthly, or at each water change, using the same 5 g per 40 L rate applied to the volume of new water. The daily dosing schedule applies only while you are bringing the pH down for the first time.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Seachem","offers":[{"title":"50 g","offer_id":55244181307683,"sku":null,"price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250 g","offer_id":55244181340451,"sku":null,"price":29.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500 g","offer_id":55244181373219,"sku":null,"price":50.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 kg","offer_id":55244181405987,"sku":null,"price":89.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/0077-acid-regulator-1-kg_d42d6778-7d28-4c34-9c94-308481e60126.png?v=1782710748","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/seachem-acid-regulator","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}