{"product_id":"seachem-betta-basics","title":"Seachem Betta Basics","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne bottle that conditions the water and holds it at pH 7.0.\u003c\/strong\u003e Seachem Betta Basics is a freshwater conditioner made for betta bowls and small planted betta tanks. It removes chlorine and chloramine, detoxifies ammonia, and buffers the water to a neutral pH 7.0 — the last part is what separates it from a plain dechlorinator. Sold in 60 mL, 250 mL and 2 L.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRemoves chlorine and chloramine\u003c\/strong\u003e — chloramine is standard in most Australian mains water and will not gas off on its own\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDetoxifies ammonia\u003c\/strong\u003e — useful in the small, often unfiltered volumes bettas are kept in, where ammonia climbs fastest\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuffers to pH 7.0\u003c\/strong\u003e — stops the pH drift that small water volumes are prone to between changes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMade for bettas and plants together\u003c\/strong\u003e — dosed at the planted rate it suits a betta tank with live plants in it\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo published dose rates\u003c\/strong\u003e — a stronger rate for planted setups and a lighter one for a plain betta bowl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThree sizes\u003c\/strong\u003e — from a 60 mL bottle for one bowl to a 2 L for a shop or a rack of tanks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e27c to 39c per litre at the planted rate\u003c\/strong\u003e — the 250 mL bottle is the cheapest per litre; dosed at the lighter bowl rate instead, cost per litre drops well under 10c\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eProduct type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBetta water conditioner and neutral buffer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSizes\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 mL, 250 mL, 2 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRemoves\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eChlorine, chloramine\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetoxifies\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAmmonia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBuffers to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH 7.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eStandard dose\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 capful (5 mL) per 1.25 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBetta-only bowl dose\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 capful (5 mL) per 4 L at water changes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCapful volume\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhich size do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eYield depends on which of the two published rates you dose at. Figures below are rounded down. Cost per litre is shown at the planted rate — the heavier of the two doses, and the conservative figure to compare on. At the lighter bowl rate, cost per litre is lower again: about 12c for the 60 mL, 8c for the 250 mL and 9c for the 2 L.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSize\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCapfuls per bottle\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTreats at 1 capful per 1.25 L\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTreats at 1 capful per 4 L\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCost per litre, planted rate\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e48 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e$0.39\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250 mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e62 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e$0.27\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e400\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e500 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1,600 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e$0.30\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003eA 5 L betta tank changed 50% weekly uses about 2.5 L of treated water a week. On the bowl rate the 60 mL bottle covers roughly four months of that; the 250 mL runs well past a year. The 250 mL is the cheapest per litre of the three — the 2 L is priced for volume users rather than for the lowest unit cost, which is worth knowing before buying up in size expecting an automatic saving.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDosage and directions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse with every water change. Seachem also suggests dosing two to three times a week for best results.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater volume\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDose\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eIn capfuls\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eIn drops\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e237 mL (1 cup)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1\/5 cap\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 drops\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4\/5 cap\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e80 drops\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16 mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3 1\/5 caps\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e320 drops\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor a betta bowl with no live plants in it, the lighter rate applies: 1 capful per 4 L, at water changes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e betta bowls and nano tanks · planted betta setups · unfiltered or lightly filtered small volumes · keepers who want conditioning and pH stability from a single bottle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e marine or brackish tanks · blackwater and soft, acidic setups, because buffering to 7.0 works against the low pH you are trying to hold · large aquariums, where a concentrated conditioner is far cheaper per litre · use as a substitute for water changes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you keep your betta in a tannin-stained, soft-water tank on purpose, this is the wrong conditioner — the buffer will fight you. Use a plain dechlorinator instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-prime\"\u003eSeachem Prime\u003c\/a\u003e — the concentrated conditioner to move to once you are treating tanks rather than bowls\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-stability\"\u003eSeachem Stability\u003c\/a\u003e — establishes the biofilter, which is the permanent answer to the ammonia this product only detoxifies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-multitest-ammonia-75-tests\"\u003eSeachem MultiTest: Ammonia\u003c\/a\u003e — small volumes need testing more often, not less\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-ph-alert-6-month\"\u003eSeachem pH Alert\u003c\/a\u003e — shows at a glance whether the buffer is holding at 7.0\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/seachem-stressguard-100ml\"\u003eSeachem StressGuard\u003c\/a\u003e — for fin damage and handling stress, which bettas are prone to\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis product carries the consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law, which cannot be excluded. Contact us if a bottle arrives damaged or does not perform as it should.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll three sizes ship as standard parcels. Store out of direct sunlight and out of reach of children.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eHow much Betta Basics do I add to a 5 litre betta tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt the standard rate of 1 capful per 1.25 L, a full 5 L change takes 20 mL — four capfuls. If the tank has no live plants, the lighter bowl rate of 1 capful per 4 L applies, which is about 6 mL.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDoes it really hold pH at 7.0?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt buffers toward 7.0, which suits most betta keeping. Very hard tap water or a large piece of driftwood will still pull the reading either way, so test rather than assume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eCan I use it in a planted tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes. Seachem formulates it for bettas and plants together, and the standard 1 capful per 1.25 L rate is the planted rate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eIs it the same thing as Seachem Prime?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. Prime is a far more concentrated conditioner with no buffering action. Betta Basics is dosed much more heavily per litre and adds the pH 7.0 buffer, which is why it suits small volumes and not big tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDo I still need water changes if I use it?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes. It conditions and detoxifies, but nitrate and dissolved organics still accumulate. Nothing in a bottle replaces changing the water.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Seachem","offers":[{"title":"60 mL","offer_id":55244173443363,"sku":null,"price":5.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250 mL","offer_id":55244173476131,"sku":null,"price":16.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2 L","offer_id":55335265599779,"sku":"AA0489","price":150.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/0424-betta-basics-60-ml-scaled.png?v=1782710723","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/seachem-betta-basics","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}