Seachem Tidal 35 Hangon Filter 135L
Wattage
5 W
Suits tanks
Up to 130 L
Flow rate
500 L/h
Water type
Freshwater + Marine
Running cost
~$13/yr
Warranty
3 years
Seachem Tidal 35 Hangon Filter 135L
Canister-style media capacity on a tank that has no room for a canister. The Seachem Tidal 35 is the smallest hang-on-back filter in the Tidal range, rated for aquariums up to 130 litres and moving 500 litres per hour on 5 watts. Designed by Seachem and built by Italian pump specialists Sicce, it runs on freshwater and marine tanks alike. It is the model for a 60 to 130 litre community, shrimp or planted tank where a canister would be overkill and a cartridge filter would be a nuisance.
Key features
- Self-priming pump - no filling the basket, no starting a siphon, and it picks itself back up after a blackout
- Bottom-to-top flow - water is pushed up through the basket, so it passes through your media rather than sliding past it as it does in back-to-front designs
- No proprietary cartridges - the 0.7 L basket takes whatever media you choose, and Seachem Matrix bio-media comes in the box
- Surface skimmer and sub-surface intake - lifts the oily film off the top while still pulling debris from lower down
- Adjustable flow dial - turn it down for shrimp, bettas or fry that dislike current
- Blue maintenance alert - pops up when clogged media starts bypassing, so you clean on evidence rather than guesswork
- Drip-free cleaning - the basket lifts out and clips into the lid to carry to the sink
- Self-cleaning corrosion-resistant impeller - marine-safe, and the only wear part in the filter
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Aquarium size | Up to 130 L (35 US gal) |
| Flow rate | 500 L/h (130 US GPH), adjustable |
| Power | 5 W at 240 V / 50 Hz |
| Estimated running cost | About 44 kWh a year, roughly $13 a year |
| Media basket volume | 0.7 L |
| Unit size (L x W x H) | 15.5 x 13 x 18 cm |
| Wall clearance needed | 7 cm |
| Tank trim clearance | 2.6 cm |
| Internal tank clearance | 3.5 cm |
| Water type | Freshwater and marine |
Running cost assumes the filter runs continuously at 30c per kWh. At about $13 a year, the Tidal 35 costs under 4 cents a day.
Will it fit my tank?
Three measurements decide it, and on a small tank the rim is the one that catches people out.
- 7 cm behind the tank - the filter hangs off the back and needs that gap to the wall
- 2.6 cm of clear rim - heavily braced nano tanks and some hoods will need a section of trim removed
- 3.5 cm inside the tank - for the intake and return
A 60 x 30 x 36 cm tank of about 65 litres and a 90 x 30 x 38 cm tank of about 100 litres both sit comfortably inside the Tidal 35's range.
Which Tidal do I need?
| Model | Rated tank | Flow | Power | Media basket | Wall clearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tidal 35 | Up to 130 L | 500 L/h | 5 W | 0.7 L | 7 cm |
| Tidal 55 | Up to 200 L | 1000 L/h | 5 W | 1.2 L | 7.5 cm |
| Tidal 75 | Up to 300 L | 1500 L/h | 7 W | 1.9 L | 8.5 cm |
| Tidal 110 | Up to 400 L | 2000 L/h | 10 W | 3.2 L | 9.5 cm |
Rated volumes assume moderate stocking. Heavily stocked tanks, messy eaters and large cichlids all warrant sizing up one model.
Suitable for, and not suitable for
Suitable for: freshwater and marine aquariums from roughly 40 to 130 L; community, shrimp, betta and planted tanks; anyone who wants to choose their own media instead of buying cartridges; tanks with 7 cm of space behind them.
Not suitable for: rimless tanks with no usable lip; tanks pushed flush against a wall; heavily stocked cichlid or goldfish tanks of this size, which want the Tidal 55; tanks over 130 L.
In the box
- Tidal 35 filter
- Coarse foam filter pad
- Seachem Matrix bio-media
- Levelling dial
- Instruction manual
Not included
- Heater and heater holder - the heater holder is fitted to the Tidal 55 and up, not the 35
- Telescoping intake pipe, which is a feature of the larger models
- Additional or specialist media beyond the Matrix supplied
Care and maintenance
- Rinse the foam in tank water, never tap water - chlorine kills the bacteria colony you are trying to protect
- Matrix does not exhaust and never needs replacing; a gentle rinse in tank water is all it wants
- Clean the impeller well every few months, more often in hard water
- When the blue maintenance indicator lifts, media is clogging and water is bypassing it
Safety
Supplied for 240 V / 50 Hz Australian mains with a standard plug. Run the cord as a drip loop below the powerpoint, and switch off at the wall before putting your hands in the tank or opening the filter. Never run the pump dry.
Goes well with
- Seachem Matrix - more bio-media to fill the 0.7 L basket properly
- Seachem Prime - the conditioner that protects the bacteria this filter houses
- Seachem Tidal Replacement Impeller - size 35, the first thing to change if it ever goes noisy
- Seachem Tidal Replacement Pump - size 35, for the day the motor gives up
Warranty and delivery
Three years against defects in materials and workmanship, impeller excluded, extendable to five years by registering the filter with Seachem. This is in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law, which cannot be excluded.
240 V / 50 Hz with a standard Australian plug. Ships as a standard parcel.
Common questions
What size tank does the Seachem Tidal 35 suit?
Aquariums up to 130 litres at moderate stocking. A heavily stocked tank at the top of that range is better served by the Tidal 55.
Is 500 L/h too strong for shrimp or a betta?
Not if you turn it down. The front dial reduces pump output, and the intake can be positioned to soften the return further.
Does the Tidal 35 need priming?
No. It is self-priming, so it starts without filling the basket or drawing a siphon, and restarts on its own after a power cut.
Do I have to buy Seachem cartridges for it?
No, and that is one of the better reasons to choose it. The 0.7 L basket takes any media in any combination.
Does the Tidal 35 come with a heater holder?
No. The heater holder and telescoping intake are fitted to the Tidal 55, 75 and 110 rather than the 35.
