Seachem Tidal 55 Hangon Filter 208L

• Dual flow control - the front dial sets pump output while a side dial balances surface skimming against sub-surface intake, so you can chase a film off the top without stirring up the substrate
• Telescoping intake - adjusts to draw from any depth without buying extension pipes
• Heater holder - mounts a heater in the outflow so warmed water is pushed straight into the tank instead of pooling in one corner
• 1.2 L media basket, no cartridges - fill it however you like; 250 mL of Seachem Matrix is included to start the colony
• Bottom-to-top flow - water is forced up through the media rather than slipping past it
• Self-priming pump - no siphon to start, and it recovers on its own after a blackout
• Blue maintenance alert - lifts when clogged media starts bypassing, with overflow protection behind it
• Drip-free cleaning - the basket lifts out and clips into the lid for the walk to the sink

Running cost assumes continuous operation at 30c per kWh. The Tidal 55 draws the same 5 W as the Tidal 35 while moving twice the water, which makes it the efficiency sweet spot of the range.

• 7.5 cm behind the tank - measure to the wall, not to the skirting board
• 2.6 cm of clear rim - braced tanks and fitted hoods may need a section of trim cut away
• 4.3 cm inside the tank - for the intake and the return

A standard 120 x 38 x 45 cm four-foot tank holds roughly 200 litres, which puts it right at the Tidal 55's ceiling. Lightly stocked, that is fine. Stocked with cichlids or goldfish, step up to the Tidal 75.

Rated volumes assume moderate stocking. Heavily stocked tanks, messy eaters and large cichlids all warrant sizing up one model.

Suitable for: freshwater and marine aquariums from roughly 100 to 200 L; four-foot community and planted tanks; marine fish-only setups; anyone who wants a heater out of sight in the filter outflow.

Not suitable for: rimless tanks with no usable lip; tanks hard against a wall; heavily stocked 200 L tanks, which want the Tidal 75; shrimp-only tanks where even the reduced flow may be brisk.

• Tidal 55 filter
• Heater holder
• Telescoping intake pipe
• Levelling dial
• Coarse foam filter pad
• 250 mL Seachem Matrix bio-media
• Instruction manual

• A heater - the holder is supplied, the heater is not
• Chemical media such as carbon or phosphate remover
• Additional Matrix beyond the 250 mL supplied, which does not fill the 1.2 L basket

• Rinse the foam in tank water only - chlorine from the tap kills the bacteria you are trying to keep
• Matrix does not exhaust and never needs replacing; rinse it gently in tank water and put it back
• Clean the impeller and its well every few months, sooner in hard water
• If the blue indicator lifts, the media is clogging and water is going around it rather than through it

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 opening the filter or putting your hands in the tank. Never run the pump dry. If you fit a heater to the holder, make sure it stays fully submerged at your lowest water level.

• Seachem Matrix - the 250 mL supplied does not fill a 1.2 L basket, so a top-up is worth having
• Seachem MatrixCarbon - chemical stage for the same basket when you need to strip tannins or medication
• Seachem Prime - conditions the water you replace and protects the colony this filter houses
• Seachem Tidal Replacement Impeller - size 55, the first part to change if it goes noisy

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.

Will the Seachem Tidal 55 handle a four-foot tank?

A typical four-foot tank is about 200 litres, which is the Tidal 55's rated ceiling. It suits a lightly to moderately stocked one. For cichlids, goldfish or a crowded community, the Tidal 75 is the safer choice.

What does the second dial on the Tidal 55 do?

It balances how much water comes from the surface skimmer against how much comes from the sub-surface intake. Turn it toward the skimmer to clear an oily film, back the other way to leave the surface undisturbed.

Can I put my heater inside the filter?

The Tidal 55 includes a heater holder that mounts a heater in the outflow, so heated water is driven into the tank rather than sitting in one corner. The heater itself is not supplied.

How much Matrix comes with the Tidal 55?

250 mL, which is enough to seed the filter but does not fill the 1.2 L basket. Most people top it up.

How is it only 5 W when it moves 1000 L/h?

The pump is a Sicce design, and it draws the same 5 W as the smaller Tidal 35 while moving twice the water. Continuous running works out around $13 a year at 30c per kWh.