Having a high-quality filter is one of the most important aspects of any aquarium. Without a good water filtration unit, the inhabitants of the aquarium, both plants and fish, won’t survive long.
That said, finding the right filter for an aquarium is easier said than done. There are so many options out there that it can make your head spin.
Today, we want to take a closer look at the SeaChem Tidal 75 Aquarium Filter. This is a filter designed for fairly large and heavily stocked tanks. It’s a powerful filter than can help keep aquarium water clean and crystal clear.
SeaChem Tidal 75 Aquarium Filter
We want to take an in-depth look at the SeaChem Tidal 75 Aquarium Filter. This is a beautiful HOB or hang-on back filter. It’s designed for large aquariums.
Being a HOB model also means that it preserves all of the real estate in the tank for your fish. It’s a large filter for large tanks, one that doesn’t get in the way of your aquarium inhabitants.
You may also appreciate how the SeaChem Tidal 75 Aquarium Filter comes in at a very reasonable price. Although, that said, it does not come with any filtration media. It has plenty of room for all sorts of media, but you will have to buy it separately.
Who Is This Filter For?
The SeaChem Tidal 75 Aquarium Filter is that it is built for both freshwater and saltwater tanks. It makes for a great filter for any type of aquarium, freshwater or saltwater, and for planted tanks too.
Of course, it is a rather larger filter, one that can handle tanks of up to 75 gallons. The recommendation here is that it can be used for tanks between 40 and 75 gallons.
You probably don’t want to use this filter for anything smaller than a 40 gallon tank. It would just be total overkill.
That said, it’s a great filter that doesn’t eat up space within the tank. It’s also very powerful with a good flow rate, and has really versatile filtration media capabilities too.
What’s Included?
When you purchase the SeaChem Tidal 75, you get a hang-on back filter that comes in at 15 x 6 x 15 inches. It also weighs just over two pounds.
It comes complete with a large media basket, a self-priming pump, a self-cleaning impeller, and more.
However, keep in mind that it does not come with any filter media included. That said, this filter features a rock bottom price tag, so not coming with media is not a big deal.
Overview Of Features
As mentioned above, this filter is designed for tanks up to 75 gallons. Moreover, it features a flow rate of up to 350 gallons per hour.
Therefore, it can process the water in a 75 gallon tank over four times per hour. This should be more than enough flow for any tank. Also, yes, the flow rate is completely adjustable to meet your needs.
What’s cool about the SeaChem Tidal 75 is that it includes a surface skimmer. This helps to remove oils and various other contaminants that often float on the surface. It’s something that not all too many HOB filters come with.
The fact that this is a hang-on back filter is a bonus too. It is very easy to set up on the rim of an aquarium. It also doesn’t take up any space inside of your tank. That said, it does need a good bit of clearance, as the unit itself is quite sizeable.
In terms of maintenance, this filter is very user-friendly. Just open up the top to access the media baskets and the rest of the interior. This unit actually comes with a self-cleaning impeller, which reduces maintenance needs.
It even features a built-in maintenance monitor to inform you when it’s time for maintenance. To help make life easier, it also comes complete with a self-priming pump.
In terms of media, although it comes with none included, it does have a large capacity media basket. This means that you can fully customize the filtration properties to meet your needs. It can handle all sorts of mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration media.
Tutorial
There’s not all that much to know here. Simply mount it on the rim of your tank, insert media as desired, plug it in, and turn it on. This unit requires no plumbing, it primes itself, and it even tells you when it is time for maintenance. By all means, the SeaChem Tidal 75 is foolproof.
Pros
- High capacity media basket
- Self-priming
- Self-cleaning impeller
- Maintenance alerts
- Easy to set up and maintain
- Freshwater and saltwater capable
- Does not take up space within the tank
- Includes a surface skimmer
- Very high flow rate – adjustable
Cons
- Requires a good bit of clearance
- A bit loud
- Media not included
Alternatives
In case you are looking for a silent filter, one that comes with media included, we recommend checking out the Tetra Whisper EX Silent Multi-Stage Power Filter.
Conclusion
The bottom line here is that the SeaChem Tidal 75 is a perfectly fine unit to consider. It’s not the quietest, and you have to purchase media separately, but other than that it’s a great unit. It has a great flow rate, it’s reliable, has plenty of room for media, and is user-friendly to boot.
Jenn Frazier
Aquarist & Writer 22+ Years