- Sku: 6615
- Vendor: Seachem
Seachem Tidal Polishing Pad
Seachem Tidal Polishing Pad is a fine-mesh mechanical filter pad cut to the exact dimensions of your Seachem Tidal hang-on-back power filter. The 50-micron pad traps the finest suspended debris, leaving the water column visibly polished after just a few hours of run time. Pair with our Seachem Matrix Carbon or browse the full Filter Media & Cartridges collection.
What It Does
Mechanical filtration works in stages. The coarse sponge catches large debris, the fine sponge catches mid-size particles, and the polishing pad grabs the rest: bacterial blooms, fine substrate dust kicked up during a water change, microbubbles, and the suspended particulate that hazes a tank after maintenance. This pad is the final pass before the water returns to the tank.
Features for All Variants
Choose Your Size
Select a model in the tab section below for the full spec sheet.
| Spec | Tidal 35 | Tidal 55 | Tidal 75 | Tidal 110 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fits filter | Tidal 35 HOB | Tidal 55 HOB | Tidal 75 HOB | Tidal 110 HOB |
| Tank size (max) | Up to 35 gal | Up to 55 gal | Up to 75 gal | Up to 110 gal |
| Micron rating | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Freshwater safe | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Saltwater safe | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| SKU | 6615 | 6616 | 6617 | 6618 |
Detailed Variant Specifications
Click a model below to view its individual specifications.
Tidal 35 (nano and small community tanks)
Sized for the Seachem Tidal 35 HOB. Perfect for nano reef tanks, betta tanks, planted nanos, and small community freshwater tanks up to 35 gallons. Single pad fits the MaxFlow polishing slot.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | 6615 |
| Fits filter | Seachem Tidal 35 HOB |
| Tank size (max) | Up to 35 gallons |
| Micron rating | 50 |
| Water type | Freshwater and saltwater |
| Replacement interval | Every 2 to 4 weeks, or when visibly clogged |
Tidal 55 (mid-size freshwater and reef tanks)
Sized for the Seachem Tidal 55 HOB. Suited to 40 to 55 gallon community freshwater builds, mature planted tanks, and saltwater nano reefs. The mid-size sweet spot of the Tidal lineup.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | 6616 |
| Fits filter | Seachem Tidal 55 HOB |
| Tank size (max) | Up to 55 gallons |
| Micron rating | 50 |
| Water type | Freshwater and saltwater |
| Replacement interval | Every 2 to 4 weeks, or when visibly clogged |
Tidal 75 (full-size community and reef)
Sized for the Seachem Tidal 75 HOB. Built for 55 to 75 gallon community freshwater builds, larger planted tanks, and reef tanks that need consistent fine-particulate removal. Pairs with our Tidal 75 HOB Power Filter.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | 6617 |
| Fits filter | Seachem Tidal 75 HOB |
| Tank size (max) | Up to 75 gallons |
| Micron rating | 50 |
| Water type | Freshwater and saltwater |
| Replacement interval | Every 2 to 4 weeks, or when visibly clogged |
Tidal 110 (large tanks and heavy bioload)
Sized for the Seachem Tidal 110 HOB, the largest in the Tidal lineup. Right size for 75 to 110 gallon tanks, large cichlid setups, and reef tanks with elevated bioload. Largest pad surface area, longest service life per swap.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | 6618 |
| Fits filter | Seachem Tidal 110 HOB |
| Tank size (max) | Up to 110 gallons |
| Micron rating | 50 |
| Water type | Freshwater and saltwater |
| Replacement interval | Every 2 to 4 weeks, or when visibly clogged |
Which Size Is Right for You?
Tidal 35: nano tanks, betta tanks, planted nanos, and small community setups up to 35 gallons.
Tidal 55: standard 40 to 55 gallon community freshwater or a saltwater nano reef.
Tidal 75: full 55 to 75 gallon builds, mature planted tanks, and reef tanks needing daily polishing.
Tidal 110: 75 to 110 gallon tanks, large cichlid setups, or any heavy-bioload system.
How To Replace
1. Unplug the Tidal filter and lift the lid.
2. Pull the media basket out of the filter housing.
3. Remove the spent polishing pad. The pad will be visibly loaded with brown or gray fine debris.
4. Drop the new polishing pad into the polishing slot, fluffy side facing up.
5. Re-seat the basket, replace the lid, and plug the filter back in.
Recommended Pairings
- Seachem Tidal 75 HOB Power Filter, the host filter for the Tidal 75 pad.
- Seachem Matrix Carbon (bulk), the chemical-filtration stage that pairs with mechanical polishing.
- Seachem Prime, the water conditioner we recommend for every water change.
- All filter media and cartridges: sponges, biomedia, filter socks, and more.
FAQ
How often do I replace the polishing pad?
Every 2 to 4 weeks under normal load, or sooner if the pad is visibly clogged. A loaded pad chokes flow through the filter, so do not stretch the interval.
Can I rinse and reuse the pad?
No. The fine fiber breaks down under tap-water pressure and loses its 50-micron rating after the first rinse. Treat polishing pads as disposable, unlike the coarser sponges that can be rinsed in old tank water.
Do I still need a coarse sponge if I use this pad?
Yes. The polishing pad is the final stage, not a replacement for the standard mechanical sponge. Without the sponge upstream, the pad clogs in days instead of weeks.
Reef safe?
Yes. The pad is inert polyester. Safe for freshwater, planted, and reef systems.
Have a question?
Seachem Tidal Polishing Pad
