API WATER SOFTENER PILLOW Aquarium Canister Filter Filtration Pouch 1-Count Bag
$7.58
Price: $7.58
(as of Oct 20, 2025 01:33:21 UTC – Details)
API WATER SOFTENER PILLOW Aquarium Canister Filter Filtration Pouch is a chemical filtration media that reduces general hardness found in tap water for aquarium use. WATER SOFTENER PILLOW works to lower calcium and magnesium levels, and also removes heavy metals and reduces white, crusty mineral deposits on aquarium surfaces. WATER SOFTENER PILLOW can be reused after it is recharged in a salt solution. Use when starting or maintaining an aquarium when testing indicates water hardness above the desired level. Use according to directions on product packaging. With API Aquarium products, it’s easy to keep a beautiful saltwater, freshwater or reef aquarium. For over 50 years, API has been creating innovative, research-driven solutions that make it easier to care for your fish and aquarium. API Aquarium Treatment Supplies are designed to work in conjunction with each other to provide best results to control algae, promote healthy bacterial growth and help control and cure fish diseases and conditions such as ich and fin rot. They work to provide a safe, hospitable environment for fish such as tropical community fish, cichlids, goldfish and more. With API, you can spend more time admiring your fish, and less time scrubbing your tank. Make sure to use all products as directed in order to ensure the best results.
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
Product Dimensions : 4.5 x 1 x 7.38 inches; 2.4 ounces
Item model number : 49A
Department : Unisex-Adult
Date First Available : June 15, 2004
Manufacturer : Mars Fishcare
ASIN : B002DW0GQQ
Best Sellers Rank: #10,559 in Pet Supplies (See Top 100 in Pet Supplies) #74 in Aquarium Filter Accessories
Customer Reviews: 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 3,302 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Contains one (1) API WATER SOFTENER PILLOW Aquarium Canister Filter Filtration Pouch 1-Count Bag
Softens hard water
Reduces general hardness by lowering calcium and magnesium
Easy-to-use pre-dosed pouch fits most canister filters on the market for freshwater aquariums
Use when starting or maintaining an aquarium when testing indicates hardness above the desired level, can be reused after it is recharged
Customers say
Customers find the water softener works well, particularly for 55-gallon tanks, and appreciate its effectiveness in making ideal water parameters. The product is easy to use and fits filter housing nicely, though some find it too large for their needs. While some customers report successful water hardness reduction, others note no change in hardness levels. The product’s impact on pH levels and GH levels is mixed, with some customers reporting improvements while others see no changes. Customers consider the product expensive, especially for larger volumes of water.
13 reviews for API WATER SOFTENER PILLOW Aquarium Canister Filter Filtration Pouch 1-Count Bag
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$7.58
Courtney –
Good buy.
Only thing that seems to work in making the water less hard.
Lexi –
Genuinely Impressed
My water is extremely hard. I put this into my 5G tank, in the hopes it would soften the water, and it did not disappoint! It advertises taking 48 hours to soften the water, but I retested my water after 8 hours, and the water was already almost completely softened. I wish the media bag was a little smaller so I can get it into my small 5G filter (but it is made for up to 20G), but I made it work. Absolutely worth what you pay!
Alex Kenobi –
Excellent purchase!
Works as described. Fits into my TopFin hob perfectly. Definitely improves water clarity. Great value for the money. Nitrite levels are improving and helps with the smell.
Martine –
Worked for 5 gallon tank
I have well water that is very hard. I put this pillow in the filter and just a little over 12 hours there was a dramatic improvement. I’ll leave it in just a little longer next time. I didn’t give 5 stars for ease of use for a few reasons. It’s too big for my extra small filter pump and I couldn’t find a smaller one so I did expect that anyways. I removed the carbon filter temporarily, then I just stuffed the pillow into the filter, but not so much as to cause the flow to be blocked. It will stick out at the top because you can’t stuff the whole pillow in and left the cover off. When I was done with the pillow I put my carbon filter back in. The only other thing is that the pillow contents are not distributed well in the pillow cover. It wants to collect on one side. Despite all this it is sufficient for my 5.5 gallon set up.
Adrian W Smith –
No Affect For My Tank
This pillow had zero affect with my tank. Perhaps my water is too hard for it.
Keeli Russo –
Clears cloudy water fast
Cleared up the cloudy water almost immediately when nothing else worked. I use 4 pillows with my 60 gal tank. Works when water clarifier doesnât.
WB –
Did nothing.
These did not move my water parameters in either tank. Not even a little.
BFM –
Easy to use and recharge as needed
Got this to use in my Betta’s tank filter, was worried it might be too large but it’s fine. Easy to use and recharge as needed too.
Cliente de Amazon –
Bajo la dureza de la noche a la mañana literal. Pero únicamente es un saco
Moe –
It is definitely a good buy, will only need to buy one, I had it in my tank for 48 hours my level of my water was perfect after that,Definitely a great Buy
Akash Chauhan –
It seems like it didn’t work for me……. didnt reduce my water hardness…. in spite use as directed
Shameem –
My water hardness was off the chart, followed instriction, worked great. It also helped to balance pH and KH.Althought initial charge of this pillow lats 48 hours (recharge needed with API salt, purchased seperatly), but my desired level was achived within 2 hours, therefore PLEASE CHECK EVERY HOUR, otherwise water will become too soft.ðð¼ðð¼ðð¼EDIT:Few points in relation to the bag/size:- The bag is a bit big for someone like me, so, i purchased them small mesh bags with zip (very fine mesh made from plastic meterial and MUST have zip, not string lock), search for: [ZEYIYER 10PCS Aquarium Mesh Bag].– If you are unable to fit the bag in your filter ( path of water flow in the aquarium filter), then you can just drop the bag in the aquarium. But this way will be slow to achive the desired level of GH, but it will work. As i said above, you must check hourly where possible, and not to leave it overnight as water may become very soft. (Ideal is 100-200ppm in comunity tank)- You can buy a seperate cheapest filter (may AliExp/Temu etc) and just use this bag, or your own bag inside the filter and drop the filter anywhere in the tank as this is work faster.Recharge / salt:As directed in the packet, you will need to use salt to recharge, and it does last long application after application. If you are worried about salt, worry not, as small amount of salt in freshwater tank will not harm fish/plant. But if you are really worried, after recharge, you can rinse the bag in tap water for 1 to 2 minutes.General Hardness:What i learned that the ideal level of GH is 100-200ppm in comunity tank. But i live in London, and I realised almost ALL aquarium shop the GH in their tank is very high, so most fish are bread/born in hard water. So check the water GH when you buy fish (you can test the water in the bag the fish came in). Most i tested was well above 400-600+ppm. So, it is important, in my openion, not to lower your ppm directly to, for example, 200ppm, but slowly day-by-day. Therefore, use the Softener Pillow bag, take it out, let the fish settle, and try again after a day or two to get the water level to 100-200ppm which will keep fish/plants healthy.
Ziad –
it’s useless, in fact my TDS Increased !!!