API Stress Coat (16 oz)
$10.98
The dechlorinator that also heals: removes chlorine and neutralises chloramine while adding an aloe-vera slime coat that reduces stress and helps torn fins recover. Not an ammonia detoxifier.
Pros
- Removes chlorine, neutralises chloramine and binds heavy metals, working the moment it is added
- Adds an aloe-vera slime coat that eases stress and helps damaged fins and wounds heal
- Long-trusted budget staple — one of the most-reviewed conditioners in the hobby
- Shrimp safe and plant safe at label dose, and does not affect pH
Cons
- No ammonia binding — it will not detox an ammonia or nitrite spike
- Less concentrated than Prime — 5 mL treats 10 gallons, so a bottle runs out fast
Score breakdown
Specifications
| Treats | Chlorine, chloramine, heavy metals |
|---|---|
| Contact Time | Instant |
| Formulation | Liquid with aloe vera |
| Concentration | 5 mL per 10 gal |
| Treats Volume | ~950 gal per 16 oz |
| Bottle Size | 16 oz (473 mL) |
| Safe For | Fish, shrimp, plants |
| Overdose Tolerance | Wide |
| pH Impact | None |
Alternatives
$16.62 · 94 / 100A+
The benchmark conditioner: highly concentrated, full spectrum and overdose safe. One capful treats 50 gallons — it removes chlorine, neutralises chloramine and detoxifies ammonia and nitrite in a single dose.
$8.48 · 94 / 100A+
The cheapest effective dechlorinator: 1 mL treats 20 gallons. It removes chlorine, neutralises chloramine and binds heavy metals — but it does not detoxify ammonia, so keep a test kit handy while cycling.
$18.47 · 93 / 100A+
Powdered Prime for big tanks and fish rooms — the same full-spectrum chemistry in dry form, at the lowest cost per gallon in the hobby. Fiddly to dose in a small tank, unbeatable value in a large one.
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