MrsM3197

When I started keeping fish just about a year ago, I always used Prime as a water conditioner because it was so highly recommended, and with so little needed to condition the water it was very economical. I started using StressCoat+ when I found out that it also did everything that Prime does but with the addition of Aloe in the mix. Since the switch, I've noticed much better finnage in all my fishes...even all my long finned tetras and guppies! I still like Prime, it's a good product, I am starting to think maybe that the StressCoat+ might help better with the flowy finned finnys better because of the Aloe helps take care of all the tiny nicks and tears to fins before they get worse. Anybody else experience similar?

Shawnie

I do and I so agree with you...ive used stress coat+ for months and see less tears and damage to the fish..i started using it mainly for my rough house oscars who were always getting banged up..and just continue to use it as my only water conditioner

jdhef

I also use Stress Coat+. Like you I like the fact that it contains Aloe.

Dozey

Funny (maybe) it is the Aloe Vera that keeps me from using SC+ regularly. I always have it on hand to help out with transported and ill fish. But when it comes to regular maintenance I use Prime. I’m just not sure if there is a potential for problem of having product buildup of the Aloe Vera.

Lucy

I like Stress Coat+ better too. If you ever noticed it's easier ont he hands too. Must be the aloe.

MrsM3197

I didn't think about that...a product buildup, like if you use too much dusting wax on the table (or leave a teen girl in the bathroom with a can of hairspray, ever try to clean up after that?). I don't know if that could or would happen with good tank maintence, but it's something I better study about. Thanks for pointing that out, it's a consideration.

CWO4GUNNER

I just know that I cant use it full strength or my fish will rub themselves on the ornaments and my Cory's turn pink around the gills for about an hour. I use it now just for the QT tank and have switched to NovAqua water conditioner which "Replaces lost slime, adds electrolytes, removes chlorine, and removes copper" . NovAqua only cost $8 for 16 ounces and the dosage is still 1 Tsp (5ml) per 10 gallons. Most importantly my fish don't rub themselves anymore when I use it for general water change conditioning. But I still use Stress Coat for medicating and emergency stress reducing. Plus im not to crazy about the fact that they have now included an ammonia detoxifier and stopped making regular Stress Coat which served a specific purpose.

pinkfloydpuffer

I usually use Prime... it's super concentrated. I only use StressCoat+ for my bettas and guppies... the puffers obviously don't need it, lol. If there's any fin tears I use lots of SC, but otherwise I just use it every once in a while for the long-finned fishes.

MrsM3197

I better go soak my hands with a gourami or something 'cause after dishes, housework, laundry I could get a night job at the circus as 'Gator Momma, LOL!!!

hkirchen

I started with Stress Coat+. Then I tried Prime because they had run out of SC+ at the LFS. Prime was okay, but I found it hard to measure for small tank amounts. So now I am back to SC+. I like the smell better, the Prime is so concentrated, the smell almost knocks me out!

agabr123

agreed. prime is also a lot cheaper for me since it's so concentrated

MrsM3197

I'll most certainly agree with the smell thing. I have an (almost) amusing story about the smell of Prime. A while back my boy was helping with water changes, I was filling buckets and asked him to go get the Prime. Being a little boy, he went and got the Prime, but on the way back into the kitchen where I was filling buckets he was tossing it up and spinning it into the air while he was walking. Naturally, soon as he got back the the kitchen, it slipped through his hands and the bottle split all over the floor. Ode de Rotten Egg #5 smell wafting though my house, my dear husband walking through the door from work minutes later and bellowing explecitives that something about dinner didn't smell right.

hkirchen

Ha Ha, that is hilarious!

I have a similar story about the smell, though not as disastrous! My son has sensory issues, and he cannot even feed the dog without gagging. So one day I was cleaning the tanks, and about to put prime in the new water, when he came running around the corner dry heaving. He could smell it all the way from his room. He said "Mom! What's that smell?! That's disgusting!" (he is seven by the way). Since that day, I haven't used it when he was in the house! LOL

CHoffman

I use stress coat + and I love it..I've never had any problems with it either. I've noticed the fish heal MUCH faster when using Stress Coat.

ccb04

I like and use both. Unfortunately for me, much like CWO4GUNNER noted ... I've also observed what appeared to be slight irritation on occassion with some of my fish when using Stress Coat+. Additionally, I have yet to see where Stress Coat+ detoxes nitrite, nitrate, etc. Every bottle I've seen makes mention of ammonia only ... as does API's site.

When wanting a "band-aid coating for fishes" if you will ... I also like and use NovAqua+ (or Fish Protector). NovAqua+ is seemingly a less potent version of Fish Protector with a couple of other minor differences. I like the polymer colloids Kordon utilizes as it's slime coat ingredient ... which I have not observed any irritation when using.

MrsM3197

I haven't tried the NovAqua+ yet, but am always in search of what would be best for my furries and finnies. I keep a variety of fish, all tropicals...several different kinds of catfish, angels, gourami, a betta and all sorts of different kinds of little tropicals (not all in the same tank of course, LOL!). I'd suppose that product would be safe to use on such an assortment?

ccb04

NovAqua+ would absolutely be suitable and safe for all of your finned friends. And if looking for a product to also detox ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate as well ... you could pair NovAqua+ with Amquel+. However, NovAqua+ is perfectly fine on it's own in an established tank. Several knowledgable folks here use it.

Basically ... Prime, Stress Coat+, NovAqua+, and Amquel+ ... are all excellent. Many here ... including myself, keep various conditioners on hand for differing reasons. For example, I use.....

API Tap Water Conditioner: I use this when establishing a new tank ... it's a very basic conditioner that simply takes care of chlorine, heavy metals, and breaks the chloramine bond.

API Stress Coat+, NovAqua+, Fish Protector: All good products I've used for fish with wounds, fin rot, etc.

Prime: Usually after establishing the biological filter in a new tank ... I'll switch to Prime for routine water changes.

Nate McFin

I do exactly the same thing. My wife makes fun of me for buying 3 different products to do the same thing. I could detox 3 PPM ammonia in a lake with as much stuff as I have. LOL
Do these things have a poll date?

Master Snake

I'm a primer, but my next bottle may be the SCP.

shih-tzu mom

MRSM; i found when i had a minnie cycle-.25-amonia reading it did not register with SC+ which, i found a little funny. bella

oceanrose

I've used stress coat for a long time but yesterday I picked up a bottle of Prime to use. I'm planning on using this for my WCs but nothing will stop me from using stress coat when I add new fish or move things around.