Water Conditioners & pH

API Stress Coat

Freshwater & marineAloe vera

API Stress Coat is the conditioner to keep next to the tank. Five millilitres treats 38 litres of tap water, neutralising chlorine and chloramine and detoxifying the heavy metals that plumbing adds, so new water is safe the moment it goes in. What sets it apart is aloe vera: it forms a protective slime layer on the fish, helping torn fins and scraped skin heal and cutting the electrolyte loss that follows netting, transport or a water change. Use it at set-up, at every water change and whenever fish are handled, in freshwater or marine tanks. Jungle Aquatics carries 30 ml, 118 ml, 237 ml and the 460 ml pump bottle.

Size: 30 ml

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Live pricing and stock on jungleaquatics.com — purchase through Jungle Aquatics, with delivery across South Africa.

Dosage calculator

Enter your aquarium volume and the calculator works out how much API Stress Coat to use for each rate on the pack.

Aquarium volume

Measured in

Use the water the tank actually holds, less substrate and decor.

Routine dose — water changes and new water5 ml per 38 litres
Enter a volumeEvery water change, at set-up and when adding fish
Double dose — new, netted or damaged fish10 ml per 38 litres
Enter a volumeDose the full tank volume, then as needed while healing

For a water change, work from the volume of new water you are adding; for the double dose, work from the whole tank.

A guide only — always follow the dosing instructions printed on the pack, and measure with the bottle's cap or a syringe rather than by eye.

Technical details

Product type	Liquid water conditioner with aloe vera
Sizes	30 ml · 118 ml · 237 ml · 460 ml pump
Dose	5 ml per 38 litres; double to repair slime coat and damaged fins
Treats	30 ml → 227 litres · 118 ml → 870 litres · 237 ml → 1 779 litres · 460 ml → 3 558 litres
Removes	Chlorine, chloramine, heavy metals
Key ingredient	Aloe vera
Suitable for	Freshwater and saltwater aquariums
How often	At set-up, every water change, and when adding or handling fish
Wait before adding fish	None
Made by	Mars Fishcare, USA

Dose by the volume of water you are adding at a water change, and by the full volume when setting up or treating the whole tank.

How much Stress Coat do I use?

For a water change, add 5 ml for every 38 litres of new water — the cap on the bottle is marked for it. A 25% change on a 200-litre tank is 50 litres of new water, so about 7 ml. When fish arrive from the shop, after netting, or when you can see torn fins or a scrape, double the dose to 10 ml per 38 litres across the whole tank so the aloe can rebuild the slime coat. At the normal rate the 237 ml bottle treats 1 779 litres, which is roughly 35 water changes of 50 litres; the 460 ml pump treats 3 558 litres and is the economical choice for large tanks.

Makes tap water safe in the time it takes to fill a bucket

Municipal water in South Africa is treated with chlorine and, increasingly, chloramine — both toxic to fish at tap concentrations. Stress Coat neutralises both on contact and binds the copper, zinc and lead that household pipes shed into the water. Dose the new water before it goes in, or the tank as you fill it, and fish can go straight back.

Aloe vera rebuilds the slime coat

A fish’s slime coat is its first line of defence against infection, and it is the first thing lost to netting, a bag trip home or rough handling. The aloe vera in Stress Coat lays down a replacement layer while the fish regrows its own, helping damaged tissue heal and reducing the chance that a scrape becomes a fungal or bacterial problem. API reports stress reduced by up to 40%.

One dose for water changes, double for healing

The routine dose is 5 ml for every 38 litres of water you add. When you are settling new fish, treating torn fins or dealing with a tank that has just had an upset, double it to 10 ml per 38 litres to replace the slime coat fully. Either way there is nothing to remove from the filter and no wait before fish go in.

Four sizes from a nano bottle to a pump

The 30 ml bottle treats 227 litres — a few water changes on a small tank. The 118 ml treats 870 litres and the 237 ml treats 1 779 litres, which is the popular size for a community tank. The 460 ml pump bottle treats 3 558 litres and dispenses a measured squirt, which makes it the one to buy for a fish room or a large aquarium.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Stress Coat in a marine or reef tank?

Yes. Stress Coat is labelled for freshwater and saltwater aquariums, and it neutralises chlorine, chloramine and heavy metals in the fresh water you use to mix salt or top up evaporation.

Does Stress Coat remove chloramine as well as chlorine?

Yes. It breaks the chloramine bond and neutralises both the chlorine and the ammonia it releases, which matters because many South African municipalities now use chloramine, which does not gas off if you simply let water stand.

How long do I wait before adding fish after dosing?

No wait is needed. The conditioner works on contact, so fish can go into treated water immediately.

When should I use the double dose?

Whenever fish are stressed or damaged: new arrivals, after netting or moving them, after a fight, or when you notice frayed fins or missing scales. The double dose replaces the slime coat rather than just conditioning the water.

Can I overdose Stress Coat?

It has a wide safety margin and the label itself calls for a double dose in some situations, but more than that adds nothing. In very small or poorly aerated tanks, keep to the label amounts.

Is API Stress Coat available in South Africa?

Yes — Jungle Aquatics in Fourways, Johannesburg stocks all four sizes including the 460 ml pump and delivers nationwide; live pricing and stock are on jungleaquatics.com.

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South Africa's leading pet and aquarium store since 2007 — with the API range on the floor in Fourways, advice from people who test water every day, and easy ordering from anywhere in the country.

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