I've never been a big fan of slime coat replacement water conditions - they generally don't have that much of an effect, and they make your protein skimmer go nuts with foam production. I'm even less of a fan of additives that aren't made by Seachem. However, Hagen/Nutrafin's Aqua Plus is awesome.
What makes Aqua+ awesome? It's not the slime coat replacing colloids, not at all. Its the "Pure Herbal Extracts", aka valerian root and others that's added to the product to relax fish and alleviate stress, and it works incredibly well.
As someone who's worked in the a whole side of marine organisms, I know that stress kills fish - any reasonably seasoned hobbyist know this. However, products sold to hobbyists to reduce fish stress almost don't exist. Other popular products marketed at reducing stress are merely slime coat replacements, and do nothing to actually reduce the psychological symptoms of stress. Clove oil is little known and difficult to dose, and standard powdered valerian root is much slower acting. The guys at Hagen obviously recognized a need for an effective product that actually reduces stress!
AquaPlus is a water conditioner + slime coat replacement + contains plant ingredients (Valerian root) proven to reduce stress and anxiety levels in animals (including people!) all in one.
Pros: visibly lowers stress in saltwater and freshwater fish
Cons: extra 'slime coat replacement' additives
Captive Aquatics blog verdict: Editor's Choice
$3.99-49.99 (sold in amounts from 250mL to 2L), www.hagen.com
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