Umm..

[bckrazy]

I use Amquel & Novaqua plus together, to keep the water optimum. It's my understanding that Amquel aids in binding ammonia. I also add IAL extract which helps to bind ammonia and keep the water at blackwater condition. I've had a lot of success with using both, but Novaqua plus used alone is great too. StressCoat can also be used alone as a dechlorinator, and works very well... I just get annoyed because of all of the added stuff, and how it causes my tanks to get a film on the surface after a few days.

Honestly, I started off using them together because when I ordered my BettaTalk pair, Faith advised me to use it. It worked so well that I haven't changed since. I also buy the HUGE bottles (and I'm thinking of buying the powder form) so it is much less costly than buying small bottles of other, less reliable dechlors.

[K9soul]

Yeah my tanks are filtered so I don't have any problem with a film on the top. I had both before but when I decided to cycle my tanks I went to using just Stresscoat. Course I only have two bettas, if I had a bunch in smaller/uncycled containers I might go back to using both. Fortunately I was able to keep myself from getting in too deep (for me personally anyway ) and just stuck to my two. I've had them since March 2005.

[bckrazy]

Yeah, if you have a filter or current of some sort in the tank, StressCoat is fine. I actually use it in my divided 10g and because it has a filter there isn't any filmy stuff. It also wouldn't be a problem with jars, or 1/2 gallons, since those need to be changed every 2 or 3 days anyway.

=0) In too deep for me, would be like, 200 Bettas. I'm ok with the 12 adults and 50 or so fry I have right now. I had 100, most of them in seperate tanks with 20 juvie girls in one large grow-out. That was kinda iffy.