Gear Score Methodology
PetPal Gear Score
Best Aquarium Water Conditioner for Freshwater Tanks (2026)
Editorial synthesis of manufacturer documentation from Seachem, Fritz, Tetra, and API; CDC and EPA chlorine/chloramine guidance; Merck Veterinary Manual; and hobbyist consensus on r/aquariums and r/PlantedTank.
PetPal Gear Score = (Expert Consensus × 0.30) + (Chemistry Coverage × 0.25) + (Animal Safety × 0.20) + (Documentation × 0.15) + (Value × 0.10)Factor breakdown
Expert Consensus
30%Synthesized from Seachem, Fritz, Tetra, and API manufacturer documentation; CDC and EPA chlorine/chloramine guidance; Merck Veterinary Manual; and hobbyist consensus on r/aquariums and r/PlantedTank. The PetPal Gear Score is a composite of expert opinion — PetPalHQ does not run a testing lab.
Chemistry Coverage
25%Breadth of detoxification — chlorine, chloramine, heavy metals, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate — and reliability of those claims relative to manufacturer documentation.
Animal Safety
20%Safety across freshwater, saltwater, reef, planted, and invertebrate systems at the recommended dose.
Documentation
15%Clarity of dosing, compatibility notes, and honest framing of what the product does and does not do.
Value
10%Cost-per-treated-gallon at the most common retail size.
See all score methodologies on the Gear Score index.