Galvanic nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath for depositing a semi-bright nickel or semi-bright nickel alloy coating in which the electroplating bath includes at least one compound having the general formula (1) and/or a salt thereof wherein R1═C1-C18 hydrocarbon moiety comprising a SO3− group, a carboxylic group, or an aromatic and/or a heteroaromatic group; R2═NR3R4 moiety, or OR5 moiety, or cyclic NR6 moiety, wherein R3, R4, R5=hydrogen, or C1-C18 aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety, or C1-C18 hydrocarbon moiety comprising an aromatic and/or a heteroaromatic group, wherein R3, R4 and R5 are identical or different; R6═C3-C8 hydrocarbon moiety, or C3-C8 hydrocarbon moiety wherein at least one carbon atom is substituted by a heteroatom; n=1-3; and wherein the electroplating bath further comprises at least one acetylenic compound and chloral hydrate.