Good info about use of salts in aquariums
- Thread starter islandguy11
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Well you learn something new everyday
And why is that, because it would reduce the effectiveness when you really needed it?I've used it a a preventive measure with cichlid/flowerhorn tanks (every other water change) in the past, and to no ill effect that I could notice, fish were always quite healthy (Drakaris' recent weird injury aside) and vibrant, but maybe this was overkill and unnecessary (and lucky that I really didn't require it for any very serious problems with them). Ich itself has only been a problem for me once or maybe twice in the past 10+ years (last time in a 20 gallon solo betta tank with plants) but likely there were other factors.
Would you use salt in the case of treating a fish that had an external wound (e.g. from a decoration or fighting) to help it heal faster and reduce chance of infection?
For our further learning why shouldn't aquarium salt be used as now and then preventive measure? What's the harm? It's certainly not difficult at all to find people/websites recommending salt as a preventive measure in tanks all over the internet (and just as many if not more arguing your/RD's approach) -- it seems to be one of those eternal arguments in the hobby... But now that I've heard it from 2 fishkeeper's on this thread whose knowledge I very much respect, it'd be great to hear your reasoning against doing so.
My reasoning is I never add anything to my tap water that I don't have to. I generally use salt when dealing with issues that could cause osmoregulatory issues, such as stress from transport, relocation, etc, as well as what you mentioned, injuries. Adding salt to freshwater reduces osmotic pressure. A fairly straightforward read on this subject:
https://www.angelsplus.com/ArticleOsmosis.htm
But using salt (or anything else for that matter) as a preventative doesn't make any sense to me. A fish shouldn't generally be under osmotic stress, and if it is one should be taking a closer look at their set up, and removing the stressors, not salting them down. I hope that makes sense.
https://www.angelsplus.com/ArticleOsmosis.htm
But using salt (or anything else for that matter) as a preventative doesn't make any sense to me. A fish shouldn't generally be under osmotic stress, and if it is one should be taking a closer look at their set up, and removing the stressors, not salting them down. I hope that makes sense.
Yes in fact it does make good sense what you say, Thx for explaining Neil and also the link. I guess my (not so great in hindsight) train of thought was that the salt (in not overly heavy doses), besides helping to promote slime coat, would at least to some degree help kill the bad stuff (as they're mostly single cell organisms) before they even had a chance to latch onto or go inside the fish. Tbh I really hadn't thought about osmotic stress, and take your good point that fish really shouldn't have that or be subject to it if everything else is cool.
As a side note I haven't been adding any salt with the 2 new Aro tanks (except via occasional Wish Arowana Spa almond leaf treatment which has some in it), and will continue this way unless otherwise really required. Thx again for sharing your knowledge Neil.
Barrett, if you google the following paper from 2003 it should come up in its entirety in PDF format.
Recent developments and improvements in ornamental fish packaging systems for air transport
I think that you would find parts of it very interesting. I copied it years ago, but probably best if I don't post the entire paper here. lol
It was put out by the AVA in Singapore, and discusses osmotic stress, and salt, and various concentrations. It also talks about using vitamin c as a nutritional prophylaxis, something that I think is key when it comes to the diet of fish, as many species of fish lack the ability of ascorbate synthesis, so supplementation is key, especially if/when a fish is under any kind of stress.
https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/iub.1360
Recent developments and improvements in ornamental fish packaging systems for air transport
I think that you would find parts of it very interesting. I copied it years ago, but probably best if I don't post the entire paper here. lol
It was put out by the AVA in Singapore, and discusses osmotic stress, and salt, and various concentrations. It also talks about using vitamin c as a nutritional prophylaxis, something that I think is key when it comes to the diet of fish, as many species of fish lack the ability of ascorbate synthesis, so supplementation is key, especially if/when a fish is under any kind of stress.
https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/iub.1360
I also agree you don't randomly add stuff to fix what ain't broke.
With any bacteria or simple life form, the ability to build up resistance and evolve at rapid rate is paramount to their survival. That is why are ick strains from lake Tanganyika that withstand much higher osmotic levels than cool water American strains.
Providing tannins to black water fish is not the same, these are antibacterial, and the black water fish species immune systems have evolved to to take advantage of this part of their habitat, and may be compromised without it.
With any bacteria or simple life form, the ability to build up resistance and evolve at rapid rate is paramount to their survival. That is why are ick strains from lake Tanganyika that withstand much higher osmotic levels than cool water American strains.
Providing tannins to black water fish is not the same, these are antibacterial, and the black water fish species immune systems have evolved to to take advantage of this part of their habitat, and may be compromised without it.
