adding aquarium salt??

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C

ctenopoma

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 14, 2008
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Canada
My fish have ripped fins and they have been like that since i got them (about a month ago). I bought aquarium salt today to help speed up their healing. how much salt should I add to a 55g?.
I noticed some black on the edge of their nostrils and fins so I thought they might have fin rot.
 
hmm...yes that does sound like finrot. i would say don't use the salt just yet but just keep up with your water changes should heal up. i have a cory who got more than half his tail bitten off regrow it in a couple of weeks. just be patient and it will heal on its own. if you do need to add salt, add one TEAspoon per 5 gallons - but i dont think you need to add salt right now. if the finrot doesn't heal up with the water changes then treat with eSHa
 
I added the salt :s I put 1 tbsp / 5 gallons , I noticed my jack was fin clamping and looking really stressed. Considering he is in a 55 gallon with a green terror
(for now ;)) I do a water change every three days and it hasn't helped.
 
your supposed to gradually add salt :O
thats probably why he's stressed. i cup my hand a little and put some in there every now and then, expecially when my fish have injury's.

salt only helps heal because it irritates them, which causes them to get more slime coat, which in return gives more protection on the wound allowing it to heal faster and with less problems.
 
Black normally means healing. It may've been healing on it's own. I read an article at SkepticalAquarist.com that said the amount of salt needed for healing & gill function (if used for that) is very very small. I want to say 1 tsp per 10 gal but I can't remember. The 1 TBS/5 gal is what most people use for ich treatment so it might've been too much for the fish to adjust to in such a short period. I know it's considerably more than what's needed for healing.
Lots & lots of fresh water will do more for healing than salt.
 
Ksane is right as usual here and fresh water is the key to your dilemma, with that being said if you are going add salt in, pre dilute it first in a small cup - what have -you - in tank water and then slowly release it into the tank. Salt generally helps with the fishes osmotic functions, promotes healthy gill function, and can help with Nitrite issues.....Just be careful how and how much you add at once......Good Luck!!!! D
 
I'd rather use something like melafix rather than salt for healing wounds, especially if it on delicate fish that don't handle salt well
 
Maybe they were talking about the water softener salts you use in a water softener? But it's a different kind of salt anyway and just trades one set of minerals for another set. Plain old aquarium salt does not soften the water. I've heard people swear on their mother that it hardens the water but it doesn't do that either. All it does is add salinity. Now Marine salt that you use in saltwater tanks does harden the water because it has other minerals in it for that purpose.
 
doc-55;2084945; said:
Ksane is right as usual here and fresh water is the key to your dilemma, with that being said if you are going add salt in, pre dilute it first in a small cup - what have -you - in tank water and then slowly release it into the tank. Salt generally helps with the fishes osmotic functions, promotes healthy gill function, and can help with Nitrite issues.....Just be careful how and how much you add at once......Good Luck!!!! D
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common misconception salt doesnt help with nitrites, But i use it in my tank all the time 1 tbsp / 5 gallons, every water change i make sure that i keep the amount even with the new water seems to promote healthy livin for my fish. .... but dont add any when you add water due to evaporation!
 
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