Beating a Dead Horse Topic..

[KenyanSandBoa]

The same think happened to me at a LFS here. I asked the guy what I could put in with my small dats and he started showing me all these brakish fish. Then I told him it was a fresh water tank, and he got mad and said something like "That's the wrong tank for those fish!" and walked away. He was mad at the time, but when I went back after that he was really nice to me. I think he probably did some research and realized he was wrong.

I think what happens a lot of the time is that people limit their information to one source instead of doing proper research on the matter.

For instance, in the Baensch atlas Datnoids are listed as brackish. So if someone reads that and because "they read it in a book" it must be true and any other instance practiced, but not necessarily documented in an atlas, must be wrong.

All of my datnoids are in fresh water with only rock salt added...nothing even remotely close to brackish and they are all thriving...including my ATs.

 

[TCZeli]

I think what happens a lot of the time is that people limit their information to one source instead of doing proper research on the matter.

For instance, in the Baensch atlas Datnoids are listed as brackish. So if someone reads that and because "they read it in a book" it must be true and any other instance practiced, but not necessarily documented in an atlas, must be wrong.

All of my datnoids are in fresh water with only rock salt added...nothing even remotely close to brackish and they are all thriving...including my ATs.

How much salt per gallon do you use in fresh water?

is salt harmfull to other types of fish?

 

[KenyanSandBoa]

How much salt per gallon do you use in fresh water?

is salt harmfull to other types of fish?

I don't use my saltwater salt...I use rock salt. It's mainly to add electolytes in the tank and a pretty good preventative for disease. I use one table spoon for every ten gallons of fresh water.

No, it's not harmfull to any other fish because it doesn't affect the salinity of the water. You can treat with the solution I mentioned above and it won't even register on a hydrometer.

 

[TCZeli]

I don't use my saltwater salt...I use rock salt. It's mainly to add electolytes in the tank and a pretty good preventative for disease. I use one table spoon for every ten gallons of fresh water.

No, it's not harmfull to any other fish because it doesn't affect the salinity of the water. You can treat with the solution I mentioned above and it won't even register on a hydrometer.

Thanks for the info man. I hate using meds on my fish, so anything I can do to provent disease is great. Where do you buy this rock salt from? Do LFS have it?

 

[KenyanSandBoa]

Thanks for the info man. I hate using meds on my fish, so anything I can do to provent disease is great. Where do you buy this rock salt from? Do LFS have it?

No problem...I totally agree with you about the meds. I don't like adding any chemicals in my tanks either.

Yeah, your lfs should sell aquarium salt. I think the brand I see most often is Doc Wellfish...or something like that. It's in a pink and white milk container type thing.

You can actually use Rock or Kosher salt as well, as they are straight sodium chloride with nothing else added.

 

[endi]

just wondering in the wild though.... do they live in brackish water their whole lives or only when their small? adults? whats the deal with brackish water, why do most old books say brackish?

 

[me_wee_todded]

just wondering in the wild though.... do they live in brackish water their whole lives or only when their small? adults? whats the deal with brackish water, why do most old books say brackish?

I too am wondering this.

 

[Datnoid101]

I am curious about adding salt - one table spoon per 10 gallons is what you do for fresh water tanks.
What is the normal ammount added for a brackish tank?
and what is the normal ammount added for a full slat water tank?

I was thinking about adding a little salt for a while now, to help fight disease but never knew the proper ammount to add. Now that you say it helps get them alittle more stable I really want to try it out.

would I get regular salt they sell for salt water tanks?
and are there certain fish that cannot tolerate any salt at all because I have my dats in with other fish and do not want to kill any off (can all fish live in some salt?

I use the 1 tablespoon for every 10g in all my tanks. Everything has been fine with it, Target fish, Mangrove jacks, plecos, bichers, loaches, catfish, nandus, archers, puffers, aros, clams, opihi.

 

[TCZeli]

The only dats that live in brackish waters in the wild are NGT, and Silvers

Wide bars, Thin bars, and Indos are found in completely fresh water in the wild

From what I read from everyone, NGT, and Silvers do very well in fresh water, I do not know if the fresh water species would do well in brackish water though.

 

[TCZeli]

OK I am going to ask one more question, then I will shut up I promise

Rock salt as in the stuff I use to melt ice on my drive way?
and kosher salt as in the stuff I use to season my food?

just want to confirm so i dont get something bad for my fish.

both you guys (KenyanSandBoa & sinister j) said you personally used rock salt. Where do you get it from? (what kinda store)