Do Frontosas Need Salt?

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

i put aquarium salt and my fronts are ok.. i dink u should be cause most cichlids like brackish water..

actually, for the most part, most cichlids don't like brackish water. a few live in it, and many can tolerate it, but very few like it

 

[krichardson]

actually, for the most part, most cichlids don't like brackish water. a few live in it, and many can tolerate it, but very few like it

I agree.I think the chromide is the only true brackish cichlid.

 

[swk]

I keep tropheus and petrochromis. The only time I add anything but prime is when fish have been battling and show some physical damage. I'll add 1 tablespoon epsom salt per 10 gal of tank water. Regular use of salt is unnecessary and can cause an excessive build up of salt levels over time if you're not regularly topping off your aquarium.

 

[KindredSpirit]

Regular use of salt is unnecessary and can cause an excessive build up of salt levels over time if you're not regularly topping off your aquarium.

This is how I was trained with Fronts and Discus. We use salt with Discus if stressed or shows signs of illness/sickness.

 

[Oddball]

I keep tropheus and petrochromis. The only time I add anything but prime is when fish have been battling and show some physical damage. I'll add 1 tablespoon epsom salt per 10 gal of tank water. Regular use of salt is unnecessary and can cause an excessive build up of salt levels over time if you're not regularly topping off your aquarium.

Saying salt is unnecessary for fish that naturally occur in waters with salts is poor advise. Fish that occur naturally in waters with salts evolved their methods of hormone production and osmotic regulation in those waters. The permeability of egg membranes also depend on the elements contained in the waters the species evolved in. While a species may do well in waters without their natural components, it must be considered that the species would fare better in waters that most closely match what it evolved in.
Replacing lost salts from water changes is as easy as using a hydrometer. And, the 'buildup' of salts from evaporation is on a par with the drop in lake water levels between rainy seasons. So, no problem unless the aquarium is allowed to nearly dry up.
I've used epsom salt to treat bloat before metronidazole became available OTC. But, I wouldn't use it as the 1st addition of the prevention of wound infection. The system won't benefit any better with the addition of magnesium and sulfur in epsom salt than with the calcium chloride these fish evolved in.

 

[swk]

Saying salt is unnecessary for fish that naturally occur in waters with salts is poor advise. Fish that occur naturally in waters with salts evolved their methods of hormone production and osmotic regulation in those waters. The permeability of egg membranes also depend on the elements contained in the waters the species evolved in. While a species may do well in waters without their natural components, it must be considered that the species would fare better in waters that most closely match what it evolved in.
Replacing lost salts from water changes is as easy as using a hydrometer. And, the 'buildup' of salts from evaporation is on a par with the drop in lake water levels between rainy seasons. So, no problem unless the aquarium is allowed to nearly dry up.
I've used epsom salt to treat bloat before metronidazole became available OTC. But, I wouldn't use it as the 1st addition of the prevention of wound infection. The system won't benefit any better with the addition of magnesium and sulfur in epsom salt than with the calcium chloride these fish evolved in.

If I wanted to use a hydrometer I would have gotten into reef tanks. Most casual tanganyikan keepers don't keep wild fish and their tank bred stock are far removed from wild water conditions. Why would people spawn wild tropheus in 7.0 ph when the lake can be 9 or above if replicating their exact habitat to a tee was necessary?

Equating a small, closed tank environment to the enormous volume of lake tanganyika is quite a large mistake in my opinion.

All I know is that my fish, even F0, spawn regularly and have nice healthy fry....without the addition of salts. Proof enough for me.

 

[KindredSpirit]

Saying salt is unnecessary for fish that naturally occur in waters with salts is poor advise.

Perhaps he was just stating what works for him. To be honest on Cyphos most do not use salt but there are quite a few that do. Now on Simply re Discus salt to us there is considered a med.

Matter of preference I suppose.

 

[swk]

Also...you're in sac right? You water should be plenty hard enough. I lived there for quite a while and my featherfins did just fine with the tap water.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!!!

 

[KindredSpirit]

Yes I am in Sac. I have never added salt to my Fronts as the ones that taught me everything I know do not use it except for medicinal purposes.

So I'm good and thank you so much!

 

[Ash]

I never added salts to my tank and mine show nice color and seem to fare fine to me. I really never played with the idea of adding salt... b/c they are doing good now I am afraid of messing with the tank.