Well, freshwater fish don't need salt, but many would argue that it has some substantial benefits.
freshwater salt
- Thread starter XguppyX
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brianp;1850267; said:
even fresh water has some salt in it, but in smaller concentrations than in a marine or brackish environment. how do you think the ocean got salty, anyway?
from billions of years of freshwater (with small concentrations of salt) flowing into them. the ocean slowly evaporates, leaving salt and other minerals behind. the water falls as rain, back into lakes where it flows down rivers to the ocean, picking up salt and minerals as it goes. in another billiion or so years, the ocean will be so salty no marine life today could tolerate it.
most city water is softened. so adding minerals is beneficial to fish that evolved in waters with mineral content. salt (sodium chloride) is a very common mineral in fresh water. so is calcium.
Hawkfish3.0;1851422; said:
true. I've had fish live long and healthy lives (over 10 years) without ever adding aquarium salt.
The first time I followed the directions on a package of "freshwater aquarium salt", I put the 11 tablespoons of salt into a glass and freaked out. It looked like enough to kill every fish in my 55 gallon. I added warm water, and saw this thick, clowdy water with a 1" think layer of salt on the bottom and thought "I'm gonna add this to my tank?". I reread the directions (about 5 times), rechecked my measurement, took a leap of faith and dumped it in. I then apologized to my fish, because I was sure i just killed them.
Since I started adding salt, my fish seem happier and healthier than ever. and I add the appropriate amount with every water change. I did stop buying the ridiculously expensive "aquarium salt". Morton's Kosher salt, or table salt is the same thing.
I just dont see if something has the same minerals, and or chemical properties as something else, why using one is better then the other? No matter what its specific packaging designates it as, it is still the same crap, just more or less expensive.
Doesnt make sense, but I guess some people are so set in old ways that they would argue with a roadside dead skunk rather then just agree to disagree.
Doesnt make sense, but I guess some people are so set in old ways that they would argue with a roadside dead skunk rather then just agree to disagree.
this is getting way to confusing... like i said before. im set with the $5 bag of salt from lowes
ive had my $5 for bag for several months and i havent even put a dent in it. who knows how much longer it will last 
