How much Salt is to much salt?

[GinBlack]

I usually put salt in my aquarium when I do my weekly water changes. My LFS store says I should put in salt every other day, dunno my friend says she puts salt in her tank every day, but is that too much?

I have a black aro and sharing the tank is 3 red parrots, 3 yello labs, a tire track eel, a baby common pleco and a larger common pleco.

I do know my aro has a bit of frayed fins and my friend says that I should put salt in every day...any advice? suggestions?

 

[Jakester93]

Personally, I wouldn't add any salt. I don't think it makes sense unless you're treating for ich or something. Freshwater fish like freshwater.
I don't know about salt with frayed fins, but high water quality always helps. Do more water changes.

 

[GinBlack]

Thanks Jakester!

 

[LBathory]

I would say add salt and melephex (sp?) That should help.

 

[SimonL]

Remember, salt once it dissolves, doesn't disappear or evaporate. So if you keep adding it everyday, the concentration will increase...same with water changes, if you take 1/4 of the water out, add 1/4 of the salt back.

 

[ausarow]

simon has it right. adding everyday it will build, except for what you change out. this is why salt should be measured. get a salinity meter. add up to 3 parts per thousand ( 3 grams per litre) and theres no real need for more. ive never seen anyone with info on what an arow can handle so beware. ocean is about 35 parts per thousand. if you keep adding this will soon be an ocean tank. many fresh water fish can take a bit of salt at levels like this especially because they can come from rivers that dry up but remember arowanas live in clean- wet with rain rivers. i would make sure i never had it at ten parts per thousand.

 

[Gshock]

You really shouldnt have your aro or any freshwater fish for that matter in water containing salt for a constant period of time. By doing this, their bodies adapt to the salt and when you really need to use salt for ick, or cuts, or stress, it just takes away the effects all together.

 

[Schneider]

I usually put salt in my aquarium when I do my weekly water changes. My LFS store says I should put in salt every other day, dunno my friend says she puts salt in her tank every day, but is that too much?

I have a black aro and sharing the tank is 3 red parrots, 3 yello labs, a tire track eel, a baby common pleco and a larger common pleco.

I do know my aro has a bit of frayed fins and my friend says that I should put salt in every day...any advice? suggestions?

Your fish's frayed fins are probably a result of its tankmates. Yellow labs are peaceful mbuna but still are pesky little fin nippers. When your aro gets big the tables should turn and he will eat them for a snack.

 

[Chaitika]

I keep aros and I never add salt. Never.

I would deal with whatever is causing the aro to have frayed fins.

 

[Bderick67]

This only shows that LFS and friends are generally not reliable sources of information.

Clean water, nitrates below 10ppm, is the best cure for frayed fins. It's the only thing I ever do for my arowanas. If open wounds or fungus are present, then doses with melafix and pimafix. If the fish is stressed salt may help, though I don't use it.