Ok so two of the fish in my tank have popped up with a few ich cysts, i have a bgk in my tank so couldnt salt it so have had the temp at about 86 for the past 3 days, i havent seen any new ich cysts and no other fish but the original two i saw it on have shown symptoms but in case something changes and i see more cysts and do have to salt the tank ill have to take out the bgk but will my 3 sens be ok? are bichirs alright with salt and if so how much can they handle?
Salt and bichirs?
- Thread starter Sarah88
- Start date
Salt should be fine for the BGK and bichirs as long as it's a right dosage. When my fish get sick including naked back knifefish species I use slat to as a remedy. Your temp is right but sometimes I place mine to 88F. Add salt about 1 tsp per 5 gallons.
King-el, a teaspoon per 5g is far too low and can potentially create resistant strains of ich. I do however agree that the BGK should be fine. I've used salt on it, loaches and catfishes with no issues. The minimum I would suggest is a teaspoon per gallon. Considering bottom dwellers are involved, you must dissolve the salt thoroughly first before adding to the tank as the grains have the potential to burn sensitive skin.
The steps are pretty basic but gradual process is very important to ensure all your fish will be able to tolerate the salt solution very well. Do your large water change first before you proceed with the salt treatment.
1. Add 0.1% solution (a teaspoon per gallon).
2. Repeat step 1 after 12 hours if the fish seem to tolerate the 0.1% very well.
3. Repeat step 2 after another 12 hours.
If you wish to do water changes, redose the salt per the water volume replaced. Only water changes can remove the salt. As long as what you are using is sodium chloride, either "aquarium" salt or table salt should be fine. The iodine concentration and other additives are pretty much moot. If the tank however is exposed to sunlight, then avoid the table salt containing yellow prussiate as it potentially creates a dangerous substance by chemical reaction when exposed to sunlight, called hydrogen cyanide.
The steps are pretty basic but gradual process is very important to ensure all your fish will be able to tolerate the salt solution very well. Do your large water change first before you proceed with the salt treatment.
1. Add 0.1% solution (a teaspoon per gallon).
2. Repeat step 1 after 12 hours if the fish seem to tolerate the 0.1% very well.
3. Repeat step 2 after another 12 hours.
If you wish to do water changes, redose the salt per the water volume replaced. Only water changes can remove the salt. As long as what you are using is sodium chloride, either "aquarium" salt or table salt should be fine. The iodine concentration and other additives are pretty much moot. If the tank however is exposed to sunlight, then avoid the table salt containing yellow prussiate as it potentially creates a dangerous substance by chemical reaction when exposed to sunlight, called hydrogen cyanide.
ok great thanks so much guys, i had though it wasnt good for bgk since they were a scaleless fish and i know they tend to be more sensitive to medications and when i posted this on the knifefish forum the person that answered thought it was bad for bgk as well but didnt know for sure so i didnt want to risk it, and thanks lupin for the awesome directions i will definitely go ahead and start doing the salt today then after my weekly wc 
oh and my tank does get some sunlight and i was going to use a mixture of aquarium salt and kosher salt would this be ok or should i use epsom instead of the kosher?
oh and my tank does get some sunlight and i was going to use a mixture of aquarium salt and kosher salt would this be ok or should i use epsom instead of the kosher?Sarah88;3698182; said:ok great thanks so much guys, i had though it wasnt good for bgk since they were a scaleless fish and i know they tend to be more sensitive to medications and when i posted this on the knifefish forum the person that answered thought it was bad for bgk as well but didnt know for sure so i didnt want to risk it, and thanks lupin for the awesome directions i will definitely go ahead and start doing the salt today then after my weekly wc
it's the prepared ich medications that are not good for scaleless fish. salt is the safest way to go. i just had a ich tank with my african knife. he did fine, with the salt treatment. i used aquarium salt.
ok great thanks yeah i didnt know if salt was bad for them or not and the person that posted in the knife forum said it was but i dont think they were sure or not so thats why i didnt salt earlier just in case but im def going to add salt today and see if i can raise the temp to 88
ok and so to just be clear, by following lupins experienced directions i will end up with 3tsp/gal after 36hr? and this level will be ok for my bgk and bichirs
(im about to do wc and add salt so i just wanted to be sure)
(im about to do wc and add salt so i just wanted to be sure
)