salt as ray treatment

[iwiied]

long story short , 1 or my ray was in bad shape after 2 days shipping (was on his back when got him). i gave him 2 days he's breathing but barely eating and not moving alot. i notice he started doing the back and forth motion violently as if there's infection on his underside that's irritating him. so i decide to take some action , i raise temp to 85 and added 3 lbs of kosher salt to the 180 gallon tank. i am adding it to the sump and have it dissolve gradually. I notice that both rays are quite irritated by the salt as they're starting to climb up the side of the aquarium continuoiusly. I want to give the salt about 4,5 hrs before doing a mass water change of about 80% . is 3lbs too much salt? do i have to worry that both rays seem to be bothered by the salt?
any advice appreicated

 

[keepinfish]

i woudn't think the salt would be bothering them at that rate...

 

[iwiied]

i definitely see some change in both of them when i add the salt though , the inactive/sick on becomes more active as he try to climp up the wall , and so does the other one, kept on climbing up the wall as opposed to aslways wandering around the tank to find worms.

 

[ewurm]

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175930

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195940

These two threads broach the subject. I have been reading quite a bit about freshwater rays and their tolerance to salt. As stated in these threads, the rays will tolerate salinity up to 15 parts per thousand. The density of the salt you added is a determining factor on how it will effect the tank. Three pounds sounds like quite a bit. If the rays are noticeably agitated then it may be too much. You might think about getting a hyrdrometer to test the specific gravity of the water. '

Also, why do you think there is an infection on the underside? Is there noticeable injury on the underside? Salt will not cure a bacterial infection, only parasites that are sensitive to theincreased salinity.

 

[iwiied]

on the healthy ray, the underside is pink but i think it's normal , but on the sick ray the underside has noticeable redness areas (2 of them at about 1 inch each where you could see it's really red and it stands out against the pink underside)

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175930

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195940

These two threads broach the subject. I have been reading quite a bit about freshwater rays and their tolerance to salt. As stated in these threads, the rays will tolerate salinity up to 15 parts per thousand. The density of the salt you added is a determining factor on how it will effect the tank. Three pounds sounds like quite a bit. If the rays are noticeably agitated then it may be too much. You might think about getting a hyrdrometer to test the specific gravity of the water. '

Also, why do you think there is an infection on the underside? Is there noticeable injury on the underside? Salt will not cure a bacterial infection, only parasites that are sensitive to theincreased salinity.

 

[ewurm]

on the healthy ray, the underside is pink but i think it's normal , but on the sick ray the underside has noticeable redness areas (2 of them at about 1 inch each where you could see it's really red and it stands out against the pink underside)

I'm not sure that is necessarily infection. It could be from an irritating substrate. Can you post pics?

 

[Nic]

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175930

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195940

These two threads broach the subject. I have been reading quite a bit about freshwater rays and their tolerance to salt. As stated in these threads, the rays will tolerate salinity up to 15 parts per thousand. The density of the salt you added is a determining factor on how it will effect the tank. Three pounds sounds like quite a bit. If the rays are noticeably agitated then it may be too much. You might think about getting a hyrdrometer to test the specific gravity of the water. '

Also, why do you think there is an infection on the underside? Is there noticeable injury on the underside? Salt will not cure a bacterial infection, only parasites that are sensitive to theincreased salinity.

3lbs per 100 gallons has been working quite fine for alot of us with no negative effects... sorry but those papers cant vouch for actual experience in this area.... as long as the salt is dissolved 100% then up to 4lbs per 100 gallons is fine for a treatment of something.... i keep atleast 1 pound per 100 in with my rays at all time for a "tonic"... i have never spoke to a single keeper or seen one negative effect of adding salt to rays water...

 

[ewurm]

3lbs per 100 gallons has been working quite fine for alot of us with no negative effects... sorry but those papers cant vouch for actual experience in this area.... as long as the salt is dissolved 100% then up to 4lbs per 100 gallons is fine for a treatment of something.... i keep atleast 1 pound per 100 in with my rays at all time for a "tonic"... i have never spoke to a single keeper or seen one negative effect of adding salt to rays water...

What does that translate to in volume?

 

[csx4236]

3lbs per 180 gallons will not cause the rays any irritation at all. We dose 3-4lbs per 100 gallons quite often when we see problems. Also you cant use a hyrdrometer to test for water softener salt in freshwater. You need a freshwater pond salt test kit. 3-4 lbs per 100 gallons will give you a 3.0-4.0 salt reading on these types of tests. The redness on belly if more then likely from Ammonia or nitrates from shipping or you water in your tank. 2 days in shipping is your likely cause ammonia etc.

 

[ewurm]

3lbs per 180 gallons will not cause the rays any irritation at all. We dose 3-4lbs per 100 gallons quite often when we see problems. Also you cant use a hyrdrometer to test for water softener salt in freshwater. You need a freshwater pond salt test kit. 3-4 lbs per 100 gallons will give you a 3.0-4.0 salt reading on these types of tests. The redness on belly if more then likely from Ammonia or nitrates from shipping or you water in your tank. 2 days in shipping is your likely cause ammonia etc.

So what does that equate to in parts per thousand? And what are the problems that you are treating with the salt treatment? Forgive me, it sounded like a lot of salt and I have only dosed salt in measurements of volume.