SALT OR NO SALT?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
H

hotsauce

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 16, 2008
532
1
0
san diego
well ive been keeping a few fish for awhile and have never used salt in the setups. from what ive read, salt adds alot of benefits. i just setup a 230 freshwater with paroon, rtc, rtc x tsn hybrid, clown knife and ill add one more fish alittle later. ive read that the salt will help with any small wounds from run ins between tankmates or that the paroon gets from time to time running into things in the tank. so now in the new tank, nothing but a 1"pvc return line. also ive seen people recommend the salt in the blue bags at home depot since its so much cheaper. also does it help keep alot of different diseases from starting and or developing in the tank?
 
I don't use salt anymore, I use an UV sterilizer for added protection that's my rational.
 
If the fish's native environemnt has a salt content... I suggest you try to match it... if the fish's native environment does not have a salt content, there isn't a very good argument that you should provide one...
 
The only time I use salt is when treating for ich (thankfully, I rarely get this due to my quarantine regimen). You can use it to treat for nitrite intoxication if your test kit detects nitrite and fish showing symptoms of intoxication however water changes are always a much better approach.

Salt does not prevent any disease from manifesting in your fish. A lot of people claim the contrary and that is utter bunk. Nothing can stop your fish from manifesting such but your efforts to keep the water clean and consistently quarantining the new stocks to protect your current stocks from diseases usually carried by new fish.

It doesn't matter whether you are using table salt or "aquarium" salt provided you have a valid reason for using either of them and not because you think the fish really "require" it. Freshwater specimens do not need additional salt except for emergency cases. Marine and brackish water on the other hand do require marine salt to replicate their environment.
 
no salt it does develop a unnatural slime coat said to fend off parasites but also makes it more difficult in treating parasites
 
Lupin;3296476; said:
The only time I use salt is when treating for ich (thankfully, I rarely get this due to my quarantine regimen). You can use it to treat for nitrite intoxication if your test kit detects nitrite and fish showing symptoms of intoxication however water changes are always a much better approach.

Salt does not prevent any disease from manifesting in your fish. A lot of people claim the contrary and that is utter bunk. Nothing can stop your fish from manifesting such but your efforts to keep the water clean and consistently quarantining the new stocks to protect your current stocks from diseases usually carried by new fish.

It doesn't matter whether you are using table salt or "aquarium" salt provided you have a valid reason for using either of them and not because you think the fish really "require" it. Freshwater specimens do not need additional salt except for emergency cases. Marine and brackish water on the other hand do require marine salt to replicate their environment.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Quarantine makes the big difference as does water quality. I throw a good quality UV on top of everything for icing on the cake ;)
 
As one of the things Lupin indicated.. the only time I've ever had to use Salt was treating ick and I find it beneficial as the fish I keep can tolerate it.

I really need to get a UV...right now my cake has no icing :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom