salt or no salt

[forsaken]

I've heard that adding small amounts of salt is good for freshwater fish, plants, etc. So should I add some if so how much. And regular saltwater aquarium salt? do any of u add it. does it make a difference? thx

 

[Lupin]

You really do not need salt all the time. It is good for quarantine procedures to eliminate possible presence of diseases such as some flukes, costia and ich or as corrective treatment against ich, etc but that's it.

If possible, just keep in your cabinet table salt. Avoid the ones containing yellow prussiate which may be toxic when exposed to sunlight as it has been found to generate hydrogen cyanide which is a toxic substance against fish.

 

[sick_lid]

So should I add some if so how much. And regular saltwater aquarium salt?

It will be lebeled as "Aquarium Salt," not the saltwater salt, and uses half a teaspoon every 5 gallons for general use, and a teaspoon every 5 gallons for disease treatment.

 

[forsaken]

so if I'm not quarentining then i shouldnt use it?

 

[sick_lid]

so if I'm not quarentining then i shouldnt use it?

They say that it adds electrolytes to reach "peak" coloration, reduce stress, and improves gill function, but I have never noticed a difference from using it normally, and not. Basically, it's really meant for disease recovery, but can be used on a regular basis if you want - it's pretty cheap. Keep in mind that it doesn't get filtered out of the water, so only add to how much water was removed.

 

[forsaken]

Yeah, thats y i asked. I see them saying that all the time. I've also read that most freshwater fish NEED salt. I thought WTF?! I've had freshwater fish for 3 years and never heard anything about it.

 

[Burko]

Salts and minerals are needed.

The filtering process for town water removes lots of good stuff as well as the bad.

Processed table salt is of little use, try a dried sea salt that hasn't had all the goodies washed from it. And a poison added to it to make it run...

 

[HarleyK]

Guys,

This cannot be answered in general terms. It completely depends on
1) fish species and
2) starting water parameters

A cardinal tetra has different salt needs than an archer fish, and if you use R/O water you may have to remineralize more than if you have high conductivity tap water.

This question leads nowhere whithout specifics...

HarleyK

 

[~ocean]

It depends on the fish and requirements...

 

[Burko]

yeah I should have made it obvious that i was refering to this question.

"I've also read that most freshwater fish NEED salt. I thought WTF?"

Salts and minerals are needed...