SALT OR NO SALT

[bassaddick01]

Hello Everyone,

I am a new member on this forum and just love the great discussions and pictures of members Bass.

I have been a hobbyist for 20yrs and 3yrs into monster fishkeeping.

I have been told by friends, I have never treated my tank with Epson Salt, pool salt. I did treat my African cichlids salt in past but someone recently told me to maintain the longevity of my monster Bass, Arowana, these fish, do you as members treat your water changes with salt?

Please reply on this thread if you agree or disagree and if you do add salt what's the quantities for a 220g tank?

 

[heatherbeast]

I like using it, although bass wouldn't necessarily encounter it in their native waters. The magnesium in Epsom salts does such good things for ANY living thing, and there is some anecdotal evidence to suggest that it may help suppress protozoal parasites (it is used as treatment at much higher doses). A little bit of salt in freshwater will help gas exchange across gills, too. You definitely do NOT need the amount that you would for Africans, or even for community fish tanks!

If you did want to try adding it -- I use half-strength compared to what you use in community tanks. I buy the 4-lb bags of Epsom salts from the grocery store's pharmacy section, and use rock salt used for making ice cream. I also add a small amount of baking soda, since the sodium bicarbonate helps buffer/stabilize pH. You MUST be mindful of evaporation, too! Any time that you TOP OFF water, do NOT add any salt to it! Otherwise you will eventually increase the salinity to the point that your fish will be unhappy.

Here is my 'half strength' formula.
For every 10 gallons of INITIAL dosing and water CHANGES (NOT top-offs!!!):
1 tablespoon canning/rock salt (do not use iodine or potassium-added)
1 tablespoon Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate)
1/8 teaspoon baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)

That scales up to every 160 gallons (I change this amount during my 50% weekly changes, and even then I will skip sometimes):
1 cup canning/rock salt
1 cup Epsom salts
2 teaspoons baking soda

Hope this info is helpful. I'd be interested to see what other folks think and the hows/whys behind it.

 

[bassaddick01]

Heatherbeast,

Thank you for being the first to reply to my thread.

I am not a beginner and for 3yrs my Bass and Arowanas never received Salt or baking soda in my weekly water changes.

I did exactly what you did when I raised African cichlids and I do agree even though Bass and Arowana like brackish water doe not hurt to give a little dose each time wedo water change.

I agree with you, I hope more members who read my thread to PLEASE reply as I want to know what the majority of members are doing.

 

[heatherbeast]

Well this is the media lounge, so I think people may be expecting pictures. Perhaps you can ask a mod or board admin to move the thread to the main Cichla section?

 

[gacericardo]

Aquarium salt is great for Peacoks. Dont overdue it and everything should be fine. Just never use Melafix or pimafix on your Pbass and you will be good.