Suggestions for Fresh Water Aquarium Salt

[Rocksor]

I believe this iodized salt thing is a myth, an old wives tale perpetuated early in the hobby before it was as advanced as it is now.
There have been a number studies that show that iodized vs non-iodized salt has no significant effect at all.
In fact a lack of iodine as a nutrient can be be less than healthy for some species
A number a cichlids living near the mouths of rivers will sometimes venture into the sea to graze on salt water algae, (high in iodine), a perfect example is Vieja maculicauda often seen grazing in pure sea water (also high in iodine).

Totally agree with this. I've used salt with iodine for ich treatment because I couldn't get pickling or non-iodized salt.

 

[Potato Patatto]

I use pickling salt for medication purposes, only salt I’ve seen that doesn’t have any other anti-caking agents

 

[TomKat]

My dad raised several types of fish. He had old steel framed glass tanks. I don't recall
him using salt regularly.

I agree it is not necessary to put salt during water changes, but was told he helps. On Petco's Aquarium Salt, it said it improves gill functions and adds electrolytes. Must be a sale's pitch. Also
after reading some of the comments here, it looks like it depends on the fish. Too much salt can
also kill the fish.

 

[Ruturaj]

I use API aquarium salt as well when needed.

I agree with Dunes, salt is salt but price matched, aquarium salt is really not that costly compared to grocery store salt.

I also agree with Dunes on there are different kinds of salt and I use american cichlid salt from seachem. It's mix of few mineral salt. The only reason I use it due to low GH.

 

[TomKat]

API salt for 16 oz is 4.70
32 oz is 8.19

I found at HomeDepot a 25 lb bag is just 5.97 , 50 lbs bag at 8.97 , cheap.

but the salt at HomeDepot is Rock Salt for "Ice and Snow.".....According to most people here, comments , salt is salt and it seems

any ( large rocky ) salt is fine. I hope this is the correct assumption.

 

[duanes]

Rock salt from Home Depot is fine for treating Ick, but should say NaCl as the ingredient.

"If" its says snow melt (but not NaCl), it may be another chemical species other than salt.
I suppose if you water is very soft, and mineral free, adding a little salt may help those fish that come from hard, mineral rich waters like Central America or the African Rift Lakes.
But for soft water species such as Amazonian fish, it is really not helpful.
Below some catch location data for some Amazonian species. Note the mineral content, expressed as conductivity and hardness.