To salt or not to salt

[ctoychik]

I seemed to be getting alot of opinions regarding addition of salt to the aquariums. It is clear that salt and high temp is used to treat stuff (e.g. ich).

What about on the normal basis? I add ~1 table spoon of non-iodized salt per gallon for my indoor aquariums (+water conditioner). The outdoor set-up is chem free (run water through drinking filter). Sometimes i used to treat the water with couple of drops of malachite green during water changes.

There does not seemed to concensus on this issue. Any comments or experiences with salt?

 

[ctoychik]

Bump. Sorry 1 table spoon of salt per 10 gallons.

Anyone?

 

[Lupin]

Adding salt because people think it helps with the slime coat production and prevent any diseases is an absolute myth. Don't use salt on normal basis. It will do nothing but help produce resistant strains of pathogens such as ich. In the long run, most fish are unable to tolerate the added electrolytes in the water depending on their osmoregulatory system. Fish from soft acidic waters are highly susceptible to osmoregulatory system damage brought by the added electrolytes. This subjects them to stress and eventually death.

 

[twk1]

Everytime i do a water change i add 1 tbsp of aquarium salt to every 10 gals. that i take out. I really don't know if it benefits on a regular basis other than when treating ich.... ect. But it says heard it helps promote proper gill functions. Anyones else?

 

[Lupin]

There is no permanent benefit you get from adding salt in tanks on regular basis. It is the stores that benefit from the usage of salt because they are the ones who sell those fancy 'aquarium' salt packages as part of their ploy to gain profits. If you look at the fish in the wild (not counting the estuarines and marine environment), most habitats don't even have salt especially the Amazon basin yet many fish still thrive.

I repeat that adding salt has no absolute benefit at all. It's a complete waste of time and money. Keep it in cabinet and use if necessary.

 

[ctoychik]

There is no permanent benefit you get from adding salt in tanks on regular basis. It is the stores that benefit from the usage of salt because they are the ones who sell those fancy 'aquarium' salt packages as part of their ploy to gain profits. If you look at the fish in the wild (not counting the estuarines and marine environment), most habitats don't even have salt especially the Amazon basin yet many fish still thrive.

I repeat that adding salt has no absolute benefit at all. It's a complete waste of time and money. Keep it in cabinet and use if necessary.

Thanks Lupin. I have been adding salt (not aquarium, but the normal variety without iodine). Everyone else i know uses it ( some don't even dissolve it before hand - yikes!). LFS do not sell them but do recommend them and use salt themselves (so they are not out to make a buck on salt where i live).

I will try reduce salt gradually (to avoid sudden change). My big outdoor set up is chem free but the indoor one uses salt and dechlorinator. My fish inside 'salted' water (+dechlorinator) seemed to be more hyper than the ones without (arapaimas).

 

[ctoychik]

... Fish from soft acidic waters are highly susceptible to osmoregulatory system damage brought by the added electrolytes. This subjects them to stress and eventually death.

Just out of curiosity, what are these fish?

 

[Sanjo Eel]

I agree entirely with Lupin.

 

[cassharper]

Just out of curiosity, what are these fish?

pretty much any fish that is "recommended" to be kept in soft water. Apistogramma sp. (mostly wild caught), wild strains of discus, cories. I agree though, that any salt for a long period of time will actually do more damage than good. If you think you can trust your LFS and the industry, remember, these are the guys that say BIO-MEDIA needs to be replaced every 6 months.

It's a well known fact that consumables generally yield a higher profit margin then non consumables. Rena probably makes a pretty penny off their filstars, but they make a crap ton off water dechlor, salt, ferts, etc.

 

[Pharaoh]

No salt for me or my fish thanks. We are trying to keep the arteries clear!