30 years ago salt in the tanks was the way to go.These are old myths that have no place in the hobby today.Leave the salt out your fish will be better off.
To salt or not to salt
- Thread starter ctoychik
- Start date
I've never added salt and I never will unless it's a small hospital tank and I'm using it to help treat something.
Lupin pretty much nailed it.
Lupin pretty much nailed it.
I used salt up until about a year ago when i ran out and just forgot to go get some onetime when i was doing a wc and realized my fish did fine without it so just never bothered with it again!
myth or not, ive been using salt in my tanks after every water change. and i use the big bags of morton solar salt so its not like if its expensive.
until Myth Busters says otherwise, i see no reason to stop adding salt to my tanks...
until Myth Busters says otherwise, i see no reason to stop adding salt to my tanks...
NaCl (sodium chloride) not MARINE SALT (it has buffers that are harmful to many freshwater fish).
"Sea salt" is good for cooking and a foot soak but not for fish, as it is formed (evaporation ponds) it undergoes to many irreversible changes.
Prevents nitrIte/nitrAte poisoning (in proper concentrations) with new setups.
Prevents parasite growth & infestation by interfering with the life cycle (like Chilodonella cyprini), Costia infestations.
Lowers osmotic pressure.
Adds electrolytes (this is where the gill thing comes in, osmoregulatory stress).
Replaces sodium and chloride ions that fish need.
Raises the Hardness (gH) not good for true softwater fish (ie hatchetfish, elephantnoses, discus, neon tetras, cardinal tetras, rummy nose tetras, corys, discus) angelfish can tolerate it some.
Some livebearers & some [FONT=Arial,Helvetica]cichlids [/FONT](originally brackish or enter brackish water) can benifit if you hard hard water.
Know the salinity for your tap water, don't add salt until you do.
Don't use in planted tanks and with scaleless fish.
Care should be taken asit acts as an irritant to goldfish, & koi.
Don't use with Zeolite, as it stops it from removing ammonia/ammonium.
You must thoroughly dissolve & dilute the salt before adding it to the tank water. (it can chemically burn the fish).
Too much salt causes bloat.
The Iodine in table salt is inconsequential (fish would be pickled before being killed by the Iodine). Fish can develop goiter in captivity from the lack of iodine. Decaking agents are in such low quantities they are not a problem either.
Remember that salt does not evaporate. Add one and test accordingly before addition of any more.
Salt has it's place in fish hubandry, mostly as a tonic or treatment, but you should be fairly well versed before using it or follow directions from someone who is.
Dr Joe
.
"Sea salt" is good for cooking and a foot soak but not for fish, as it is formed (evaporation ponds) it undergoes to many irreversible changes.
Prevents nitrIte/nitrAte poisoning (in proper concentrations) with new setups.
Prevents parasite growth & infestation by interfering with the life cycle (like Chilodonella cyprini), Costia infestations.
Lowers osmotic pressure.
Adds electrolytes (this is where the gill thing comes in, osmoregulatory stress).
Replaces sodium and chloride ions that fish need.
Raises the Hardness (gH) not good for true softwater fish (ie hatchetfish, elephantnoses, discus, neon tetras, cardinal tetras, rummy nose tetras, corys, discus) angelfish can tolerate it some.
Some livebearers & some [FONT=Arial,Helvetica]cichlids [/FONT](originally brackish or enter brackish water) can benifit if you hard hard water.
Know the salinity for your tap water, don't add salt until you do.
Don't use in planted tanks and with scaleless fish.
Care should be taken asit acts as an irritant to goldfish, & koi.
Don't use with Zeolite, as it stops it from removing ammonia/ammonium.
You must thoroughly dissolve & dilute the salt before adding it to the tank water. (it can chemically burn the fish).
Too much salt causes bloat.
The Iodine in table salt is inconsequential (fish would be pickled before being killed by the Iodine). Fish can develop goiter in captivity from the lack of iodine. Decaking agents are in such low quantities they are not a problem either.
Remember that salt does not evaporate. Add one and test accordingly before addition of any more.
Salt has it's place in fish hubandry, mostly as a tonic or treatment, but you should be fairly well versed before using it or follow directions from someone who is.
Dr Joe
.
Another moderator has weighed in (thank you Dr Joe). And it seems that salt is not so bad if used correctly unless it is for true fresh water fish. Tonic is a good thing, i assume?
Prevents nitrite/nitrate poisoning - this part i am particularly interesting. Does it do so perpetually? I.e. if water changes are done regularly with salt, no poisoning?
PS: hmmm it would explain the twitchy behaviour of koi - none of the ancient fish seem to be affected: silver, jar, asians, paimas and bichir. I will have to see whether marble cat is affected.
Prevents nitrite/nitrate poisoning - this part i am particularly interesting. Does it do so perpetually? I.e. if water changes are done regularly with salt, no poisoning?
PS: hmmm it would explain the twitchy behaviour of koi - none of the ancient fish seem to be affected: silver, jar, asians, paimas and bichir. I will have to see whether marble cat is affected.
ctoychik;2206520; said:
Tonic - like cough medicine, you don't take it unless you need it. (and I don't want to hear from any niquil junkies
).If regular W/C's are done it's not necessary
.Does your marble cat have scales?
Dr Joe
.
twk1;2206849; said:
In limited quantities and exposure it's like any other medication, and like other medications looses it's effect or becomes detrimental if over-used.
Dr Joe
.
