I'm no expert. I can definitely see why you wouldn't like to use salt. I don't use much at all when I do use it.. I'm just saying that the reason why you don't want to use it is the reason that other people do use it. If it does what it's supposed to do, then I think it's a good thing. I haven't studied it's effects enough myself to tell you if it does any good or not.
Since I have used it often though, I doub that some salt killed these fish.
8" though? that sucks.
