Adding Salt to a Freshwater Aquarium

[Jim]

I've been getting conflicting points of view about adding salt to my
freshwater aquarium. Can someone PLEASE give me a "no-holds-barred"
answer ???

I have a 90 gallon tank with Gouramis, Bala sharks, Tetras, Angels,
and Cherry barbs. As a general tonic, I've been using Doc Wellfish's
Aquarium salt giving the recommended dose of 1 table-spoon per 5
gallons. The reason I put salt in my aquarium is to add natural
electrolytes as well as improve gill function. They say that salt
also prevents external parasites (such as Ich) from infiltrating your
tank.

The bottom line is that my fish seem to be happy and healthy however
some aquariusts would argue that adding salt will only stress out the
fish ....

Am I doing the right thing here ? Any feedback I can get would be
greatly appreciated.

Jim.

[RedForeman ©®]

|| I've been getting conflicting points of view about adding salt to my
|| freshwater aquarium. Can someone PLEASE give me a "no-holds-barred"
|| answer ???

Yes, yes I can....

|| I have a 90 gallon tank with Gouramis, Bala sharks, Tetras, Angels,
|| and Cherry barbs. As a general tonic, I've been using Doc Wellfish's
|| Aquarium salt giving the recommended dose of 1 table-spoon per 5
|| gallons. The reason I put salt in my aquarium is to add natural
|| electrolytes as well as improve gill function. They say that salt
|| also prevents external parasites (such as Ich) from infiltrating your
|| tank.

You are correct.. why are you listening to others who don't know certain
things, like, corys dont' tolerate salt, nor do clown loaches.... in very
small amounts they actually can, but only for temporary periods...

|| The bottom line is that my fish seem to be happy and healthy however
|| some aquariusts would argue that adding salt will only stress out the
|| fish ....
||
|| Am I doing the right thing here ? Any feedback I can get would be
|| greatly appreciated.

Salt is ok for most FW fish, with the above exceptions... Clown loaches
don't like it nor do Kuhli loaches, but they can tolerate it in smaller
amounts, for shorter periods. Corys don't like it either, but can tolerate
it longer, and a bit higher concentrations.

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[Justin Boucher]

To add to RedForman sound advice, a planted tank also will not tolerate salt
levels. The plants don't like the added salt. There are fish like the ones
that RedForeman mentions that can't tolerate much salt in a FW tank.

The addition of salt does have some good qualities as you already know and
have sited. Although my FW tanks are now planted and have both Khili and
Clown loaches, I only used a measure of 1tbs per 10 gal of water before I
converted them. Now, obviously, I don't suppliment my FW tanks with any
salt.

On a side note, watch the type of salt you use for supplimenting your tanks.
In the past, I had used marine salt such as Instant Ocean. I never used
table salt or iodized salt. I have also used Kosher salt with positive
results. The reason I mention this is that some of hte containers marked as
salt for a FW system is nothing more than marine or kosher salt with a
larger price tag.

Justin

"Jim" > wrote in message
om...
> I've been getting conflicting points of view about adding salt to my
> freshwater aquarium. Can someone PLEASE give me a "no-holds-barred"
> answer ???
>
> I have a 90 gallon tank with Gouramis, Bala sharks, Tetras, Angels,
> and Cherry barbs. As a general tonic, I've been using Doc Wellfish's
> Aquarium salt giving the recommended dose of 1 table-spoon per 5
> gallons. The reason I put salt in my aquarium is to add natural
> electrolytes as well as improve gill function. They say that salt
> also prevents external parasites (such as Ich) from infiltrating your
> tank.
>
> The bottom line is that my fish seem to be happy and healthy however
> some aquariusts would argue that adding salt will only stress out the
> fish ....
>
> Am I doing the right thing here ? Any feedback I can get would be
> greatly appreciated.
>
> Jim.

[Denise]

I've got a 30g with platies, guppies, cory cats, marbled hatchets and one
gourami. I also have a 10g with platies & danios. Both tanks have lots of
thriving live plants. use a little aquarium salt in both tanks-about 1 tsp.
per 5g which is less than recommended. Everyone seems happy and I think the
salt helps discourage overgrowth of snails too. If i spot an outbreak of
ich, I up the temp & salt but still less than the recommended 1 Tblsp. per
5g. It disappears and I go back to my usual 1 tsp./gal. My plants have
suffered no ill effect - in fact, they grow like crazy! The corys are fine
too. Hope that helps.
Denise
"Justin Boucher" > wrote in message
...
> To add to RedForman sound advice, a planted tank also will not tolerate
salt
> levels. The plants don't like the added salt. There are fish like the
ones
> that RedForeman mentions that can't tolerate much salt in a FW tank.
>
> The addition of salt does have some good qualities as you already know and
> have sited. Although my FW tanks are now planted and have both Khili and
> Clown loaches, I only used a measure of 1tbs per 10 gal of water before I
> converted them. Now, obviously, I don't suppliment my FW tanks with any
> salt.
>
> On a side note, watch the type of salt you use for supplimenting your
tanks.
> In the past, I had used marine salt such as Instant Ocean. I never used
> table salt or iodized salt. I have also used Kosher salt with positive
> results. The reason I mention this is that some of hte containers marked
as
> salt for a FW system is nothing more than marine or kosher salt with a
> larger price tag.
>
> Justin
>
> "Jim" > wrote in message
> om...
> > I've been getting conflicting points of view about adding salt to my
> > freshwater aquarium. Can someone PLEASE give me a "no-holds-barred"
> > answer ???
> >
> > I have a 90 gallon tank with Gouramis, Bala sharks, Tetras, Angels,
> > and Cherry barbs. As a general tonic, I've been using Doc Wellfish's
> > Aquarium salt giving the recommended dose of 1 table-spoon per 5
> > gallons. The reason I put salt in my aquarium is to add natural
> > electrolytes as well as improve gill function. They say that salt
> > also prevents external parasites (such as Ich) from infiltrating your
> > tank.
> >
> > The bottom line is that my fish seem to be happy and healthy however
> > some aquariusts would argue that adding salt will only stress out the
> > fish ....
> >
> > Am I doing the right thing here ? Any feedback I can get would be
> > greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Jim.
>
>

[RedForeman ©®]

|| I've got a 30g with platies, guppies, cory cats, marbled hatchets
|| and one gourami. I also have a 10g with platies & danios. Both tanks
|| have lots of thriving live plants. use a little aquarium salt in
|| both tanks-about 1 tsp. per 5g which is less than recommended.
|| Everyone seems happy and I think the salt helps discourage
|| overgrowth of snails too. If i spot an outbreak of ich, I up the
|| temp & salt but still less than the recommended 1 Tblsp. per 5g. It
|| disappears and I go back to my usual 1 tsp./gal. My plants have
|| suffered no ill effect - in fact, they grow like crazy! The corys
|| are fine too. Hope that helps.
|| Denise

I agree, their able to deal with it in small doses... but the recommended
amounts can stress non-tolerant fish to death...

--
| RedForeman ©® fabricator and creator of the ratbike streetfighter!!!
| ==========================
| 2003 TRX450ES
| 1992 TRX-350 XX (For Sale)
| '98 Tacoma Ext Cab 4X4 Lifted....
| ==========================
| ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤° `°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø
| ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.¸. ><((((º> ·´¯`·. , .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>
| for any questions you may have....
| www.gmail.com

[Christy84065]

"Justin Boucher" > wrote in message >...
> To add to RedForman sound advice, a planted tank also will not tolerate salt
> levels. The plants don't like the added salt.


It is interesting you say this. My plants have been growing alright,
but if you are right then if I stop adding salt my plants will grow
better. I put a little in when I notice my platties stressing out.
BOY the platties stress out easily. I only ever add the 1Tbsp per 5
gallons though. I just got two Cory Cats today and now I am not sure
if they will be happy with the fact that there is salt in the water
already. And here I am stuck at work where I can't see if they are
ok! Tanks guys