Salt for New Aquarium?

[Hamlet]

I seem to be getting conflicting info on whether to add salt to my new
freshwater aquarium. My plan is to have a mix of platies, swordtails,
and cories.

Some of the things I'm reading say to add some salt for the
livebearers (1 tablespoon per 5 gallons?). One of my LFS (Petco) has
labels on their livebearer tanks saying to add one teaspoon per gallon
(so 2 tablespoons per 6 gallons). I probably won't get the fish there
because they don't have a large selection and the fish they do have
look less than healthy.

If I do add salt, will the Cories like it (the Cories will be added
later).

I would prefer not to add salt if the fish don't need it (simpler is
better). Does this depend on how the fish are raised?

[David J. Braunegg]

I have Platies and Cories. The LFS recommended 1tsp salt per gallon, which
I started with. I have since learned that Cories don't like salt. I slowly
lowered the salt concentration through partial water changes over a period
of weeks to the point where I haven't added salt in months--the water should
pretty much be salt free by now. All the fish are happy.

If your LFS *does* use salt in the water for all these fish, I suggest
matching the salt concentration to not shock the fish when you bring them
home. Then I would spend a couple months bringing the salt down to zero so
you have one fewer thing to maintain in your tank.

Full disclosure: I am less than a year into this hobby.

Dave


"Hamlet" > wrote in message
om...
> I seem to be getting conflicting info on whether to add salt to my new
> freshwater aquarium. My plan is to have a mix of platies, swordtails,
> and cories.
>
> Some of the things I'm reading say to add some salt for the
> livebearers (1 tablespoon per 5 gallons?). One of my LFS (Petco) has
> labels on their livebearer tanks saying to add one teaspoon per gallon
> (so 2 tablespoons per 6 gallons). I probably won't get the fish there
> because they don't have a large selection and the fish they do have
> look less than healthy.
>
> If I do add salt, will the Cories like it (the Cories will be added
> later).
>
> I would prefer not to add salt if the fish don't need it (simpler is
> better). Does this depend on how the fish are raised?

[NetMax]

Dave's response is exactly what I would do in the same manner.
--
www.NetMax.tk

"David J. Braunegg" > wrote in message
...
> I have Platies and Cories. The LFS recommended 1tsp salt per gallon,
which
> I started with. I have since learned that Cories don't like salt. I
slowly
> lowered the salt concentration through partial water changes over a
period
> of weeks to the point where I haven't added salt in months--the water
should
> pretty much be salt free by now. All the fish are happy.
>
> If your LFS *does* use salt in the water for all these fish, I suggest
> matching the salt concentration to not shock the fish when you bring
them
> home. Then I would spend a couple months bringing the salt down to
zero so
> you have one fewer thing to maintain in your tank.
>
> Full disclosure: I am less than a year into this hobby.
>
> Dave
>
>
> "Hamlet" > wrote in message
> om...
> > I seem to be getting conflicting info on whether to add salt to my
new
> > freshwater aquarium. My plan is to have a mix of platies,
swordtails,
> > and cories.
> >
> > Some of the things I'm reading say to add some salt for the
> > livebearers (1 tablespoon per 5 gallons?). One of my LFS (Petco) has
> > labels on their livebearer tanks saying to add one teaspoon per
gallon
> > (so 2 tablespoons per 6 gallons). I probably won't get the fish there
> > because they don't have a large selection and the fish they do have
> > look less than healthy.
> >
> > If I do add salt, will the Cories like it (the Cories will be added
> > later).
> >
> > I would prefer not to add salt if the fish don't need it (simpler is
> > better). Does this depend on how the fish are raised?
>
>

[Dick]

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 17:09:21 -0400, "David J. Braunegg"
> wrote:

>I have Platies and Cories. The LFS recommended 1tsp salt per gallon, which
>I started with. I have since learned that Cories don't like salt. I slowly
>lowered the salt concentration through partial water changes over a period
>of weeks to the point where I haven't added salt in months--the water should
>pretty much be salt free by now. All the fish are happy.
>
>If your LFS *does* use salt in the water for all these fish, I suggest
>matching the salt concentration to not shock the fish when you bring them
>home. Then I would spend a couple months bringing the salt down to zero so
>you have one fewer thing to maintain in your tank.
>
>Full disclosure: I am less than a year into this hobby.
>
>Dave
>
>
>"Hamlet" > wrote in message
om...
>> I seem to be getting conflicting info on whether to add salt to my new
>> freshwater aquarium. My plan is to have a mix of platies, swordtails,
>> and cories.
>>
>> Some of the things I'm reading say to add some salt for the
>> livebearers (1 tablespoon per 5 gallons?). One of my LFS (Petco) has
>> labels on their livebearer tanks saying to add one teaspoon per gallon
>> (so 2 tablespoons per 6 gallons). I probably won't get the fish there
>> because they don't have a large selection and the fish they do have
>> look less than healthy.
>>
>> If I do add salt, will the Cories like it (the Cories will be added
>> later).
>>
>> I would prefer not to add salt if the fish don't need it (simpler is
>> better). Does this depend on how the fish are raised?
>

I added salt when I added Mollies until I decided I was too lazy and I
was getting salt deposits where the bubbler left it. I now have 5
tanks, 15 species and 130 fish and see no reason to return to living
better with chemistry. My fish are safer if I meddle least is my
philosophy. I do change 20% of the water weekly.

dick