I'll admit that a lot of people add it just cuz its "folklore", but it does
have scientific merit. It is known that the slimecoat on a fish body is its
primary barrier to a lot of outside infections or parasites. It is also
known that salt is an irritant that causes the fish to automatically excrete
more slimecoating. This is the reasoning behind the practice.. Its more of a
preventative measure then a cure, once an infection occurs.

"Sarotherodon" wrote in message
...
I also used to add salt regularly to my tanks, but I quit doing it and
noticed no difference. I came to believe that the benefits of salt were
another bit of aquarium folklore. Most of the supposed benefits just
don't
make sense biologically and no one seems to have any studies to support
them. Proper nutrition, clean tanks and quarantine of new fish , IMO,
takes
care of most disease problems. Many Killi keepers claim that salt
prevents
Oodinium, many also attribute Oodinium outbreaks to brine shrimp. But,
just
as many claim that overall fish health and cleanliness prevents it! Can't
say who is right in every case, but I feed brine shrimp, use no salt and
have only once had Oodinium, in a new pair of fish. I think that certain
fish benefit from salt, but I'm not convinced it is a useful general
practice.
paul

"The Madd Hatter" wrote in message
ble.rogers.com...
I personally add salt to my tanks, but not to a level that could be
considered any where near brackish. Its a good preventative to have in
the
tank as far as nicks and cuts etc are concerned and also helps prevent a
lot
of disease outbreaks.
"Sarotherodon" wrote in message
...
The Cichlid Aquarium by Paul Loiselle is a great book for general
cichlid
keeping, he covers a lot of great information in a pretty small and
inexpensive book.
VERY general rule of thumb is RiftLake and Central Americans need hard
alkaline water, West Africans and South Americans prefer slightly soft
acidic water.
Many keepers of Malawi and Tanganyikans put salt in the water, but I
have
read from reliable sources that these lakes are not especially saline.
Except for the chromides, Etroplus, I don't belive any cichlids
actually
need brackish water. It is true that many cichlids are very
adaptable.
"Ciclasoma" urophthalmus often lives in seawater in Central America.
For
the fish you listed, I personally don't see any advantage to using
brackish
water, but fairly hard water would be good.
Paul