View Full Version : What's the Best Way to Disease-Proof a tank? add salt?
Freshwater Noob
03-01-2008, 10:26 AM
I am wondering if I should add salt to my tank to reduce my chances of other fish getting fungus / ick. The only problem with that is that I have a couple of mystery snails in the tank and I am sure they won't like that! Does anyone have any advice on this?
Rbishop
03-01-2008, 10:27 AM
QT and buying from reliable sources.
Dangerdoll
03-01-2008, 10:52 AM
I wouldn't add anything as a preventative. As rb says, QT and reliable sources will help with new fish and regular routine water maintenance will work for the rest.
tanker
03-01-2008, 11:45 AM
Healthy fish usually do not get sick. Q new-comers, good water quality, good food, ect.
Have not had any disease in my tanks for years.
nickmcmechan
03-01-2008, 12:11 PM
i second all of that + UV steriliser
Mgamer20o0
03-01-2008, 4:36 PM
always qt fish for a month. that solves many problems lol
jm1212
03-01-2008, 5:16 PM
adding salt to the tank will only create other problems with the fish, including creating strains of disease that are resistant to it.
grannylvsfish
03-01-2008, 5:20 PM
I had a 10 gallon for the new fish, but did not set it up and added them to my other 10 gallon tank with my snails. added 3 fish to my babies I had in there and they got ick. I was like:wall: why did I not put them in the 10 gallon hospital tank! I had to take all the plants out and treat the whole tank, :wall: I learned a valuable lesson.
adding salt to the tank will only create other problems with the fish, including creating strains of disease that are resistant to it.
:iagree:
jpappy789
03-01-2008, 9:39 PM
Everyone else pretty much summed it up. QT + good sources with healthy stock.
1. Buy healthy fish
2. Stock appropriately for the size of tank and inhabitants already in there.
3. Quarantine for one month before adding to show tank
4. Water change minimum 25% weekly with an appropriate water conditioner. Amount of water changed to be determined by what is necessary to keep Nitrates below 20. Emergency water changes if ammonia/nitrite are detectable.
5. Use a proper liquid drop test kit, regularly, on your tap as well.
6. Feed appropriately.
7. Weekly thorough gravel vac
8. Monthly fitler maintenance
9. Monthly 'deep clean' of tank.
10. Over-filter
11. Built in redundancy on heaters, filters etc, in case of equipment failure.
salt not necessary unless treating for disease.
oscaremmy
03-02-2008, 4:03 PM
I had a 10 gallon for the new fish, but did not set it up and added them to my other 10 gallon tank with my snails. added 3 fish to my babies I had in there and they got ick. I was like:wall: why did I not put them in the 10 gallon hospital tank! I had to take all the plants out and treat the whole tank, :wall: I learned a valuable lesson.
I miss that dancing cat avatar!
TMDragon
03-02-2008, 4:30 PM
1. Buy healthy fish
2. Stock appropriately for the size of tank and inhabitants already in there.
3. Quarantine for one month before adding to show tank
4. Water change minimum 25% weekly with an appropriate water conditioner. Amount of water changed to be determined by what is necessary to keep Nitrates below 20. Emergency water changes if ammonia/nitrite are detectable.
5. Use a proper liquid drop test kit, regularly, on your tap as well.
6. Feed appropriately.
7. Weekly thorough gravel vac
8. Monthly fitler maintenance
9. Monthly 'deep clean' of tank.
10. Over-filter
11. Built in redundancy on heaters, filters etc, in case of equipment failure.
salt not necessary unless treating for disease.
:iagree: Quarantine, only buy from reliable sources, only buy healthy fish from healthy tanks and stay away from feeders, lol.
DeeSeven
03-02-2008, 9:24 PM
water changes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hate them as much as you can but I for one give all my tanks a 50% water change weekly and yea its time consuming and yes it does suck lugging water BUT my fish thank me weekly for it :)
Bobnova
03-03-2008, 10:39 AM
The two best ways to disease proof a tank:
1) Lots of water changes. Water changes = healthy fish, healthy fish don't get sick.
2) Don't overstock. Overstocking = unhealthy fish, unhealthy fish get sick.
cmartin
03-03-2008, 5:46 PM
I now have a separate set of equipment to deal with my QT - different Python, nets, etc. I almost spread some real 'nasties' from my QT to my other tanks by using the same equipment.
Bottom line for a healthy tank - control what goes in and what goes out - only proven healthy fish in after a QT period - and make sure your tank maintenance keeps your water parms good.
I run 2 filters, 2 heaters, and a UV sterlizer on my 'prize' tank. Not prize fish - but it is the most important to me.