Who uses salt in their Goldfish Tanks?

[JeffP]

I use salt at 2.5 to 3 tablespoons per 5G. My fish have been healthy since I've started using it so I'm afraid to stop.

[Serrateeth_2002]

I add salt to stop ich breakouts.

[Jake da Flake]

My goldfish seem to keep getting sick...maybe salt will help them a bit :)

[val]

Jeff,

If you've started your tank with salt, keep doing it. I add salt about every three water changes, so I must have an infinitesimal amount of salt... I also usually just put in a small handful and don't measure it. My GF seem fine...

Val

[crenicichla]

Originally posted by Serrateeth_2002
I add salt to stop ich breakouts.

adding salt will not stop ICH infections.

[JeffP]

Proper quarrantine procedures are the only sure way to prevent an Ich outbreak in established aquariums. However, the presence of salt may prevent ich outbreaks and/or minimize their severity when the fish become stressed. I have attached some information from a goldfish and koi website that I have found useful. Although I have good luck with it, I am sure that salt is not 100% necessary....especially if you have live plants.

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exerpt from www.koivet.com:

The Use of Salt as a Remedy

I recommend that you use salt, before you try anything else for parasites.

I recommend salt so darn often because it has so many benefits over other medicants. Namely:
1) It does not harm the majority of fish species.
2) It does not push sick fish "over the edge."
3) It eliminates, QUICKLY, 7 of 9 parasites I can easily recall.
4) It does not get bound out of the system by organics or sunlight.
5) It does not pose a health risk to humans contacting it.
6) It is CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP.
and 7) It WON'T harm your filter!

Salt knocks off the following baddies:
Ichthyophthirius
Chilodinella
Costiasis (Ichthyobodo necatrix)
Almost every single Trichodiniid/Tripartiella organism.
Glossatella
Scyphidia
Epistylis
Trichophrya
External Tetrahymena
Inhibits trematode reproduction, clears 30% of adults.
Inhibits Lerneiid reproduction

[Serrateeth_2002]

Originally posted by crenicichla


adding salt will not stop ICH infections.

It kills the free swimming ones,u don't get ich the moment the fish enters the water.