Fish and salt?

[beautifulfish]

I have a 29 gallon tank and I have 5 fish. 1 blue gourami, 2 mickey mouse platys, and 2 female mollies. I took some water to Petsmart to be tested and they said that I have a little salt in my water. There is nothing to take the salt out so it that ok to have a little salt in the water?

[Must4ng s4lly]

Yes,
you should be fine. Mollies thrive in water with some salt in it and the Gourami should be fine with it. I have two gouramis in separate tanks and they have some salt in there and they are fine. My platies like a bit of salt too...

[luvmyfish]

I put a little bit of salt in all my tanks. It should be fine, as long as it is a litlle bit. It's actually recommended for the fish that you mentioned, they all do well with "a little bit of salt"

[cohazard]

I have a 29 gallon tank and I have 5 fish. 1 blue gourami, 2 mickey mouse platys, and 2 female mollies. I took some water to Petsmart to be tested and they said that I have a little salt in my water. There is nothing to take the salt out so it that ok to have a little salt in the water?

Did you put the salt in there yourself? If you didn't, I'd be a little concerned as to where it's coming from. I wonder what test they used, that showed that there is salt in your water.

[daveedka]

I would also seriously wonder what test they used. Sounds Fishy to me (pun intended). Additionally, Salt has negative long term effects on Freshwater fish and will shorten their lives. not to mention create an unnatural environment for them. This statement includes Mollies and Platies, which thrive in Hard water with high TDS levels. These fish do not thrive in Salted water, they survive salted water better than most fish so the myth is perpetuated. Freshwater Fish do not need salt, and salt is not good for them long term. Salt does have some uses as a medication for specific conditions and illnesses, but aside from short term treatment it is best not to subject your fish to it.

I would contact your water company and find out your Sodium Chloride levels. It Also might be good to find out why the LFS thinks you have salt in your water.
Dave

[Kasakato]

I put a little bit of salt in all my tanks. It should be fine, as long as it is a litlle bit. It's actually recommended for the fish that you mentioned, they all do well with "a little bit of salt"
Long term it can be bad. Its best just to leave them with out salt.

[beautifulfish]

I didn't add any salt in there. It's just the way my water is.:(

[Kasakato]

Weird. Maybe take a glass of the water and let it evapourate. If you get any kind of resuide you have salt.

[cohazard]

Weird. Maybe take a glass of the water and let it evapourate. If you get any kind of resuide you have salt.


Salt isn't the only thing that would leave a residue; so will hard water (i.e. calcium in the water).

[wataugachicken]

do you have a water softener in your house? it uses salt to get rid of the harder minerals, but will put salt into your tap. if you do have one, there should be a spigot on the water line before it reaches the softener. try and get your water from there when dealing with your tanks.

[Kasakato]

Salt isn't the only thing that would leave a residue; so will hard water (i.e. calcium in the water).
Taste it then, just less water so its stronger :rolleyes: