if the household water is rich in nitrites, the people need to get water tests and have their own filters put on the line. that stuff isn't good for us either.
And the endless salt debate rages on....
- Thread starter beefsteak
- Start date
salt is bogus. i have never EVER EVER used salt and the only fish that have ever died under my care were either old and through their lifespan, fed to other fish, or new acclimations that didnt make it.
(and trust me, i may be experienced, but im CERTAINLY not a pro.)
(and trust me, i may be experienced, but im CERTAINLY not a pro.)
True, but a lot of people have shallow and/or unlined wells...Heavy rain events can spike a treated water supply as well
I also run a Federal Park and I can offer drinking water with ecoli counts near houndred (90ppm / 250ppm for swimming!) .... I forget what the nitrites and nitrates have to be (the test combines the 2) -- 80ppm or less I think??? FYI - Each State regulates this to varying concentration tolerances.
These levels are higher than manicipal drinking sources b/c people don't get their daily water from us (I guess that makes it okay?)
I'll see what I can find to correct any inaccuracies above (I'm working off of memory). I shoot our State water regulator an email (New Hampshire, which is more strict than most BTW)
Last edited:
what he said. Although I think it's merely a temporary band-aid. Nothing gets rid of nitrites better than a fresh water change.
I add salt to my Lake Malawi tank, but that's a lake that already has sodium chloride in it and my tapwater has none.
It basically comes down to what your fish are used to in the wild, how much salt is already in your tapwater, and how much salt you add to your tank during evaporation and water-changes.
It basically comes down to what your fish are used to in the wild, how much salt is already in your tapwater, and how much salt you add to your tank during evaporation and water-changes.
I think what 12 volt man said is scientifically correct, seems to be to me. But still I never added salt, I believe in FW it's useless...dont overfeed, overstock, make sure tanks is cycled, and do regular water changes. These simple things seem to be so hard for some people to grasp (obviosuly not the people on these boards, more so the casual fish buyer in stores) but that helps reduce all the toxicity problems in tanks.
very true but sometimes strong medications can upset the biofilter.
thats when salt comes in very handy.:dance2:
:dance2: oh forgot about that... Well i still dont think salt should be used, water changes water changes water changes, there are more cons in salt then there are pros but there are more pros then there are cons with water changes.
Water change:
Actually gets rid of nitrite, as well as ammonia, nitrate.
Renews buffers
Removes DOC
Can be a bit stressful
Salt:
Makes nitrite a little less toxic to fish
helps production of electrolytes
can kill some diseases
can burn fish
not good long term
messes with osmotic pressure
Water change:
Actually gets rid of nitrite, as well as ammonia, nitrate.
Renews buffers
Removes DOC
Can be a bit stressful
Salt:
Makes nitrite a little less toxic to fish
helps production of electrolytes
can kill some diseases
can burn fish
not good long term
messes with osmotic pressure
