Aquarium salt ok for tropical fish?

[NeonJulie]

-10 points for asking! *just kidding*

I offer free hugs when the natives get tired of repeating themselves. Redeemable upon request.

P.S. While I love seeing new threads appear, it can be helpful to try the search feature for an answer first. Of course, if you run into 19 threads that stopped short of the answer, come back on by!

Oh and another addition - maybe the reason he asked is because yet again, there's such a large swing of contradictions here. Personally years ago, my gouramis looked their best after a water change and a 1/2 tsp of salt. But five years later, it's now taboo? Yet we "newbs" continue to see recommendations?

 

[fish_freak]

Salt at one time was thought to be good for your fish because it helps your fish with electrolytes and increases slime coat production. However through science this thought was disproven and it was shown that while short time exposure to small levels of salt won't harm freshwater fish long term exposure will in fact harm them which is why today not to many experienced aquariest's recomend adding salt to a freshwater tank as a supplement. Just like the everything else in the world there is still a lot to learn on fish keeping but we are leaps and bounds further compared with just 10 years ago.

 

[echoofformless]

Salt at one time was thought to be good for your fish because it helps your fish with electrolytes and increases slime coat production. However through science this thought was disproven and it was shown that while short time exposure to small levels of salt won't harm freshwater fish long term exposure will in fact harm them which is why today not to many experienced aquariest's recomend adding salt to a freshwater tank as a supplement. Just like the everything else in the world there is still a lot to learn on fish keeping but we are leaps and bounds further compared with just 10 years ago.

I hazily recall someone either on this forum or another one mentioning that in old issues of TFH and old books and stuff they would tell you to never change your water!

Talk about learning curve.

 

[fish_freak]

I hazily recall someone either on this forum or another one mentioning that in old issues of TFH and old books and stuff they would tell you to never change your water!

Talk about learning curve.

Oh ya aged tank water was the only way to go. Water changes where aweful for your fish. Also fish only grew to the size of the tank and would stop growing when there was no more room with no ill effects.