Can plecos tolerate any salt at all?

[nickmcmechan]

salt added short term for medicinal purposes is usually fine.
plecos living in salted tanks isnt fine

this is a link to faq at planetcatfish

http://www.planetcatfish.com/faq/index.php?qid=103&frommostrecent=yes

planetcatfish and plecofanatics are both great sites and there is lots of info about salt in the forums.

I'm currently treating ich and I have two clown plecs....

The choice for me has to be to get rid if the ich as quick as poss...that means salt treatment to me,

I would agree, long term use to me is (a) pointless...dont understand why you would do that (b) waste of cash

 

[ljd290]

yes salt as a medication is ok, but not for plecs to live in.

 

[kimmisc]

I would agree, long term use to me is (a) pointless...dont understand why you would do that (b) waste of cash

I never planned on doing salt for the long term.

Thanks for all the responses, everyone.

 

[Dangerdoll]

I just want to say that I agree with most in saying that plecos are fine with salt while being used for medicinal purposes but for a longth length of time, you will begin to note problems. It might start to his skin kinda fading or sme other indication. They are ok short term, not long term as they are scale less fish.

 

[Slider45]

I have 144 gallon tank (ozzie gal,s -650 litres) i have used 2 table spoons of epsom salts and 4 of cooking salt always have in my tanks i have 3 clown loaches witch are doing very well they seem to be groing better then i ever expected them to grow , and the Pleceo looks well and has all his original color , i guess time will tell i shall keep you posted
Cheers Slider45

 

[Slider45]

Just a quick question if you use the salt as a treatment for short time how do you remove it ? short of a complete strip down of tank how can you remove the salt?

 

[Dangerdoll]

water changes

 

[kimmisc]

Just do a 50% PWC at the end of treatment and then over time the rest of the salt will be removed during normal water changes during maintenance. Removing it all at once might be bad.

 

[Slider45]

well there you go i put salt in when i first set up tank so the 20% per week water changes fix,s that . i somehow thought the salt stayed in the tank

 

[beefsteak]

I have a Pleco in my tank not sure witch one it is and i have salt in my tank as a preventive measure, also i use epson salts as well . Pleco is going well as are all the fish ( loaches , spiney eel , Koolie loaches ) and the normal run of the mill comunity fish.
Cheers Slider45

Salt is great for treatment of many freshwater diseases, but beyond that has no place in your freshwater aquarium. Read the post my liv2padl in this thread. http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101958&highlight=aquarium+salt