freshwater salt help

A

april_tiffany

AC Members
Jul 21, 2005
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Here's the scenerio: I had a couple fish come down with fungus. They were removed from my planted 55 gallon and placed in quarantine. It was suggested that I raise the temp and add salt to the main tank as some preventative therapy (1 Tbsp/ 5 gal). I only added 7 Tbsp total b/c I'm scared to death of killing my fish. Here's my question: I know that mollies like the salt, and I've heard that having some salt in a freshwater tank is a beneficial thing. Can I keep the salt in my tank permenantly w/o hurting my other residents? They are as follows:
4 sailfin mollies
2 gouramis
1 celebes rainbow
1 black ghost knife
1 flounder
1 khuli loach
1 pleco
 
Probably but it is a waste of time. If there is a problem and a fungus keeps coming back then it is something you should deal with. Also mollies do adjust well to salt water (not just NaCl mind you) but don't require it at all.. Plus the rest of your fish do not do well with salt long term. A few weeks for a treatment is fine but eventually it will end up hurting fish like plecos.

How big is the tank? A ghost knife will get quite big and will most likely attack your other fish.
 
TKOS said:
How big is the tank? A ghost knife will get quite big and will most likely attack your other fish.
Click to expand...

55 gallon. He's about 7" now (up from 4) and has never been a problem. I'm aware they get quite large...we used to catch them on hook and line in florida :p:
 
I say leave the salt, I've had fish inc plecos in tanks with salt and they're fine, so long as you dont put too much salt in and the ratio your using is fine btw then you'll have no issues. Salt is great at keeping fngus, ich, parasites and loads of other nasty stuff away. I've even got dwarf frogs in a freshwater tank with salt in and they're very happy and eatting fine and dont look at all in distress so I wouldn't be too bothered about the long term effects.
 
Bottom line is freshwater fish will not live as long or thrive as well in salted water. The reccomendations to use "freshwater aquarium salt" (table salt) in tanks really does not stand up to any good testing. Short term it is good for treatment of several things, long term it will shorten the life of your fish and weaken them. The myth truly does run Rampant, and most folks refuse to invest the time and energy it takes to really study the subject properly. Treat your fish, figure out what allowed the fungal infection in the first place and fix whatever that issue is. Then go on with freshwater no salt added.

Fungal infections only attack fish otherwise weakened or stressed. Healthy fish will ward off fungus and do so constantly. An outbreak is a sign of some stress factor or problem in the tank at some point.
Dave
 
Thanks for the advice. I think I'll change out the salt after another day or two. The fungus was from two new fish in the first place, the community had been great otherwise. And so far they are still the only two w/ visible fungus and they are being treated in quarantine w/ methylene blue.
 
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