ok -- salt and cichlids -- help, please

scatwoman

scatwoman

DBA "Chiclet woman"
Dec 2, 2007
7
0
0
59
Long Island, NY
Ok, ok, ok!!:help:
I have read a past thread about cichlids and salt. According to the thread, african malawi cichlids do not need salt.

why am I buying "cichlid salt" ?????? :wall:

I have read that cichlids need a certain specific gravity and salinity. I don't know what the numbers are, and that was my original reason for wanting to post, until I saw that other thread. Now I am really confused!

My current water readings:
ammonia-0
nitrates-0
nitrites-0
pH-7.4 (too low?)
GH - 13
kH - 7

Thanks in advance!!!!!
 
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I dont add any salt to my cichlid tank. Cichlid salts are basically a mix of trace elements and are used to raise ph in some cases (I think)
 
No salt here.........:)
 
I use one tbl spoon for every 5 gallons that I replace during water changes. I find that my fish are healthier and have no deaths or sicknesses since I began using it...probably a year ago.
 
I don't use any with mine and have no issues with coloring or breeding....
 
thanks, I just want what's best for the fish.
Any other suggestions welcomed.
 
I've never used salt in any of my tanks, but my mom uses it in her tanks in Louisiana. She uses API Aquarium salt, and swears by it: says it makes the fish more colorful and healthier. I dont use it, and I think mine look just as beautiful and healthy.
 
scatwoman said:
....why am I buying "cichlid salt" ??????....
I have read that cichlids need a certain specific gravity and salinity....
Click to expand...

Cichilds don't require a certain specific gravity or salinity. Cichlid salt products, especially those catering to the Rift Lake cichilds, contain other types of 'salts' (not all sodium chloride), minerals and trace elements. These products are typically designed to harden the water, increase alkalinity, pH and buffer in order to mimic the parameters of Lake Malawi, etc. Salt (sodium chloride) may be an ingredient (or added to the mix in small amounts) but is not concentrated enough to really increase salinity or specific gravity.

Some hobbyists make their own 'salts' by adding certain combinations/quantities of salt, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and epsom salt (magnesium sulfate).

If water parameters are stable, attempting to achieve ideal levels isn't necessary as flucuations can sometimes prove more harmful than helpful, so you'd be fine not using anything providing your pH is fairly stable.
 
many thanks to you all :)

And thanks to kay-bee, for explaining why I am using Cichlid salt :)

--Carol
 
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