Salt and Platys and Corys

[iamgroovy]

I just added a few Platys to a 15 gal. Right now they are the only fish in there. How much salt should I add for them? I'd like to add some corys later. How much salt can corys tolerate? I'm aiming to strike a balance between enough salt for the platys and not too much for the corys. Any insight would be appreciated!
Thanks

 

[rich311k]

You do not need to add any salt. Platys like harder water not saltier and even that is not necessary since they are all tank raised any way.

 

[icka]

i am not sure but from my understanding a little salt does not hurt any fish, read the label on the salt container and maybe do half of that and watch and if everything is adjusting ok add the rest, dont forget take some water out in a container and add salt to that container and not straight to the tank.

 

[rich311k]

There is no reason to add salt to a freshwater tank unless you are treating for some type of disease. Icka is correct a little salt will not hurt your fish, but it is not needed.

 

[icka]

the reason is to help build a slime coat, the slime coat helps protect fish from bacteria and other disease that attack them... i would say that if you have some then add it, it is an extra safety precaution, if it does not harm the fish but does help it why not add it?

 

[rich311k]

the reason is to help build a slime coat, the slime coat helps protect fish from bacteria and other disease that attack them... i would say that if you have some then add it, it is an extra safety precaution, if it does not harm the fish but does help it why not add it?

I have never heard that before. Where did you get that information?

 

[flyfly]

I have heard that too, but I dont know how much the salt really helps, or if it is a myth. I personnally dont use any salt in my freshwater tanks unless Im treating ich.

 

[Kissofthegorami]

They don't need salt and prefer no salt. If u added any salt, cichlid salt would be better because all they want is the hardness from it. Cories hate salt. If you have cories, don't use salt.

 

[daveedka]

i am not sure but from my understanding a little salt does not hurt any fish, read the label on the salt container and maybe do half of that and watch and if everything is adjusting ok add the rest, dont forget take some water out in a container and add salt to that container and not straight to the tank.

The use of salt in freshwater tanks will harm freshwater fish long term, it will also Increase the risk of high TDS levels and Old tank syndrome. The only time salt should be used is for the treatment of specified diseases that will succumb to salt.

As far as the slime coat myth, my first question is always How do you measure a fish's slime coat? The next thing to consider is that a fish's natural response to any irritant is a thickened slime coat. so it would stand to reason that if salt does in fact increase slime coat then it probably is an irritant.
Either way freshwater fish are far healthier in a tank without NaCl added.
dave

 

[FishFreak101]

Dave i think ur rong all my fish are freshwater and i put in salt. iamgroovey salt protects heals and hatches brine shrimp.i think u shood put some in just to protect them for diesase.