Salt - How do you know?

[Jeff2012]

We have a 46 gallon bow front tank, planted tank with guppies, danios, and ottos. We had been adding a little salt - 1 TBS/5 gallons, because I read that the guppies prefer this. Now we would like to get 4-5 Panda Corries and I have also read that they prefer no salt. The plan is to reduce the salt with water changes before we stock with Corries.
I have read elsewhere that a little salt can be tolerated by Corries - do you agree?

How do I know how much salt I have remaining, and is it too much?
I ask because we keep very good records of what we add to the tank, but I don't know the exact weight of the TBS of salt, and I have added nutrients for the plants.

What specifically is the problem for Corries with salt? I mean is it sodium, is it all ions in general ?
Can I test for it? Can you recommend a test kit?

Am I making too much out of this and making it harder than it needs to be?
Thank you

 

[Slappy*McFish]

Stop using salt in your freshwater aquarium. The only time you should ever need to use it is for treating parasitic infestations such as Ich. Doesn't get much easier than that.

http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/salt
http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/The_Salt_of_the_Earth

 

[excuzzzeme]

Stop using salt in your freshwater aquarium. The only time you should ever need to use it is for treating parasitic infestations such as Ich. Doesn't get much easier than that.

http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/salt
http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/The_Salt_of_the_Earth

+1

Cories, most catfish, most tetras, plants (except SW marsh plants), inverts and the list goes on of reasons to not use salt.......................

 

[stephcps]

Totally agree.

 

[tanker]

I agree with all. Why are you adding salt?

 

[Jeff2012]

There are quite a few sites that recommend a little bit of salt for guppies. It maintains osmotic balance, and it is good for gill function. It seems that in a community tank there are pluses and minuses to everything that you add to the ecosystem.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

The guppies will be fine without the addition of salt (especially if your tap water is already hard). The damage the salt causes to plants and fishes such as Corys, completely negates any minimal 'benefits' it serves to the guppies.

 

[petluvr]

The guppies will be fine without the addition of salt (especially if your tap water is already hard). The damage the salt causes to plants and fishes such as Corys, completely negates any minimal 'benefits' it serves to the guppies.

Totally agree, stop adding salt

 

[Rbishop]

No need for the salt..the other sites are bending the truth a lot...

 

[jm1212]

Salt with otos is not a good idea long-term.

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