Salt recommendations?

i was under the impression that table salt had trace amounts of iodine in it (hence the term iodized salt) thats why i was told not to use it.

however, in the instance of ghost shrimp and perhaps similar molting creatures, i've heard that a little bit of iodine is benificial to the molting process.

so, i cant imagine there's enough iodine in table salt to damage any fish, considering i've always used it to help with healing wounds, and ghost shrimp need it to molt.

also, if its put in a cup, like i've seen at the fish store, then it takes days to dissolve, because it's usually a couple inches deep in the cup


hope that helps.
 
Salt certainly isn't needed generally in FW tanks and I don't believe there is any compelling evidence to advocate its continual use. It can be handy for treating certain parasites (notably ick) and it can help fish unfortunately swimming in a cycling tank to not take up so much nitrite through their gills, but otherwise I don't know of many compelling reasons for its use. (It may or may not be useful for fin rot; I don't really know.)

You'll hear a lot about salt relieving 'stress' and other such things, but I'm not really sure what sort of stress salt might relieve. You'll also hear warnings against use of table salt because of the iodine it contains or the anti-caking agents (yellow prussiate of soda) but these are in such trace amounts as to be meaningless.

I have used Melafix with good results, but only in fully cycled tanks. It hasn't impaired biofiltration, but I don't know that I'd be so confident in a tank without a healthy contingent of beneficial bacteria. I think highly frequent water changes are the best route in this instance.

Personally, if I had ill fish, I'd do whatever I could to keep the water immaculately clean, even if it meant taking ammonia and nitrites down to near zero. My priority would be to return the fish to health and worry about developing the biofilter later.

Jim
 
Mollies are brackishwater, so you should always have some salt in there. The exact amount will vary according to who you ask. The books I have read said about 1 teaspoon per gallon is the norm for this fish.
 
Table salt does not contain iodine it contains iodide.

The first is the diatomic molecular form, I2. This is commonly used as an antiseptic for treating minor wounds because it has neither the strong oxidizing power of peroxide, nor the toxicity of rubbing alcohol, both of which actually extend healing times.

The second is the ionic form added to salt as potassium iodide. I- does not have the same antiseptic qualities of I2, but it is necessary in the regulation of thyroid metabolism. In other words, it prevents goiters. They started adding this to salt so that people living on the interior of continents wouldn't get goiters. Sea salt, and by extention, marine aquarium salt, contains much more iodIDE than does table salt. So no, it's really not an issue.

Table salt is 99.8% pure NaCl. There's a little KCl, some KI. Then there're some traces, like the afforementioned anticaking agents.
 
Oh no worries, I didn't use table salt. I got some salt from my LFS.

I put about 1/2" of it in the bottom of a cup that was about 2" diameter. It disolved completley in about 1 1/2 hours. I have some pretty decent 'current' in my take with the UGF, so that must have helped. The fish seem to be more active, and the platy's with the bad fins are looking noticably better as of this morning.
 
Do NOT use Table Salt
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jaysono,
Could you give us some good logical reason why not, not only does it make economic sense, it has worked for me quite well. I Used Morton Iodized salt, right out of the little 1 pound cardboard cans.

Mollies are brackishwater, so you should always have some salt in there.
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Qcppg,
Here is an article I found of interest in this vien of thought. I have a good friend who raises mollies and swear by salt because he says they won't breed otherwise, however I have bred them and don't use salt in my water as a rule. When I tested the water his Mollies were kept in it was amazing that they could even live let olone breed.
Nh3= 0
nitrite 0
Nitrate 180+
Kh= 0
Ph= 6.0
With those conditions, I imagine he does need salt. otherwise it isn't necessary even for mollies
The great molly debate
 
Based on a few various articles I have read from other sites including: http://www.****************/information/aquarium_salt.htm

This is but one article of a few I have come across, and while I have indeed read some success, I have also read of some disaster.

Aquarium Salt is not that expensive, and if you can use it very sparingly and it'll stretch. 1TBsp for 10 gal...taht will last for quite a while...I think it's roughly $4.99 for 65oz box.

Table Salt may not harm your tank in most instances, but why gamble? Not all table salt manufacturers are the same, and quality control, and trace elements may be present amongst other manufacturers.

I guess it's preference, and I'm sure it does indeed work. I make the arguement on $4.99 for quality control salt vs. the 'possibility' of $100's of tank set up and time because table salt was cheaper.
 
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