What is the deal with salt? Good, Bad?

[blue2fyre]

I add salt to my tank if I get some fish in that are looking pretty rough. I recently got some mbuna that were torn up so in addition to clean water I add a bit of salt to help with the healing process. After a few days they look better already.

 

[rockhoe14er]

I use 1tbs of salt/5 gallons of water in my SA cichlid tank and it has been working really well especially since my cichlids tend to fight occasionally. The salt really helps them repair their fins within a day and they stay good and healthy.

 

[BettaFishMommy]

Haha . You should add salt to ur aquarium if a certain type of fish you have or are planning on getting needs it to survive. this wont harm or affect the other fish living in your aquarium, so really, its no big deal. but dont just do it because you want to, do it because a fish needs it in ur aquarium! :]

whatever you add to your water affects all inhabitants of the tank, since they are all swimming/living in the same water. it all depends on what other fish you have in there. some fish do not tolerate salt well and adding salt to your freshwater aquarium for a specific fish could result in stress and possible death for any salt intolerant fish, like scaleless fish.

 

[Southwestern]

I had NO idea this was such a hot topic. I hope I didn't upset anyone. This is all interesting information though!

 

[OldMan47]

One more log for the fire on this hot topic. I never add salt to any of my tanks but I keep vibrantly healthy mollies, swordtails, several species of goodeids and several other livebearers which all have the reputation for liking hard alkaline water. My fish thrive and reproduce freely so I refuse to ever use any salt to care for them.If I get an ich infestation, it actually happened once a few years ago, I go to the kitchen for my ich treatment and use the salt from the kitchen cabinet for my salt treatment. It is no more poisonous to use as an ich treatment than gargling with it harms me when I have a sore throat.

 

[Southwestern]

I go to the kitchen for my ich treatment and use the salt from the kitchen cabinet for my salt treatment. It is no more poisonous to use as an ich treatment than gargling with it harms me when I have a sore throat.

Do you mean you use an ich treatment AND salt ... or you use salt as an ich treatment?

 

[excuzzzeme]

Salt works well as a treatment for Ich. Where guppies are concerned, they can tolerate extremely high doses of salt and can live in a marine environment when acclimated properly.

When I suspect a parasite problem I use Kosher salt since large boxes of it are cheap. Although it does nothing for or to the guppies it still works on eliminating parasites.

 

[jpappy789]

I fail to see the point in adding any more NaCl into an aquarium than what is already found in my tap water...as far as I can tell my fish have been fine without it...

 

[the wizard]

Thanks everyone!

To be honest, I bought a box of aquarium salt but it remains unopened. It's heading back to the store!

:thm: Good idea.

You will find that no matter what question you have about fish keeping, you will get varying answers.

I have never added salt to any aquariums I have ever had until I set up the reef. (I was raised around aquariums and started my first tank in the 5th grade many years ago.)

Just because you CAN do something and get away with it doesn't mean that you SHOULD do it. (just my 2 cents worth)

Remember, once you bring fish home, they are depending on you to provide a healthy happy environment for them to live. It is then up to you to research compatible tank mates, water parameters, temperament, stocking levels etc.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your tank.

 

[Rbishop]

Most commonly kept species of fish and most plants are intolerent of salt.Will they live in it?Yes.Is it necessary,no.I agree with the former post that keeping the environment clean is the best preventative for disease and parasites.Save the salt for the brackish,or the few fish such as certain livebearers like mollies,guppies,etc.And as far as using table salt,its not really recommended since most of the brands contain anti-caking agents or other additives.Stick with salt labeled for aquarium use.Good luck...

One other point;Lets say you have a 30g tank and upon setup you follow whatever guide and add salt accordingly.Most people while I was in my formative years of fishkeeping recommended when you do a water change and re-dose salt per how much water you changed.This is bad because the salinity in the tank is still at or near what it was after you origionally dosed it.Now you add more salt and you have raised it even further.Pretty soon you have a marine tank and a bunch of sick or dead freshwater fish.Do your research on whatever species you keep.And,keep compatible species that all require the same water parameters.But,my 30+ years of experience advises,NO SALT!Good luck...

Adding Aquarium Salt or Common Table salt doesn't make your tank brackish or marine.

The added agents in common table salt will have no ill effect on your fish.