Epsom Salt

Is epsom salt ok to add to an aquarium? I heard its good for the live plants, but is it safe for fish?

[Jchillin]

Epsom salt is used from time to time as a treatment (usually a laxative). It will not harm your fish. I'm not positive of it's effects on plants.

[shantyt]

It should be fine for plants. Epsom salts are MgSO4, we actually use as a magnesium source in our hydroponic plant nutrient solution at work. Unless you are putting a TON in, it should not harm your plants.

The effect of Epsom salt on fish depends on the type of fish you have. Adding epsom salts make your water harder, so I wouldn't add too much to a tank full of amazonian species, etc. Though the amount you need to add to provide enough [acronym:9fad58be15="milligrams or magnesium, depending on context"]Mg[/acronym:9fad58be15] for plants is so little I don't think it would affect your water parameters noticeably.

[travis simonson]

I use MgSO4 in my trace mix to help supplement the [acronym:4179bd4b51="General Hardness"]GH[/acronym:4179bd4b51] (General Hardness) of my water. My advice would be to test your [acronym:4179bd4b51="General Hardness"]GH[/acronym:4179bd4b51] both before and after supplementing with Epsom Salt. This way you can determine how much to use to increase your [acronym:4179bd4b51="General Hardness"]GH[/acronym:4179bd4b51], but only use it if the plants you keep require harder water than you currently have. Check www.tropica.com for information on what hardness values your plants require.

As a note: I've raised many species of plants in much harder water than is normally specified for them, so don't take it as gospel that your plants will die in harder water. That said, I wouldn't advise supplementing MgSO4 unless you have a good reason to increase hardness. Have I confused you yet :P