Adding salt to freshwater???

[piao liang yu]

I was reading that aquarium salt is beneficial to fish in various ways. I also read to be careful because some plants are sensitive to salt. Well, I have API aquarium salt, which says to dose one full table spoon for every five gallons. That would be 12 table spoons. I currently have four guppies and two redwag platies for an fish in cycle. I did use tetra safestart and driftwood and plants came from established tanks. My parameters are Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0 and PH 7.8. Should I add less salt than recommended or will my plants be ok? I have three big pieces of driftwood, two smaller pieces with about 10 plants such as anubias, java ferns and very little java moss.

 

[brennae]

I used aquarium salt a long time ago and noticed no difference. I have since read that its not good to use unless there is illness in the tank.

 

[piao liang yu]

I used aquarium salt a long time ago and noticed no difference. I have since read that its not good to use unless there is illness in the tank.

Well, I let the Petsmart folks convince me I had to have it. It was only $4.72 for a quart of it so no big loss. I reckon if I don't need it I can take it back. I know I can google for the answer to some of my questions, but I also like to ask on here because I know the answer comes from folks that have most likely come across the issue first hand. Anyway, so now I reckon I am looking for a consensus.

 

[BBradbury]

Salt in FW Aquariums

I was reading that aquarium salt is beneficial to fish in various ways. I also read to be careful because some plants are sensitive to salt. Well, I have API aquarium salt, which says to dose one full table spoon for every five gallons. That would be 12 table spoons. I currently have four guppies and two redwag platies for an fish in cycle. I did use tetra safestart and driftwood and plants came from established tanks. My parameters are Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0 and PH 7.8. Should I add less salt than recommended or will my plants be ok? I have three big pieces of driftwood, two smaller pieces with about 10 plants such as anubias, java ferns and very little java moss.

Hello p...

Livebearers do better with a little salt added to the tank water than most aquarium fish, but all would benefit to some degree. Keep the dose to a teaspoon or even a little bit more for every 5 gallons of new, treated tap water and your aquarium plants will be fine. A tablespoon (3 teaspoons), is pretty high and may negatively affect your plants.

I've dosed standard aquarium salt in my planted tanks for quite a few years and have never had a problem with pathogens infecting my fish. I'm a firm believer that it helps improve the fishes' immune system, but that's just my opinion.

Do the research and make your own decision, you're the "Waterkeeper".

B

 

[piao liang yu]

Hello p...

Livebearers do better with a little salt added to the tank water than most aquarium fish, but all would benefit to some degree. Keep the dose to a teaspoon or even a little bit more for every 5 gallons of new, treated tap water and your aquarium plants will be fine. A tablespoon (3 teaspoons), is pretty high and may negatively affect your plants.

I've dosed standard aquarium salt in my planted tanks for quite a few years and have never had a problem with pathogens infecting my fish. I'm a firm believer that it helps improve the fishes' immune system, but that's just my opinion.

Do the research and make your own decision, you're the "Waterkeeper".

B

Indeed, your comments coincide with what I am finding. It is a delicate balance and as you said, for the sake of the livebearers I need to add some salt. Just slightly less than the recommended amount for the sake of the plants.

Thanks guys.

 

[Coursair]

Just remember salt doesn't evaporate ! Don't keep adding it. It's easy to oversalt a tank.

 

[piao liang yu]

Just remember salt doesn't evaporate ! Don't keep adding it. It's easy to oversalt a tank.

Thanks, I plan to only add a little to my buckets of replacement water during my pwc's. I will tread very carefully with salt.

 

[jetajockey]

Don't salt freshwater fish unless you are treating them for an illness. The salt thing has a lot of mythology around it but if you dig down to the nuts and bolts you'll come to this conclusion.

http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/salt-magic