question about using salt in fresh water aquariums

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frshwaterfinatc

Aquarium Advice Freak
Joined
Jul 9, 2004
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427
Location
Central US
work for a corporate pet store. I'm a fish specialist. However, I don't have any say against store regulations, especially rules governed by "veterinarian's advice." Our store keeps a container of salt in almost every fresh water aquarium. The individual tanks are about 6-8 gallons each, and 9 are connected by the same pumps. The amount of salt in the containers is about 3/4 cup. I don't think this is correct. I could not find a hydrometer in the store to meaure the salinity- I'm new to this particular company. However, I will surely be able to use one within the next few days after I have someone to ask. What, if any, is the maximum salinity that a community freshwater tank should register? Fish include tetras and catfish, plecos, cichlids, goldfish. (Also mollies and dragonfish, but I know these species are perfectly fine with salt.)
 
Goldfish really shouldn't be on the same circulated water to begin with as they are coldwater fish. I know business-wise it's sometimes not worth it to separate the temperatures and go with an in between to keep them at until they're sold.

As far as salt goes, it's generally one tablespoon per 5 gallons. I believe you can go higher than that slightly, but some of those fish don't do well with an salt.
 
Oops I should have specified that one block (of 9 tanks) is indeed dedicated soley to the goldfish...they aren't connected with other community fish.

That's what I'd heard too, 1 Tbs per 5 gallons. But I'm wondering if anyone knows what specific gravity that measures as?

Tomorrow I plan to find someone who knows where the store use hydrometer is and measure the salinity. I was wanting to have some numbers in mind so I can reach an informed conclusion right away.

I don't have access to a computer while I'm at work.

Thanks for your input!
 
1 TBS/ 5 gal = 0.1 g% salt concentration.

That translates into a sp gravity of 1.001.

You are unlikely to be able to read that low a salt concentration in your typical hygrometer (salties keep their tanks at around 1.025, so the meters are calibrated in that range.)

Actually 3/4 cup of salt in a bank of 9 6-8 gal tank is pretty close.

3/4 cup = 12.5 TBS, 9x7gal = 63 gal .... That is 1 TBS in 5 gal!

Now, if you put one of those cup into each one of the tanks in the bank ... then you are looking at a major overdose!!
 
Exactly... in the banks of 9 about every other tank has a container with about 3/4 cup salt.

Even if there was just one tank with one container holding 3/4 cup of salt, that wouldn't be good for the fish directly within!

I just hope there's something I can do about this.

Thanks so much.
 
frshwaterfinatc, I think i know what chain you are talking about, as my petco here in Nevada does the same thing. I have raised fish in my 100 Gallon for 17 years and NEVER had a problem until i decided to raise some Guppies just to watch the babies grow. :D However, i bought 12 at a time 3 seperate times and lost them all but one 8O I found out why, SALT IN THE STORES TANKS petsmart has small signs for guppies that say requires aquarium salt, and there is NO sign of salt in their tanks. Petco does have those pint size salt containers in each tank EVEN GOLDFISH 8O I come home, acclimate them like i know how to do, and by the 2and day, the guppies are dropping 2,3 at a time. I recently was inclined to add live plants to my 100 Gallon, 4 sword, 2 onion and i was told to add salt and they would be fine WRONG !!!!! salt kills plants period and i informed petsmart of this with evidence and they have since changed their policy ( at the carson city nv store only ) Please measure the salinity of the tetra tanks Why ? because they cannot be in brackish water period. TRUE, salt helps with disease, infections etc. and in the correct amounts with the correct fish NO plants may be fine, but selling fish raised in a salt enviroment to people whose tanks contain NO SALT is bad business practice and will turn away newbies who fail from the start by no fault of their own when it comes to the salt issue :)
 

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a few other pics :D
 

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double pics sorry :?
 

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