Adding salt to freshwater aquariums.

[musicman]

Is it beneficial to regularly add salt to freshwater aquariums? Why or why not?

[HN1]

No. The only use for salt in FW is for the treatment of parasites or to create a brackish environment. I've kept 20+ tanks and bred everything from killies to apistos. No salt for me unless there are french fries involved.

[severum mama]

The only time I use it is to treat ich (which I did a lot of working at a LFS). Otherwise it is completely unnecessary.

[gzeiger]

I like to add raisins too.

[mgamer20o0]

its like taking any drug every day. why take something you dont need.

[bmg07]

the peeps at my lfs said that improves their natural slime coat. Also you need a litttle for brackish

[HN1]

Originally Posted by bmg07

the peeps at my lfs said that improves their natural slime coat. Also you need a litttle for brackish

The "peeps" were either not knowledgable themselves and were spouting off what they'd been told to or they simply wanted to sell you something. Brackish tanks do require salt (MARINE salt, not "aquarium salt").

[gzeiger]

Actually what they said may be, strictly speaking, true... sometimes it's just a matter of listening very carefully to what was actually said. The slime coat is normally enhanced in response to environmental stresses. Its function, after all, is to keep undesirable stuff from contacting the skin. I don't think you want to stimulate slime in this way if you can avoid it.

[partypalooza5]

Originally Posted by gzeiger

I like to add raisins too.

yummy.

[shawnryan1977]

Unless your fish require salt there is no reason to add it to most freshwater set-ups. I only use it on the rare occasions that I get ich or some other type of illness otherwise there is no benefit.