Epsom salt

[thor]

Does anyone know where I can get cheap Epsom salt from? and how much to add to a 210 gallon tank?

Thanks in advance!

[szidlon]

Might I ask what you're using it for? As for price, epsom salt is fairly inexpensive, try Walmart or a Dollar Store.

[thor]

I'm adding it to my tropheus tank as a precaution to bloat.

[jeebus]

I would say Walmart would probably be the cheapest. I usually buy from Walgreens, but just out of convenience.

As for the amount, I use 1 heaping tablespoon for every ten gallons, but I know some of the OG Troph keepers use 1 tablespoon for every five gallons.

What type of trophs do you have? And they're not sick yet, you just want to add it after your water change as a preventative?

[thor]

jeebus,

Eventhough I do constant water changes (80% every once to twice a week), I did noticed some of them are showing sign of bloat...maybe it's too much NLS I feed them??

[eklikewhoa]

I buy mine from Walgreen.... I think there is a bulk supply.. might be bulkreefsupply.com they sell magnesium sulfate by the bucket.

I use 1tbsp/5g but not cause of any bloat preventative.

[jeebus]

jeebus,

Eventhough I do constant water changes (80% every once to twice a week), I did noticed some of them are showing sign of bloat...maybe it's too much NLS I feed them??

How much and how often are you feeding them? When I was feeding strictly NLS, I fed four times a day (I get to be home during the day a lot due to my job). I fed as much as I could pinch between my first two fingers and my thumb. That was the magic amount that my 40+ fish would be able to eat in five minutes.

Also, even though you're 80% wc's every week, is your filtration enough that you're still keeping clean water throughout the week?

--

Now, my extra .02 cents..

First, let me disclaimer that I'm no Tropheus expert. I've only been keeping mine for less than a year. Also, most of the Tropheus experts here feed nothing but NLS and have champion trophs!

With that said, I personally was never happy with the NLS and always felt that it wasn't the best option for the trophs. I did a little research and found that many people were feeding spriulina based flake and were having better results. I ordered some from Kensfish.com. At first I did the Troph-Lovers, then I added the Veggie-Based. Finally I got some pure spirulina flake to add to the diet as well.

Now, I still feed four times a day over a 12 hour period, or once ever 3 hours, and only when the lights are on. The first feeding I do NLS just in case I ever sell the fish, they will still be acclimated to it. I soak the pellets in a cup for about 10 minutes before pouring them in. I learned that trick from the Geeks and my fish seem to love it. The second feeding I do the Troph-lovers, and third feeding I do the veggie based flake. The fourth feeding I do the pure spirulina flake. That is when they color up the best IMO.

Unscientifically, I think that by giving them those foods in that order helps their digestion. I have no proof of this, but it seems like eating the most crude to the most refined food leaves their digestion system more healthy when they go to sleep.

Again, this is all just a theory. :)

So that's what I do, but as I've quickly learned here, everyone does something different - and they all seem to work!

[tnguyen]

I buy my salt at home depot. 5-6buck for a 40lb bag of Diamond Crystal Solar Salt.

[jeebus]

What kind of salt (chemically) is that exactly?

[tnguyen]

What kind of salt (chemically) is that exactly?

sodium chloride

[eklikewhoa]

Sodium chloride is like what is sold as "Aquarium Salt".
Magnesium sulfate is Epsom salt or "The laxative".

[tnguyen]

Sodium chloride is like what is sold as "Aquarium Salt".
Magnesium sulfate is Epsom salt or "The laxative".

cool. I learn something new already.

[jeebus]

Sodium chloride is like what is sold as "Aquarium Salt".
Magnesium sulfate is Epsom salt or "The laxative".

I've always had a hard time trying to find the benefit to using aquarium salt.

Is there any? What are the benefits advertised as?

[tbui1178]

Good info. I've been wondering the same about epsom salt... but was too lazy to ask.

[tnguyen]

I've always had a hard time trying to find the benefit to using aquarium salt.

Is there any? What are the benefits advertised as?

Good question. there are pro and con to everything.

Here's just one article.

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article5.html

For me, I didn't use it at first and notice my discus would stresses out and lose the slim on their body when doing water change. I do massive water change by the way. After some advice and reading around, I decide to use it and notice my fish act much happier.