When To Add Salt To Fresh Water Tanks

[CichlidFan]

From reading several other forum threads on the site here, I gather that epsom salt can be added (in proper amounts) to freshwater tanks as a "catch all" type of treatment for several aches and pains if you will.

Do I understand correctly that a small amount of salt can be beneficial to sick or stressed fish?
Would adding small amounts of salt to a tank be acceptable in just about any cichlid environment?

Could one of our handy dandy mod's possibly provide this curious box member a link to read when I don't have my eye's fixed on the Fish Market? .....

Anyone care to comment on this salt question, how and when to use it and how much kinda stuff.....

CF

[Mzungu]

Re: When To Add Salt To Fresh Water Tanks

Not sure if you've seen all of these, but did a quick search on here...

http://houstonfishbox.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1880&highlight=salt

http://houstonfishbox.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=840&highlight=salt

http://houstonfishbox.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=897&highlight=salt

http://houstonfishbox.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=126&highlight=salt

http://houstonfishbox.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2525&highlight=salt

Personally, I don't use it. Well, except for marine salt in my brackish setup, and for treating ich. I'm more of an advocate of water changes to help the fishes feel better if they're down.  :)

[Anonapersona]

Re: When To Add Salt To Fresh Water Tanks

Epsom salts is going to make your fish poop. So it will perhaps be a cure for internal problems as related to digestion. It won't cure intestinal parasites but may cure bloating.

Table salt will help with external parasites, to some extent. But it is the sodium that helps to thicken the slime coat. Epsom salt won't do this, as far as I know.

Follow the link in the first link in Mzungus' post to the Skeptical Aquarist site -- one of the best IMO for learning all about keeping water for keeping fish (a real treasure for those of us who tend to delve too deeply into the Whats and Whys --- but beware --- it will make your head hurt!)

[Darbex]

Re: When To Add Salt To Fresh Water Tanks

I use Aquarium salt that I get from LFS, its suppose to help prevent skin diseases, provides electrolytes for energy, and help with the overall stability of the tank. Though I have found that it doesnt do a thing for fungus. But I have not had a case of bacterial disease since I started. Knock on wood. I add a couple of tablespoons every time I do a water changes.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: When To Add Salt To Fresh Water Tanks

Non-Iodized Table salt to clarify Anonapersona.


I use Epsom and Kosher salts in my Cichild tanks and use 1tbsp for every 5g and only replace what I take out during water changes since salt doesn't really go anywhere.

Some more good info for you.

http://cichlid-forum.com/articles/buffer_recipe.php

http://cichlid-forum.com/articles/

[Anonapersona]

Re: When To Add Salt To Fresh Water Tanks

eklikewhoa brings up a good point... if your tank has any evaporation losses, you may be slowly increasing the salt concentration if you are not careful.

[CichlidFan]

Re: When To Add Salt To Fresh Water Tanks

Lots of good reading material here folks, thank you very much, I'll have something to keep me busy at work tomorrow.  :wink:

CF

[kewlkatdady]

Re: When To Add Salt To Fresh Water Tanks

I don't really measure...
but everytime I do a water change, I dump in a little rock salt...

If I have a fish that has been nipped...I seems to help in regeneration.

I've done since I've been keeping fish...

[txfront]

Re: When To Add Salt To Fresh Water Tanks

Tanganyikans need iodine for proper thyroid function.  I usually add a couple of tablespoons of Iodized salt at each water change.  Aquarium Salt is the only remedy i ever add to any of my tanks.  I have found that a few days of higher temperature, and a salt bath work wonders for most any problem that i have encountered....but maybe thats just me

[eklikewhoa]

Re: When To Add Salt To Fresh Water Tanks

IMO something like Iodine that I can't test for I rather not use....I do use the tang buffer which contains trace amounts of it but that's preset through the manufacture.

Iodine can become deadly if overdosed which is easier to do with table salt IMO.

[txfront]

Re: When To Add Salt To Fresh Water Tanks

I havent had any issues yet,  I keep the dosing down to a couple of tablespoons per 215 gallons.

[djmatthewblack]

Re: When To Add Salt To Fresh Water Tanks

Epsom salt can be deadly too if overdosed.  I wouldn't use epsom salt unless you have a constipated fish that is sticking to the bottom.  This constipation killed a guppy of mine, it was either that or I gave him a fatal dose of epsom salt in a isolation tank when trying to treat him.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: When To Add Salt To Fresh Water Tanks

You would have to dose a lot of salt to kill most fish....I wouldn't put too much salt in the tank if there are fish that are sensitive to the stuff.

I put epsom/aquarium/tang buffer in my tank every water change but only for the amount I remove....this is with cichlids though.