A Quick Reference

[thegnu]

some interesting articles on most things to do with fishkeeping. i've stuck it into my favorites. theres nearly something for everyone

http/www.bestfish.com/articles.html

 

[andywg]

Nothing like a professional site saying that salt in a freshwater tank is good...

I myself am always cautious of sites that are run by a company offering a service. There will almost always be a bias somewhere.

 

[fishnterrapins]

I'm not sure he was necessarily saying its bad. Mollies for example should be kept with salt apparently

 

[tmack]

Nothing like a professional site saying that salt in a freshwater tank is good...

I myself am always cautious of sites that are run by a company offering a service. There will almost always be a bias somewhere.

Oh nooooooo, the salt issue again! The only comment I have is that since (about 2 years now) I started adding about a teaspoon of aquarium salt per every 5 gallons, I've had no ich, no disease, and I have mollies, platys, neons, zebras, white clouds, and yes cories. And there are plant species that will do well at these low salt levels. I use it as prevention rather than cure, and it's worked marvelously for me and friends. I've found all kinds of info. on people successfully keeping several fish species at these salt levels, and other than heresay I'm still looking for evidence that it's harmful at these levels. But I won't recommend anyone do it, because it's a no-no, and there's always that possibility that it may harm some fish species, and I know it will harm some plant types. All I know is that it works for me, under my conditions, and I really don't want to go through a salt debate again.

 

[mnbyiuopre]

Okay, I saw two BIG no-no's in that site! First off is that they said 1 gallon of water per 2 inches of fish! Imagine what could happen to a begginner! Second they have an article about the chances of getting a pair of fish when you buy. Why not just say to the employee "Can I get a male and female?" !?! It's crazy!

 

[tmack]

Okay, I saw two BIG no-no's in that site! First off is that they said 1 gallon of water per 2 inches of fish! Imagine what could happen to a begginner! Second they have an article about the chances of getting a pair of fish when you buy. Why not just say to the employee "Can I get a male and female?" !?! It's crazy!

I've been to some lfs where the staff may not know the difference beteen the sexes. At times I've had to educate them myself.

 

[so_highstreet]

Okay, I saw two BIG no-no's in that site! First off is that they said 1 gallon of water per 2 inches of fish! Imagine what could happen to a begginner! Second they have an article about the chances of getting a pair of fish when you buy. Why not just say to the employee "Can I get a male and female?" !?! It's crazy!

I've been to some lfs where the staff may not know the difference beteen the sexes. At times I've had to educate them myself.

Yeah I'd have to say the same, a couple of times at one of my lfs i've asked questions and the guy has shrugged his shoulders and said "i dunno", not I dunno but that's a very good question I shall try and find out, but just a simple "I dunno I just work here"

However, at one of the better shops, I purchaced a 13" Moray who although brackish, I'm told will live in a fresh water tank supplemented with tonic salt, but not for an extended period of time, this isn't a problem as my next tank will be a Brackish tank anyway. (I already had this in mind)

I was told that low levels of salt wont hurt freshwater fish, but over time, as you have to increase the doses it will eventually cause problems.

 

[tmack]

quote]

I was told that low levels of salt wont hurt freshwater fish, but over time, as you have to increase the doses it will eventually cause problems.
[/quote]

Not wanting to debate on the salt, but I'm not sure why someone would tell you that the salt level would have to be increased with time? I suppose evaporation could be the cause of increased salt content, but I make up for that by adding a bit less with water changes than the original level, and at times even do a water change with half the original amount. No negative effect on the fish, as these are minimal salt levels anyway - not critical as in is in a marine tank's salinity.

 

[andywg]

The use of salt is a hang up from when fishkeeping was not as well understood scientifically. Many fish come from areas with NO SALT CONTENT in the water. Surely you want to give the fish the conditions as close to the natural conditions as possible. Also, brackish fish need marine salt, not tonic salt. Marine salt has a number of other elements and minerals (at least 70 according to the supplements I have for my reef tanks) in it. The effects of these include making the water harder and raising the pH, which are necessary for brackish fish.

Excellent posts on this have been made before by people far more knowledgeable than I:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=157186#

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=168186#

Aquarium salt is just unnecessary. Pure table salt without anticaking agents will do the same far cheaper.

 

[so_highstreet]

Point taken on board, as I said, I'll be moving the Moray soon anyway so I'll keep my eye on him and all the other fish until then so I'll keep doing weekly maintenance and try and keep the salt level regulated and to a minimum.

As it stands all the fish in the tank appear to be healthy, all breathing and feeding properly so I'll just keep my eye out for any changes.

 

[tmack]

I'll just say adaptation, or maybe re-adaption. I'm not testing the effect on freshwater trout in marine seawater. It's an argument that has scientific merit on both sides, and rather than theories I'll stay with facts. It works for me & my friends, and documented by many others, for years, and in my case, with no harm to the species I've mentioned. It was originally added carefully and with utmost concern for the fish. I'm not one to argue a point to infinity, and neither us will budge, so I'll just agree to disagree and leave it at that.