Adding Aquarium Salt

[nukeonekitty]

I bought some aquarium salt and was wondering how much to add and how often? The LFS told me one teaspoon per 10 gallons is best and only to do it twice a year. Is this right? So far I have only added 2 teaspoons for my 55 gal mbuna... any input?

 

[raptorrex]

I bought some aquarium salt and was wondering how much to add and how often? The LFS told me one teaspoon per 10 gallons is best and only to do it twice a year. Is this right? So far I have only added 2 teaspoons for my 55 gal mbuna... any input?

why would you add salt?? as another member said " Aquarium salt is just snake oil" if you go brackish ok, but the term "Freshwater" would seem to be self-explanatory!

 

[adambrum]

Heard about adding salt as a sort of medication think it helps fish fight bad bacteria the recommended dose is 0.2% 200grams per 100 litres.

IMO i would not bother adding salt if you add to much you will be causing harm rather than good and its another stat to keep an eye on.

 

[raptorrex]

http/badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article22.html

 

[jollysue]

Salt helps with parasites and funguses. I just used it on a Betta with a fungusy face. Cleared it right up. Call me Silly Sue, but have you ever sprinkled salt on a slug?

 

[PaPeRo]

I bought some aquarium salt and was wondering how much to add and how often? The LFS told me one teaspoon per 10 gallons is best and only to do it twice a year. Is this right? So far I have only added 2 teaspoons for my 55 gal mbuna... any input?

If you decide to keep a constant level of salt in your tank, DO NOT add salt when topping off your tank due to evaporation since salt does not evaporate. Only add additional salt to water changes where you take out a certain amount of water. Also only add enough salt for the water that you TAKE OUT not put back. Lots of people make this mistake.

Just as an example, if your salted tank has already evaporated 2 gallons of water when you do a 3 gallon water change, you are only to add enough salt for the 3 gallons of water you take out even though you will be putting 5 gallons of water into your tank.

Finally if you decide to use salt made for saltwater tanks, it is even more important that you follow the above instructions since the minerals in those salts do not evaporate either.

 

[Ferris]

I wondered if you were referring to African lake salt?

There are a couple of water additive products of this nature on the market (various names) specifically for african cichlids. Their claimed benefits are debatable, some people swear by them and some dismiss them altogether - personally the only practical thing i think they may help with is to raise the Ph slightly, which could be useful for some african keepers.

 

[Nick Sw]

The CF african Rift Lake buffer recipe states 1 Tablespoon of Salt for every 5 US gallons this is supposedly designed to try and help replicate the water conditions in the African Lakes.

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

Theres and article on Aquarium salts here http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/aquarium_salts.php including the chemical compunds found in Lake Malawi.

Some people seem to add it and most don`t from my experience.

I don`t understand your LFS`s advice in telling you to do it twice a year ?
I could understand if they said put a certain amount in intially then make sure that salt is replaced in water changes to keep a constant level .

 

[nukeonekitty]

Interesting, maybe I go get my $13 back!

 

[jollysue]

Yeah, the salt debate rages on!

I use it pretty often with the Bettas. I used it once as a salt dip to save a cory from columnaris with cottony growth on his fin which he lost, died once in the dip, revived, and lives still. (He is one of my few named fish: Rocky Balboa.) I don't use it all the time in tanks. But it clearly has its uses, IME.

(The Betta did not get a dip, just a small dissolved amount in her tank.)

I definitely keep some on hand in the med cabinet.

 

[mr.dark-saint]

Interesting, maybe I go get my $13 back!

Man they saw you coming . You can buy a 50 pound sack at your local Safeway for that and still have a few bucks for soda and candy (for the quick energy you'll need to haul it to your pad ). You should have some on hand since you're in the place where they lay that stuff thick in the coming months. Only difference between the rock salt from LFS and baged rock salt at the local shops is a packaging and the price difference. Just get the "sun" dried rock salt instead of Kiln dried stuff (I was told this from a fish shop years back) I suppose the "sun" dried is more natural .

There is trace amounts of salt in our drinking water and fish need it for Osmosis and kidney functions. By adding salt it makes fish slime up more (in this instance it's more medicinal). Other salts are much more suitable for like African Rift situations or Bracish.