Adding Salt

[Derpeder]

Hey I need to add salt to my tank that is currently cycling. It probably only has about 5 days left but I'm wondering if I need to add the salt now or can i add it like the day before I get my Puffers.

Or does it have to cycle with the salt in it?


Let me know

 

[AMS]

It should cycle with salt. You may have to re-cycle your tank with the desired SG as the beneficial bacteria may die thus un-cycling your tank. The bacteria may not die depending on the amount of salt, normally if the SG is 1.005 and under it might not die, but anything over 1.005 it probably will die. So what SG are you aiming for?

There really hasnt been proven fact that different bacteria colonizes in brackish water and freshwater, but many hobbyists will tell you that if you cycle with freshwater then add the salt then the fish, you will get an ammonia/nitrite spike. Wheter your tank goes through a full cycle or a mini cycle, its best to add the salt before cycling to prevent any dangers to your livestock.

 

[Pufferpro]

Agree with AMS here, you better add the salt now, just in case.

 

[nmonks]

What are the puffers? If we're talking figure-8s, then the salinity need not be very high, at least to begin with. Even SG 1.003 will be fine. At that level, it'll be freshwater filter bacteria, so go ahead and use some filter bacteria from another tank.

I'm not convinced about there being "brackish" bacteria at all. The brackish water habitats in the wild are variable salinity ones, and my guess is that there are varying populations of fresh- and salt-water strains that bloom or die back as the salinity changes. I believe this is what causes the nitrite spikes. In the wild, where the fish load is low, this wouldn't be an issue. You don't get nitrite poisoning in an estuary since the water is constantly being washed out to sea anyway.

Once you have the tank cycled at SG 1.003 for a month or so, you can then slowly increase the SG and monitor the nitrites.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[Derpeder]

They are Figure 8's so I'll add the salt up to 1.003 and then wait and continually add salt. The tank has been cycling for 2 weeks now so maybe i'll add the salt and give another week or two and then get the fish.

THanks

 

[AMS]

Well, you dont have to add more salt. Figure 8's are a low-end brackish fish, meaning they prefer the SG up to 1.005, no higher. There is really no need to raise it to 1.005. Just vary the SG slightly with each water change.