Anything To Add To Water To Help Fish Stress?

[rolltide101x]

All I add to my aquariums is Aquarium Salt and Water conditoner

http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752402&lmdn=Brand
http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10850845

I have lost several fish for no apparent reason over the past month or so (in 2 different aquariums) My water always tests back perfectly. I have read alot of articles along the lines of this one
http/forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/238654/fish-stress-and-how-you-can-correct-the-problem

and it does not appear I am doing anything wrong. But stress is the only thing I can think of that could kill the fish in the way these are dying. They are fine one day then I notice them acting unusual then they die that night or the following day. If the water is fine and I am following all the guidelines given by these articles what can it be? Is there anything I could add to my aquariums to keep their stress down (assuming there is any?) I have had aquariums for roughly 9-10 months and have learned alot but this seems to be over my head (All that have died have been in the aquarium for 3 months or less when they die) Any advice?

 

[The Duke]

You don't need to be adding salt!! How often are you doing this?

 

[rolltide101x]

You don't need to be adding salt!! How often are you doing this?

A tablespoon in my 30 gallon every water change and a teaspoon in my 10 gallon every water change. It was strongly advised by my LFS. It gives fish electrolytes which is a key to their health and it keeps stress down. Is there a potential harm and if so why isn't it hurting "established" fish and if it's bothering the new fish why do they die suddenly with no signs? Not criticizing u I really want to know.

 

[Tolak]

Of course your local shop will suggest salt, the markup on it is amazing. I buy a 70 pound sack of cattle salt for around $5, lasts for years being used in my bbs hatchery.

There's a topic on salt in the freshwater aquarium with further links here. The topic you linked to concerns marine aquariums, while some things will be the same there will be a lot more different. Bottom line you don't need to add salt.

Without more information, which can be provided by filling out the form found here we can't give you much more input. If you're getting the fish from the same shop or supplier that would be one concern. Another would be the method of acclimation as well as quarantine used.

 

[The Duke]

I know that salt can be used for certain fish diseases but I would not recommend adding it every water change. Never heard of that being done for a freshwater set up

 

[rolltide101x]

Alot of people strongly believe in aquarium salt.

http/www.bestfish.com/fwsalt.html
http/www.yamatogreen.com/salt.htm

 

[Grant1897]

out of interest what percentage of water do you change in each tank when you do a water change?

 

[Tolak]

And the strong believers are retailers, I can guarantee the one in Milwaukee sells aquarium salt. I've given you links to more than enough discussions, which include research from folks like Neale Monks, who is one of the top people in the area of brackish fish;

Aquarium "tonic" salt exists only for one reason: to extract money from aquarists who don't know any better. It is right up there with carbon as something most aquarists do not need. That people defend the stuff I find bizarre, because aquarium salt is nothing more than a con, pure and simple. Decades ago it existsed because filtration was less good and adding a bit of salt moderated the toxicity of nitrite and nitrate. By adding salt you covered up the problems with filters and also didn't need to do so many water changes. But that was then, and this is now. We know understand that new aquarium water is better than old aquarium water (something people vigorously denied during the 60s and 70s). Filters, even the cheap ones, are very well made and designed, and there's really no reason to have any nitrite in your aquarium. In short, you don't need tonic salt.

The only time you might need it is for doing saltwater dips or as part of a treatment in the tank, but in those cases, either non-iodinised cooking salt or proper marine salt mix will work just as well. The former type of salt is cheaper and you probably already have some, and the latter stuff you'll definitely have if you're keeping marines or brackish. Tonic salt is just overpriced cooking salt and that anyone still buys the stuffs is surreal.

Sincerely,

Neale

I just noticed his book is available via Kindle, a nifty little thing I received as a gift from my kids. It's as good as bought.

 

[rolltide101x]

out of interest what percentage of water do you change in each tank when you do a water change?

30-40%

I will have to gracefully disagree. I have personally noticed a difference with and without it. If I am adding to much is a different matter but I am not. It recommends one tablespoon per 5 gallons and I add one tablespoon per 12ish gallons and a teaspoon per 4ish gallons. I also do not buy my aquarium salt from my LFS....

 

[Mikaila31]

fresh water reduces stress just fine. IMO the vast majority of fish do great with just a cheap dechlorinator and regular water changes. I agree with what as been said and I do not recommend using salt regularly. I have salt on hand here but pretty much never use it. For certain types of fish it can do more harm then good. I can assure you what ever differences you are noticing are not from the salt.