Aquarium Salt (freshwater)

[dgwebster]

ok, what fish can I NOT use a small amount of aquarium salt with in a fershwater tank? I know that catfish take badly to it along with the ADFs.

I currently have danios, tetras, dwarf gouramis and a zebra & leopard loach in the tank.

I should mention that I haven't added any since i got the loaches anyway and when i did, it was about half the requried dosage. but i believe the loaches wont like it much?

 

[Erised]

You're right on your selection there =) The fish that will not tolerate it well at all are catfish, loaches and aquatic frogs. Can I ask why you want to use freshwater salt in your tank? It's usually only used to treat diseases (ie bad stages of ich), and then it's used as salt baths, not just in the tank. There's a fair bit of discussion on whether or not it's good to add to your tank to prevend disease. Personally, I don't see it help much.

But to answer your question, you're indeed right that your loaches won't like it much =)

 

[dgwebster]

well its just that on the prevention of disease. the loaches were the last things i added to the tank (the ADFs are in a seperate tank with a betta) and at each stage of the others a small amount of salt was added as it apparently appeases them and helps them alot with adjusting and stopping them from becoming sick through the change.

but with the loaches i had not long done a few larger water changes amd never added any salt.

was just curious about it as i would say adding some every now and then to your tank must have its benefits. think i shall avoid though, as i wasnt too sure on the loaches.

on speaking about this though, suppose i had better get on with the water changes for this week...

 

[andywg]

using salt is a hang up to when fishkeeping was not as advanced as it is now and it was used to prevent diseases. Basically, it is a bit of a snake oil and is not necessary.

Salt can help with nitrite poisoning, preventing it being quite so toxic, but it should not be added as a preventative IMO, there just isn't the need. Keeping an eye on your parameters would be a far better thing to do.