Aquarium Salt

[Allix]

What exactly is the deal with this stuff?

I came online to see if we could use salt in our tank (we have corys...) and it seems everything online is split right down the middle

Some sites say no way, some say yes and others say it depends on your fish etc etc

We have;

Clown loaches
Guppy
Mollies
Pleco
Platy
Corys
Betta
Gouramis

All living in our tank, Im completely comfused as to what to do as i think adding salt could help the fish stay healthy

Help/Advice is more than welcome!!!!

 

[WILDER]

No plec and clown loaches can't tolerate it, corys can in very small doses.

 

[Allix]

See i dont understand, one of the loaches was poorly ... so we gave him a salt bath. He perked up right away and has been fine since...

edit - his white spot has gone since we gave him a salt bath

 

[WILDER]

http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=335

 

[tttnjfttt]

i've heard mixed things also. I know that on www.loaches.com, they do say clown laoches can handle salt when it is added gradually. But they also say that cories are more sensitive to salt. I have no clue about the pleco, but i often hear no salt with plecos.

If you decide to try to add salt, do so very slowly over the period of several days.

 

[lisie]

Aren't mollies brackish?

 

[ncjharris]

From memory of a good article I read a while ago and can't find.....

Salt is good for fish insomuch as concentrations of it 'irritate' them to produce more protective mucus. This is why its good for healing cuts, abrasions and infections.
When you start giving high dose salt baths it starts to effect the osmosis regulation of the fish - I don't specifically know how, but this is supposed to be good for internal infections.
However, in scaleless fish, like cories and loaches (?) the salt causes burns to their 'skin', in anything other than small, gradual doses. Alternatives should be sought in this instance.

Like a lot of things in this hobby, you'll meet people on both sides of the fence; those who swear by it as a general fish tonic and those who steer well clear. Both will also have tales of disaster to disprove the other.
Like with those other areas, the best thing is to read up and make up your own mind.

Personally, I don't think it is needed except when treating disease, and if that was to happen in your case you should quarentine the fish first.
Finally, in my experience cory's can take a little salt - no problem.

 

[Allix]

Ok thanks guys, we added a little salt to the tank yesterday and all is well so i shall see if they benefit from it.

If they dont then i cant see the point of adding somthing they dont need