Help - diluting water during changes

[Guppylover3x]

I have had aquarium salt in my tank for 12 days now, this was added due to the fish flashing. The dose was increased per water change in the week from 1 table spoon up to 4. I want to start diluting the water now and removing the salt, I’m mindful that I haven’t done a water change since the beginning of the week. My fish don’t seem to be getting on at the moment and my smallest guppy has had his tail chewed. I am looking to remove the two lager ones and donate them to a store once the salts been removed. The good news is the fish are no longer flashing anymore, my question is what’s the best way to do this? I want to get the salt out as quick as possible as I have live plants too that don’t seem impressed at the moment. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Byron]

Water changes dilute the salt content of the tank water.

 

[Colin_T]

just do a 20% water change (without adding salt) each day for a couple of weeks.

 

[Guppylover3x]

Water changes dilute the salt content of the tank water.

Many thanks for the response Byron. How much would you recommend removing per water change and how long for? Thanks for your help.

 

[Guppylover3x]

just do a 20% water change (without adding salt) each day for a couple of weeks.

Thanks for your reply. If I removed 20% of the water each day for the next 5 days would most of it be out or do you recommend longer? I would need to know how long I’d have to wait before removing any fish from my tank. I wouldn’t want them to be shocked by different water. Thanks for your help.

 

[Byron]

The salt dissolved in the tank water will be removed more rapidly the larger the volume of water changed at each W/C. Just as with normal water changes, the more water you change the more salt/pollution is removed.

As for the fish being shocked...common salt (sodium chloride) is an irritant to fish, even guppies, so removing them from water containing common salt is beneficial and not going to shock them. Moving them to different parameters is a very different issue; GH, pH, temperature can cause issues if any of these are significant when moving fish.

Another thing though...whatever was the issue here has to be eradicated/corrected so you want to ensure the exposure time was sufficient. Assuming the salt targeted whatever it was.

 

[Guppylover3x]

The salt dissolved in the tank water will be removed more rapidly the larger the volume of water changed at each W/C. Just as with normal water changes, the more water you change the more salt/pollution is removed.

As for the fish being shocked...common salt (sodium chloride) is an irritant to fish, even guppies, so removing them from water containing common salt is beneficial and not going to shock them. Moving them to different parameters is a very different issue; GH, pH, temperature can cause issues if any of these are significant when moving fish.

Another thing though...whatever was the issue here has to be eradicated/corrected so you want to ensure the exposure time was sufficient. Assuming the salt targeted whatever it was.

I am unsure if it was a protozoan or the start to ich/whitespot. I just know the guppies aren’t flashing no where near as much as they were before. I am glad larger water changes won’t harm the fish. How many would you advice I do? I’m hoping to do 30% changes for next 2 days and then start removing fish. I do want to add some fish too when I remove them because I’m worried a pecking order may begin. I will then be left with 4 guppies and I’d prefer a group of 6 at the minimum. I will wait for further advice before carrying out a change today. Many thanks for your response.

 

[Byron]

I am unsure if it was a protozoan or the start to ich/whitespot. I just know the guppies aren’t flashing no where near as much as they were before. I am glad larger water changes won’t harm the fish. How many would you advice I do? I’m hoping to do 30% changes for next 2 days and then start removing fish. I do want to add some fish too when I remove them because I’m worried a pecking order may begin. I will then be left with 4 guppies and I’d prefer a group of 6 at the minimum. I will wait for further advice before carrying out a change today. Many thanks for your response.

Given your circumstances, I would increase the W/C to 60%. If fish other than the guppies are going in this tank, you do not want any salt. I am however a bit confused...you want to remove two of the guppies then add more?

 

[Guppylover3x]

Given your circumstances, I would increase the W/C to 60%. If fish other than the guppies are going in this tank, you do not want any salt. I am however a bit confused...you want to remove two of the guppies then add more?

Many thanks for you response. I will perform a 60% water change today and clean the gravel. Yes I plan to remove two of my larger guppies because the fish don’t seem to be getting on. I’m not sure if it’s because the ones I added later are a lot smaller. I’m then going to add two smaller ones. Thanks for your help.

 

[Guppylover3x]

Given your circumstances, I would increase the W/C to 60%. If fish other than the guppies are going in this tank, you do not want any salt. I am however a bit confused...you want to remove two of the guppies then add more?

Update - I performed a 60% water change and I must say the guppies instantly parked up. I don’t think I was very clear on my last post I plan to add more guppies into the tank not any other fish. How long would I have to wait before adding more fish? Thank you for all the help.