Salt In A Freshwater Tank?

[CBTF]

I recently bought mollies, unaware that they were brackish. They have been acting funny, so of course I call the pet store and they pick that time to to tell me. They said that if i add 1 spoonful of seasalt to my freshwater tank then the mollies will be more healthy and that the other fish in my tank will not suffer from the addition.

is this true? i have a ghost shrimp and a betta, along with an aquatic dwarf frog and some snails. i plan on adding tetras.

is petsmart full of crap? should the mollies just go back or was the woman right about the sea salt? thanks for the help

ps: if you do add salt to an aquarium does it require more maintenance after, watching levels and such?

 

[Durbkat]

What size tank is it? As far as I know mollys aren't compatible with bettas. I'd return them. Because the salt will harm the other fish.

 

[CBTF]

10G. My mollies seem fine when it comes to the betta, they're of a very calm temperment.

Do they NEED the salt?

 

[tttnjfttt]

I can't tell you for sure about mollies and needing salt or not, but if your betta seems to be fine in the tank, and mollies need salt, bettas are fine with that. I add salt in as a quick fix when my bettas are acting wierd or are stressed.

 

[CBTF]

im concerned about the frog mainly.

 

[Durbkat]

Yeah but you add aquarium salt, this person wants to add marine salt like with saltwater fish. Well you never know the mollys could get tired of the betta and nip his fins or kill him or the betta could do the same thing to them. How many mollys did you get? Do you have a filter and heater in the tank, did you cycle the tank?

 

[sekhmut0402]

I've always been led to believe that mollies are the only fish NOT to suffer by going from salt/brackish water into fresh water. I bought a sailfin male and silver female several years ago, and kept them in fresh water - only some weeks later was I told that they'd been kept in brackish water - no ill effects though.

Salt in water is not harmful to other fish - care should be taken with cory's and plecos though.

Quote from: - here

Cory Catfish do not like aquarium salt and livebearers like Platies and Swordtails do better with about one tablespoon of aquarium salt added to each five gallons of aquarium water. Click here for more about Cory Catfish.

Loads more info out there too.

 

[CBTF]

bought 7 mollies total. 5 went into an established fresh water 40G and are doing great.

2 went into my personal 10G tank, male and female. it's the male who is showing signs of infection and thats why it was recommended i use salt, because they are more comfortable in it and he would be stronger.

i dont think there will be an issue between the mollies and the betta, however im considering taking the mollies back anyhow, based on what could happen. id like to keep them though.. rough decision. i dont want petsmart to allow the male to die..

 

[dwarfgourami]

I think you are right to be concerned about the frog - they have sensitive skin. Also the snail.

As for the betta, ttnjfttt, the fact that they are ok with occasional medicinal dose of salt is not the same as to say they should live permanently in salt. I take paracetamol for an occasional headache, but taking it everyday would almost damage my liver in the long run. With salt, there is a risk of longterm kidney damage for freshwater fish. Not sure how bettas go on that score, but certainly wouldn't risk it with tetras.

 

[CBTF]

i'll just take these two back- or maybe only the one thats showing signs of being ill? abondonment isnt cool but i dont think i can help this guy out, unless i medicate.. and i dont even have stuff set up for that atm.

the only other option is leaving him in there, seeing if the swollen gill goes down.. but that could be life costing.. he's a tough one though.

 

[tttnjfttt]

For the time being, why not put your frog and snail into the 3 gal hospital tank you have?