Salt

[squarefish]

I've been reading an (old'ish) aquarium book which suggests putting salt into the water. Does anyone use this method, and is it normal salt? Or is this something used years ago before all the new additives?

 

[rdd1952]

I've never used salk but some do depending on the type fish they keep. Mollies for instance prefer brackish water so they prefer a little salt. Corys and plecos don't do well with it as it burns their skin. My personal opinion is that they are freshwater fish and thus do not need salt. It can also be used as a treatment for some diseases.

 

[ArauraDiscus]

If you have fish from south america like angels and neons and discus and other south american cichlids, it is a bad idea. Many other fish benefit from it. Look online for each fish you have, or post what types you have and we can help you better.

O and most simple tropical fish salts only have one type of salt, if a fish likes brackish water, then you need marine salts to keep them helthy.

 

[andywg]

Corys and plecos don't do well with it as it burns their skin.

It does not burn their skin at all. The problems are due to the fact the fish have evolved for waters with extremely low salt concentrations. The presence of salt in the water is going to put an increased strain on the osmoregulatory system.

Salt was originally used in the days when "old water" was considered best for the fish and as such water changes were kept to a minimum. To prevent the high levels of nitrate (and nitrite from oft inadequate filtration) affecting the fish salt was added to the water.

These days water changes take the place of salt (and carbon) and as such it can be considered superfluous.

I should add that the fish that benefit from salt in their water (such as mollies and other brackish fish) require marine salt, and not "aquarium salt" which is just repackaged table salt sold at a huge mark up.