Should Salt Be Considered For A Community Tank?

[stackem evs]

Hi, First fish into our community tank is a shoal of platies, being livebearers am I correct that some salt in the tank would be good for them? And how does this affect future fish in the tank.

Or being a community tank they can still survive happy without the salt?

Thanks

 

[newtotropical]

You have to be careful. Some fish such as loaches will be burned by salt...

 

[smmetz]

Platies do not need salt to be happy. As "newtotropical" said, depending on what else you put in the tank, the salt might do more harm than good. Most plecos and other fish without scales generally prefer no salt. Neons are also sensative to salt.

Also, when you read about livebearers liking a bit of salt in their water (like molies), what is meant is marine salt, not table salt, aquarium salt, or salt tonic.

Also, even when using a "tonic salt", I have heard from many different sources that it is most effective, when the concentration of salt changes. This means that it is best to use none or very little when your fish are healthy, and add more when you have sick fish. (as the increase, or change, in concentration will help the fish). If there had been salt in the tank the whole time, the fish and bacteria/parasites would be used to it already I guess?

 

[pica_nuttalli]

of the livebearers, only mollies need salt (marine). guppies don't mind a couple pinches dissolved into their water (any type). platies and swordtails are fine without any added salt. the fancy livebearers such as goodieds can't really be generalized.

what's better than adding salt for your platies is feeding them a good-quality livebearer flake or at least supplementing their food with a spirulina (algae) flake