To Salt Or Not To Salt

[lopeva]

I've always made aquarium water using a tablespoon of aquarium salt, plus two drops of Prime to every gallon of water. I can't say why, but I believe I read it somewhere when I started keeping fish.

Today as I was cleaning my entire system to start a new cycle, there was salt all over everything. In some places there were large concentrations which took some time to remove.

So I'm interested in opinions on whether to add salt to the water or not. I know it's helpful if you're treating a fish in a distressed state, but is it necessary in an everyday sort of situation. I'd like to hear thoughts.

Thanks

Penny

 

[Rooster]

TABLESPOON a gallon ? In freshwater trops ? Sounds WAY too much to me, in fact I dont like adding ANY chemicals to the water, unless theres a gun to my head.... a big gun at that ! lol
(water conditioner aside of course)

 

[Dorkhedeos]

seems like you want brackish fish

 

[yvez9]

i don't use salt but it really depends on the fish you keep i guess

people who keep livebearers like to say they need salt but frankly, i don't believe that.

salt is for marine or brackish fish and nothing else!

 

[dwarfgourami]

I only use salt in FW as medication, e.g. against finrot.

And not at all with scaleless fish (unless I had a really desperate case of say dropsy and was clutching at last straws)

And 1 tablespoon/gallon is WAY too much. The medicinal dose is 1 tablespoon/5 gallons.

It is possible that some mollies may benefit from adding a very weak concentration of salt, if this is how they are used to being kept. Other fish are better off without it. Some fish may sustain longterm kidney damage from being exposed to salt on a regular basis.

There are lfs owners who believe in adding salt as a general anti-infectant, rather like farmers feeding their battery hens antiobiotics all the time. The answer seems obvious- give them better living conditions and keep them well-fed and well-cared for, and they won't need constant medicating.

If I were you I would eliminate the salt gradually, so as not to cause too much of a shock. Stop adding it to your water changes.

 

[lopeva]

Thanks to all who replied, and I appreciate the advice. The fish I keep are FW, so I'll eliminate the salt.

Thanks again.

Penny