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Would it be beneficial to add a small amount of salt to my freshwater aquarium?
The Foul asked:
I’ve heard people say that a little bit of salt added to the aquarium can help prevent disease.
I’ve heard people say that a little bit of salt added to the aquarium can help prevent disease.
If so, what kind of salt and how much exactly?
thanks!
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7. August 2010 at 4:17 pm :
It depends on what kind of fish you keep.
It is really only beneficial if you have livebearers.
It will kill invertebrates(snails, shrimp) and it is not good for goldfish or catfish(otos, plecos, etc)
7. August 2010 at 11:43 pm :
i wouldnt say to. the best thing to do is just weekly clean the filters, thats the safest and best thing to do for the fish
9. August 2010 at 12:09 pm :
Like ^ Fuzzy said, some fish can’t handle it.
I have a twenty gallon and treat it once a month during a water change for about ten gallons. I’ve got guppies, whom luv salt, and otto cats and shrimp, whom don’t handle salt well.
It depends on what you’ve got, live bearers luv it, but pretty much all bottom feeders react poorly to it.
For a fresh water aquarium you need fresh water aquarium salt, sold in most pet stores. It helps to relieve stress, pass blockages, birth fry and helps to make the water less hospitable to bacteria, parasites and fungus. It can be used in salt dip to cure and kill surface issues (fungus, parasites, fin rot ect) and along with an elelevated temp can be used to cure many diseases and when used with meds can improve the fishes odds of surviving. When used properly of course, as salt dips can be dangerous.
Best of Luck!
9. August 2010 at 7:34 pm :
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All fish in the wild at some stage or another migrate up rivers to find salt or brackish water. EVEN FRESHWATER FISH!!
But in saying that i don’t mean using the same ratio as a marine tank. If your fish look healthy and there are no signs of parasites or disease then you won’t need to add any. When you see signs of disease just add 1g/per litre. Salt provides your fish with that protective slim coating.
13. August 2010 at 5:20 am :
The only time I have added salt was to help treat an outbreak of ich. It really isn’t necessary if your fish are healthy. The best thing to prevent disease is to keep up on gravel vacs and water changes and be sure that your nitrate levels are not too high.