cardinals and aquarium salt

[ADelphi]

I have a 28 uk gallon tank with 4 male platies, 5 male guppies and 5 male endlers. The endlers are very dinky and wouldn't even make one male guppy all put together.

I normally add 1 tsp per gallon, or just under a tsp to my weekly water change and i've started to cut it back. I also have lots of plants that are doing very well in this environment including my riccia

So i'd like to have a small shoal of cardinals to be my final fish, is this possible with my small amount of aquarium salt still in the tank?

I've also read here that its important to put them straight into the tank, not wait to acclimatize like you would normally. I've also read here that ppl are keeping them quite well in higer ph's.

Also noted that Cardinals imported from the Czec republic are healthier.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

I'd do three weekly water changes without adding any salt and then put in the cardinals. But that's just me.

I've also read here that its important to put them straight into the tank, not wait to acclimatize like you would normally. I've also read here that ppl are keeping them quite well in higer ph's.

Also noted that Cardinals imported from the Czec republic are healthier.

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Can you please reference the link where you read this? I'd be interested to read it. Thanks.

 

[ADelphi]

Here you go ----> http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=14415&hl=

 

[Lateral Line]

There are some old names in that thread.

 

[ADelphi]

http/www.elmersaquarium.com/000tropfishcareguides.htm here it says cardinals can be kept with guppies and platies, but it also suggests for them the adding of aquarium salt.

http/www.elmersaquarium.com/10tetra_cardinal.htm

http/www.elmersaquarium.com/c106community1.htm

 

[Lateral Line]

Salt is a pollutant for tetras. They evolved without it, and it's presence stresses the osmoregulation system, typically destroying the kidney over time - how long depending on how much salt is present. Sensitive fish will suffer more so then less sensitive.

 

[ADelphi]

I'll remove the salt slowly over a few weeks, i just want to make sure all my fish stay healthy.

 

[ADelphi]

There are some old names in that thread.

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But was it right or wrong information.

 

[Lateral Line]

Certainly, it is a common problem that Cardinals die in transport.

The last question in that thread went un-answered, but the difference is that the lfs feeds the fish daily. When you know you are going to ship a group of fish on day "x", then you stop feeding them several days before so they do not produce substantial waste whilst travelling. They are also bagged in pure Oxygen which again helps.

I have on many occasions, collected and unpacked shipments from the airport. Even with these precautions, 100% loss of some species is all to common.

The "dump them straight in" would probably be okay as long as the water in the lfs and your own tank are similar. Remember, a lot of small tetras live in smallish shallow pools which warm up quickly in the sun, but a tropical downpour will dump vast quantities of cold water into it, so the temperature swings about naturally by quite a lot.

The thing is, rain water is neutral and very soft, so does not alter the already low pH and hardness of the natural environment. If the lfs is local to you, it is likely that their tapwater is chemically the same as yours. If you keep you water changes frequent and you are not overstocked, your pollution levels may be lower then the overcrowded dealers tanks.

I'd say the advice has a lot of merit.

 

[ADelphi]

I found this aroused my curiosity in practical fish keeping it is about the uses of tonic salt/aquarium salt ----> http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=335

The ph at my lfs's are 7.8 mine is slightly lower at 7.4

Why i added aquarium salt in the first place was my father suggested it, as he has been keeping koi for over 20 years and also kept marine aquariums.

One lfs said i shouldn't do weekly water changes as they said i'm being to clinical, as i also have an internal filter and an external filter, but i'm quite happy to do a 25% weekly water change


thankyou for replying Lateral Line it is all very interesting reading.

 

[modernhamlet]

Good article. Thanks!

One lfs said i shouldn't do weekly water changes as they said i'm being to clinical, as i also have an internal filter and an external filter, but i'm quite happy to do a 25% weekly water change

I think you should tell your LFS to stuff it.