Help with adding salt

[dany83]

I have a 33 gal aquarium, and i just started using it 2 weeks ago. I have an aqua clear 300 filter, and about 15 tropical fish so far. Im using all the necessary things to clean the water, but I do not have a testing kit. My question is if it's a good idea to add Nutrafin aquarium salt, or will it complicate things? I was told it is better for the fish, but I'm not sure if its too late now. Also, i do not have a another tank to quarantine and I want to know if it's really a problem. My last question is about water. To change it, I fill up a bucket with tap water and treat it with Aqua Plus for several minutes before adding it, removing 10-15 % of the water.

 

[cation]

What kind of fish do you have?

 

[dany83]

4 molly, 8 tetra, and 3 angel fish..thx

 

[cation]

What do you mean by "all the necessary things to clean the water?" What exactly are you using? Aquarium salt can be used with mollies - in fact, they prefer a somewhat brackish tank. I think the tetras would be fine with some salt, and I think angels are okay with it too. What kinda tetras do you have? If they're small, there's a good chance they'll become food for your angels...

Edited to add: Welcome to the board, by the way...

 

[dany83]

Hey, thanks for helping me out. What i meant by cleaning material, is Aqua Plus for the water, Waste Control and Cycle. I do not have an algae scraper yet. I just needed to know if my aquarium will no longer be considered FW if i add some salt and if it will complicate things. The tetra are neon tetra which are indeed small. Is it really worth it to add salt, or not necessary. For the other question, when i empty out 15% of the water, is it ok to fill it back with Aqua plus treated water immediately, cause its kinda hard to treat so much water and leave it overnight. Thanks a lot

 

[Phantom Thief]

I think the tetras would be fine with some salt

I'm pretty sure neon tetras are not ok with salt.

It also isnt necessary, salt doesn't do much. Is Aqua plus a dechlorinator? If it is, then yes, you can add the treated water into the tank immediately.

P.T.

 

[clutterydrawer]

it's really not necessary, and will probably create more problems than it solves

bear in mind that the tetras and angel come from 100% freshwater, they would really rather not have any salt in it

 

[cation]

This is true, but I think mollies prefer a bit, yes? Perhaps an excuse for another tank?


Anyway, sorry for the bad advice. ) I have too many cories and don't use salt in my tanks, except the occasional pinch for the bettas. Good lesson on why you should always get a second (or third) opinion around here!

 

[dany83]

Thx for the advice, I dont think I need to use it and complicate things more than they already are.

 

[clutterydrawer]

This is true, but I think mollies prefer a bit, yes? Perhaps an excuse for another tank?


Anyway, sorry for the bad advice. ) I have too many cories and don't use salt in my tanks, except the occasional pinch for the bettas. Good lesson on why you should always get a second (or third) opinion around here!

they do, but I think they can survive without it not sure, I dont know much about mollies. i wouldnt risk the tetras and angel though.

 

[Chasing Puck]

Mollies do better in harder water--but this type of salt will not increase the hardness of the tank. Yes, I would split them into a different tank--while often touted as a great beginer fish, mollies are not as easy to provide for as many fish. They will develop a variety of ailments in soft water--and the angels and neons will prefer softer water. Mixing fish that come from hard water with those from soft water can cause problems.

Here's a good article to read on the uses of salt in Freshwater aquariums (and no, this type of salt will not create a brackish tank--bracksih water contains much more than just NaCl!) http/www.aaquaria.com/aquasource/salt.shtml

 

[K-Holed]

My number one, top tip tip for sucsesful fish keeping ... -keep it simple!- In my experience, the more crap you add to your water the more that can go wrong with it. Only use something if you -have- to.

 

[swampcat]

I've used aquarium salt for 15 years or more. Never had a problem with it. The amount used is trivial. Most fish actually like it. I dose a little less than recommended for reg use and full dose when illness appears wich is rare. I believe this salt keeps disease and fungus from tank. Had many more problems with fish prior to using salt. Its kind of funny how clean we keep are tanks and worry about water conditions . The waters in south america, where most of our fish come from is highly polluted the same as the water ways in North America. You get that bacteria going right (Cycle) and the rest is trivial. Fish adapt to water conditions very well.