Salt...

[Tokis-Phoenix]

When it comes to salt in tank treatments or using it to treat fish, i have always used this link as a source of info;

http/badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article5.html

But i have recently found members who are advising using salt with fish that are not recommended on it; does anyone disgree with what this article says and if not, why?
Are there any exceptions with using salt in tanks that are not already listed in this article and if so, what?
What are your opinions on using salt in tanks?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Anyone, no? Im not trying to cause an arguement or whatever, i just thought the rules of salt were pretty straight forward so anyone correct me if there are any exceptions...

 

[WILDER]

I would only use salt on a sick fish where it helps, then i use household salt stopped buying aquarium salt.

 

[Blue Lobster]

I have had great results with salt in freshwater aquariums for treating ich. Put in the recommended dose on the back of the carton and raise the heat to 88 degrees for a week. The ich will be gone and then do a water change of 50% to bring the salt levels back down. Then drop the temp SLOWLY, to fast they die.

Salt never hurt anything in my tank (See sig)

 

[colegamby]

i thought salt was bad for cories.

 

[Erised]

I'd never use salt on my fish, cept for those that are kept in brackish or marine water. Personally I believe that, if the fish comes from a place where there is no salt in its water, there wont be much benefit in putting salt in.

I'm not quite sure what you meant when you said that members where using salt with fish when it was not recommended ... if you mean putting salt in with catfish or scaleless fish ... I think its ridiculous. No matter what the profits may be, I do not think any fish should suffer (either straight away or in the long run) from it ... if you really wanna use it, do it in a hospital tank.

If you mean, people use it on fish other than livebearers ... I'd not do it, but if they believe their fish do better coz of it?

Far as I'm aware, that article is quite a good source of information, and I cant think of exceptions that they're missed out.

--edit--

salt IS bad for corydoras when used for more than a couple of days. you cant see it right away, but in the long run it will affect them and shorten their lifespans

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

They were advising using it in a tank with neons...
But anyways, blue lobster, the salt would have been bad for the plecs and corys- you may not have noticed any visable signs on them but it would have been causing them alot of stress.

I've never used salt in my tanks for treating anything and i have encountered all types of deseases in the last 2yrs and i have always found alternative meds to curing things and have done so very well .

 

[G_Sharky]

I used it as "when in doubt use salt"....This is my first resort if i feel that there is something wrong with my tank and it work so far....A couple of weeks ago my clown loaches was covered with ICH and I used the heat and salt method and it work great....My pleco's didn't get feel any ill affects of salt and I used about 2 tablespoon per 10 gallon....Ich was gone after 10 days...

 

[bunjiweb]

I would be wary using salt but thats down to the ammount of catfish I have..

It works very well as a tonic and healing solution, that has been proven alot, you just have to be careful with it and not overdose and remember to do water changes in your tank once everything is running ok.

Ben

 

[WILDER]

G sharky that's a cute fish.

 

[Blue Lobster]

They were advising using it in a tank with neons...
But anyways, blue lobster, the salt would have been bad for the plecs and corys- you may not have noticed any visable signs on them but it would have been causing them alot of stress.

I've never used salt in my tanks for treating anything and i have encountered all types of deseases in the last 2yrs and i have always found alternative meds to curing things and have done so very well .

Corys and pleco are alot hardier than the angels and balas and lower on my totem pole so they will just have to deal. Anyhows, I saw no change in their behavior when the tank was salted.

Right now the tank is perfect so....(Knocks on wood)

 

[Paul_MTS]

they might be hardier but adding salt for anything longer than a few days in a tank with catfish in you ARE doing them harm. you might no notice changes but in the long run you have harmed them.

i have never used salt in my tank and never will....apart from my brackish tank...

personally i think the idea of using salt to cure diasease is a bit over rated. why use salt and heat to get rid of ICH in 10days when you can get rid of it in a couple of days using a good medication....

 

[BettaMomma]

I use salt in my betta tanks ONLY when they're ailing and it's either ick or finrot. For things like internal infections and that sort, I stay away from it - I feel like salt is a fixer for things outside.

I was terrified to use salt at first, now I think it's marvelous - but I only have bettas.

 

[astroboy]

They were advising using it in a tank with neons...

haha, hey buddy, you got beef with me?

Salt/heat is IMO the best way to get rid of ick. Its much better than using meds because meds usually end up killing more fish and causing more stress than salt/heat.

As for treating scaleless fish, catfish, and loaches, salt is not harmful for them for treatment periods (a few weeks). It is not recommended you add salt for long term use with them.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

They were advising using it in a tank with neons...

haha, hey buddy, you got beef with me?

Salt/heat is IMO the best way to get rid of ick. Its much better than using meds because meds usually end up killing more fish and causing more stress than salt/heat.

As for treating scaleless fish, catfish, and loaches, salt is not harmful for them for treatment periods (a few weeks). It is not recommended you add salt for long term use with them.

No, i was just asking others if there were any exceptions when using salt with certain fish thats all...
If i were trying to stir up trouble i would've named you and put in some other comment about your knolege of fish or somthing etc, i said early on in the thread that i was only trying to sort out the issue not argue anyways.