Salt in Freshwater

[Little Stinkpots]

i have used tanks and maintianed them and have never used salt but i have read alot about it and read some contoversy between using it and not. what will salt do for the tank and its habitants.

i have turtles, eclipse catfish and feeders in one tank
and snails guppies and fries and 1 bamboo shrimp

will they benefit from it if so how much and how often

 

[bassbonediva]

As far as I know, aquarium salt (which is quite different than marine salt) is only good for treating illness, and only then in small doses. Catfish and snails do not do well with aquarium salt, period.

 

[nanu156]

Salt is great for fish with scales even when they are not sick, it reduces stress by making the fish more buoyant.

 

[Little Stinkpots]

why is it bad for catfish and snails.

 

[OrangeCones]

Salt is great for fish with scales even when they are not sick, it reduces stress by making the fish more buoyant.

How would aquarium salt make a fish with scales more buoyant (and how would that reduce stress)?

 

[achase]

From what I understand you should only use aquarium salt when you have a fish illness (such as ick). I don't tend to add things to my aquariums unless something specific requires it (such as an illness). I heard that aquarium salt long term can harm live plants and their growth.....I don't know if you have live plants or not.

I'm not exactly sure why catfish don't like aquaium salt but it's a common dislike amongst scaleless fish.

Plecos, catfish, sharks, otos and other scaleless fish have a problem with even small amounts of salt because it causes electrolyte imbalance in their bodies as well as burning their skins. Copper will do the same thing. We may not think a little will harm them but it dehydrates them as the salt in the water causes a chemical imbalance that MOST freshwater fish can handle but not like. It is not a recommended thing ever to add aquarium salt to the tank on a constant basis.

From Fishlore