should I put salt in my tank?

[usacutie81]

I was wondering if I should put fish salt in my 75 gallon tank. I really want to keep cardinals and the lady at Petsmart suggested that they are more likely to survive if I put salt in the tank. She said all their tanks in the store have salt in the main system. What do you think?

 

[tropicalfish]

I think they have a minute amount of salt...
Obviously, no table salt. That will kill them

 

[Lonewolfblue]

Nope, not necessary. If you do, you will need to keep adding it at every PWC.

 

[JWright]

No need for salt.

There are a lot of myths about salt out there. One is that some _freshwater_ fish need salt to thrive. Another is that table salt is deadly to fish.

The only purpose for salt, in my opinion, is the treatment of ich. At the dosages involved there, table salt is just fine.

 

[jessey]

So do any freshwater fish need salt? No, right? Because I know the label for Mollies at the Petsmart near me says that Mollies like some salt in there water. Untrue?

 

[GIS Guy]

Mollies can actually adapt and survive in saltwater.
They can go either way.
I tend to think that pet stores have 'aquarium salt' on their shelves and they sell it to unsuspecting consumers.
.
Animal Library: Fish: Mollies
.
Freshwater Mollies

 

[tropicalfish]

so the iodine in the table salt is okay for them?

 

[Pure]

No need for salt.

There are a lot of myths about salt out there. One is that some _freshwater_ fish need salt to thrive. Another is that table salt is deadly to fish.

The only purpose for salt, in my opinion, is the treatment of ich. At the dosages involved there, table salt is just fine.

Ditto.
Salt is for the most part useless. Mollys by nature spend a lot of time in brackish conditions. So the salt they need is much different then what you put in a FW tank.

 

[Grumpy_Marine]

I was rooked into buying aquarium salt for my FW tank... here is what i use it for:

Ich

Only had to use it once, but i do add it every other w/c and notice that my barb and gourmai seem more colorful than without it, But in the big picture it is not needed.... but since i have it i use it just to get rid of the container without throwing it away. if it snowed in california where i am i would use this as salt to keep sidewalk free of ice.... which would be a better use of the stuff.

 

[bsmall05]

off topic but grumpy i love the pic of your dojo!!! mine is in my bf's tank and i miss her like crazy!! i think im getting his 10g soon, so im really excited about converting that to a cold water tank!

oh yeah and i agree about the salt. a guy at petsmart tried to sell me aquarium salt, but i found table salt w/o iodine and it treated my ick just fine! they just push it for the profit! i think we would be much better off in this world if some people thought about something other than profit. (my rant for the day)

 

[Big Vine]

off topic but grumpy i love the pic of your dojo!!!

Lol...bsmall 'hijacks' the thread...yippee!
(I was going to do the same thing and compliment Grumpy_Marine on his cool new avatar, but you beat me to it!).

Big Vine

 

[bsmall05]

so BV, does that mean that i hijacked your hijack? hehe

 

[Big Vine]

LMAO...I suppose it does! *laughingc

Big Vine

 

[Purple]

again - a gentle reminder folks - not all fish like salt - corries for instance

always check first .......

other than that i agree with most of the above - salt doesn't do a lot .....

 

[Purple]

so the iodine in the table salt is okay for them?

good call tropicalfish ........

no - not really - but at the level you'd be putting it in it would be so low it's "unlikely" to cause a problem

 

[bsmall05]

you can buy iodine free sea salt at a grocery store, its cheaper than the stuff at the pet store and like i said it works just as well.

 

[tropicalfish]

I put about two teaspoons of iodized table salt into my 10 gallon this afternoon.. the fish look okay..I hope they will do fine
I was just seeing if it would make any difference to that bloodfin that would not leave the cave....

 

[platygirl]

So how much salt would you put in per gal. to treat ich? I have only one fish that has ich and most certain that is what it is, but no others have it.
Thanks!

 

[Grumpy_Marine]

For the aquarium salt it is one tblspoon per gallon, but for table salt and iodine free salt i am unsure of the amounts...

As for my avatar... it is not my dojo loach in the picture, it is from website, i should get my dojo on avatar, he likes to hang from plants in tank like a lazy boy reliner...lol. I have two dojo loaches in tropical community tank, don't do that cold water just for them, i am sure i would piss off a loach lover fanatic, but my two dojo seem to be the most active and happy of all my fish.

 

[bsmall05]

okay im officially done hijacking this thread (sorry usa) and starting a dojo thread in the bottom feeders section. join if you so please!