should I put salt in my tank?

[JoluvsGuppies]

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

Ouch no! Hopefully a typo! Freshwater aquariums 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons

I only use it to treat ich..and use some for my guppies.

 

[tropicalfish]

Isn't it one teaspoon per gallon instead of one tablespoon per gallon?

 

[JWright]

Depending of the type of fish in the tank, a tablespoon per gallon isn't that unreasonable. I've heard reports from several fish keepers, whose opinions I respect very much, that concentrations as high as 6 tablespoons per 5 gallons are safe and effective.

Personally, I use 2-3 tablespoons per 5 gallons.

 

[GIS Guy]

I have used 1 tablespoon per gallon to treat ich.
Didn't have any adverse affects and after a week w/c were performed.
Ich was irraticated.

 

[Big Vine]

Personally, I use 2-3 tablespoons per 5 gallons.

Ditto...

Keep in mind that (apparently) salt isn't good for snails---at least not at this concentration. I managed to 'dissolve' (kill) a mystery snail using this process. Still, the ich was promptly eradicated, so I was pleased in the end...even despite the loss.

Big Vine

 

[tropicalfish]

same effect on ground slugs and snails.. put salt on them and they shrivel away....

 

[platygirl]

Thanks everyone. I'll give it a try.

 

[WetChicken]

Damn. PetSmart got me on the salt too. I will have to give the guy there that I talk to a hard time for recommending it. I will still give them my business since they get their cats and dogs from the SPCA instead of puppy/kitty farms such as the only other pet store in town, Petco.
Heh, the pet store in the mall got shut down due to cockroach infestation! I do miss the little mom and pop pet store that used to be in the south end. They even had brine shrimp.


Jason

 

[usacutie81]

So basically salt is pretty much a way for Petsmart to make money except in an ich situation in which case I can get iodine-free salt from the grocery store for cheaper?

Great. Petsmart already talked me into buying it. So what do I do with it now? Should I keep it or return it? I don't need the money or anything, it was only a couple bucks. But I don't want to keep something I'm never going to use.

 

[Big Vine]

Just keep it on hand for if you ever develop an ich situation...
And if you have any intention of sticking with fishkeeping for any significant length of time---which I'm sure you do ---then you'll need it. It's worked wonders for me many times...well, for my fish really.

Big Vine

 

[WetChicken]

Others have said that it has brought out the colors in their fish, so try it. I am!

 

[Jayrod7]

too lazy to read every post but i dont put salt in my community tanks but in my livebearer breeder tanks i put salt in there, its recomended for livebearers cause it takes stress off them and it helps with breeding. i only put in around 2 table spoons for 10 gallons.

 

[GIS Guy]

So basically salt is pretty much a way for Petsmart to make money ... Petsmart already talked me into buying it.

I was at Petsmart yesterday and the fish girl was telling this customer all about salt:
...when to add
...how much to add
...what it's used for
...etc.

I was screaming in my head --- "oh man, come on stop pushing this unnecessary item!"
Like Elaine (seinfeld) did on the subway when it had the power outage.