Windchaser

Was just wondering about peoples' opinions on putting that API aquarium salt in a freshwater tank and whether or not it's a good thing to do?

Especially wondering so about a cycling tank.

Thanks!

COBettaCouple

I don't like to put aquarium salt in our FW tanks.

jsalemi

There are a few freshwater fish that are happier with a little salt in the tank, like mollies and maybe platys, but they can be fine without it, and the vast majority of freshwater fish don't like it at all.

Now, if you were setting up a brackish water tank, it would be a different story...

Tom

What do you want in the tank? I know that a little bit of salt will help with some diseases.
Tom

Windchaser

We're not sure what we want in our tank, we have just been kind of getting what community fish that get along and that we like. Prolly not a good method of stocking fish though hehe.

Do Bettas like a little salt in their tank?

Think for now we're just gonna not add any salt to it at all. What about quarantine tanks; is a little salt a good idea there?

jsalemi

Salt supposedly does help with specific diseases, but even in a quarantine tank I'd add it on an as-needed basis.

sirdarksol

betta's water is not brackish, and they would not prefer it on a normal basis. The reason that tonic salt is used for ill fish is that there are cases where a parasite is more harmed by salt than the fish is, or where an infection is attacking the slime coat of a fish (which is aided by salt). The salt will still stress strictly freshwater fish, but usually to a minor extent (there are fish that absolutely loathe salt, so be sure to look up species-specific treatments before using tonic salt). However, if the good is greater than the harm, the tonic salt is worth it.
Some fish, such as mollies and the eel-like dragon gobies, prefer having a bit of salt in their water. In this case, you don't want to use tonic salt, you want to use marine salt (the kind added to SW tanks). Each fish has a specific gravity range that they prefer. Thankfully, brackish fish live in areas where the amount of salt in the water varies from day to day and from square foot to square foot, so they don't have as demanding requirements as full marine fish need. Platinum mollies, for example, can handle pretty much anything from freshwater to heavily brackish, while black mollies can almost survive full saltwater.

Windchaser

Great, thanks. I'll just keep the main tank salt free. I have put some salt in the Betta's tank, but it's been a while so I need to do a water change to his tank later anyway.

Hopefully I can get the salt out of his tank.

sirdarksol

Yeah, just keep doing water changes, and you'll slowly lower the salt content in the tank. As long as your betta doesn't seem stressed, there should be no worry. You don't want to change things too quickly, anyway, since a rapid change, even to better quality water, will stress the fish more.

Sabi

just a quick question...
I know it is harmful to put salt in tanks with scales fish (like plecos). But is it just the salt falling on them that is harmful or even if it is diluted first will it be harmful?

COBettaCouple

yes, even dissolved it can harm them.

sirdarksol

As bettacouple said, it's bad for them. I think that, because there are no scales, osmosis pulls the water out through their skin.

Butterfly

salt is also an irritant and can cause the fish to over produce slime coat.
Carol

Sabi

Thanks for the input.

lyndatu

A little of salt can be helpful to your fish (anything except iodized, and I think the best one will be rock salt). It will serve as nutrient salts for your fish, crustaceans, mollusks, as well as your plants. Do you know estuaries? It's a body of water where freshwater and saltwater meet and mix, and more creatures thrive in there. Just one handful of salt and drop it into the water, and too much salt may be harmful to your fish.

Butterfly

Not all freshwater fish are from estuaries so that salt content isn't relavent for all fish.
I really feel a handful of salt is a little much. I believe 1 tablespoon per 5 g is the recommended dose if you are going to use it at all although unless using it for medicinal purposes it is not necessary.
Carol

COBettaCouple

i would only use salt in a brackish or saltwater tank. our fish are healthier and happier since we stopped adding 1 tbsp of salt to a 10g tank.

Sabi

I stopped adding salt in my fw tank

COBettaCouple

i've noticed too that i find the aquarium salt in the medications section in the stores.