steveangela1

I have to ask for the Malawi Cichlid keepers how many of you keep salt in the tanks?
I never have, I was wondering about everyone else...

mlinden84

I put salt in my african cichlid tank when I had them.

Shawnie

never heard of it untill here...no I dont use salt

Trpimp147

i add it when they get to aggresive and or adding a momma fish.

MissMTS

Thanks for posting this poll cause I was wondering the same thing. I have a pretty high pH in my area (7.6 is average) so I have never felt I needed it. I know a lot of people do use it, but my fish seem to be doing fine without it

Trpimp147

for a cichlids tanks you want your ph to be around 7.8-8.0 salt is more of a thing to help reduce stress on the fish you dont need it, it just helps out

steveangela1

what does salt have to do w/ the ph? I have crushed coral and limestone to buffer the ph for my cichlids naturally it keeps the ph at 8.0 (ph for african cichlids)

MissMTS

I have african cichlid salts that raise the pH. I haven't used them though because it does not give a dosage ammount, it just says to use as needed. I am afraid that I will use to much and hurt my fish. If anyone has any reccomendations on how much to use on a 40 gallon tank I would be thankful for the advice

steveangela1

what is the doses on the back of the container?
Have you tried just putting crushed coral in the tank or filter?

Allie

Nope and I refuse to unless it's a sick tank.
As long as your PH stay consistent and is above 7 it's fine. Now if the number was changing constantly or too fast then you would have some probs.

steveangela1

I really thought you didn't need to put salt in the tank unless it was for sick cichlids.. and that your ph would stay pretty much stable (knock on wood) mine stays a constant 8 in all tanks... thats w/ a crushed coral substrate and limestone, no additives to the water other than the conditioners for the chorine....

MissMTS

There is no dosage on the back of the bottle (wierd huh?) but since my fishies are doing just fine, I think I will leave it

hockeyref88

Usually It will give a range on the bottle and wont go over that range. I alwasy use it. The lake is naturally high is ph.

steveangela1

Still, chemically what does salt play w/ raising the ph? To raise the ph you need a buffer, not sodium.
I can see using crushed coral, limestone, natural methods but not chemicals to raise the ph....

hockeyref88

I find crushed coral (which is whats in my tank)simply maintain ph but do not raise ph. What comes out of my faucet is not high enough to replicate lake conditions. I use a very small amount desolved during water changes and have had no ill effects, in fact it is by far my most successful tank I have. Different strokes for different folks I suppose. I do hear of lots of people who use none with good results as well, I just try to make the environment, water, rock and everything as close to the lake as possible.

Butterfly

The salt meant to be used in some Cichlid tanks is not just sodium. It is a combination of minerals to help simulate the water they came from. It contains all essential elements, such as magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium. Plus, includes trace elements such as iron, manganese, and iodide.
I personally would find out what they were being kept in before I bought them before adding any kind of water treatment. Suddenly changing their environment could cause some osmoregulation problems as well as some others.
just my 2 cents
Carol

steveangela1

Thanks, I completly agree wholely w/ you on that one... I should have clarified that the salt in question on the poll was aquarium salt, When we bought our little guys we were told that the cichlid salt was a waste of money unless our water out of our tap was too soft/low ph... and that placing rocks such as limestone in our tank would naturally give off those natural elements that they needed... (thus the chem geek my husband that stated that the rocks continue to do that)