Using Magnesium Sulfate (Epson salt) to increase hardness?

(first post!) Is it a good idea to add magnesium sulfate to increase water hardness? My fish have been flashing more and I was wondering if it was attributed to that.

 

Hello and welcome.
First tell us what are your water parameters.

 

hi, ph 6.4 ammo 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 5 I don't think it's from ICH or any hidden parasites, but all I know is that they started flashing more when I added some magnesium sulfate to the tank.

 

Why did you add the magnesium sulfate?

What's your GH/KH?

Rule number 1 to fish keeping (for me anyway) is to not add anything to the water that you can't test for or know what it does before you do so.

If they are flashing more now, I would do a (large) water change to get it out of the water. Something is clearly wrong.

 

I added the magnesium sulfate to increase GH to 3 degrees (is there a better way?)

My KH is also around 3 degrees

But I was really wondering if epson itself will cause fish to flash in general. Thanks for the advice on the water change. I will do that now.

(oh btw I have a freshwater aquarium; I can't seem to change my profile at this time)

 

No, it will not cause fish to flash.

 

No, it will not cause fish to flash.

Thank you.
I did a 40% water change and everything went back to normal. I wonder if it was impurities in the epson salt

 

I don't really know. It could be just a coincidence. Doing a water change was a good move though. Ever in doubt do a water change.

You used the plain epsom right? Not any of the scented ones? Just figure I would ask.