Is it ok to use rock salt to keep fresh water fish healthy?

Answer 1

Cool, I guess some people do know what they are talking about. Yes, you can use rock salt in order to keep some bacteria away from the fish tank and to keep the pH level to healthy levels. Just consult with your pet store on how much salt you should use. Lol why do people keep mentioning iodized/ table salt, she asked about ROCK SALT.

Answer 2

No.

If you have a brackish tank, you need marine salt.

If you have sick fish, you need aquarium salt or non-iodized table salt.

Rock salt is lethal if consumed by humans. I would think the same would apply to fish.

EDIT: "Lastly, you will need some salt. Salting the transport water helps reduce "handling and hauling shock" and will lower the osmotic stress on the fish while in the bags. You can use table salt, kosher salt or sea salts. It does not matter whether the salt is "iodized" or not. Iodized salt does not hurt fish, despite what you may have read or heard to the contrary. You should, however, stay away from rock salt, which contains many harmful impurities." as taken from http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/detail.aspx?aid=9608&cid=3784&search=

And we suggest alternatives (like table salt) because rock salt is not necessarily good for the fish.

Answer 3

You really don't need any salt for fresh water fish unless the tank has a history of ich/ick. I'd use kosher salt, or table salt before rock salt. The real question is what sort of rock salt is it. (It my have extra stuff in it depend on it's original purpose.) That said it should be fine if the bag doesn't have a warning that you shouldn't eat it. I'd dissolve it into water before putting it into a tank.

Answer 4

Yes, you should use a very small amount of Aquarium salt to your fresh water Tank. but only a very small amount. I would not use Iodized salt as this could kill your fish. Only Aquarium salt for fresh water Fish. This will help to control Ick and other freshwater diseases like fin rot.

Answer 5

YES! Adding a small amount of salt to your fresh water is one thing that should allways be done, I'v always used it in my fish tanks and my fish's health proves that it is ok to use .I am also aware that my local aquarium does it which proves a little bit is great. But although it is ok to use rock salt, it is better to use an aquariumn brand salt because of the "contamination factor".

I am sorry to disagree with so many people... but in small amounts salt works as a steralizer, in the "olden days" many aquarists used a marine salt as a cure for extremely disesed/sick fish. With carefull care salt is an extremely powerfull and wonderfull thing in the aquarium. (but remember with great power comes great responsibility) :D

Answer 6

it depends what kind of fish you have. brakishwater fish, for example, are often sold under the freshwater fish category and they need salt to survive. Puffers, monos and scats all need salt(about one tbspoon of seasalt per gallon) Livebearers appreciate small amounts of salt, espeicially black mollies(salt helps prevent fungus infections). On the other hand, normal freshwater fish are perfectly ok with no salt and certain species are sensitive to too much salt. Personnally, if you aren't sure what species of fish you have, i suggest NOT adding salt:)

Answer 7

if you put salt of any sort in with a fresh water fish you will kill it
fresh water means no salt
sheesh

Answer 8

No, use the special aquarium salt from the petstore, then you know nothing has been added that can harm the fish.
Sometimes they add iodine and other minerals to salt people use in food.

Answer 9

each fish has each content of how much salty water can they live in their habitat. so if u want ur fish can feel ur place (i mean aquarium) like it habitat u must becarefull to give the content of the aquarium.

Answer 10

No probs........make sure its not too much........
If it is a 2ft tank.......2 table spoon will be enough!!!
Stir the water well in order to melt the salt.......