CICHLIDS australian? thats what i was told. Do they require salt?

Question

I was told by the provious owner to add 1 Tbsp of salt per gallon of water. Question is: Do I just dump 20 Tbsp of salt into this tank? Thats alot of salt! I don't know and don't know anyone that does. HELP!!!! The fish are black/brown purple/silver all orangish yellow. and one looks like a black/brown calico cat. if that helps any!!!

Answer 1

To begin with, never change the water quality drastically. That is a recipe for disaster.

I don't know of any Australian cichlids. The Africans, however, are a very diverse group of fish.

All fish benefit from a little salt in their water. That is what the local fish stores (LFS) have in the little cups in their tanks. It helps them maintain their slime coating and inhibits the growth and reproduction of bacteria that cause fishy diseases.

Most people use aquarium salt that you can buy at the LFS. Table salt is also OK to use. Even the iodized salt. There are trace amounts of iodine in almost all water.

The amount to use is about one tablespoon per 5 gallons of water. Remember, salt does not evaporate, so don't add more salt when you add water to replace evaporated water. Only add salt when you replace water you physically take out of the tank to do your weekly 25-30% water change.

Answer 2

There are two main branches of cichlids. One is Neo tropicals. They originate in Central America to South America. Salt is not really needed for these guys. But you can use it to treat diseases.

The other branch is African cichlids which come from a variety of places, either one of three rift lakes, Madagascar or rivers. The river cichlids don't need salt either. The rift lakes have a high ph (8-9 depending on the lake) and some salinity (not enough to even be brackish though).

I suspect you have African Rift lake cichlids. 1 TBSP gallon is a lot of salt, too much. It is more like 1 TBSP to 5 or 10 gallons. AND African keepers debate whether the salt is even needed.

BTW if you have the fish I think you have.... a 20 gallon tank is too small. Mbuna (rock dwelling cichlids from Lake Malawi) are highly aggressive territorial fish and really do better with larger tanks (4 foot long and up). Eventually you may end up with one cichlid in the 20 gallon after it kills everything else.

Answer 3

1 tbsp. for every 10 gallons of water. Cichlids are not salt water fish, but for some reason adding salt is good for them. Sorry I don't remember why, haven't had exotic tropicals for quite some time.

Answer 4

First of all Cichlids are African, not Australian. Second of all, go to the Pet Store and buy aquirium salt and follow the directions. But that amount is WAY TOO MUCH!! They will die!! They may like the water a little brachish (salty), but not full out ocean-like!!

Answer 5

You can put salt to keep the tank healthy, just make sure it's aquarium salt & not table or sea salt. I usually put some on my oscar's tank.

Answer 6

They make salt for cichlids, go to a pet store. Ihave cichlids.

Answer 7

Call a pet store and ask them! Buy a book or go to the libray or even research this on the internet.