Should I be adding this stuff to my fishtank?

Question

I've bought goldfish from the petshop and the guy also gave me a jar of "conditioning salts" containing sodium chloride, magnesium sulphate, calcium sulphate, potassium chloride, strontium chloride, potassium bromide, sodium biphosphate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium thiosulphate, methylene blue. Nowhere does it say on the jar whether it is for fresh water or salt water fish.
I asked him if it was for freshwater fish and the answer was yes. The fish is still alive after 10 days, but I'm not entirely convinced that I should be adding this stuff.

Answer 1

Adding salt to a freshwater tank is a personal choice I believe, there is a lot of debate out there about whether or not it is neccessary and actually has any benefits. I don't have goldfish, but I have a 55 gallon freshwater tank with all kinds of other fish, and I DO add salt like you are talking about to the tank. I replenish it every time I clean and add more water too. It can help keep your fish healthy. I have not had any problems with my fish and I have had my tank for over two years now, we even had babies!

The links below explains it better than I can. You can find a ton of info on the net about it too, just do a "salt in freshwater" search.

Answer 2

I am going to assume that you live where the water is treated by a water department. If you have well water, you might not need this stuff. Sounds to me that all this jar is, is "salts" to harden your water. For a goldfish, it might help. The Sodium Bicarbonate will lower the acid content in your water. Sodium Bicarbonate may sound familiar. It is baking soda. The Methylene Blue is an anti fungal. Bottom line is that if the fish is still alive after ten days, it might be helpful. But not needed until your next water change.

Answer 3

Well, all these salts and minerals that you are listing there would help making your water better for your fish only if there were not enough in your tap water (you have to condition the tapwater with a dechlorinator). Usually there should be enough of that salts in the average tap water so you might just be wasting your money to make your water harder and all you would do is get more lime scale when water evaporates :P. Get your water company to send you a detailed analysis of your tap water. If the General Hardnes is above 8dGH then you should be ok without adding salts.

Just make sure your goldfish have a large tank, good filtration, cool water and partial water changes (10%-20%) every 15 days. Contrary to general belief goldfish need a lot of swimming space to thrive!

Answer 4

Goldfish like a high general hardness(GH) in their water. Adding the blue salts will give them this. Nothing wrong with the stuff, and I use it for my tropical fish too.

Answer 5

The stuff you listed is for goldfish specifically, get a good goldfish (carp,koi) book and read a little. There are things goldfish need and don't need that your average guppy would do badly with.

Answer 6

I don't know about that stuff
but my fish are in the back yard & i only have guppies but i did have a goldfish for years as well & every time it rains a lot i have been told & i do put a handful of cooking salt into the water because the rainwater has all these chemicals in it & the salt never hurts the fish so they must know what they are talking about

Answer 7

i think it should be ok
my little fishies just get filtered water and they are thriving
my cat will only drink out of the fish tank also, so im a bit dubious about putting chemicals in, dont want dead cat and fish

Answer 8

yes

Answer 9

ummmmm i dnt think u should b