Someone told me I could add regular iodized table salt to my aquarium to cure ick,guppies ,and tetras?

Question

Is it true and what ratio per gallon?

Answer 1

No. Please do not add regular old table salt to the aquarium, like stated before the iodine will kill the fish. What you want is aquarium salt. But first, let me ask you this: Do you have guppies and tetras like stated above? Typically they do not require any salt added to the water. You will find a wide array of opinions on this topic as far as if it really cures ich/ick....I don't believe so in my opinion. Do some research on the actual infestation of ich/ick and you will see that there is a 3 day gap that it's water-born and then they attach themselves to a host (your fish) it's after that process do you see any white spots on your fish. Prior to this happening ich/ick is suseptable to salt but by the time you physically see the white spots it's too late for it to work. So you need to get some medicine to add to the water to cure up the infestations. IF you have tetras you have to cut down the dosage on most medications (just follow the manufactures instructions) I use a product called QuICK Cure which states that it cures ich/ick in only 2 days. You still have to treat the tank for 7 days. Remove your carbon from your filter since that will remove what you are putting in. After that infestation of ich is gone then at your next water change you can add some aquarium salt at the rate of 1TBSP per 5 gallons of water for a general tonic. Salt reduces stress and improves gill function. I use it in my tanks with Oscars in one and the other having a semi-aggressive community. There is something else that is good for Mollies called Shimmy Blocks which helps with certain electrolytes in the water for general health and wellbeing. Good Luck.

Answer 2

Not iodized, and actually not non-iodized table salt either. If you can't get to a petstore to get Freshwater Aquarium Salt, you can use Kosher Salt instead, which you should be able to find at the grocery store. You use 1 tablespoon of aquarium salt per 5 gallons of water. That works out to a little more than half a teaspoon per gallon. Scoop out a little bit of the aquarium water and dissolve the salt in it, and then pour it back in. Undissolved salt grains have the potential to burn your fish, although most fish will avoid the grains and its no big deal. Plecos and catfish can tolerate salt at these levels just fine, but they cannot tolerate the higher levels that livebearers (guppies, mollies, platies) are usually kept at. Salt should be able to cure your ick problem. Also raising your aquarium temperature to about 80-82 degrees should help as well. Do not raise it all the way to 90 as suggested, that is much too high for your fish. If after a week or so of the salt and 80 degree temperature, the ick isn't gone, then go to the pet store and buy an ick medication.

Answer 3

NO.

You cannot use table salt in aquariums, the added iodine will kill your fish.

First of all, there are medications available to treat ick, and you should start with those. If you want to add salt, which is generally considered to increase healing in fish, use only freshwater aquarium salt purchased from a pet store. The ratio for regular use and medicinal use will be printed on the container it comes in.

Answer 4

Do not use table salt. Sea salt in very small quantities will help prevent fish from getting diseases and if they are already infected raising the temperature 82-83 and adding sea salt can help. WARNING tropical warm water plants do not like sea salt.

Answer 5

Buy uniodized salt, use about 2 tbls per gallon..and yes, it will get rid of ick. Raise the temp to about 90-95 degrees, that will kill it off also. Good luck
Tetras do not like salt, guppies need slightly salty water.

Answer 6

A small amount of sea salt. Very small

Answer 7

NO TABLE SALT,
and no salt at all if you have any sort of pleco or cat fish in your tank!

Answer 8

no the salt will burn the fish you want to get be gone water cleaner for the water and fish and add three drops per gallon

Answer 9

Table Salt... NaCl ... Sodium Chloride... You treat your tank water with dechlorinator (I hope...) why would you drop a substance laden with chlorine into the tank?