Salt in fish tank?

Question

I saw an earlier question about adding salt to a freshwater tank. I've always heard about doing this with livebearers and for disease and was wondering if someone could explain to me what this does and how it works? websites would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Salt is excellent for freshwater fishes, but in moderation. The fact is freshwater in the wild usually contains some salt. At low levels salt helps the osmotic regulation in the fish, asssists in slime coat production and intefers with the formation of several chemicals that could be damaging to your tank. Salt can also provide calcium in the water and that is a good things for several reasons, but detailing those would be another post. All of this isn't really opinion or theory, but is fact. Some feel that salt is not good for a tank, but rarely have a scientific reason not to add some salt to a tank.

In higher levels salt kills ick and several other parasites as well as some fungi and therefore makes a good medication. Again, not opinion, not theory, but fact. Some will tell you that salt does not kill ick, they are frankly totally wrong.

There are theorys concerning salt helping immune systems and the like that have not been well tested but are often touted on bags of salt.

Finally. We are talking about salt as being Soduim Chloride ( NaCl). Given that, salt is salt, is salt. The stuff in the little bag or box for about $5 a pound or more at the aquarium store is no different than the no iodine added salt at the grocery store for way under a $1 a pound. It's the same exact stuff. Kosher salt is the same stuff as well and is also completely and totally safe for your aquarium. I have used it for decades in litterally tens of thousands of tank set ups and it's totally safe.

I don't include websites because so much fiction is passed as fact on this subject around the web. Instead I would point you to four books, "Textbook of Fish Health" by Dr. George Post , "Fish Hatchery Management" published by the Department of the Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service, "Water Quality in Ponds for Aquaculture" by Claude E. Boyd, Department of Fisheries and Alied Aquaculture Auburn University and finally "Principles of Warmwater Aquaculture" by Robert R. Stickney, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Texas A&M University. All of these very professional texts endorse using salt in freshwater tanks and ponds both as an additive as well as a medication. All of these include firm, solid scientific testing as backing for those claims.

MM

Answer 2

The primary thing salt does is irritates the skin and encourages the growth of the protective slime coating. Healthy freshwater fish have no problems with this and so don't need the salt. It can also help relieve osmoregulatory stress when certain fish are going through environmental changes.

There are many additives you can add to the tank that claim to do all sorts of wonderful things, but in the end all we need to keep our fish healthy is a low stress life - this means properly cycled tanks, clean water, good food, and properly chosen tank mates and aquarium sizes.

Most of the experienced aquarists I know don't use additives, and I know that I haven't seen disease in any of my tanks in many years, pretty much since I first started the hobby, and I use absolutely nothing in the water beyond de-chlorination.

Answer 3

The theory is that adding salt to a freshwater tank will make the fish heartier and more resistant to disease. Also, many disease bearing organisms are very susceptible to even a small amount of salt in the water.

I have kept my African Cichlids in brackish water for years and have had a lot of success in breeding them.

If you do this, understand that it is only a small amount of salt (10% or less of the recommended salt-water concentration) and needs to be salt designed for salt water tanks, not table salt. It should also be introduced very gradually (depending on the size of the tank, over a period of hours or even days) so it does not stress your fish.

Answer 4

Age old question. Salt does nothing for the health of your fish in your aquarium. Yes, lakes and rivers do have some salt again not worth mentioning.

Salt does not kill parasites. Salt will detach parasites allowing them to remain in the water of a salt bath, but these dip treatments do not kill parasites. I should know, I am a Marine Biologist.

Answer 5

Well, it's sort of a matter of opinion. If you read the box if salt, it boasts immune-system boosting, protection against infections and minor ailments, increased production of mucus coating, speeding healing etc etc etc.
It does help; because it's salt, it can help protect against secondary infections if your fish has a wound. It will also kill certain parasites like Ich and Velvet, and it can help combat minor cases of finrot.
However, I firmly believe that it is not necessary to add salt to a freshwater tank ALL the time, because (IMO) it does not have any benefits for already healthy fish.
But others say that some salt in FW at all times is good for your fish. It certainly doesn't apear to be bad for them.

I personally don't add it to my tanks at all times, but I do use it if I see a fish with frayed fins, or to combat ich, and it has certainly fulfilled its purpose for me.

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/treatment/a/saltiinfresh.htm
http://www.bestfish.com/fwsalt.html
http://www.aquariumfish.net/information/aquarium_salt_2.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/saltusefaqs.htm
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article5.html


Please note that you should NOT use marine salt, because it contains other additives that you do not want in your tank. Kosher salt or aquarium salt is best.

Answer 6

I have to go with D, G and Dr. K on this one.
I have never used salt either.

Salt doesn't interfere with anything but the nitrites in the tank. The amount of calcium your tank gets from a pinch of salt is minimal at best. Calcium is replaced more by water changes than that pinch of salt.
MM is right that is a fact. Adding a pinch of salt can increase your calcium level in a tank approximately .00214 PPM. (Wow) It isn't scientific fact it is theory only.

Higher levels of salt will do much more damage to your tank than it is worth. It DOES NOT KILL ICH when are you people going to learn this. The amount of salt in your tank you would need would kill the fish first. As was said, it will make the parasites Drop off, not kill them. If this was the case salt water fish or brackish water fish would never get ich.

As far as quoting fish and wild life, yep they have really done a bag up job on our states fish populations. Killing millions of fish thru contaminants and miss management. That is a source I would take as fact.

As far as quoting books that state salt is good, I can list 10 that say it is bad.

I agree, web pages are usually full of BS unless from

Last but not least I would like to add, read what is listed on your water conditioner. (or get the MSDS sheets) Guess what? SODIUM is already in there for the amount of water you are conditioning. Immagine that!

THIS SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH MARINE SALT, WHICH CONTAINS BUFFERS THAT ARE VERY HARMFUL TO MANY FRESHWATER FISH. Table salt is basically also NaCl, only with iodine added (the myth that iodized salt is harmful fish is largely false... iodine is a natural element that is needed in the diet of all fish, and is actually a supplement in many fish foods... the only thing in table salt of real harm to FW fish are the decaking agents, which are very low in concentration).

ALSO

Although NaCl is not composed of any truly "hard" ions (laundering ions of Mg or Ca, which produce the hard water stains on your tank and are the only ions that count in true carbonate hardness), it does raise the total dissolved solids in the water... these add up to raise general hardness, or GH. This is not well tolerated by a number of fish, especially true softwater fish from places like the Amazon river basin, where there are very few electrolytes of any kind in the water. These fish include (but are not limited to) neon tetras, cardinal tetras, rummy nose tetras, hatchetfish, elephantnoses, and discus... in addition, most live plants will not tolerate it either. DO NOT USE SALT WITH ANY OF THESE FISH, AS SOME HAVE RATHER STRINGENT PH/KH/GH REQUIREMENTS, AND COULD DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS ADDITION. There are other Amazonian fish such as angelfish which will not particularly prefer salt, but may possibly tolerate it because they are hardier. Salt can also have an unpredictable effect on other fish, since there are no bodies of water in Nature which are naturally saline (high in NaCl) but very low in "true" hardness ion concentration (Mg, Ca, etc)... Rift African species, for example, need more than just ordinary "aquarium salt" (NaCl alone).

Salt, if not predissolved carefully, can give fish bad burns. This is especially true of scaleless fish, such as some types of eels and scaleless catfish.

The efficacy (effectiveness) of salt has not been proven experimentally nor to the degree of satisfaction of many in the wet pet trade. Some will swear by it, but more, swear against it.

Answer 7

It is a matter of opinion however all fish live in water that has salt to some degree in it. The concentrations vary however even fresh water lakes and streams contain mineral salts leached from the ground and rocks but due to the volume of water, are usually beyond detectable.

This naturally occuring mineral is said by some is needed for the health of your fish. It boost their health and color, relieves stress, reducing osmotic pressure, inhibition of nitrite uptake, promoting the slime coat, and helping in healing wounds faster.

Salt (sodium chloride/ table salt) does in fact have a direct connection to osmotic pressure. To explain this, picture a fish in an aquarium. The internal density of fish is greater then that of the water (fish contain salt in form of sodium and chloride ions transported by the blood). Incoming water tries to dilute their bodies to equal both sides, the inside of the fish and the water outside.

Osmotic pressure can be best described as the water trying to dilute the fish's body until both sides are equal. Freshwater fish therefore have to constantly eliminate the water - mainly through respiration and urine.

Another salt related claim is the prevention of nitrite poisoning, which is also a theoretical true statement.

In some minor cases of external parasites, flukes, fungus, etc. a salt bath can assist the fish in healing better. This is in part related to the benefits of osmotic pressure regulation theory and has never been proven, nor is it claimed to do so on Aquarium salt labeling. (It states May prohibit) Due to it will increase the fish slime coat, not rid it of parasites. The concentrations of salt and extreme temperatures would inevatably kill the fish prior to killing the parasite. (This is why ich is not killed by salt, nor is it killed by using water softeners in the house)

The low beneficial amount of salt, mentioned will not have any benefits in addition to modern water conditioners and/or stress coats already used for water treatments.

The immediate threat of salt to fish and plants is greater then that of any potential long term benefits that may or may not be gained by its use.

It is good to know about the benefits of salt and the understanding of the mechanisms involved. It comes in handy, should the nitrites get out of control

Since not much has and can be proven by scientific research, since fish are as different as people, Only opinions are in research and are not based on any scientific facts.

Still a matter of choice. Some keepers say they see a difference, some do not. Only when dealing with nitrites do I ever use salt in my fresh tanks or ponds and they have lived for years happily.

Answer 8

Salt on'y belongs in a freshwater tank when you are treating disease. It is called freshwater for a reason. Salt is like a medicine for fish to cure certain diseases and kill certain parasites. You should never give a fish medicine when it is not sick. You don't take vicodine when you don't hurt, so why give a fish salt when it is not sick?