aquarium salt and regular cooking salt?

Question

whats the difference? i have a dying black moor thats sitting on the bottom of my tank .. looks half dead ...and i have been told to put aquarium salt but the problem is dont have any aquarium salt can i use cooking salt? if so how much should i use i have a 20ish gallon tank with 3 other goldfish

Answer 1

Aquarium salt has alot more minerals and other "stuff" that processed table salt does not have. Wouldn't do it if I were you. Table salt also contains iodine. Might not be good for your tank.

Answer 2

First of all adding salt to your tank is not going to cure your fish. There is something wrong with the fish.

Try lowering the water level in the tank by 1/2-1 inch and allow Dissolved Oxygen to get into the water. Also, what other symptoms does your fish have? Since your other goldfish are not suffering from any type of lethargic behavior does your moor eat? swim at all?

ANY salt including table salt will do. The amount of iodine in the salt is needed by your fish, plants and all living things. This is another myth that iodine will kill fish. Every living creature needs iodine. Iodine is sold in fish stores to be added to your fresh water aquarium especially if you have shrimp, crabs or plants.

Feel free to email me and I will try to help you with your fish.

Answer 3

Regular table salt is just fine assuming it has no iodine added. It contains no anti-caking compounds dangerous to your fish. Kosher salt and Ice cream salt are also good choices. Remember, we are talking about a specific salt here NaCl... it's all the same as long as there are no additives.

You mention your fish looks half dead. Can you please give some more details and add something about it's general behavior? Also some details about the history of the tank.... how long has it been set up and when was the last time you added fish and when you did, how many of what? Sitting on the bottom is rarely caused by a condition that salt would help. I persoally would look to water conditions or a parasite only some of which are treatable with salt.

MM

Answer 4

Not cooking salt - it contains other chemicals to keep it from hardening. Rock salt or Ice Cream salt is ok if you don't have aquarium salt. 1 table spoon per gallon - then start changing out the water 10 to 20 percent twice a week replacing with fresh dechlorinated water.

Answer 5

Do NOT used iodized salt!! The iodine will kill the fish. Aquarium salt you would use a tablespoon for every 5 gallons. Your best bet would be to go get the aquarium salt.

Answer 6

do not ever use table salt it has a different level of sodium in it and does not contain the nutrients that aquarium salt has. It only costs about seven bucks a bag

Answer 7

the iodine in table salt will make him worse. Aquarium salt is inexpensive. You can also use canning/pickling salt. Whatever you do don't use table salt.

Answer 8

If you have Kosher salt it is okay but not cooking or table salt

Answer 9

You can use non-iodized salt, so if that's what you have use it. Make a trip to the store and get ice cream or kosher rock salt. Just pure salt is what you're looking for.

Answer 10

All salts are not like common table salt, so dismiss that idea from your head immediately. All salts are not the same.