I have a female betta and 3 male guppies in a 5 gallon tank. They are doing well and get along great, but all reputable articles are saying to add freshwater salt for gills, electrolytes, and disease prevention for both of these fish. The problem is that all of the snails and sucker fish I know of won't tolerate the salt. It is a newly just cycled tank so Algae isn't a problem yet. The debate is whether to add salt for the health of current fish or don't so I can get a sucker or snail for algae that should soon begin developing. Should I add the salt and use tank magnet to clean algae, or should I not add salt so I can add an oto catfish or snail. Not a fan of algae chemicals but never used them. I don't like adding any chemicals unless necessary. Not sure what is best? Any opinions from experienced fish keepers?
2007-04-04 15:05:52 · 9 answers · asked by Hopper 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
I've worked in pet stores where there's salt in the water all the time to reduce stress of new fish arrivals. If you keep the salt concentration low (around 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons) your guppies, bettas, snail, and oto cat will all tolerate this level.
Store tanks can have as much as 2 tablespoons per gallon, so what I've recommended is far less than what they might already have been in. You can ask at the store where you get your fish if they keep salt in their freshwater tanks, and what concentrations they use. You might want to use this concentration in the beginning and gradually reduce it to the tablespoon/5 gallon. I wouldn't add the oto though, till your tank has had some time to mature (around 6 months).
If you're worried about algae in the meantime, the most effective controls are a scraper, regular water changes (20-30% weekly), and reduced lighting.
2007-04-04 16:51:02 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
My Chinese Algae eater is tolerating a small amount of salt and doing well. The snails, oto and plecostamus wont. You are only using like a spoonful and changing water regularly I suppose, and you know that the salt is not removed with partial water changes and you should only use a small amount of salt at those times. Get a magnet and research other algae eaters and bottom feeders that can tolerate the low salt concentration you would use. You seem pretty knowledgeable so, you will make the right decision. But start saving for a bigger tank.
2007-04-04 15:18:14 · answer #2 · answered by Jennifer P 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You got 3 guppies and a beta... why waste the money on freshwater salt which I've never heard of it might cost more than all of your fish. Plus how hard is it to keep a 5 gallon tank clean? Get a plecostomus (sucker cat) and maybe a washcloth or a tank brush and you shouldn't have a problem keeping it clean.
2007-04-04 15:24:29 · answer #3 · answered by citykitty_333 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
attempt putting some extra flora in the tank, the flora will eat up maximum of what the algae is feeding off of so the two slowing its becoming proses down or combating all of it mutually in spite of if it would not eliminate it. additionally circulate your tank faraway from any abode windows, allot of sunlight will sell algae improve. get yet another algae eater in case you may and that they are going to eat a brilliant style of the algae
2016-10-02 04:56:47 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To salt or not to salt. You will find you don't need salt in the tank. Any electrolites your fish need is added when you add your water conditioner to the tank. Also, trace minerals lie magnesium is also added when you do a water change and is replaced. Unfortunately carbon filters will pull some of your salt out as well as many inorganic and organic substances.
Some catfish and other scaleless fish do not tolorate salt well. It is a matter of opinion to salt or not, in 30+ years of keeping aquariums and ponds I have never added salt to a fresh water tank. Not all petstores add salt to their tanks. Some do and some dont. More an more are leaving it out of the tank environment.
2007-04-05 04:26:31 · answer #5 · answered by danielle Z 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
get yourself a Plecostomus. Have one in my 29 gallon freshwater tank he doesnt bother other fish and he has gotten quite big. and I do add salt He is doing very well.
By the way to the guy that said you do not have salt in fresh water tanks actually you do.
2007-04-04 15:16:14 · answer #6 · answered by epaq27 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You would be fine with a snail. My water is brackish and I have snails and cats. You just have to slowly get them accustom to it and they will do fine. I love the snails (I have 3)because they are constantly moving. Slowly but continuously, up and around the glass then over every decoration.
2007-04-04 15:16:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
clean it more often..or get one of thoose fish that eat algae to live.
2007-04-04 15:11:23 · answer #8 · answered by Nikki DV 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
there's no such thing as " freshwater salt" your water is either salty or its fresh.
2007-04-04 15:11:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋