What's the best way to add salt to my 12 gallon freshwater aquarium?

Question

I have some platties, tetras, and a cory cat. The salt I bought says to add 1 tablespoon for every 5 gallons, but the clerk at the store said I should add a small tub of salt with rocks over the salt. I know this is what they do in the store, but they have larger aquariums. Thoughts?

Answer 1

Add it to the water that you use when replacing water removed during water changes. You shouldn't add it directly to the tank, because this can "burn" fish if they come into direct contact with the undissolved salt.

Your dosage is correct for most fish (and your platties will love the addition). Since you have tetras and corys, add the salt slowly. I've kept both species at 2 tablespoons/gallon without problems (in a pet store, right after shipping, which is a decrease from the concentration they are shipped in), but some individuals can be more sensitive to salt if they haven't been kept in in for a while. Start with just 1 tablespoon, and if there are no reactions from your fish, then add another during your next water change.

Answer 2

I would do what the box said, 1 tablespoon for every gallon. The water need to be brackish and not salt. The easy way to do it is mix the salt with water in a cup till it is solved and then poor it in the tank. Please don't listen to that store clerk.

Answer 3

You should put 2.4 Tablespoons in.

I just poured it in, near the plants, so the fish wouldn't see/try to eat it.