Does anyone here add small amount of aquarium salt to their freshwater tank?

Question

When I do partial water changes I add 1/4 tsp per gallon. I have an Angelfish in my tank and was told when I purchased him that I need to add small amount of salt to tank. But I saw a website that said you should not add salt to a freshwater tank and that it's not good for the fish. Who's right?

Answer 1

The reason the girl with no salt in a 70+ gallon aquarium doesn't have any more angelfish, is becuase they need a little to survive. I add about a teaspoon of salt for every two gallons, or a table for ever five. It is very helpful and beneficial for fish, it provides electrolytes for the fish, improves gill function, and enhances the slime coating that protects them from diseases like ich.
It's not called brackish water. That is were mouths of rivers meet the ocean and the fresh and salt waters are combined. Most fish cannot handle this amount of salt, which is true, but the aquarium salt that you find in your pet store or walmart, will not harm your fish and will actually make them more healthy. Salt is a good way to prevent Ich. I add salt everytime I do a water change. I have a very nice glass with my salt in it, so it looks like snow in the bottom of an ocean. So I, and many other petstore clerks, will highly recommend salt. If your unsure of the amount, just read the labels on the salt u buy, its all pretty much self-explanatory. A lil salt can go a long way...
ALSO, take into thought the decorations you have, if you have a 30 gallon tank with 15 lbs of rock, and more decorations and plants, you need not add 30 gallons worth of salt.. subtract what you think is necessary... its more of a trial and error thing... i remember when i was adjusting my tank would become a little cloudy from high concentration of salt, which is very dangerous, but then i took some out, and figured out a nice balance... Salt is very inexensive.
I have two angelfish almost full grown, and they are about 6 inches. Trust me, salt is good.

Answer 2

There are two schools of thought on this. One school says it helps the fish to osmoregulate, kills parasites, and reduces stress and is a miracle product. The other school says that it is unnecessary at best and harmful at worst. Adding salt to freshwater increases the total dissolved solids (TDS) to unnatural levels for a freshwater fish. There is little scientific evidence that small concentrations of salt are helpful. I personally no longer use salt in my freshwater tanks. Also, over time, as water evaporates and maybe you don't top off with freshwater before doing your partial changes, the salt level can creep up pretty high. Some fish, especially scaleless fish (Corys and Plecos), are very sensitive to salt.

By the way, the concentration of salt you mentioned is not the salinity that brackish fish are kept at-a quarter tsp per gallon is a lower salt concentration than brackish water. Also, angelfish do NOT need salt. Angelfish are from the Amazon River basin. There is no salt that far up the river!

Some links below explore this further:
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article22.html
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article5.html
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/salt.shtml
http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?webtag=ab-freshaquaria&nav=messages&lgnF=y&msg=7623.8

Answer 3

I have a 70 gallon freshwater tank and have yet to add salt. I have never ever heard to add salt to any freshwater tank. I used to have angelfish as well, but currently have none. I don't know if this helps, but no, I do not add salt to the tank.

Answer 4

My husband used to do this. I think it is called brackish water. And some freshwater fish prefer brackish water. Others don't tolerrate it so well, but honestly he had quite a community tank going in a 75 gallon tank and they all seemed to thrive in the water with a little salt. :) It was a stunning tank and he received so many compliments on the healthy vibrant fish.

Answer 5

i use 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons in betta changing water once a month. i find it helps kill of excess bacteria that might be building up because they aren't filtered.

i don't think anyone is right or wrong -- just everyone has an opinion. there is some evidence that fish leak salt when they are stressed (kind of like people perspire when they are stressed) so small amounts help the fish replace the salt easier.

Answer 6

Yes it helps by adding electrolytes to the water. Be sure to use FRESHWATER Salt and not salt for salt water tanks. If you add that, then the water becomes brackish and can kill your fish. The freshwater aquarium salt we sell comes in packages that resembles milk cartons. We always have it in our tanks in the store for the fish.

Answer 7

I put salt in all 7 of my tanks, guppy, Betta's, community tanks, and never had any problems with any type of disease? At every water change 1 tbs. per 5 gal replaced. Salt on!! ><>:)

Answer 8

Yes I do, they say it helps them breath better
I put about once a week about a tablespoon full for a 30 gallon tank

Answer 9

Google "Angelfish Care" and you will probably find your answer, and a lot more great info.