Salt and bettas?

Question

So for my new Batta in my spacoius hygro planted tank! Should I go for salt or no salt? The tank is filtered and heated. I plan on getting a crown tailed betta from my local fish store.
Should I go the salt route? I've tried it on my platys and guppies and seen not that much diffrence but I have also heard that it helps prevent disease.
Are my plants okay with it?
What is salt shocking and is it too risky?
If I do add salt what is the best brand?
How do you put salt in? (all at once or gradually?)
Thanks a bazillion!

Answer 1

Start with 1/4 cup of dissolved (uniodized) salt in a 5 gallon tank, and gradually work up to 1/2 a cup. The salt will help prevent disease as well as boost the Betta's immune system. It will be fine with your plants too.

Soop Nazi

EDIT: All but the most sensitive plants are quite tolerant of salt.

Answer 2

If you are going to keep live plants I would avoid salt, many plants can not tolerate it in the water. Also you will be limited in what other tank mates you can select. The benefits provided by salt can be replicated with proper fish husbandry, keep your water clean and stable and your fish will do great.

If you are going to go the salt route, use only aquarium salt meant for tropical fish (it will say on the package). Use 1 teaspoon per about 2-2 1/2 gallons and mix this into your bettas water before you purchase him. When you get him home acclimatize him slowly to the new water conditions by floating the bag in your aquarium for 20 minutes and then opening it and adding 1/2 cup of your tank water to the bag. Do this two or three times every 20 minutes before netting him out of the bag and releasing him into the tank. Don't pour the water from the bag into the tank, it will have very high ammonia levels and will disrupt your water chemistry. Follow this acclimatization process even if you do not add salt to the tank, it is the best way to avoid overly stressing your new fish when you introduce them to their new environment.

Answer 3

The correct mix for Betta's water is: take a gallon jug, fill w/water & let sit to room temp. I have two fish, so keep them filled w/a cap on until I'm ready to change the water. In the gallon jug, put 1 (one) tablespoon of sea or acquarium salt. When you are ready to chg. the water, put in 1 (one) drop of Methelene Blue & mix well in the water. This w/keep the fish from getting diseases. I lost 5 Bettas before I found this out & haven't lost any since. Good luck, & this should work. I lost the Bettas to that "cotton" look disease & once they get it, they are gone w/in a day or two max. There is nothing you can do to save them once they get it. This will assure you they w/not get any diseases & is very easy to do. Good luck.

Answer 4

It is fine and actually beneficial to add a little AQUARIUM salt to a betta tank. Make sure it is aquarium salt, however. Table salt can be dangerous to your fish's health. Most aquarium salt packages have dose instructions - it is safe to use the salt when you are setting up a new tank and when you are performing water changes. Generally it is ok to use a heaping teaspoon to 10 gallons of water. I just use a couple pinches in my 2.5 gallons and a heap in my 10 gallons. I don't, however, use it on my stressed fish because it can be hard on them if they are weakened.

Answer 5

I use salt with my Betta (a double tail male named blueberry), he is very healthy and active. Have had him for approx. 5 months. I do complete water change every week. He is in a 5.5 gallon tank alone. The Marimo balls (a live plant that looks like an algae ball, and another small live plant) do just fine in the water also. I use approx. 1 tablespoon for the 5.5 gallon tank and the salt is dissolved ahead of time in a bottle with a cap that I can shake, then add to water during change....

Answer 6

what are u talking about?

A) are u talking about making it a saltwater tank?
B) are u thinking about adding salt to a freshwater tank?
C) are you talking about freshwater or marine bettas. betta splendens or marine bettas AKA comets

you can add salt to a freshwater tank, but not alot. It isnt needed. i only add aquarium salt to my tanks after water changes, new fish, or parasites.

API makes the freshwater aquarium salt used by alot of us.

you dont need to add alot of salt, certainly betta splendens arent saltwater or brackish, so alot of salt isnt needed or should be used.

Remember on a hydrometer, specfic gravity is 1.002 which is way to high for freshwater fishes, like betttas.

Remember that livebearers are more tolerant to salt, as they are naturally somewhat brackish.

Again, not sure what you planning, but i would love to help more so if you can update or email me, i will be glad to help.

Answer 7

Go salt free. Setting your water temp at 80-82F is a better disease preventer in most cases.

Answer 8

umm. betta fish are not aslt water tank fish.are you talking bout cleaning the bowl water so there isnt any chlorine? you can go to the pets store and buy betta conditioner. that cleans the water. and make sure to read the back of the bottle.