Using salt in your aquarium
#1
Salt Dosages
Aquarium salt is widely used to help prevent illness as well as treating for different diseases. Salts are widely used because they have so many benefits compared to using medications.
Examples:
* Salt will not harm your filters
* It is cheap to use
* It does not cause any harm to the person administering it
* It is not harmful to the majority of fish species
* It will not send a sick fish over the edge
* It quickly eliminates 7 out of 9 parasites
Before using salt you will want to remove submerged plants and perform a water change of 50%.
Salts that can be used are:
* food grade
* non mineralized cattle feed grade
* NON-iodized salt (no additives such as Yellow Prussiate of Soda)
* Aquarium salts available at the petstores
Do not use salt containing anti-caking agents such as sodium ferrocyanide (yellow prussiate of soda - this can release hydrogen cyanide when exposed to sunlight!)
Below is a helpful chart to use when help is needed!
However, the recommended dosage from Doc Johnson is 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water every 12 hours not to exceed 3 treatments. If dealing with large tanks or ponds you will need to use 3 pounds of salt per 100 gallons of water.
Also read the information below:
Salt levels do not dissipate with water evaporation or small water changes. Freshwater/coldwater fish like Goldfish are not designed to live in a saline environment. Salt is a wonderful remedy to treat ailments, or to control the toxicity of nitrite/nitrate spikes, but as a normal maintenance procedure it is a no-no for goldfish. Salt also tends to make water harder. If you already have hard water, you are adding to his stress. Through what is called "osmosis" your goldfish already maintains a normal high salt concentration in his body fluids and needs to absorb freshwater into his cells to keep in balance. By adding more salt to his water, you are overloading his system and putting him under osmotic stress. This can be fatal. It saps their energy and strength and weakens their immune system, or can even kill them. This is probably why your fish is spending a lot of time "sleeping" at the bottom of the tank. Give him some fresh oxygenated water w/o the salt. Save the salt for only when he is sick or there is a problem with your water. Happy fishing!!
Salt Dips-
* Providing salt dips help fish that have been shipped or moved recover their electrolytes.
* A fish that has been dipped in salt is more susceptible to medications being able to help them since the salt dipping will remove their protective covering (slime coat).
* Dipping removed unwanted parasites
Low Salt Dosages-
* Low salt dosages in the tank will provide minerals for the fish.
* Works like a protective covering on the fish to protect against nitrite poisoning.
* Will stimulate the slime coat
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