Should Salt be used in the aquarium or not?
By Ken Thomson
Should
we use salt in our aquariums?
This is one of the more controversial
subjects i.e. ‘The use of salt in an Aquarium with fresh
water fish’. As these fish never come into contact with
salt why do we use salt is the question.
Salt is generally used to treat fresh water
fish for a number of ailments. Whether for parasites,
internal Bacteria, external bacteria, fungus and nitrite
poisoning. The question is, "are these conditions better
cured and the fish helped to recovery by salt - or by other
medications?"
In my opinion medications work best in most
Community tanks. Whereas with salt you have to be careful
with which type of fish you have and the type of salt you
use.
Salt
Types
The type of
salt available can be classified into several types:
-
Table salt,
which can be iodised or non-iodised, often has additives
e.g. iodine, anti-caking agents etc. These tend to be in
very small amounts and in my opinion, at low levels,
do no harm. Some iodine is actually beneficial as it help
to prevent goitre (= iodine deficiency) in both humans and
fish.
Ref: Aquascience Research Group
–The use of salt (sodium chloride, NaCI) in freshwater
Aquarium or pond.
-
Sea salt, is naturally ‘anti-caking’. This form of
salt can increase the Hardness of your water if two much
is used in the Aquarium. As little as 5mg/L can be used
for Nitrite poisoning and osmotic stress so this should
not present a problem. In my experience I believe that Melafix does a better job at relieving osmotic stress than
Sea salt.
-
Cooking salt. This is usually the purist form of salt
and one, which I personally use - though do check the
label on ANY type of salt you are going to
use, for additives that may cause harm.
-
Aquarium salt. This is a product that although dearer
than any other type of salt. It is specifically made for
aquariums and is recommended for beginners to the Tropical
fish hobby. Some of the manufactures do add extra minerals
that benefit the fish. Personally I’ve no preference for
any make of Aquarium safe salt it’s up to the individual.
-
Marine aquarium salt. This is for Marine aquariums
only, as it will affect water quality if used in a fresh
water aquarium esp re pH, and ion profile.
-
Rock salt. In a form that comes from the salt mines or
saltpans. This type of salt is not suitable for human use
as it can have some impurities. Personally I’d not use
this type of salt due to the impurities.
-
Water softener salt. This comes in pellets and is a
purified form of salt that could be used but tends to be
quite costly so not recommended though if you have some
there is no reason not to use it in my opinion.
How
I use salt
Important
Warning:
If you are unsure if any fish in your tank cant handle salt,
don't use it in your tank, use an alternative medication.
The
salt alternatives
Now on one hand I have stated that salt can
be used for some species of fish, I do feel there are more
appropriate alternatives. Personally I have used the
following:
-
For protozoan and fungal diseases in both
cold water and tropical fish I tend to use Waterlife’s
Protozin or the King British medication for the condition
I’m treating. Whitespot, velvet, Neon Tetra disease and
skin slime disease.
-
For fin-rot, body-rot, ulcerations and
wounds I prefer Myxazin by waterlife. Though there are
medications available this is just my choice.
-
For internal Bacteria, I tend to use
Interpet No9 as its easily obtainable.
-
For internal Parasites I use Octozin again
by Waterlife. This is also good for Dropsy if it’s caught
early enough.
-
I use Aquaplus+ as a water conditioner and
a general tonic. I use Melafix also as a general tonic.
Both these treatments help the fish heal and are ok to use
with some other medications (Please check with the makers
of any Medications if they can be used with these two
general medications). This is where I’d use one of these
two medications instead of salt if any of the salt
intolerant fish were in the aquarium when the aquarium is
in the Nitrogen cycle for Nitrite poisoning.
Please remember:
All treatments are of a personal choice and there are other
makes and types of medications available which you might
want to consider.
Warning: When using any type of
medication, you must be VERY CAREFUL,
especially if you have Loaches and Coryadoras species in your aquarium. I personally usually
use half the makers recommended dose with both these species
of fish.
And Finally,
If you are unsure of what’s happening to your
fish but you think that they are acting strangely do a
water change with, conditioned safe water. As this in a
lot of cases will help your fish much more than indiscriminately
adding medications.
Hope this helps.
Ken Thomson
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