I set up a native 55g, and while it's cycling, there's 4 1 inch weed shiners and 2 1.5 inch sunfish. I put in 6 plants for nitrogen uptake that will probably be replaced with more "native type" plants once the water chemistry stabilizes. Anyway, one of the sunfish is showing a white, fungal looking growth near the back of his dorsal fin in the shape of the outline of my thumb. So I put in some salt in the hope that it would curtail any disease growth. Questions: 1) Will salt interfere with the buildup of nitrifying bacteria in the filter? 2) Will the salt kill the plants (2 ribbon plants, 1 fern, 2 Amazon swords, and one other)?
I guess I could just do a 50% water change next week if it would be bad long term, but better short term for the immediate health of the fish.
Another salt question...
Started by
Guest_benmor78_*
, Sep 09 2008 02:48 AM
12 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_Clayton_*
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Posted 09 September 2008 - 09:36 AM
A small amount of aquarium salt shouldn't cause any problems for the biological filter or the plants. More salt than the recommended dosage could be harmful to your plants, but it would likely be a withering over time situation. So if you notice that your plants are starting to fail, then you might consider changing some of the water out for fresh.
#3
Guest_teleost_*
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Posted 09 September 2008 - 11:20 AM
Salt will not interfere with your bio filter even at the 2 TBS per 5 gallon rate (about 1/8 seawater). To be on the safe side I would increase salinity gradually. All of my plants either melt or fail to thrive with even pretty small amounts of salt. I have to admit that my wattage per gallon ratio is pretty miserable to the detriment of plant growth. Just one guys opinion though.
#4
Guest_benmor78_*
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Posted 09 September 2008 - 03:31 PM
Salt will not interfere with your bio filter even at the 2 TBS per 5 gallon rate (about 1/8 seawater). To be on the safe side I would increase salinity gradually. All of my plants either melt or fail to thrive with even pretty small amounts of salt. I have to admit that my wattage per gallon ratio is pretty miserable to the detriment of plant growth. Just one guys opinion though.
As of this morning, it doesn't look like he's going to make it.
#5
Guest_benmor78_*
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Posted 10 September 2008 - 09:03 AM
As of this morning, it doesn't look like he's going to make it.
Different subject... the shiners look to be outcompeting the sunfish for food... I'm using cichlid flakes, frozen bloodworms, and frozen daphnia. Anybody have any comments on what to do about that?
#6
Guest_Newt_*
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Posted 10 September 2008 - 10:21 AM
What I do is feed the minnows some flake at one end of the tank, let them get worked into a frenzy, then feed the sunfish at the other end. They figured out the system pretty quickly.
#7
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Posted 10 September 2008 - 10:28 AM
What I do is feed the minnows some flake at one end of the tank, let them get worked into a frenzy, then feed the sunfish at the other end. They figured out the system pretty quickly.
You, sir, are a scholar and a gentleman. I'll give that a shot.
#8
Guest_tazman1956_*
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Posted 06 October 2008 - 09:58 AM
i have a 270gal and 4 55gal native tanks that have been up and running for ten years and salt is a must. 1 tblsp per 5gals every time you add water.You, sir, are a scholar and a gentleman. I'll give that a shot.
it keeps the fish, plants, water ph, and bio right, and helps keep disease down. feed your sunfish bigger food than your feeding your minnows and it will get more. the minnows will tend to take the smaller food first. if you do a 50% water change make sure you don't feed the fish for a day or two before you do the change. it gives them an upset stomach and can kill some fish. the only time you put crayfish in your tank is to feed your large mouth bass!
#9
Guest_schambers_*
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Posted 06 October 2008 - 02:18 PM
I add salt at the 1 Tbsp per 5 gallon amount also. I just add salt to make up for the amount I remove during water changes.
I've never adjusted their feedings or lost any fish.
I've never adjusted their feedings or lost any fish.
#10
Guest_Sombunya_*
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Posted 06 October 2008 - 11:04 PM
Another thread on salt.
I've talked to a tech at API and it almost seemed mandatory to use in some cases. When I searched the net I found more cons than pros, but there were some good pro-salt arguments out there nonetheless.
What I then did was add salt at about 1/2 to 1/4 the recommended dose. My tanks have always been healthy and I do 25% water changes every week using PRIME or STRESSCOAT.
I eventually let the salt concentration go down lower by not adding any when I changed water.
Now, after reading this thread, I may just add 1 tablespoon to every ten gallons.
I have Bluegill, Sculpin, a few Crays, and my wife's little tank has a few small Goldfish and a Betta.
Will the salt affect the Catfish or the Betta adversely?
I've talked to a tech at API and it almost seemed mandatory to use in some cases. When I searched the net I found more cons than pros, but there were some good pro-salt arguments out there nonetheless.
What I then did was add salt at about 1/2 to 1/4 the recommended dose. My tanks have always been healthy and I do 25% water changes every week using PRIME or STRESSCOAT.
I eventually let the salt concentration go down lower by not adding any when I changed water.
Now, after reading this thread, I may just add 1 tablespoon to every ten gallons.
I have Bluegill, Sculpin, a few Crays, and my wife's little tank has a few small Goldfish and a Betta.
Will the salt affect the Catfish or the Betta adversely?
#11
Guest_schambers_*
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Posted 07 October 2008 - 01:03 PM
Will the salt affect the Catfish or the Betta adversely?
No. Not at this low level.
#12
Guest_mikez_*
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Posted 07 October 2008 - 04:37 PM
OK, now that the term "Maverick" has become a household word [Tina Fey is my new hero 
], I can't help throwing in my dissenting opinion.
Not to dissuade anyone from doing what they believe in, nor to discredit those who advocate salt addition, but......
I have had excellent success for decades keeping a wide range of tropicals [including a long stint breeding rift lake cichlids] as well as a wide variety of natives from just about every habitat type, and I have NEVER added any salt of any kind [with the obvious exception of brackish or saltwater species].
I won't argue against the use of salt, just want to present an alternative point of view.
One thing to consider, if you have town or city water and your local ground or surface water is naturally less that 7.00 in pH, it is very likely that your water department adds sodium hydroxide [NaOH]. This is certainly true in much of the northeast. I'm not familiar with other regions. The point being you may already be getting enough sodium without spending money on more.
], I can't help throwing in my dissenting opinion.Not to dissuade anyone from doing what they believe in, nor to discredit those who advocate salt addition, but......
I have had excellent success for decades keeping a wide range of tropicals [including a long stint breeding rift lake cichlids] as well as a wide variety of natives from just about every habitat type, and I have NEVER added any salt of any kind [with the obvious exception of brackish or saltwater species].
I won't argue against the use of salt, just want to present an alternative point of view.
One thing to consider, if you have town or city water and your local ground or surface water is naturally less that 7.00 in pH, it is very likely that your water department adds sodium hydroxide [NaOH]. This is certainly true in much of the northeast. I'm not familiar with other regions. The point being you may already be getting enough sodium without spending money on more.
#13
Guest_Sombunya_*
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Posted 07 October 2008 - 10:56 PM
Pretty hard to argue against that statement.I have had excellent success for decades keeping a wide range of tropicals [including a long stint breeding rift lake cichlids] as well as a wide variety of natives from just about every habitat type, and I have NEVER added any salt of any kind [with the obvious exception of brackish or saltwater species].
I won't argue against the use of salt, just want to present an alternative point of view.
My water company supplies us with ground water from nearby. The ph runs in the high 7 range and I doubt they are adding anything to it.
Thanks for your input.
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