Would anyone mind...

Summer · 10-16-2011, 11:31 AM

explaining to me why freshwater fish need aquarium salt? I added some yesterday after my water change, but then it occurred to me that even though I've been told and read that it should be there I don't understand why. I figure I shouldnt just *do* things because I was told to, but I should understand why i'm doing them as well. Thanks!

susankat · 10-16-2011, 11:56 AM

I don't add salt to any of my tanks unless I am using it for meds. Salt isn't needed by most fish as there will be some salts already in tap water. If I used salt in my water all the time it would render salt useless as a med.

There is also some fish that don't tolerate salt very well.

Summer · 10-16-2011, 11:58 AM

Well part of the reason I added it was for that platy I told you about the other day in chat, which btw looks much better now. Anyway, I was just curious.

jrman83 · 10-16-2011, 12:01 PM

They don't need it. I have one tank I put a little salt in because of my Mollies and that is it. I keep about 150 or so fish. It does have a few benefits and they are covered pretty well on the label. It does help in the prevention and treatment of diseases.

You really need to keep track of how much you keep in the tank though. Only put back enough for the water in your water changes, not the whole tank.

holly12 · 10-16-2011, 02:24 PM

Some people use it every time they do water changes, but it's really not needed. Mollies do like a little salt, but they don't have to have it - they will be perfectly fine with out it.

Sometimes it can be used to help heal wounds, or as a treatment for illness.

I wouldn't add it in your tank though, as you have a pleco - scaless fish can't handle salt, it will kill them - and you also have a snail.... salt kills aquatic snails just like it kills land snails and slugs.

Summer · 10-16-2011, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holly12

Some people use it every time they do water changes, but it's really not needed. Mollies do like a little salt, but they don't have to have it - they will be perfectly fine with out it.

Sometimes it can be used to help heal wounds, or as a treatment for illness.

I wouldn't add it in your tank though, as you have a pleco - scaless fish can't handle salt, it will kill them - and you also have a snail.... salt kills aquatic snails just like it kills land snails and slugs.

aw crap.

holly12 · 10-16-2011, 03:04 PM

Lol, I'm sure your fish will be fine - just don't add anymore. You'd know if the salt was going to kill the snail by now I think...

Summer · 10-16-2011, 03:27 PM

oh good. both snails are latched on to the decorations and look fine so that's good

Gizmo · 10-16-2011, 04:32 PM

Osmosis is another big reason for being careful with salt - osmosis is the ability of water molecules to pass through a membrane, such as skin or a fish's mucus coating. Salt can screw this up if done in excess, unless the fish are like mollies and have adapted to a more salty environment.

holly12 · 10-16-2011, 05:19 PM

Glad you can still see your snails! I can only find my golden one today..... the black one is MIA.... lol, had them less than 24 hours and already can't find one. XD

Summer · 10-16-2011, 05:25 PM

oh no! hes prob hiding under something. I've been wondering and searching all day, how often do the snails have to go to the surface to breathe? I've had them two days now and have never seen them leave the bottom!

madtyke · 10-16-2011, 06:01 PM

Like everyone says, avoid the salt unless you need it for medication or are running a brackish tank, which you don't seem to be. I add API Stress zyme every 4th water change and I do 30% changes about every 4 or 5 days. got a change today

snail · 10-18-2011, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gizmo

Osmosis is another big reason for being careful with salt - osmosis is the ability of water molecules to pass through a membrane, such as skin or a fish's mucus coating. Salt can screw this up if done in excess, unless the fish are like mollies and have adapted to a more salty environment.

This is also exactly why it works so well as a med. Fish can cope much better with salt than parasites, so the parasites are shriveled and the fish aren't. Also a fish with a wound may have trouble expelling excess water from it's body so salt can help.

Adding salt too fast or adding too much salt will cause problems for your fish and using salt long term for FW fish causes strain on their internal organs because they are constantly having to get rid of excess salt from their bodies.

holly12 · 10-18-2011, 06:25 PM

I don't know how often they breathe... my frogs shoot up to the surface every 20 mins or so.... I've seen the snails sneak up to the top at night, but not during the day. (Oh, I found the Black snail. He came out in the evening.) :D

Summer · 10-18-2011, 08:05 PM

Glad ya found him/her! My other snail seems to be doing pretty good, so fingers crossed for him!

Gizmo · 10-19-2011, 09:22 AM

I've seen my frogs go for air, but the closest thing to being on the surface is when they hide up in the leaves at the surface and only stick their noses out of the water. They could climb onto the tiger lotus pads, but they choose not to.

10-16-2011, 11:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
Summer Susan and Bev's protégé Summer's Photo Gallery Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 2,504 Name: Summer Location: Pennsylvania My location Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1,138 Times Said "Thanks" 168 Times Was Thanked 572 Times in 553 Posts	Would anyone mind... explaining to me why freshwater fish need aquarium salt? I added some yesterday after my water change, but then it occurred to me that even though I've been told and read that it should be there I don't understand why. I figure I shouldnt just do things because I was told to, but I should understand why i'm doing them as well. Thanks! __________________ "Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

10-16-2011, 11:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,420 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 4,151 Times Said "Thanks" 1,618 Times Was Thanked 1,809 Times in 1,549 Posts	Re: Would anyone mind... I don't add salt to any of my tanks unless I am using it for meds. Salt isn't needed by most fish as there will be some salts already in tap water. If I used salt in my water all the time it would render salt useless as a med. There is also some fish that don't tolerate salt very well. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

10-16-2011, 11:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
Summer Susan and Bev's protégé Summer's Photo Gallery Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 2,504 Name: Summer Location: Pennsylvania My location Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1,138 Times Said "Thanks" 168 Times Was Thanked 572 Times in 553 Posts	Re: Would anyone mind... Well part of the reason I added it was for that platy I told you about the other day in chat, which btw looks much better now. Anyway, I was just curious. __________________ "Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

10-16-2011, 12:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: Would anyone mind... They don't need it. I have one tank I put a little salt in because of my Mollies and that is it. I keep about 150 or so fish. It does have a few benefits and they are covered pretty well on the label. It does help in the prevention and treatment of diseases. You really need to keep track of how much you keep in the tank though. Only put back enough for the water in your water changes, not the whole tank.

10-16-2011, 02:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: Would anyone mind... Some people use it every time they do water changes, but it's really not needed. Mollies do like a little salt, but they don't have to have it - they will be perfectly fine with out it. Sometimes it can be used to help heal wounds, or as a treatment for illness. I wouldn't add it in your tank though, as you have a pleco - scaless fish can't handle salt, it will kill them - and you also have a snail.... salt kills aquatic snails just like it kills land snails and slugs. __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

Members currently in the chatroom: 6
	The most chatters online in one day was 16, 03-02-2012. whitetiger61, clep.berry, TaylorM237, Kehy, Chris85, Euruproctos

10-16-2011, 03:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: Would anyone mind... Lol, I'm sure your fish will be fine - just don't add anymore. You'd know if the salt was going to kill the snail by now I think... __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

10-16-2011, 03:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
Summer Susan and Bev's protégé Summer's Photo Gallery Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 2,504 Name: Summer Location: Pennsylvania My location Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1,138 Times Said "Thanks" 168 Times Was Thanked 572 Times in 553 Posts	Re: Would anyone mind... oh good. both snails are latched on to the decorations and look fine so that's good __________________ "Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

10-16-2011, 04:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
Gizmo What do fish think about? Gizmo's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,350 Name: Guy Miller Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 183 Times Said "Thanks" 451 Times Was Thanked 603 Times in 573 Posts	Re: Would anyone mind... Osmosis is another big reason for being careful with salt - osmosis is the ability of water molecules to pass through a membrane, such as skin or a fish's mucus coating. Salt can screw this up if done in excess, unless the fish are like mollies and have adapted to a more salty environment. __________________ Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

10-16-2011, 05:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: Would anyone mind... Glad you can still see your snails! I can only find my golden one today..... the black one is MIA.... lol, had them less than 24 hours and already can't find one. XD __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

10-16-2011, 05:25 PM	#11 (permalink)
Summer Susan and Bev's protégé Summer's Photo Gallery Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 2,504 Name: Summer Location: Pennsylvania My location Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1,138 Times Said "Thanks" 168 Times Was Thanked 572 Times in 553 Posts	Re: Would anyone mind... oh no! hes prob hiding under something. I've been wondering and searching all day, how often do the snails have to go to the surface to breathe? I've had them two days now and have never seen them leave the bottom! __________________ "Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

10-16-2011, 06:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
madtyke madtyke's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 175 Name: Chris Location: Queensland, Australia My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 123 Times Said "Thanks" 12 Times Was Thanked 41 Times in 40 Posts	Re: Would anyone mind... Like everyone says, avoid the salt unless you need it for medication or are running a brackish tank, which you don't seem to be. I add API Stress zyme every 4th water change and I do 30% changes about every 4 or 5 days. got a change today __________________ Chris ¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º> `·.¸¸..·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º>

10-18-2011, 06:25 PM	#14 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: Would anyone mind... I don't know how often they breathe... my frogs shoot up to the surface every 20 mins or so.... I've seen the snails sneak up to the top at night, but not during the day. (Oh, I found the Black snail. He came out in the evening.) :D __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

10-18-2011, 08:05 PM	#15 (permalink)
Summer Susan and Bev's protégé Summer's Photo Gallery Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 2,504 Name: Summer Location: Pennsylvania My location Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1,138 Times Said "Thanks" 168 Times Was Thanked 572 Times in 553 Posts	Re: Would anyone mind... Glad ya found him/her! My other snail seems to be doing pretty good, so fingers crossed for him! __________________ "Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

10-19-2011, 09:22 AM	#16 (permalink)
Gizmo What do fish think about? Gizmo's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,350 Name: Guy Miller Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 183 Times Said "Thanks" 451 Times Was Thanked 603 Times in 573 Posts	Re: Would anyone mind... I've seen my frogs go for air, but the closest thing to being on the surface is when they hide up in the leaves at the surface and only stick their noses out of the water. They could climb onto the tiger lotus pads, but they choose not to. __________________ Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)