Aquarium Salt Debate

[SteveK]

I had a school of severums once in my store, they came down with a severe case of ich a day or 2 after transport.  It just kept getting worse.  I could not use most meds because it was a display tank and at some point I could have inverts in there.  They were completely covered in something, fins clamped, covering their eyes, etc.  I don't get attached to fish, but it was painful to look at.  But I knew what my options were.  An extreme salt bath, one that could kill some of the weaker onces, or put the fish down.  I went for a salt dip.  I put more salt than I thought was necessary, dropped them in one at a time, they dart around for 10 seconds, then the suddenly slow (leave them too long they will die).  Then I would scoop the fish up and put it back in the tank where it would remain almost motionless until it caught its breathe.  That is method I was taught, that was the only time I ever had to use it, and it worked.  The next day 80% of the stuff had flaked off.  2 days and the fish looked like new again.  

I credit salt with allowing my betta to live another year after deveolping a tumor.  As well as getting rid of ich in my tank a couple of times.  I am too lazy to add it all the time, plus I view it as more of a medicinal thing.   However, I did keep all the store tanks salted, as do all the other stores in my area.  Why?  because they all argree it helps cut down on fish loss enough to make it worth it to buy the salt.

But you have to look at this, at least ten-of-thousands of people have used it sucessfully.  Just because  science doesn't know the exact cause doesn't mean it doesn't happen.  Before newton we new things fell to the ground, we just didn't know how.  So any of you up and coming college students may want to look at that for a possible research project.

[earlybird1988]

Is it ok to use table salt: "naturally evaporated sea salt and an anti-caking agent (554)?  It is for use on an ill beta.

[Lori]

The anti-caking agent seems to be the problem with table salt, even more so than the iodine, which in that small of an amount won't hurt the fish.  Aquarium salt or plain rock salt is preferred.

[fruitylicious]

yeah don't use that stuff with the anit-caking agent it is harmful to your fish.

[1boatnut]

Is there any freash water plat that can handle the salt better? ???

Supposedly micro sword is not fussy with water quality

[kittenpaw]

I'm sure no one is still reading at this point (5 pages into the debate ), but:

I salt my 10g, because it is mostly a gupp nursery with dropping moms and growing fry and from time to time is overcrowded. Salt aids in slime production and that boosts their immune defense.

This tank also doubles as the quarantine tank when needed (rarely), so the salt helps out with that as well.

I don't salt my 29g or my 55g because I am too scatterbrained to keep track of such a large quantity of water and how much water I've taken out/added and how much salt needs to be added. My water changes are kind of random in these two, and I just am too much of a space cadet sometimes to remember whether I've taken out 2.5 buckets or 3 buckets, etc. 

I use non-iodized table salt from the grocery store.

In response to the analogy of the plastic bubble, that comparison is a bit flawed. People living in a plastic bubble without any pathogens is the same thing as fish living in a tank with no pathogens; it's NOT the same thing as providing sodium chloride in the tank to aid in osmoregulation. Humans engage in osmoregulation as well, and we likewise require salt in our environment (we consume it as food, rather than swimming around in it, though) to do so. Our first immune defense is also based on the use of salt (in mucous form), which we derive from the food we eat. It's an interesting analogy to say that providing dissolved salt in the water is the same as removing all pathogens in a plastic bubble, but it's kind of comparing apples to oranges.

[TheInfamousBalaShark]

Remember though, fish dont need salt to aid osmoregulation.
Freshwater fish do this quite fine by themselves with no
assistance in the wild, and have been surviving quite well for
millions of years this way.
Salt can be helpful in a few rare cases, but to say its essential
for freshwater fish is also flawed logic. Theres really no need for it.
Providing fresh clean water, adequate space per fish, good filtration,
and a good cleaning schedule is what a fish needs to keep it healthy
and happy.
I guess yeah, if the salt makes YOU the aquariast feel better, go ahead.
But remember, like a sugar pill, its really only a placebo.
It really does not do anything for your fish that the fish cannot
do for itself naturally.
It doesnt belong, in my opinion, in any freshwater tank full time.
It has some purposes in hospital tanks for fighting true fungus and
as an antiseptic for wounds.

[Guitarchiq]

I had that same argument with my regonal manager. His stance is that used post shipping, the assistance in osmoregulation will prevent stress-induced disease.  I'm pretty sceptical on that.

[Lori]

I know that some people swear by it, while others, obviously, do not.  I think it really helps to research for one's self and possibly learn from their own experience as well as others.  I hate to make a blanket statement that it's not necessary, as some have found that it's really done wonders for their fish.  e.g. Mollies....not to start a debate about them, but most swear by salt, others call it foolish....do your research before taking one person's word for it.

[Mollielover]

I couldn't have said it better myself Lori.