Aquarium salt

What is your opinions on Aquarium salt in a fresh water Afican tank!?
Should I be adding it to my Saulosi tank or Peacock tank?
If so how much...do I just follow the directions on the package?
Do I add it with every water change?
Is it safe to add right now with fish already in the tank?
Just want to get all my questions out now!

Thanks in advance for your input!

DO IT! They love it. You keep em in a 72 gallon tank? Just put two tablespoons in initially, then it just depends on how much water you take out and add when you do the water changes. But in answer to your question, it is good for them and they like it! The Peacocks do as well

I use aquarium salt as instructed on the box in all my african tanks. 1 tb to 5 gals every 2 weeks I add 1/2 tb since I figure thats what I took out. I even do that same ratio on my 20 gal shellie tank.

I use salt in everyone of my tanks.... it lowers stress levels too. good stuff!

Yeah Mikey 72gal for the saulosi. Thanks for the quick responses I'll get right on it!

I noticed the salt I use actually buffers the water so I don't have to keep an eye on the ph levels. I add a teaspoon for every 10 gallons and everybody in both tanks do awesome. Before I ever used the salt my ph would drop to 6.0 in one day after water change. tap is 7.4 but low mineral content. Now tanks stay at an even 7.0 and the salt I return to the tank is determind by the amount of water I take out during the water changes. I think aquarium salt is always the best choice for any tank.

Do you guys use Epson salt along with aquarium salt!?

Looks like I'm in the minority here, but I never use salt unless treating an illness.

stierwalt3 wrote:Do you guys use Epson salt along with aquarium salt!?

Just aquarium, but they both do the job. When an illness occurs, just use more salt

Betty wrote:Looks like I'm in the minority here, but I never use salt unless treating an illness.

Yeah Betty in doing some research online I saw that it was going both ways...some people love it some don't. So I thought I'd ask you guys and girls to see what you all thought.

I'm with Betty, I only use salt when treating illness (and cichlid salt (trace minerals) is different from Aquarium Salt (NaCl)). I have LOTS of minerals in my well water, so I don't think I need to add anymore ions to induce osmotic pressure and create a thicker slime coat.

For a CHEAP alternative to the Aquarium Salt you get a your Petsmart/Petco, you can use Morton Solar Salt for softening drinking water. I have been using it for almost a year and had no side effects (its 99% NaCl, same as API Aquarium Salt).
Best of all, you get 40 lbs for $5 at Home Depot !!!

Well alright thanks Alex!

Keep your opinions coming....

I have also been advised to use Kosher salt, as there is nothing added to it, I'm sue like the solar salt, but you def. got me beat on price!

Yes salt is the only thing that all the GOOD arowana keepers use to treat for sickness on ]V[onster Fish Keepers, the only quibble factor is in the amounts to use.

1tbsp of salt per 5 gallons initial dose, then 1tbsp per additional 10 during water changes. This was the best answer I read. And if you can measure it low nough, .001 disolved salt as measured with a refractor.

Do more research as needed!

I use cichlids salts in my cichlid tanks, but only use aquarium salt for treating ich or other parasites.

Yep! I use epsom salt too.... but only in my rift lake tanks, (mallawii, tanganyika, victoria) it brings up hardness in my water... and my water is kinda soft out of tap... it also is a great laxative for fish, and we all know how the tropheus bowels are! so I put a little extra in the tropheus tank, and just a bit in the other tanks to bring up hardness.

Good questions, and I like to read all the different techniques, keep em comin guys.

I use salts on the regular too. Besides all the regular bennies the fish take on a beautiful sheen, it's law raw yoke for your doggy. IMO anyway, hehe.

I only use epsom salt when their poo looks off.