Freshwater Salt

[Pearl Trade]

yesterday i added some salt to my tank after i did a water change. i put in the directed amount, but i was wondering what would happen if too much was put in?

[smaug]

yesterday i added some salt to my tank after i did a water change. i put in the directed amount, but i was wondering what would happen if too much was put in?

For the sake of your cats do a water change and remove that salt.It is of no use unless you are treating for ich.

[angelcakes]

i'd do it straight away this is possibly burning your cats skin

[Pearl Trade]

it can burn their skin? i read on another site it improves health and activity

[angelcakes]

it can burn their skin? i read on another site it improves health and activity

yes it can but too much will burn your catfishes skin

[smaug]

it can burn their skin? i read on another site it improves health and activity

The use of salt by fish shops is what perpetuates that thought.They use it to counteract high fish loads and less then perfect water quality.Under no condition should it be used with catfish.The use of it in the home aquarium is of very little use outside of an ick treatment.The best way to improve your fishes health and activity is to keep there tank clean and keep up with your water changes.

[gm72]

Agreed with Smaug. No need for salt unless using it medicinally. Can be very bad for catfish and other fish classified as scaleless as already mentioned.

[MrDrums]

There are 2 LFS in my area, and both have different opinions on salt. One, my favorite, swears by it....the specialize in African cichlids - very reputable and knowledgable. The other says there is no need for it.....I also find them very good and they seem to know what they are doing (although they are higher volume, and sometimes their fish look stressed or, I have noticed more than one, loaded with ick).

Anyway, I use it rarely now, but for over 6 yrs. I used a lot of salt in my 20 gallon tank, with pictus and cory cats, and never had any problems with them. However, they don't tolerate it well. I did use some after a 2 week vacation....came back, did a nice water change, added some salt to help reduce stress on the big boys.

[smaug]

There are 2 LFS in my area, and both have different opinions on salt. One, my favorite, swears by it....the specialize in African cichlids - very reputable and knowledgable. The other says there is no need for it.....I also find them very good and they seem to know what they are doing (although they are higher volume, and sometimes their fish look stressed or, I have noticed more than one, loaded with ick).

Anyway, I use it rarely now, but for over 6 yrs. I used a lot of salt in my 20 gallon tank, with pictus and cory cats, and never had any problems with them. However, they don't tolerate it well. I did use some after a 2 week vacation....came back, did a nice water change, added some salt to help reduce stress on the big boys.

The use of salt with african cichlids is a different story alltogether,that is something for them that is beneficial due to there being an alkaloid fish.What do you mean you had no problems with your catfish and the use of salt but they dont tolerate it well?Sounds like a problem to me.

[MrDrums]

Well, what I meant was, I used salt for many years, and I personally never had a problem with salt and cats....they lived and thrived quite nicely for years in my 20.....in the year or two, since I have found forums like this and have begun to do some more research into fishkeeping, I am more careful with using salt. Although I don't think it harms them unless you really saturate the tank with salt, I have read enough opinions to have become convinced that salt is not as necessary for the prolonged health of the fish as I once thought.

I used to be under the impression that you HAD to have salt in the aquarium, and many people say that cats can't or don't tolerate salt. I don't agree with that statement 100%, but I know that the fish do just as fine without it.