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WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ABOUT AQUARIUM SALT?

Text by Majid Ali, Photographs as credited
Ryedale Reporter, Ryedale Aquarist Society

Aquarticles

Aquarium salt, which has been scientifically proved to be of benefit to both aquariums and their livestock, is an ingredient that has been used for many years now and has proven it's worth in our hobby. You could say for fish it's the equivalent to the natural healing medicine 'Aloe Vera', although several Aquarists' I know claim its closer to a painkiller.

Before going any further I must mention that (as far as I am aware), there are two types of regular salts available for aquarium use, which are:

          1. Tonic salt (aquarium salt): composed of sodium chloride which is used more for treatment
              and/or for sterilizing aquariums (as stated on some salt products, depending on the company).

          2. Marine salt: is more complex containing magnesium and calcium, which provides good water
              conditions for invertebrates.

Tropical marine fish need high concentrations of salt in their aquariums. Photograph by David Marshall

I  for one am definetly in favour of using aquarium salt, when required, and here are some proven benefits of using it:

Reduces toxicity - Salt reduces nitrite levels for freshwater fish. The sodium and chloride will reduce nitrite levels in aquariums and studies in the past have shown that chloride reduces nitrite by providing extra ions, which offer fish a form of protection against nitrite.

Attacks parasites and pathogens - Salt kills parasites like Trichodina and pathogens. The old fashioned, but very workable, method of curing fungus infections on fish.

White Cloud Mountain Minnows are prone to velvet disease (Piscinoodinium). Tonic salt is a safe medication for the cure of this malady. Photograph by Arthur Frisby.

Osmoregulation - Another word for the physiological device fish use to manage the amount of salt and fluids in their bodies. Freshwater fish are saltier than the water they live in and their skin is semi-permeable so, particularly when stressed, they can suffer from osmoregulatory dysfunction i.e. start to lose body salts; this loss can be reduced through the use of aquarium salt.

Transporting fish - Salt can be used to reduce stress on fish when they are moved from one location to another.

Things to remember:

          1. Some aquatic companies recommend the use of salt as a regular routine, although opinions
             differ.

          2. Some Aquarists' add tonic salt to their aquariums once every 2-3 months, whereas others use it
              only when necessary.

          3. Some species of freshwater fish, in particular 'Hoplosternum' catfish, are not tolerant of salt in
              their surroundings. Others, in particular the livebearing Goodeids of the Mexican plateau, have
              great need of tonic salt in order to maintain their health.

          4. Never use domestic table salt in aquaria as this contains additives that are toxic to fish.

Cichlids from Lake Malawi are used to the high mineral content of their natural waters but over use of aquarium salt with these fish can cause the malady 'Malawi bloat'. Photograph by David Marshall