[joe kool]

"Salt" discussions can bring on heated debate and mounds of "proof" from both sides with hours of internet research and years of lab work to back both it's use and abuse in freshwater aquariums. I personally use "salt" in the form of cichlid lake salt (which in reality has more trace elements and what not than actual sodium) to help replicate somewhat the fishes natural habitat. In that aspect IMO it's a good thing. Some fishes are very intolerant of salt. Cories for example are one species that I wouldn't even walk by the tank with a salt shaker in my hand. Maybe not quite that sensitive but you get my point. Salt baths and treatments for disease and parasites are very effective especially when caught early and reduce the amount of antibiotics and such one has to use in a tank. This is always a good thing as well. I have used many different plecos in my African tanks and have yet to find one that didn't like the level of salts I use. There may be some out there that are salt intolerant but mine have been fine at levels up to 4 or 5 TBL spoons per 10 gal of actual aquarium salt when treating for ich down to my normal 2 of cichlid lake salt as dictated by instructions from the manufacturer to replicate the African rift lakes most of the fish I keep are from.