Saltinity

[PSmithAZ]

Once i have added the standard amount of salt: 1 tablespoon : 5 gallons do I need to do routine additions other than during water changes? I do have a Mollie, what is the highest ratio of salt to water I can get away with?

[mesapod]

Well ive read that if you acclimatize mollies slowly you can get away with a marine aquarium (lower on salt side though). So you could probably get away with even more salt that 1 tbs of salt per 5 gallons but maybe you should wait tell someone more experianced come around i have never kept mollies.

[Ice Prince]

yes you can keep mollies in full salt water if you acclimate them slowly. you only need to add more salt when you do water changes.

[PSmithAZ]

I understand that mollies are very tolerant to higher levels of salt. The other fish in the tank are my concern. If you look at my signature block you will see what I have in the tank. I am not sure how much salt is in the tank. It really isn't showing a higher SG on my hydrometer although I have added salt. I know it's a low level, just not sure if I should add more. If so, how much?

[lohachata]

ok...my dumb butt gotta ask...what is a featherfin squeaker???never heard of them.
i would suggest that you refrain from putting anymore salt in the tank due to the other inhabitants.the mollies are ok.actually,they have been found swimming out in the ocean miles from land.

[PSmithAZ]

The "Featerfin Squeaker" catfish is actcually Synodontis eupterus

Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Tank Conditions: 75-82°F; pH 6.5-7.8; KH 4-15
Max. Size In Aquarium: Up to 8"
Color Form: Black, Pale
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Insectivore: Algae
Origin: Africa - Zaire, Cameroons
Family: Mochokidae

[jones57742]

Originally Posted by PSmithAZ

... Once i have added the standard amount of salt: 1 tablespoon : 5 gallons ...

Psa:
Please excuse me here but just curious as where you "got the" 1Tblspn/5G to be standard.
My understanding is that this concentration is the very maximum recommended even for "fighting ich".

I do not know about your other fish but an instantaneous increase in salinity from 0 to 1Tblspn/5G will be very harmful (although probably not lethal) to your:
Clown Loach;
Rainbow Shark;
Albino Rainbow Shark;
Black Pleco and
Rubberlip Pleco.

The issue of the use of salt in a freshwater tank is a "hotly debated one".
I typically induce a salinity of 1Tblspn/20G every couple of months and it is removed via normal WC's.

TR

[PSmithAZ]

The label on the salt has the stated ratio printed on it. Also, I checked with all the LFS to see what concentration they were using and all of them replied with 1:5 as a standard response for freshwater.

[PSmithAZ]

BTW: the type of salt I have referenced is "conditioning" saltas opposed to Marine salt I imagine. Not sure what the differnce is or if the two salts differ in any way but that is what is printed on the label.

[jones57742]

Originally Posted by PSmithAZ

The label on the salt has the stated ratio printed on it. Also, I checked with all the LFS to see what concentration they were using and all of them replied with 1:5 as a standard response for freshwater.

Thanks

BUT

IMHO I would still not do this one.

TR

[GoodMike]

i wouldnt either. adding salt to your aquarium all the time IMO gets rid of that as a treatment method. Heat + salt = the meds i use for a lot of different things. if your tank already has the salt, then its not longer a med. not only that, you end up with an unknown amount of salt in your tank over time cause water evaps, then you add back salt with a water change. not all fish enjoy that salt all the time. i would just say scrap the salt. it is NOT necessary to keep in your tank.

[PSmithAZ]

Thanks all... I am going to back off the salt gradually than.

[jones57742]

Originally Posted by PSmithAZ

Thanks all... I am going to back off the salt gradually than.

Psa:

You do not have to do this.

Your weekly Wc's will slowly lower the salt concentration in your tank water.

TR

[Betta1]

Perhaps I missed it but why are you adding salt to a freshwater tank? I've used it to cure nasty ich before though I did lose one fish in the process

[PSmithAZ]

My LFS suggested it. Said it promoted healthy gills. I don't know why I even ask them about fish. They are clueless.

[redpaulhus]

In some instances, a little salt can be a good thing.
Especially in very soft water (low GH and KH) if you're not keeping softwater fishes (discus, apistos, etc).

Dosage generally depends on how coarse the salt grind is -- Aquarium Pharmacuticals (aka Doc Wellfish) brand salt is a big chunky salt, so a tablespoon there has about the same mass as maybe half a tablespoon of a fine grained salt (ie Kosher salt or Jungle brand aquarium salt). The label for the first does say 1T/5g - the label on the 2nd says 1T/10g.
I still remember the time I switched from the first brand to the second and didn't read the label - my fish were not happy. No harm (they got a second water change when I realized it an hour later) but not happy !

With mollies - if you have hard alkaline water, you can generally get by without the salt. If you have soft acidic water, you probably need the salt.
I generally don't salt tanks with softwater/rainforest fishes - ie Serpae's and rasboras - or salt them very lightly.