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A question that I have is what effects will freshwater salt have on freshwater tanks? I just came across this stuff and added it to my tank, but I never heard of this kind of water quality. Same thing with brakish water. Would you add saltwater salt or freshwater salt? I have to figure 8 puffers, and they seem to do fine in the dose that I gave them. But specifically in water changes, would I add it to the new water?

Hi,
Specifically, when you physically remove and replace
water, then you must add salt back or you would be
continuously diluting it.
However, to merely top off the tank for evaporation,
you do NOT add salt to that water. Salt will not
evaporate, and should you add salt to the "top off
water" you would be increasing the concentration of
salt within the tank.

For the average freshwater tank, Salt is completly
useless in today's technology. 30/40 years ago it
was added to tank to "help prevent" Ich. It is an
additive that causes fish to increase the rate of
secretion of the mucus covering their bodies.
The thought was that if the mucus production was
increased, it would slough off the parasite before
it could take hold on a fish.
With todays medications, it is completely unnecessary,
and can cause stress to the fish because of the
increased rate of mucus production.

For fresh water fish, such as Mollies that require
some salt , you can use marine salt, or NON Iodized salt.
Be sure to keep the dosage very low, as it can stunt
plant growth. Additionally, I would not mix fish
such as Mollies that need salt with fish, such as
tetras, that do not.

For Brackish Water fish, I would use marine salt
exclusively as they would need the trace elements
that comes with it to thrive.

As far as plants for a Brackish Water tank, this is
a site that lists them:

http://www.azgardens.com/habitats_brackish.php

Hope this helps...
Frank


[span class="edited"][Edited by FRANK 2004-07-28 12:59][/span]

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Thanks for the reply,
Good advice, should have found out the easy way by reading your message. Instead I have a dead plant on me and another thats hanging on by a thread. One question remains. Right now I have two small figure 8 puffers in a 5 gallon hex which seems to be doing just fine. Will they and other brakish water fish still survive and be happy in fresh water with absolutely no salt? I would imagine not so, but my puffers are not asking me,"where's the salt, man"

Hi,
If you have brackish water fish, then you must have
the water brackish for them, and I'd use marine salts
to make the water. That way the necessary trace elements
are present for the fish.
If you want plants, then go to the Arizona Gardens
web site and look at their "collections" one of them
is specifically for brakish water tanks. Those plants
will grow in brackish water - but, keep in mind that
they were grown in freshwater and when placed in brackish
water, they will wilt and die back while they become
acclimated and then pick back up and start to grow.
With the 5 gallon hex, you will need about 10 watts
of flourscent light (daylight, or sunlight labled bulbs)
on the tank.
Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--