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I have read on a few other websites that a small amount of salt is actually good for some freshwater fish species (specifically I was wondering about my swordtails). The recommended doses were 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of aquarium water. Is this something that needs to be done regularly or is it done sparingly to curb the growth and spread of pathogens (more like a medication)? Two tablespoons in my 10 gallon freshwater tank sure seems like alot! Comments?

There are a few species out there that do prefer a bit o salt in the water, but by and large it is not necessary. Mollies, for example and I think maybe swordtails but not sure. many species in fact, do not tolerate salt that well or even at all. And the ratio would be more like 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons, I believe. Many people are against the use of salt in the tanks at all except for medicinal purposes.

The levels of salt maintained in a freshwater tank over long term have not been proven to help prevent any disease or kill any pathogens. Generally it's just another thing to keep track of and more work. Some people have said their fish have better color with it but like I said nothing is really proven. Mollies when originally taken from the wild may have needed salt but current fish have been tank bred for so long they do just fine in full fresh water(or even full saltwater). Salt can sometimes be useful as a short term treatment for sick fish.

Salt is really not necessary for any
freshwater fish, including mollies.
For some fish, like corydoras catfish,
plecos and otos, loaches, and other
scaleless fish, salt can be detrimental,
even lethal.
I have never had a single positive result
using salt for treatment of any parasite or
disease, and when I used it when I first started
keeping fish at the advice of the local fish store,
dosed it at a rate of 1tblsp per 10g and lost
all 7 of my cory cats within the next 3 days.


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This was discussed in another thread recently too.

[link=http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/General%20Freshwater/67731.html]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/General%20Freshwater/67731.html" style="COLOR: #004040[/link]

I add a little bit of salt to my tanks, with no bad effects. Salt in the aquarium is one of those subjects where you will find people swear by it and others that dont believe it does any good.

The lfs that I work at puts a couple of tabs of salt in every aquarium at water change time and it doesnt seem to do any harm to the fish. Tanks with discus, cories, loaches, livebearers, everything gets a dose.

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