Salt?

[croydon_downunder]

I've been reading this forum and noticed in a few topics that people use salt in a discus aquarium.
1 teaspoon per 40 L of water i believe, does this have any benefits for discus?

[Merrilyn]

We use salt as a medication for all sorts of conditions, mainly skin problems and fin erosion.

It can also be used at a stronger dose to eradicate white spot and stronger again as a brief salt water dip. Although salt is pretty mild, it's a lot less dangerous than reaching for antibiotics. There are so many fish diseases that are resistant to antibiotics, that good old salt often works when stronger stuff doesn't.

Salt also alters ther osmotic pressure of the water, and makes it easier for the fish to breathe, so a fish that is having difficulty breathing, because of stress or perhaps gill flukes, can be helped by adding a little salt to the water.

It doesn't harm your bio filter and at low concentrations doesn't do any harm to your plants.

Don't add it to your tank on a regular basis, but keep it for times when you need medication.

[alan j t]

since we are on the subject of salt
can i put some sea salt in my planted discus tank
it has cat fish n tetras in it also
some of my rams arent looking so good
just checking to see if it would hurt the plants or cats
thankx

[garikfox]

Salt is actually bad for discus they hate salt(s)

BUT

Giving them a bath of "Salt" will kill most bad parasites all of them litterally.

My opinion is to help a discus with salt is No more then 24.Hrs. in the salt sorta speak.

Ie. Correct Discus Salt/Med Treatment ratio is = 1 Tbsp. per 5gal.

Watch the pH it will change.......

The "Salt" will depleate after the normal W/C(s). :wink:

[DiscusNoob]

So this is your normal everyday salt you use for cooking and stuff right?

DiscusNoob

[mistakes r crucial]

Hi DiscusNoob,

Not kitchen salt, use pool salt, pure sea salt or rock salt. Discus hate salt so much they'll eat it when you put it in the tank.
MAC

[DiscusNoob]

Alright thanks for the reply!

DiscusNoob

[apistodiscus]

Êpsom salt (magnesium sulphate) will do an even better job, especially in conjunction with a heat treatment. Great for flagelattes

[Merrilyn]

Apistodiscus, can you tell us where you got that information from?.

As far as I am aware, Epsom Salts is used in the water for constipation in fish. It acts as a laxative.

I've never heard of another use for it.

[apistodiscus]

True, that's why I said it's great for the treatment of flagellates in conjunction of a heat treatment (water to 34-36C). Helps the fish expell the bacteria from their gut

[Merrilyn]

Ahhhh okay. I see the connection.

[samir]

technical info :lol: :lol:

Epsom salt at all concentrations (5 to 100 mg ml-')
affected the growth of S. vortens. The average numbers
of parasites at concentrations of 5 to 60 mg ml-'
gradually increased with exposure time, but gradually
decreased at 70 mg ml-' or higher of MgSO, after 24 h
exposure.

[Merrilyn]

Samir, you have way too much time on your hands :lol: