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Hello,

I read a lot of articles that talk about types of salt for your african cichlids; then they talk about other salts for use when medicating for bloat or ich.

Right now I use Seachem cichlid rift lake salt and also use some Seachem Cichlid Buffer to help with PH....is this enough salt for them ...(occasionaly I add Kent Cichlid essential to help with trace elements)

What is that Doc Wellfish Aquarium salt all about

I also heard you can mix table salt with epsom salt

Lastly how about instant ocean..

Essentially I would like to know what kind of salt I shoud be adding to my tank on a water change basis and what type of salt to use with medication

I have a 90 gallon tank with some haps, peackocks and mbunas.

Thanks

Hi,

There does not seem to be a clear opinion on the salt subject...... except for one. Never ever put Table Salt in your aquarium. (someone else will tell you why) Stick with what your doing.

I use Instant ocean in all my Rift Lake tanks. The salt level is about 0.10%. I get no complaints. Breeding activity is good. Everybody is happy.

The substrate is crushed coral. To the malawi tanks I make only baking soda adjustments to the new water being added during water changes to bump it up above 8. The coral seems to maintain about 8.3 for me. Always use a declorinator, I prefer NovAqua.

The Tanganyika tanks I do use a buffer to bump it up to just over 9. That product is made by Seachem.

Greg

I read a lot of articles that talk about types of salt for your african cichlids; then they talk about other salts for use when medicating for bloat or ich.
THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS THAT THERE IS LITTLE OR NO SODIUM CHLORIDE IN THE RIFT LAKES,
BUT THERE ARE TONS OF OTHER MINERALS.
AS FAR AS A CICHLID IS CONCERNED, PROBABLY ALMOST ANY SALT HAS THE SAME BENEFIT FOR ITS SKIN & GILLS.
A CICHLID WILL LIVE IN ALMOST ANYTHING,
BUT CERTAIN SPECIES MAY NOT THRIVE UNLESS THEY HAVE THE CHEMISTRY THEY NEED.
FOR EXAMPLE,
THEY EGGS OF FANCY TANGANYIKAN MOUTHBROODERS MAY NOT HATCH UNLESS THE WATER IS SUPER-HARD.
(TANGANYIKA HAS WAY MORE DISSOLVED SALTS THAN MALAWI.)
THE EGGS OF DISCUS MAY NOT HATCH UNLESS THE WATER IS SOFT.

Right now I use Seachem cichlid rift lake salt and also use some Seachem Cichlid Buffer to help with PH....is this enough salt for them ...(occasionaly I add Kent Cichlid essential to help with trace elements) ALL THAT'S FINE.

What is that Doc Wellfish Aquarium salt all about
THIS IS REGULAR SODIUM CHLORIDE, OR TABLE SALT...WITH PROBABLY NOTHING ADDED.
TABLE SALT, DEPENDING ON BRAND, OFTEN HAS IODINE ADDED...WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR HUMANS AND FISH IN TINY AMMOUNTS.
ONE BRAND OF SALT I GOT THAT DID MAKE MY FISH UNHAPPY WAS ONE I GOT FROM A FEED & GRAIN STORE INTENDED FOR HORSES & CATTLE. IT HAD AN ANTI-CAKING ADDITIVE THAT I BELEIVE STREESED MY FISH.
I WOULD AVOID ALSO ROCK SALT, LIKE FOR MELTING SIDEWALK ICE, ONLY BECAUSE IT PROBABLY HAS DIRT IN IT.

I also heard you can mix table salt with epsom salt
YOU MAY.

Lastly how about instant ocean..
THIS IS MOSTLY REGULAR SODIUM CHLORIDE, OR TABLE SALT
.....BUT ALSO HAS DOZENS OF OTHER CHEMICALS
(INCLUDING pH BUFFERS)
WHICH MAKES ARTIFICIAL SEAWATER.

Essentially I would like to know what kind of salt I shoud be adding to my tank on a water change basis and what type of salt to use with medication
FOR MEDICATING USE INSTANT OCEAN, TABLE SALT, OR
DOC WELLFISH AQUARIUM SALT
....MAXIMUM OF 2.2 TEASPOONS PER ONE GALLON OF WATER
FOR FRESHWATER SPECIES.

I have a 90 gallon tank with some haps, peackocks and mbunas.
GREAT!
IF YOU'RE FISH ARE COLORFUL & HAPPY,
JUST KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING!

Great, Thanks Guys

I think I've only found 1 type of freshwater fish that can not take salt...
it is
Tateurndina Ocellicauda ...the Peacock Gudgeon from Northern Australia & New Guinea

good to know, thanks Ned....I added a bit more salt lately...The last couple of water changes I have noticed a decent amount of flashing....are External parasites the only thing that would cause flashing or could it be other things?? Thanks

you almost certainly have parasites....
...bear in mind there are many species of ick...
salt will kill most
but not all freshwater parasites..
COPPER will kill all parasites,
but I usually use it last because
it also kills shrimps & snails

give your tank a good size water change
and
a real good gravel vacuum also

this will physically remove a good population of the parasites

I am going to do a coppersafe treatment and add some salt along with it ...
2.2 teaspoons / gal of instant ocean and the coppersafe...Would you say this is a good treatment?


After the parasites are gone.... going forward on my regular water changes I am going to use 2.2 teaspoons/ gal of instant ocean and also add 3/4 teaspoon / 10 gal (seachem rift lake salt; that is dose on the directions)

According to your earlier answer these are 2 different types of salt and this would be ok to add both of these and not be " over salting" correct?


THANKS and see you soon

Hoped you liked the Toblerone Chocolate

correct

yes
thanks for the chocolate

Ned:

How much of the sodium chloride salt/gallon can most plants take? Would you not recommend adding it with regular water changes?

Thanks,

Ben

I never put any salt in with live plants.
Val can probably take a little.