The Puffer Forum

Does anyone know what the specific gravity of a freshwater aquarium should be if you add aquarium salt as per the manufacturer recommendations for everyday use and for illness treatment?

Thanks in Advance!!!

well first you do not want to use aquarium salt for any salt treatment unless you are dosing goldfish.

can you post up what you are dealing with and some tank specs and such?

we can helpyou alot more

I have been told that aquarium salt can help reduce fish stress and improve overall health in freshwater aquariums. I also understand that it can be used to treat ick in higher doses. I was hoping to find some specific gravity recommendations in order to monitor the salt content via hydrometer. I currently use one tablespoon per 10g to reduce stress.

I wouldn't use it as an everyday use. No chance!

I feel aquarium salt is inappropriate for everyday use in most cases. Most livebearers fare well with a light addition, and betta's often avoid illness with a light addition as well.

Pardon my French but horsefeathers! No FW fish need to have 'aquarium' salt (whatever that may be) added routinely or chronically.

If livebearers are from originally BW lineage, they may do a bit better in harder more alkaline water than some folks have, but that depends both on the fish being kept and the local water conditions. In any case, a hardening substrate or Rift Lake additive is likely to do better for the fish than aquarium salt. No change should be done without considering the particular fish being kept and after analysis of the local water parameters.

If FW fish become ill routinely with parasites or other conditions treatable with salt, they either have chronic uncured infections or something is off in their care. In the case of fancy bettas, I would suspect over-breeding or just poor stock.

Salt use:

http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/water/salt.html

Awesome guys!! That certainly makes my question moot!! Thanks for all of your input.