CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

Barb, Noticed in your response to Big Tom in his 'first timer' post that you recommended the addition of salt.  Do you do this regularly or just to destress fish during the cycle phase or other stress causing times.

I only cycle tanks using ammonia to mature the filter(s) and only use salt in my quarantine tank when used as a hospital tank for any sick fish (fortunately it has only been used as a refuge for fry recently  ).  Even this has a 100% water change before I use the tank for quarantine purposes to remove as much salt as possible.  We keep a variety of Cats in our tanks and I don't want to subject any of them to salt.
 
Anybody any thoughts on the use of salt for cichlids / other fish ?

Salt has not been a stress factor as far as I know.. Why would you think otherwise??
Because you dont' use it in your tanks is understandable with cory cats and scaless fish.. THEY Dont' like salt at high ADVISED levels,  but can tolerate some in the tank.. I keep 7 corys and I use salt at half dose,  I have not seen them kill over dead from the dose I use..

ON the ammonia deal, HE is beyond using ammonia at this point, as he has added in natural ammonia makers.. HE is also 3 weeks into the cycle and I feel using a cycle booster at this stage could be a good or bad.. I have never used cycle so I can't advise on using it this late into this cycle.. I am sure someone else can...  I have read where ppl added in cycle or other cycle helpers only to have the tank backtrack as they did not follow the directions on a NEW tank, but continued to add it in crashing the tank and killing their fish.. Yes it can happen..PPl are ppl and who actually reads the directions and warnings on any label?? I have been guilty of this myself...

I do caution ppl with African tanks to NOT keep Plecos and cory cats in their tanks due to the HIGH salt levels WE are TOLD to maintain in these tanks.. Also the fact that African cichlids dont' like plecos eating their Algae and hiding in their caves, so the plecos are attacted and sometimes killed most suffer from missing eyes.. 

Salt has been proven to help with Ammonia levels and SALT can benifit the Oscars now while they are young.. I did not tell him to use the FULL DOSE of salt reccommended on the container.. THIS amount  is two much in my opion and I have this amount in my own tanks and my fish's health has been great...

SALT FACTS,  SOME PPL USE SALT, SOME DON'T, SOME BENIFITS OF USING SALT::
Taken out of text by Marc Elieson at cichlids-forum
Salt, when used in moderation in a freshwater aquarium, can be beneficial. Salt is particularly effective in treating parasitic infestations. The salt reduces stress by improving gill function and reducing osmotic pressure. It also aides in the healing of wounds, promotes a healthy slime coating, compromises parasites' viability, and reduces the fish's uptake of toxic chemicals such as Nitrite.

Freshwater fish maintain a natural balance of electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, chloride, calcium and magnesium in their body fluids. These electrolytes are extracted from the water by the fish through cells located in the gills and are essential for the uptake of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide. When fish are sick or stressed, their gill function is disturbed and fish may suffer from a loss of electrolytes through the gills, also known as Osmotic Shock. A lack of electrolytes can cause breathing difficulties along with various other health problems. Adding the proper type and amount of salt to the aquarium will help to replace electrolytes that the water may lack.   

Salt at this dose should NOT stress out the young Oscars at this point in the cycle process and SHOULD help it with the high ammonia levels... A proven fact...
As Tom has NOT used any WATER CONDITIONER  I find he really needs to USE AQURIUM salt in this tank NOW.. 

Salts you can use: (Taken out of text by Marc Elieson at cichlids-forum)
Non-iodized. This type of salt contains no additives that could potentially cause problems for your fish and/or tank. This may be sold as Freshwater Aquarium Salt, Kosher, Canning or Rock salt and can be purchased at either a pet/fish shop or a supermarket/grocery store. The salt used should contain no additives such as yellow prussiate of soda or iodine. Iodinized salt may be used for Tanganyikans, as trace amounts of iodine are found in Lake Tanganyika. In fact, goiter is not an unusual occurrence with N. leleupi, which can be prevented by the moderate use of iodinized salt.

Salt is a great stress reducer and does other benifits for the stated reasons.. I use it in ALL MY TANKS and have for years with NO problems.. I have seen the benifits in my tanks and others from using salt, I have NEVER seen any bad..  I wil ALWAYS tell pl to use salt.. Why would I not??
Sincerely Barb Okla..
 

A little more to Barb's point on the salt during the cycle.  One of the values of salt in a freshwater aquarium is that it detoxifies nitrites, which Tom really needs at this point. 

Barb, if it sounded like I was 'having a go', be assured I wasn't. 

I was genuinely curious after it kicked off in my brain that you were recommending using salt all the time as I have only ever added salt to a tank with sick / damaged fish and then cleared as much as possible once the damage was over.  The last time I used salt was with my wifes tank when she had a disease sweep through her tank after a 'demon' fish terrorised her tank.  I suppose there is the fear there in me that whilst some fish I know will revel in having a level of salt added, I may be causing discomfort for others (far too soft in the head maybe !!), I also have heavily planted tanks which will be affected by salt.  All bar the Oscar tank which does have some plants to help the the removal of ammonia & nitrate.

It is not something I had thought about as a constant addition, due to the set-ups of my other tanks but thanks for the food for thought.

PS . 

For anybody reading who is new, in my first post I mentioned using ammonia to cycle the tank - THIS IS WITH NO FISH IN THE TANK.  When the tank has fully cycled it can accept a large bio load straight away without any undue stress on the fish.

You left off a lot in your first post, the planted tanks and only using salt in a sick tank.. Salt at high doses can cure/kill out a lot of parasites but can also have a reverse affect if not done properley AND never in the main tank.. Fish that need to be salted heavely need another tank so you dont' mess with the chimistry in the main tank.. I am sure you know that already...

Salt is an ever going debate in the hobby.. I use it but NOT at full dose as recommened..IF you read the container it says the same dose for regular tank maintanence then the same dose for medicating the fish.. Seems some one messed up on that one.. Why would I want that much salt for a illness I dont' have?? prevention in one thing, pickeling my fish is another.. (yes thats a funny!)

So you weigh the pros and cons and know what to do and not to do AND how much.. Fish are adaptable to a point and ajust to most water conditions without us pouring in more chemical to help them survive that they dont' need... More of a good thing can kill more than it can cure.. I always try to stress this also when medicating any fish..

As you debate the salt deal remember I do half dose.. not the full one recommended for the stated reason.. NO ill effects for several years now..

NO offence taken on my part... Salt is always a good debate on its use....
Have a great fishkeeping time...

Barb Okla