![]() ![]() But many have treated ich with 1% salt with many different fish including “sensitive fish” with no problem. Unfortunately the study did not go higher than 0.2%. This is simply a myth.Ī very well run study at the University of North Carolina proved that salt is not detrimental to corydoras at a level up to 0.2% (“Salt Tolerance in the Callichthyid Catfish ( Corydoras aeneus)”, Murphy and Lewbart, 2003). There is a “fact” that is commonly quoted on social platforms that corydoras and other Amazon fish are sensitive to salt at even low levels below 1% (10,000 ppm). The “above 1%” is important, very important. We do recommend caution with levels of salt above 1% or above 10,000 ppm with some so called “blackwater” fish. But below 9 almost all freshwater fish are just fine, even sensitive blackwater fish. If presented with salt concentrations above 9 parts per thousand SOME freshwater fish will have salt migrate into the body and they die (many are just fine!). The gills of a freshwater fish are designed to keep salt IN the fish at a concentration of 9 parts per thousand, even in water as low a 0.06 parts per thousand. They can all live for many weeks in such a solution if one is desirable of using only “natural” medications for treating fish diseases such as ich or flukes. All freshwater fish appear to have a tolerance to salt up to this concentration. Nine parts per thousand of salt is typically found in the cells of fish and humans. Archocentrus Honduran Red Point Tolerance of Freshwater Fish to Salt If one only has a meter which measures microseimens, multiply microseimens (EC (μS/cm)) by 0.55 to get an approximate ppm TDS (sodium chloride) equivalent. But adding salt to go above 60 tds has no benefit to fish. ![]() A few water sources, RO water and distilled water all have less than 60 tds and need to be “re-mineralized”. In extremely soft water (less than 60 tds) some fish not from soft water regions can get in trouble as the very soft water pulls out the salt in their bodies. There is no experimental research we have found that can correlate fish health with small amounts of salt in the water. The area in North America where most molly species originated in has soft, low salt water. Even livebearers such as Mollies do fine in soft water. There is no evidence that any fish need more than 60 ppm of salts (60 tds) in order to be healthy. This is simply a well-entrenched myth repeated in many books, let alone on internet forums.Īnd as for the claim that salt is a “tonic”, each fish has evolved to live in its natural biotope chemistry. Salt categorically does NOT “assist in the healing of injuries, promote the formation of slime coating and improve gill function” at any level. Pseudotropheus crabro, Bumblebee Mbuna Analysis Some plants are extremely sensitive to salt, other plants can take a lot of salt. Note this is NOT effective against ich as obviously it cannot kill the infectious ich stages in the water of the aquarium.Īnd ALL types of sodium chloride (“salt”) are the same chemical and NONE are toxic in any way to fish. 35 parts per thousand, three fourths of a cup per gallon, 7.5 cups per ten gallons, twelve tablespoons per gallon (the concentration of sea water) is useful as a bath to kill external skin pathogens like flukes or epistylis on the freshwater fish.10 to 35 parts per thousand salt will kill some fish.9 parts per thousand of salt is typically found in the cells of fish and humans.1 to 10 parts per thousand of salt will kill certain sensitive fish like corydoras from the Amazon.This is not a myth but not as effective as medications. 5 parts to 10 per thousand, 0.5% to 1%, three quarter cup to one and one half cups or 16 to 32 tablespoons of salt per 10 gallons to an aquarium to treat external diseases like ich or flukes. ![]()
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