Aquarium salt medication

[Chuckmeister]

Salt As Medication

Salt is an under used treatment for many common freshwater fish parasites. Used properly, a saltwater bath can be very effective in eliminating “ich”, velvet, Trichodina, Chilodonella, and a number of less common parasites.

Advantages. Salt treatments are:
Very cheap - especially for large tanks or ponds.
Safe for many species of fish
Effective on many different parasites
Unlikely to push sick fish over the edge.
Unable to break down or get absorbed during treatment
Hard to overdose.
will not stain tank sealant
Measurable ( Salt Level Test Kit) if really needed.

Disadvantages. Salt treatments are:
Dangerous to most plants
Dangerous to certain fish (e.g. Corydoras catfish. Some loaches may tolerate short half doses - If in doubt please ask)
Ineffective against gill flukes
Removable only by water changes - will not get absorbed by carbon etc

Best uses. Salt is a treatment of choice for most pond fish keepers,large aquariums and systems.

It is very cost effective for use in large bodies of water. Also suitable for smaller bodies of water but of course scaled down.

Dosage. Use one teaspoon of non-iodized (aquarium, canning, Kosher, rock salt, etc.) salt per gallon (roughly 5 litres) of water every 12 hours for a total of three treatments (total dose: 3 teaspoons per gallon (5 ltrs)). In cases where parasites are overwhelming fish, full dose may be added at once.
Salt Dip - Add 1/2 cup of salt into 1 gallon (5litres) and place fish into the bath. DO NOT leave fish in for longer than 5 minutes or you may kill the fish. Time a few minutes (2 or 3) and remove the fish. Fish may float to the surface and tip on there side. This happens but make sure it is still moving. Remove fish otherwise.

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[Ged]

Also fantastic as a prophylactic disinfectant for all those minor cuts and scrapes that cichlids are prone to get.

[simy696]

salt so your talking your normal cooking salt found in the kitchen?

[Chuckmeister]

You cant use iodized salt Simy. It needs to be non iodized salt. Most people that use salt as medication go up to the local pool shop and buy a bag of pool salt as its usually cheap to purchase.

[mjoconr]

I just used the long exposure (at least 10 days) to salt and high heat method to get rid of ick (White Spot), it worked a treat. ( referenced from http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/ich.php) The fish where covered in little spots so I assume there gills where also. As with any treatment process you need to make sure the O2 is as high as possible. The white spot lowers the gills effectiveness along with hotter than normal water doing the same. You can loose fish to stress if the O2 is not being pushed in to the tank.

[Chuckmeister]

Yes to treat a tank for Ich you need you layer the salt over time and always add as much oxygen as possible

edit - you also need to be mindful of tank inhabitants. Salt can disagree with some species, loaches, some catfish etc

If you are not sure then ask and someone will likely offer guidance !!

[hoody]

im using the 3% feeds at the moment few fish not looking the best in the belly. see how i go im only on day 2.

[5uka]

Can I say a big thank you to chuck and this thread! A fish of mine was looking unwell showing all the symtoms of stress eg heavy breathing, lethargic, not eating etc.

Began a salt treatment as specified and a few days later fish is looking great and finally eating again!!!

Completely forgot about the benefits of salt in an aquarium!!!

[simy696]

with the the salt bath for 5mins would you then return it to its normal tank or seperate it? in a hospital tank.

[Chuckmeister]

I'm really happy that it worked for you 5uka. Often dont get any feedback. Cheers.

[5uka]

I added salt every 12hrs for 3 doses. If that didn't work I would have placed fish in salt bath.

I'd assume best remove fish after salt bath so it can recover before placing it back.