General Care Discussion :: Salt?

[jawsspeedymrt]

I remember someone asking this a while back, but now I can't find it. I was visiting my uncle in Orlando and he said he put salt in his koi ponds to prevent disease. I know salt can be used when a turtle has shell rot, so can you just dump some non-iodized salt in the water without killing your RES? And if so how much? Thanks!

[megcornell]

No. The salt used in fish tanks is aquarium salt, not table salt.
You can buy it at most petstores. Frankly, I don't think it does much for turtle tanks though.

[marisa]

Some people do use aquarium salt to help keep up water quality (kosher salt is also an option). You can buy it rather cheaply (Dr. Wellfish in the pet section at Walmart comes to mind). Follow the directions on the box. Because it doesn't evaporate when water does, you'd only want to use it when doing a full water change.

[mike hill]

Salt -- I use aquarium salt in my tanks but very little. If you put too much you will harm your bacteria and the filtration slows or stops. I use enough to just move the hydrometer pointer to the very first place on the gauge. Many sliders come from brackish water and as a general rule a little will be ok. There is an extensive study on brackish water and sea life in the Baltic Sea; one end is all fresh water and the other is sea salt water. If someone is interested I can look it up. It is"extensive" M.

[SpotsMama]

Yes please Mike, what's the link for the study.

[mike hill]

S-mama-mod -- Let's try this --- on Salt. m

http://www.iopan.gda.pl/oceanologia/484cabaj.pdf