Freshwater Aquarium Salt?

fish_4_all

I like this post, has got me thinking. I use Epson Salts for my plants as a source for my plants of Mg. Maybe this is why I have not had ich problems for so long, but that would be a total guess because it don't know the chemistry behind it.

I had actually thought of using KCl as a K source and I found it for extremely cheap from Sears of a ll places as a water softener.

I think this is worth investigating further, hint, hint. There might be something to this that no one has found or isn't "readily" known. Any chemists in the house that have backgrounds in marine biology.

mHeinitz57

Epsom salts actually serve as a natural laxative, lol. I've used it before for round-bodied Goldfish experiencing swim-bladder abnormalities due to a blockage of the pneumocycstic duct and intestinal tract.

fish_4_all

Well at least my fish will never constipated!

Also, if oyu do use salt, you can use Kosher Pickling salt. It is non-iodized salt and safe to use in the aquarium.

jones57742

F4A and Mh:

The dialog in thread thread is really helping me in the acquisition of information without such acquisition being via "hard earned experience"!!!

Mh:

To the best of my knowledge and belief I have never had a fish experience swim bladder problems but

1) "You reckon" that epsom salt would be effective for fish other than Goldfish?

2) What is the appropriate application rate for epsom salt (ie. 1Tblspn/Gal, etc) for the effective treatment of swim bladder problems.

TR

mHeinitz57

well epsom salt won't actually treat swim bladder disease. Swim bladder disorders are very common among round-bodied Goldfish because of their specific anatomy. The internal organs of a round bodied Goldfish are actually somewhat "squished" towards the front of their abdomen. You will often hear people suggesting that you soak the fish food before feeding it to Goldfish and that is because Goldfish commonly gulp food at the surface. When the food is gulped dry, it expands inside the fish and can easily become lodged in the "squished" digestive tract of the fish. Goldfish are also different anatomically because they have a pneumosystic duct which is a passage way from the swim bladder to the esophagus. The pneumosystic duct is used to help regulate the air in the swim bladder and if there is a blackage in the digestive tract then it can cause a swim bladder problem and lessen the fish's ability to regulate bouyancy. I know this is off topic but this is why epsom salt has been recommended for swim bladder disorders. Epsom salt is a natural laxative and so therefore it can help swim bladder disorder if it is caused by a blockage in the digestive tract. I used to always give our round bodied Goldfish unshelled peas too since the source of fiber also helps to make sure their digestive tracts are clear.

So to answer your questions TR:

1)in my experience I see swim bladder disorders more commonly in round bodied Goldfish and that is most likely due to their anatomy and eating habits as I pointed out earlier. Most fish do not have digestion problems like that though so epsom salts probably wouldn't do much. Generally swim bladder disease is bacterial or parasitic and it is difficult, if not impossible to tell which it is. I would say most commonly it is bacterial in which the bacteria causes the walls of the swim bladder to thicken and harden a little and not allow air to pass through the membrane and regulate bouyancy. In that case medicine is your best bet.

2) I have no clue what the approprate rate is, haha. I always just eyeball everything like i'm some professional chef I would say the same dosage you would use for normal salt though, about a tablespoon per 5 gallons I think.

caferacermike

And the one overlooked bit of info:

A lot of the African Cichlid lakes are tainted with salts. The lakes have a higher salinity than you think. Same for PH and CA levels. That is why a lot of cichlid keepers almost have mini saltwater tanks. Aragonite sand, Limestone decorations, and a hint of salt.

mHeinitz57

yeah obviously you will use salt if the natural environment calls for it. With so much controlled breeding nowadays though most african cichlids will do fine in a variety of conditions. I've kept africans without salt and i've kept them with and didn't notice any significant difference. But it's always great when you can replicate the fishes natural habitat.