Aquarium salt is consider one of the powerful tools freshwater fish keepers. No matter you are dealing with any infections, or stress or want to improve fish health, this will make a difference. However, what is aquarium salt, how to use and many more you will get to know in this article.
Most common question ask about aquarium salt is, can this use in freshwater? So, many people recommend it to use this to provide electrolyte to fish. And some people say this will use to treat infection or disease. However after the years of research it is said that sodium chloride (NaCl) is powerful salt to treat fish diseases. Moreover, many plants and fish can not tolerate the excess amount of aquarium salt. Make sure use it cautiously and achieve its benefits.
What is Aquarium salt?
Aquarium salt generally called sodium chloride (NaCl), a specialized salt used in aquariums to promote fish health and treat diseases. Many people thought that it’s a regular table salt but no it is made from evaporated sea salt and free from iodine.
Composition
This specialized salt primarily is Sodium Chloride (NaCl), some how like table salt but specially made for aquariums. Moreover, before using this you should know its purpose and benefits.
Purpose Of Aquarium Salt
This salt generally used to aid fish and prevent their several diseases. The purpose of aquarium salt is listed below:
- Osmotic function: it helps fish to maintain water balance with their body, important for their survival.
- Gill function: this salt improves gill function, making easy for fish to breath and absorb oxygen.
- Reduce stress: it helps to reduce stress in fish when they transfer to any new tank set up.
- Treat diseases: treat fungal and bacterial infection such as, ich which is the white spot disease.
Benefits Of Aquarium Salt
Some of its benefits are listed below:
- Restore electrolytes: this salt is beneficial in restoration of electrolytes which they lose during water change.
- Promotes slime coat: a slime coat is important for fish to keep them safe from bacteria and parasites.
- Toxicity of nitrite: aquarium salt helps to work against the nitrite toxicity in water.
After knowing its purpose and benefits, second most frequently asked question is how to this?
How To Use Aquarium Salt For Fresh Water?
The easiest way to use this is keep the general maintenance add one tablespoon in 3 gallon of water. This is low concentration of salt use to maintain fish health. Moreover, high concentration of salt is used when to treat any disease. Make sure dosage carefully as species are sensitive. For preventing poisoning of nitrite add 1 level of table spoon.
Not To Use When?
Avoid to use excessive amount of salt when you have live plants in your tank. To treat ill fish, best way to treat them is to transfer them in the hospital tank, not in the community tank. Moreover,do not use aquarium salt when you have scaleless fish. Because they can not tolerate high concentration of salt, such as tetras and corydoras catfish are sensitive fish.
Conclusion
Aquarium salt is a effective and natural way to improve freshwater fish health. From improving gill function to stress relief and preventing diseases this is beneficial for everything. Because of its benefits its is well known among experienced aquarists and new fish keepers. Moreover, use this salt carefully, its overuse can harm the live plants and sensitive fish. Make sure to research own you fish then use the salt proper dosage to keep them safe. By understanding its using ways and dosage it will be a valuable tool for fresh water.
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