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Post by palepinkvase on Mar 15, 2004 19:09:58 GMT -5
I am curious about experiences with aquarium salt. Some people seem to be happy using it and others think it is not necessary. As many of us know, there is quite a sizable chunk of info out there and it can be perplexing. I would like to know how people are making their decisions on its use.
I did not use the salt at first as I didn't know it could be used for fresh water fish. I use it now. There is info out there that it is a disease preventative. I would like to know more about this. In my mind it probably works as a disease preventative in 2 ways. First, it adds ions to the water, which from what I read helps the fish maintain their health and immunity. Secondly, not all but most bacteria cannot grow in water that isn't pure. I have not been able to find out if this is true of the bacteria that cause illness in Bettas.
Regarding the simple enjoyment of the added salt, I have one Betta that definately perked up once I started adding the salt. He likes to swim in the streams as it dissolves. I have others that dont seem affected one way or the other. Has anyone had a fish that just hated having the salt? None of mine have had a bad reaction to it.
I don't want anyone to feel criticized, attacked, or unable to post their thoughts/experiences on this. I would like to have an open discussion about the use of aquarium salt.
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Post by mermaid on Mar 15, 2004 20:26:00 GMT -5
well im using aquarium salt in my betta tanks. a few years ago we had a big 75 gal in the livingroom and i had a 10 gal in my bedroom and we always used aqua salt in both. (the big tank wasnt "my" tank really, but the 10 gal one was) at the moment im definetly using it as preventive. my two betta boys were together in a DIVIDED  1 gal tank (it was temporary, one of the bettas is for my mom but she lives an hour away but i found 2 beautiful ones at the same time, so you know-i had to get him) anyway one of the bettas got mild fin rot friday night so i had to move the healthy one, i have been using aqua salt in the healthy ones 5 gal aquarium and aqua salt and jungle fungus eliminator in the 1 gal with the recovering betta. his fin rot has stopped. im still going treat him for the next week or so to be on the safe side. also my betta in the 5 gal ripped his fin yesterday on a plastic plant (i immediatly removed the plant of course, im in the process of getting all silk plants, but i have to go to a store that a little far away-i didnt think he would tear his fin in under a week!) i added some more salt after this happened and i dont know if im imagining things or what, but i feel like his fin is definetly starting to "fuse" back together. maybe its the salt? to help with it im going to start him on bettamax (the med in the little pill capsules) i will prob use that on the one that had finrot after his JFE treatment. a girl on the www.beautifulbettas.com/forum had success with bettamax and fin regrowth, so im going to use it for both of my boys. but i will definetly continue to use aquarium salt in my tanks, i think it helps. |
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Post by ACKislander on Mar 16, 2004 9:44:50 GMT -5
I don't use salt. I don't like adding unnecessary things to the water. Salt is often used to combat parasites but at the concentrations recommended for betta it is far too diluted to kill any parasites. If you raised the amount of salt in the water so that it would kill parasites, it would be so strong that it would also kill your betta. The low concentrations of salt in the water are too low to really help your betta. Additionally, the salt irritates your betta's slime coat, leaving him open for other problems.
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Post by starlight on Mar 16, 2004 16:30:39 GMT -5
>>>Some people seem to be happy using it and others think it is not necessary.<<<
This is the essence of the two points of view regarding using salt. I have met well-informed betta folk that use salt and an equal amount that don't. The reasons they give are the same as has been mentioned.
In the end you have to do what you feel does best for your bettas; as well as their water.
I use salt. I use slightly less than 1/2 tsp per gallon. I feel that they do slightly better with salt in their water than they do without it.
If you use salt, don't buy the expensive "aquarium salt" at the LFS. Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt (available in the supermarket) is the same thing. It's what most breeders use. Cost on sale yesterday $1.69 for 3 pounds.
Over the course of a year while the savings on salt won't buy you a red Ferrarri, you may be able to get a red betta. Hmm, look at that gorgeous red butterfly betta! Now you can get him with your "salt savings".
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Post by Rachel on Mar 17, 2004 10:05:35 GMT -5
I agree with Starlight. The salt debate is another of the opinion-based methods of betta care. There is evidence that backs up both points of view.
I personally use 1/4 teaspoon per gallon and find it to be helpful rather than harmful. I noticed a difference when I first started using salt as a preventative. The exception is my Rudy who has been swollen for some time now. He does better without the salt in his water..
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Post by ACKislander on Mar 17, 2004 11:59:55 GMT -5
>>>Some people seem to be happy using it and others think it is not necessary.<<< This is the essence of the two points of view regarding using salt. I have met well-informed betta folk that use salt and an equal amount that don't. The reasons they give are the same as has been mentioned. In the end you have to do what you feel does best for your bettas; as well as their water. I use salt. I use slightly less than 1/2 tsp per gallon. I feel that they do slightly better with salt in their water than they do without it. If you use salt, don't buy the expensive "aquarium salt" at the LFS. Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt (available in the supermarket) is the same thing. It's what most breeders use. Cost on sale yesterday $1.69 for 3 pounds. Over the course of a year while the savings on salt won't buy you a red Ferrarri, you may be able to get a red betta. Hmm, look at that gorgeous red butterfly betta! Now you can get him with your "salt savings". What do you mean it won't buy me a red Ferrarri? DOAH!  |
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Post by palepinkvase on Mar 17, 2004 13:18:53 GMT -5
I live in an area that doesn't sell anything fancier than Morton's. So there will be no pretty red ferrari or Betta in my future. How sad.  |
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spiff
Junior Bubble Nester
Posts: 228
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Post by spiff on Mar 17, 2004 14:53:53 GMT -5
I use salt in all of my betta tanks. I don't know if it does anything, but I think it helped Chandler a few months ago. When I first got him, he would be swimming around like normal, flare at Monica, and then he would stop and just kind of float at the surface...after a few seconds he would wake up, flare at Monica again, swim away scared when she flared back. I added salt for a few days and after a day or so, he stopped floating and hasn't done it since. I don't know if he had SBD or something else, but I think it helped him
I also added additional salt to Marlin's tank after I fried him. I don't know if it made him feel any better but it made ME feel better!
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Post by starlight on Mar 17, 2004 16:28:19 GMT -5
>>What do you mean it won't buy me a red Ferrarri? DOAH!<<
ACK, you don't use salt at all. Your "salt savings" are greater than those that use salt. It is possible that your potential salt savings will buy you a red Ferrarri. However you would have to live nearly forever! You may be better off getting a red bf betta with your savings.
enjoy!
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Post by ACKislander on Mar 17, 2004 18:31:34 GMT -5
I like Lamborghini's better anyway... and Red Bettas for that matter...
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Post by palepinkvase on Mar 17, 2004 22:18:47 GMT -5
Maybe we could pool are 'salt savings' and buy one slightly used red ferrari and have a Betta-Lovers Coast-to-Coast Relay Road trip?! |
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Post by abm on Mar 17, 2004 22:24:14 GMT -5
My tanks aren't very big...let's see...6 3-gallon tanks with 1/2tsp per gallon = 9 tsp (I think), plus 2 2-gallons with 1/2tsp = 2 tsp.... So tell me, how many weeks of not using my 11 tsps of aquarium salt will it take before I can buy that used ferrari? or lamborghini? or tricycle?? |
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Post by palepinkvase on Mar 17, 2004 22:36:07 GMT -5
Do you want an estimate counting the sudden needs husband and children or not? ;D |
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Post by abm on Mar 17, 2004 22:44:25 GMT -5
Let them get their own mode of transportation |
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Post by starlight on Mar 17, 2004 22:45:32 GMT -5
My tanks aren't very big...let's see...6 3-gallon tanks with 1/2tsp per gallon = 9 tsp (I think), plus 2 2-gallons with 1/2tsp = 2 tsp.... So tell me, how many weeks of not using my 11 tsps of aquarium salt will it take before I can buy that used ferrari? or lamborghini? or tricycle?? Are you using expensive Aquarium salt? If you switch to the brand I mentioned (which most breeders use) you will be able to start a salt savings account... Here's the bad news: forget about that Ferrarri. Now the good news: in less than a year your salt savings will get you another betta. "look at that cambo betta...I think I'll buy him with my salt savings!" |
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1 gal tank (it was temporary, one of the bettas is for my mom but she lives an hour away but i found 2 beautiful ones at the same time, so you know-i had to get him) anyway one of the bettas got mild fin rot friday night so i had to move the healthy one, i have been using aqua salt in the healthy ones 5 gal aquarium and aqua salt and jungle fungus eliminator in the 1 gal with the recovering betta. his fin rot has stopped. im still going treat him for the next week or so to be on the safe side. also my betta in the 5 gal ripped his fin yesterday on a plastic plant (i immediatly removed the plant of course, im in the process of getting all silk plants, but i have to go to a store that a little far away-i didnt think he would tear his fin in under a week!) i added some more salt after this happened and i dont know if im imagining things or what, but i feel like his fin is definetly starting to "fuse" back together. maybe its the salt? to help with it im going to start him on bettamax (the med in the little pill capsules) i will prob use that on the one that had finrot after his JFE treatment. a girl on the 
