Salt as a med

[Ardan]

Salt as a med

I have used salt in the following concentrations.

2 tblsp/10 gal water for stress reduction.

2 tblsp/10 gal for nitrite in the water. This helps the fish because

the chloride ion (NaCl= salt (sodium chloride) attaches to the gill

membrane where nitrite would enter the blood stream (attaches

to hemoglobin called "brown blood disease&quot. This works if the

ph is above 7.0.

5 to 10 tblsp/10 gal water to treat fungus.


As a short bath= 7.5 tblsp/1 gallon water until the fish started to

"roll over", then transfer to clean water (same temp).
Used for unknown external parasites/infection/fungus. This is

accomplished through osmosis.

[barron]

Very good info.

I use 3 pounds per 100 gallons, to block nitrites from entering the blood.

Just want to add coments thanks

If ph is above a 7 you do not need salt the nitrites are not toxic. The opposite of nh3, when below a 7 ph it is nh4 non toxic above a 7 ph nh3 toxic.

I use sea-chem nitrite detox with the salt, and keep the ph above a 7. So I guess I do this just to be safe. One is not able to change water fast enough to keep it down. So it also helps here as well.

This is only done when the filter craps out.

Correct me if I am wrong about nitrite being non toxic above a 7 ph and not needing salt.

Barron

[Ardan]

Hi,
Nitrite becomes less toxic the higher the ph. If the ph is below 7.0 nitrite is very toxic. The lower the ph gets, the less effective is the salt.
Even over Ph 7.0 nitrite can be hard on the fish. Above 7.0 ph there is less nitrite converted to Nitrous acid. It also is dependant upon temp and the fish itself.


Sources:
DiskusBrief” magazine, Vol IV, Issue II, 1997
"A-Z of Tropical Fish Diseases and Health Problems" by Burgess, Bailey and Excell

[BlueTurquoise]

7 tablespoons per galon! that sounds like an aweful lot Ardan... How long is "short term"?

One of my babies is breathing very heavily so I might give it a go but I am sure 3 tablespoons per 1 galon makes him roll over as it is...

[Ardan]

Hi Chong_Ly,
Yep, 7 tblsp/gal. Its only a matter of minutes until the fish starts to roll on its side.
I have done this, but it has been yrs ago since I have had to do it. No parasites on the fish from GLD ;D