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Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) is a laxitive. It will help constipated, bloated fish pass feces (poop). You use 1 or 2 teaspoons for each 10 gallons of tank water. Disolve the epsom salt in a cup of water and pour into tank. It should work in 2 to 4 hours. You can redose after 4 hours, but if it hasn't worked in 24 hours, it probably won't work at all.
Regular salt (sodium chloride) also sold as kosher salt, pickling salt, rock salt or aquarium salt is the type of salt we eat. It helps discus gill function and will reduce fungus and bacteria at high enough concentrations. A typical dose is 1 or 2 tablespoons per ten gallon of tank water disolved in a cup and poured in tank. This treatment usually lasts a week or so.
To keep the salt concentration stable you must add more salt when you add clean water to the tank. Let's say you have removed 10 gallons of water for a water change and will be adding 10 gallons of clean water back. Add another 1 or 2 tablespoons salt to replace the salt lost through water change.
While epsom salt and regular salt are good on an occasional basis it is not good to have them in the tank all the time.
Carol :heart1:
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Cool info Carol thank you!
Rob ;D
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
:) Good info Carol,......Good info
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Carol:
Good info, will Epsom salt change the ph ? ???
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Carol,, Good public service--I would like to add that the salt used in aquaria must be non-iodized. Plants do not appreciate salt.
Nicefishman, All salts raise the ph and hardness. Aquarium Salt and Epsom salts should be used in a hospital tank. Carbon will not remove these --only water changes will. But then we don't have carbon in our tanks --do we?
HTH, Joe ;)
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Carol:
Will Epsom salt change the pH ?
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
What about KCl (Potassium Chloride)??? It's sold at Home Depot in the Water Softner aisle. A large 5lbs bag costs only $6.56 and will last you forever. Good??? Bad??? Any differences???
Thanks.
A-
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
I have never tested the pH after using Epsom salt. However, It is one of the ingredients folks with soft water or straight RO water use to add minerals back to their water.
I have never used potassium Chloride.
CArol :heart1:
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Carol,
I was wondering, how do you tell when your fish is constipated? If you could just give some pointers on what to watch out for.
Also, would it hurt to treat the entire tank or move the fish in question to a temperary tank form treatment?
thanks
Michael
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Keep it up Carol. This is another one of your posts that I've booked mark for future reference :D
GARY
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Hi MIchael:
Constipated discus look uncomfortable. They shimmy and many times you can see a pinched area behind the stomach. If it's really bad they lose their balance and can't swim normally. You can treat the entire tank, it won't hurt the other discus.
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Hi Guys; On the subject of constipation, I find that if feed my Discus, of any age live brine shrimp at least once a day there is no problem with irregularity. It's a natural alternative to epsom salt, plus your getting nutriments to your fish. On the topic of salt per se, a little Kosher Salt as per Carol's suggestion is on the money, 1 to 2 Tablespoons per ten gallons for grow outs as it adds the minerals they need to develope. I personally stay on the light side using only 1 TBSP per ten Gal. as my tap water comes in at a Ph of 6.2 - 6.8 & Dh of 2ppm to 8ppm, when it's on the high side nature I let take it course. Frequently Check your tap or well water for Ph & Dh it may have enough essential trace minerals. If not sure, either discontinue, get some help and always do your research. If still not sure it might be wise to get a sample of your supply water and your standing water to the Lab. If you want those fish healthy why not? Just Keep On Trucking: Sincerely: 8) 8) (Discus Devil)
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Hi DD:
I agree with you on the brine shrimp - they do add roughage to the diet and help keep discus regular.
I do not recommend adding salt to the tank on a daily basis - only as needed to relieve stress or combat illness. Sodium chloride (table salt, kosher salt, pickling salt, etc) won't raise your GH by add minerals to your water or alter the pH. It will increase the TDS as it is a disolved solid.
It's always a good idea to know the composition of your water. IF you are on city water you can get a printout from them. folks on wells have to take a smaple to a testing facility.
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
One thing on what Joe says above. You should not use regular salt in your planted tanks but you can definately use use epsom salt in your planted aquarium.
In fact epsom salt is magnesium sulfate which is one of the minerals that plants actually use. I use it as part of my fertiliser regiment.
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
GJ555 is correct, I just finished reading an article on growing Tomatoes, It stated if you put a teaspoon of epsom salt in the planting hole your tomatoes will grow stronger and taste sweeter.. I plan on trying this during the late spring... I'll let you know if it works...
chuck
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
hi Carol;
what is your idea about (I2) combination in table salt.
isnt it toxic for fish? ???
I did try it for brine shrimp but all of them died.offcoarce I dont know the real resen. :'(
afshin
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
I2 . . .is that iodine? I have used table salt with iodine in fish tanks for small doses ( one tablespoon per 10 gallons ) with no ill effects. Generally I try to keep a supply on hand of salt without iodine. I've been using up some sea salt to hatch baby brine shrimp eggs.
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Dear Carol;
What is your idea about the (I2) combination in table salt?
isn’t it toxic for fish? :-[
I did try it for brine shrimp, and all of them died. Offcourse I don’t know the exact reason of it.
Afshin
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Hi Carol,
Someone on an Angel forum was asking about the Epsom salt treatment for constipation....I referred them to your thread.
She had/has an extra question that is not addressed in your original post.
That is...
Does it have any impact to raise the temp during this treatment?
TIA
Monette
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
hi carol
as you know I2 is idione.
Afshin
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Hi Monnette:
There is no need to raise the temperature when using epsom salt.
Hi Afshin:
I try to use uniodized salt, but have used small doses (1 tbsp per 10 gallons) of salt with iodine. I have not seen any ill effects with limited use.
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
IODINE - IS A STERILIANT. It kills bacteria, fungus and some viruses.
Although the amount of iodine is small, in ''TABLE SALT - IODIZED SALT''; it can affect the biological bacteria.
Iodine is necessary for the human body to surive. Processed foods use table salt to add this iodine back into the food [ a cheap preserviant] and is a medical source for human iodine.
Iodine and clorine - very nasty stuff. Do be careful.
DO NOT USE IODIZED SALT !
Smokey
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
[quote author=Carol_Roberts link=board=21;threadid=6339;start=0#67279 date=1043020702]
Regular salt (sodium chloride) also sold as kosher salt, pickling salt, rock salt or aquarium salt is the type of salt we eat. It helps discus gill function and will reduce fungus and bacteria at high enough concentrations. A typical dose is 1 or 2 tablespoons per ten gallon of tank water disolved in a cup and poured in tank. This treatment usually lasts a week or so.
To keep the salt concentration stable you must add more salt when you add clean water to the tank. Let's say you have removed 10 gallons of water for a water change and will be adding 10 gallons of clean water back. Add another 1 or 2 tablespoons salt to replace the salt lost through water change.
While epsom salt and regular salt are good on an occasional basis it is not good to have them in the tank all the time.
[/quote]
Hey Carol, I have a few questions regarding this post.
1) It seems contradictory. You mention that if you take out 10gallons you should replaced the lost salt through 1-2Tablespoons in the next 10gallons but then you say to only use epsom and regular salt occasionally. And you say this treatment lasts a week, but salt stays in the water, so dosen't it last until you've effected a 100% water change?
2) So if kosher salt, pickling salt, rock salt or aquarium salt is the type of salt we eat then couldn't i just add salt from the supermarket to save money? (i.e table salt) but then does it depend if it's iodized?
Sorry for all the questions, I'm just really confused!
Luca.
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Not contradictory at all. If you want to maintain salinity at 1-2 TbSp per 10g then you should add back salt for the water removed. Once you're done your unsalted water changes will remove the salt. If you change 50% daily you'll be down to <7% of the salt after 4 water changes. If you change less then you should increase your water changes to remove the salt quicker or just let it be removed over time.
Iodized salt isn't a good idea. Otherwise salt from the grocery store is fine. I use salt used for water softeners. I get it in 45lb bags for $4 at Home Depot.
Dave
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Hi Luca:
Normally I don't have any salt or epsom salt in my discus water.
A few weeks ago I purchased a dozen RSGxFlakes babies from Cary at Great Lakes Discus. They were shipped to me via Airborne Express. When I Put them in the 55 gallon tank I also put in 10 Tbsp. salt. The next day I removed 25 gallons of water and replaced it with 25 gallons of freshwater + 4 Tablespoons salt. I repeated this daily for about 5 days.
The salt is disolved in the water. When I removed 25 gallons of water I was also removing about 4 tablespoons of salt. Then I quit adding the salt with the 25 gallon water change. Each 50% water change removes 50% of the salt remaining in the tank. In just a few days the tank containes only fresh water.
I buy uniodized salt at the supermarket. Rock salt is kinda dirty. I haven't tried the water softener salt yet.
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
SO, the fairy tale is over !??
Once person expresses the use of it and then does a 90' degree turn around. Who do you believe !
Salt and Salts: two different items .
Salt; whether mined or distilled from the oceans; is only that - Salt.
Iodized Salt - Has been refined, made pure for human consumption, AND HAS IODINE added ! Iodine is a separte chemical. It is necessary for the survival of humans. Apparently , the human body can not produce iodine.
chemically speaking ; there are many books written about the importance of iodine; medical references.
Epson Salts - a different isalts.
Iron - a salts
calcium - a salts
etc. - a salts.
Open up a distiller, the heating element has salts on it. The residue collecting on the glass of an aquarium - Salts.
Smokey.
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Huh? you confused me Smokey?
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Ive used and still use water softener salt that you buy in big bags from Home Deport! Works great! ;)
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
I'm confused too.
"SO, the fairy tale is over !??
Once person expresses the use of it and then does a 90' degree turn around. Who do you believe !"
Who did the 90º turn? Carol said she'd used iodized salt sparingly and did not recommend it. What is the fairy tale?
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
True - pure natural salt. or rock salt.
Salt thats has been mined; is in slabs, much like any other mineral.
A time honoured profession , dating back 1000's of years.
The degree of processing, determines it's final name./ use.
Smokey
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Oh, ok. That cleared it up. Just curious, what time does the bar open in your town??
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Epsom salt can be added to food at 1/2 tsp. per 2 oz. food
add alittle Knox clear gel. Stand-by with cleaner. :o :o :o ;D
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erm so at the moment I have aquarium salt and was thinking of adding it to my Planted Tank .. at the ratio given on carols first page .... the reason I was thinking of giving it is that my adults are still off there food I have dewormed/fluked them but they are not eating much ... Is it a good idea to add Salt what are the implications as this is a Community Tank
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what is epsom salt because i used to live in epsom surrey?
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate
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Carol,
I'm very new to discus and I just purchased some. Tthe discus have been in my tank for about a month. One night before I went to bed I noticed that one of the babies had a very fat belly and stayed at the bottom of the tank, like it was weighed down. Well the next morning I found it floating with all it's insides out. I examined it and it had a 1/8 - 1/4 inch slit on the bottom of it. There was no sign of another fish biting it, just looked like it popped? I was told to add epson salt to my tank after I told my local aquarium about it. Can you give me an idea as to what cause my discus to EXPLODE?
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Overeating or bacterial infection and/or blocked gut.
That must have been a painful death :-\
Epsom salt is good to have on hand - use it any time you suspect a problem with bloat or overeating.
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Re:Difference between Epsom salt and regular salt
Thanks so much for your help! ;D