Epsom salt in planted tank

[TrevorB]

I have one discus who has been fairly bloated lately. Doesn't appear to be anything serious as he is still eating and acting normally and poo looks normal.

I was going to try some epsom salt to try and relieve the bloat but I have a planted tank and don't want to adversly affect the plants. Should I add salt to the tank or do a separate salt bath? What dosage can I safely add to the tank if that is the preferred approach?

My tank has crypts, anubias, and vals.

Thanks,
Trevor

[cturner]

Hi Trevor I have a planted tank too. My Flachen & Blue diamond tend to get constipated so with my intial dose of Epsom salt on the tank I did 1 cup per 100 gallons and adjusted the dose with each water change. I haven't had any major problems with my plants what-so-ever. I have anubias, crypts and many others.

[phidelt85]

Hey, Trevor, your plants should be fine. Epsom salts is the poor man's fert for dosing Magnesium.

[pcsb23]

Jose is correct, epsom salts won't harm your plants.

[TrevorB]

Thanks everyone for your replies, now I'll see if I can help get that belly back to normal.

Trevor

[phidelt85]

No probs, and good luck!! :)

[Discus_adictus]

Hi Trevor, how big is your planted tank? If you have a large tank and there's only 1 fish with bloat, it might be better to place him in a smaller tank for treatment.

Jeremy

[TrevorB]

Jeremy, this is a 90gal tank. Since this is just epsom salts I will probably just treat the tank a day or so before I do a WC. It doesn't sound like they will be harmful to anything else.

Trevor

[Discus Dreaming]

Does Epsom salt hurt Cory cats, Rams, Cardinal tetras, SAE or CAE?

Thanks.

[Graham]

Does Epsom salt hurt Cory cats, Rams, Cardinal tetras, SAE or CAE?

Thanks.

Nope

[happygirl65]

What about regular aquarium salt in a planted tank?

[Graham]

Regular salt will hurt to some degree cories, rams and tetras so check out each fish that you have.

Also plants will be hurt by much more that 1 teaspoon per gallon

edit,,, Aquarium salt is the biggest rip off in the hobby...any salt will do including table salt

[pcsb23]

edit,,, Aquarium salt is the biggest rip off in the hobby...any salt will do including table salt
hehe you should put that in your siggy :D but you are quite right about it!

Salt will hurt most plants before it hurts fish.

[diamonddiscus08]

Hello, I also have a 55g planted tank with 2 discus. I was wondering what are the benefits of using epsom salt and is it necessary and or worth using?

[pcsb23]

Hello, I also have a 55g planted tank with 2 discus. I was wondering what are the benefits of using epsom salt and is it necessary and or worth using?Epsom salts are used when fish are showing signs of bloating and they help the fish defecate.

[diamonddiscus08]

That's the only time it is needed? What about for planted tanks? I thought I had read it may help with the nutrients.

[Dissident]

That's the only time it is needed? What about for planted tanks? I thought I had read it may help with the nutrients.

In a 55gal with highlight and CO2 you should be adding ~18grams of MgSO4 after each water change. A magnesium deficiency will show itself on older leaves by, Yellow spots, Often appears similar to iron deficiency since mg deficiency prevents a plant from properly using iron. Yellowing of old leaves starting from edges while major veins remain green.

I dose 40grams (2.47 tablespoons) weekly in my 110gal discus tank and never have had a problem.