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Aquarium Salt

How much and how often should aquarium salt be placed in a 10 L goldfish tank with two goldfish?
What other use does salt have in the tank?

How much and how often should aquarium salt be placed in a 10 L goldfish tank with two goldfish?
What other use does salt have in the tank?
Aquarium Salt is an old time remedy used for a variety of purposes. Mainly it is a preventative, helping increase resistance to disease as well as acting as a mild disinfectant to many pathogenic organism. The use of salt also can reduce the osmotic pressures on the fish to retain their body salts and other vital trace elements that naturally try to move though the cell walls and into the aquarium water. By increasing the amount of salt in the water, the pressure is less and equilibrium is easier to accomplish. Salt does not evaporate with water, so it remains in the aquarium when water does evaporate, for this reason, salt should only be added again when water is actually removed and replaced, otherwise the concentration will rise undetected. Salt can be used in a wide variety of doses, I tend to use a teaspoon per 10 L when I do use it, there is literature available that suggests a dose as high as 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons (20 L) is a good limit. I tend to be slightly conservative because I know over time there is a good chance that the concentration will rise from evaporation and subsequent salt additions. For this reason, be very careful. Often the best way is to add the original dose and then wait a few water changes to dilute it out before adding any more. It is often better to allow it to dilute and then add a dose to disinfect again, rather than trying to maintain an even solution which will probably rise too high across time.It has also been seen that the use of salt will tend to reduce the toxicity of high concentrations of nitrite. It will not stop it, but it will occupy some of the receptors in the hemoglobin that accept oxygen and transport it to the cells. When nitrite is high, those receptors are often occupied by nitrite so when salt blocks that there is a little less danger. It is not a cure and does not negate the toxicity of nitrite, but it can help reduce the stress on the fish somewhat during the establishment of the Nitrogen Cycle.Salt is also used for disinfecting an aquarium when it empty and being cleaned. The use of any soap or detergent is dangerous for an aquarium, so many old-timers will use a strong salt brine - 4 - 6 tablespoons of salt to a gallon of water as the cleaning solvent to disinfect the aquarium. As with a vinegar solution used to remove carbonate build-ups, the aquarium should be thoroughly rinsed with fresh water before the aquarium is set back up to ensure no traces of either substance are left.

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Aquarium Salt

How much and how often should aquarium salt be placed in a 10 L goldfish tank with two goldfish?What other use does salt have in the tank?

How much and how often should aquarium salt be placed in a 10 L goldfish tank with two goldfish?What other use does salt have in the tank?

How much and how often should aquarium salt be placed in a 10 L goldfish tank with two goldfish?
What other use does salt have in the tank?

How much and how often should aquarium salt be placed in a 10 L goldfish tank with two goldfish?
What other use does salt have in the tank?