Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi sorry if this topic has been posted before. But how many spoons of salt per gallon of water? I have a 50 gallon tub with 12 bluegill in it and they have Ick/Ich the system is only a few weeks old there is no grow table yet just the tank with a 70gallon filter system and air bubblers.

2.2 pounds of salt per 260 gallons of water = 1ppt

For Parasites you need 3 to 6 ppt of salt. 1ppt = 1kg per 1000L or 1gm per liter. There are 3.8L per gallon roughly. Looks like you have about 120 gallons of water to treat which is about 460L (3.8 x 120 = 456L). So you just set up your ratios;

6KG/1000L = X/460L

Solve for X = (6Kg X 460L)/1000L = 2.76Kg

2.76 Kg = 6.08 Lbs of salt (Using a handy online converter)

So use 6.08 Lbs of salt to take it to 6ppt or use half that for 3ppt. I'd probably go with 6ppt myself but it's up to you.

Anyone see any mistakes with the math?

Cheers

Wow so to treat a 50gallon tank I use 3-6lbs of salt, I had no ideal fresh water fish could withstand such amounts! Should I take some tank water and put it in a bucket mix the salt in it and then pour it back into the tank or just pour the salt right into the tank. Thank!!

Well you're really treating the whole system not just the tank so I calculated for 120 gallons. Unless I misunderstood what you meant by 70 gallon filter system (50 + 70 = 120). If you really only have 50 gallons water total in your system then then you'll need to adjust the amount downward. If you need to do that just do what I did starting with 3.8 X 50 and go from there. Yes you should dissolve the salt before adding it to the system,