Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

We have found salt to be a very natural (trying not to use the word cure ) remedy for many things.

It also reduces stress on the fish, can help with bacterial and fungal issues, is the ONLY natural fix for ich (shudder) and FYI THE only cure that has worked for me with this parasite.

The chloride ions in the salt also competitively compete with nitrite ions effectively negating nitrite toxicity.

I cant remember what tolerance SP have to salt, but they are more than happy in 3ppt (parts per thousand (3kg per 1000lt)) and i have had them in short term baths of 10ppt with great success.

I know you're probably thinking "i'll try a little and see how it goes". dont.

go straight to 2 or even 3 ppt (yes, thats between 6kgs and 9kgs for your 3000lt

It works on the paracite ich (which btw has flashing as a tell tale sign, but flashing does not mean you have ich, if you follow me) by the rapid change in osmotic pressure on the parasites cell. The fish can compensate, the parasite can not (well, not rapidly, and thats the point). a slow increase from 0 to 3 ppt salt may not effect a cure (oops, theres that word!) where as a step change form 0ppt to 3ppt will.

Steve

and if we do add all that salt, does it stay in the system or do we replace the water at some point?

nope, just keep it in the system. we have found plants happy enough at this conc.

I think VB found some of his veggies with a salty flav. at 3+ppt, but that just cuts down kitchen time for you

I know, it sounds like a lot, but when you consider sea water is 37ppt its only one 18th sea water.

and for you next question......................

there has been discussion about which salt to use. for the quantities you're using you can either by a 5kg bag at the local aquarium (or online, i can give you a link) that is sold for marine aquariums, or purchase swimming pool salt. i have used table salt, (with the anti-caking agent, but cant remember now if it was iodised or not.)

others will be able to link you to recent discussions on the topic.

Steve

SP will take 15ppt (max) of salt, 4ppt is the optimum and I dosed mine to 3ppt when I had ich (from stress) - just let the salt dissipate on its own accord over time, no effect to the plants and the fish come through quite healthy.

I used normal pool salt

les, is that 15ppt permanent? what a tank for a fish

Think that is the max they can take for a temporary amount of time (something like a week or so --never been able to find out a max time for the max amount ). They can live in 4ppt indefinitely Fish data stuff

I have access to pure australian sea salt. I can't get it until the morning though. Or would pool salt be better? I can get that too, also tomorrow.

Steve and Les, it's great to come here, ask a question and feel confident that I have an answer that will work, so thank you both for your help.

Don't give them too much praise Forest, it can tend to go to Les' head

f, I think the problem with using table salt is that it has iodine with it, sea salt should be fine, just check it hasn't got any nasties as additives

Hey Mon, how many days in a retirees week???
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7 ---- 6 saturdays and 1 sunday

now worries forest!

if you can get the australian sea salt easily and cheaply then thats the one i would be using.

Leave the salt for at least 2 weeks Forrest. During that time - you will need to replenish with water changes (add appropriate amount based on amount of water being changed out). After that - I'd be inclined to phase the salt out through water changes. My perch are healthy as can be and I have had no salt in the system for months. In the long term I don't think the salt does the plants any good. Can always add at the sign of any disease.

VB, you're gonna kill me, but i just had a brain wave.............remember the discussion were we having ages ago about actually measuring the salt in the water? I think you may have mentioned a hydrometer, but i knocked it becasue it would measure total salt, not just our salt? I've just realised that with the order of salt we are talking about (2000ppm) other disolved salts like nitrates and others would present only a very minor error.

SORRY!

So yeh, get a hydrometer and corelate the SG with NaCl conc.

This came to mind becasue i was about to say that the salt will naturally be removed as plants are grown and harvested (taking the salt with them)

There are salinity test kits available, Steve. On the one I have, you see how many drops of solution it takes to make the water turn purple. Then read the chart to see what ppt you have.

LOL! there you go janet, you've just made us ALL blush.

Can you post me a link to such a test kit please?

Thanks

Steve

I thought you were just having fun experimenting with hydrometers.

This is the Salt Level Test Kit that I have. It's also by Aquarium Pharm -- the makers of the Master Kit that many of us use. It's marketed more to the Pond crowd rather than the Aquarium Crowd. Interestingly, my favorite store doesn't carry it any more.

http://www.backyardstyle.com/shop/index ... ypage-6116