Many times yours fish got disease due to some possible reason and you rush to aquarium dealer but in many cases the treatment methods lie at you home. Ordinary salt is very good for treatment of several freshwater diseases. It helps in healing injuries of fishes, helps fishes to fight against several infections, prevents growth of parasites as in case of itch and others parasites as well, improves gill function reduces the uptake of nitrite and many more. So it necessary to add salt to your fish tank in required amount.
Note:Before adding salt get proper information because several fishes and plants can not tolerate it.
When to use salt:
Nitrite poisoning:
Salt helps in preventing nitrite poisoning in newly set up tank because in newly set up tank the amount of beneficial bacterial is zero which hep in breaking of harmful nitrite in other unharmful compounds. So the amount of nitrite increase and may result in stress to you fish. Keep in mind don't add it to scaleless fishes such as catfish because they cant tolerate it.
Parasites:
Many parasites can be easily controlled and treated by salt especially costia infestations.
When not to use salt:
Live plants: Live plants can not survive in brackish water means water having salt dosage. So if you are having live plants avoid use of salt. So in case if you want to treat your fishes with salt it better to keep separate tank for treatment.
Scaleless fishes: Scaleless fishes are extremely sensitive to salt especially cordidoras. Tetras are also sensitive to some extent.
So before adding salt please do complete homework.
Types and amount of salt:
Common table salt is suitable for treatment however it is considered that it should not be iodized. Actually it is believed that iodized salt have iodine and additives which can kill you fish but this is a myth. I have my personal experience with this method i will talk about it later. Rock or Kosher salt are excellent choice. Add 1 table spoon of salt per 1 gallon or 4 litres of water. Don't add it directly add it in other beaker, add some water and dissolve it. Then add that water to your main tank.
Note:Before adding salt get proper information because several fishes and plants can not tolerate it.
When to use salt:
Nitrite poisoning:
Salt helps in preventing nitrite poisoning in newly set up tank because in newly set up tank the amount of beneficial bacterial is zero which hep in breaking of harmful nitrite in other unharmful compounds. So the amount of nitrite increase and may result in stress to you fish. Keep in mind don't add it to scaleless fishes such as catfish because they cant tolerate it.
Parasites:
Many parasites can be easily controlled and treated by salt especially costia infestations.
When not to use salt:
Live plants: Live plants can not survive in brackish water means water having salt dosage. So if you are having live plants avoid use of salt. So in case if you want to treat your fishes with salt it better to keep separate tank for treatment.
Scaleless fishes: Scaleless fishes are extremely sensitive to salt especially cordidoras. Tetras are also sensitive to some extent.
So before adding salt please do complete homework.
Types and amount of salt:
Common table salt is suitable for treatment however it is considered that it should not be iodized. Actually it is believed that iodized salt have iodine and additives which can kill you fish but this is a myth. I have my personal experience with this method i will talk about it later. Rock or Kosher salt are excellent choice. Add 1 table spoon of salt per 1 gallon or 4 litres of water. Don't add it directly add it in other beaker, add some water and dissolve it. Then add that water to your main tank.