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The use of salt in a freshwater aquarium has many benefits such as easing stress and promoting a healthy slim coat, aiding in the healing of wounds, reducing the fishes uptake of toxic chemicals such as nitrite (making salt very beneficial during new tank cycling), salt is also very helpful in the prevention of parasitic problems it will also improve gill functions and reduce osmotic pressure on fish.
Freshwater fish maintain a balance of electrolytes in their body fluids; electrolytes such as magnesium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and sodium are absorbed from the water through cells in the gills and are essential in the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide. A lack of electrolytes can cause breathing difficulties and other health problems, adding the correct type and amounts of salt will replenish essential electrolytes that your aquarium water may be lacking.
A word of warning use only pure salt not table salt as it contains iodine and anti-caking agents, which we don’t want to add into the aquarium.
Salt dosage: for regular use add 1 tablespoon for every 20 liters of aquarium water initially and then only add salt in ratio to the amount of water replaced when doing water changes, salt does not evaporate so when topping up evaporation do not add more salt.
Although salt is beneficial to freshwater aquarium fish caution should be used before adding salt to your aquarium, scaleless fish and some catfish especially corydoras may not tolerate the use of salt.
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