Livebearers and Salt

[Katalyst]

Goldfish chick here, with a ton of livebearers. :err: More trades with locals and my lfs. So I now have the cutest sailfin lyre mollies. The male is so stressed and isn't getting any better and its been a few days. I've checked and rechecked the water params ammonia 0, nitrates 5 if that, nitrites 0, pH 7.8 The trio have a cycled 10 gallon to themselves at the moment with a few rogue amano shrimp. The females are fine but the male since I brought him home is not doing well.

I can move the amano's no problem but I believe the require brackish water to breed so perhaps I'd be able to leave them in? How much salt should I add ? I keep getting contradicting information so I figured I'd better ask Livebearer Central.

:notworthy: Thanks!

[Melody]

Yes, well, the collective, profound, studied and precise amount recommended is...

A bit.

:laugh:

I don't use anywhere near what they recommend. I use seasalt, just a dash really. If he's under the weather, you could use the therapeutic dose to see if that perks him up. It won't be the actual problem, but it will work like it would for any fish.

Good luck with him!

[Katalyst]

Yes, well, the collective, profound, studied and precise amount recommended is...

A bit.

:laugh:

I don't use anywhere near what they recommend. I use seasalt, just a dash really. If he's under the weather, you could use the therapeutic dose to see if that perks him up. It won't be the actual problem, but it will work like it would for any fish.

Good luck with him!

Exactly what is the theraputic dose lol?

[Melody]

I don't remember... its on the Doctor Wellfish's box and is for aquarium salt, not marine salt. There's a suggested dose in the ER section.

Sorry Kat, I'm not being very helpful. If I were to guess, I'd say I use less than a tsp/5g's of marine salt. If I have a sick fish, I chuck a handful of regular aquarium salt into the filter. That's the problem with us old timers...lol...kind of like a seasoned cook.

I do firmly believe that you don't need anywhere near as much as the box indicates to have the same results.

I am sure there are those who are far more precise than I am, so hopefully they'll chime in.:yes:

[Katalyst]

I was thinking a teaspoon per 10 gallons? No worries I'm the precise freak who has to measure everything.

[CACAdmin]

Don't know if this helps, the dosage on the box of API aquarium salt is "one rounded tablespoon for ever 5 U.S. gallons (19L.)" I have never used anywhere near that amount.

[Melody]

Come to think of it, I highly doubt that I use that much...lol...shows how much attention I pay to it.

[jordonsmum]

I was thinking a teaspoon per 10 gallons? No worries I'm the precise freak who has to measure everything.


I'm no professional by any means but I thought opinions might be helpful. I use 1tsp / 10 gals in my QT tank when bringing in new or sick fish. (Marine salt that is, i've switched) and they seem to perk right up