Do you use Aquarium Salt periodically with your water changes? Did you know that the salt doesn't evaporate but will only get stronger the more times you add it? Did you also know that anything more then very low doses of aquarium salt can and will BURN your Cory catfish?
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Salinity refers to the total amount of dissolved substances. Salinity measurements count both GH and KH components as well as such other substances as sodium. Knowing water's salinity becomes important in salt water aquariums. In freshwater tanks,knowing pH, GH and KH suffices.

Salinity is usually expressed in terms of its specific gravity, the ratio of a solution's weight to weight of an equal volume of distilled water. Because water expands when heated (changing its density), a common reference temperature of 59F degrees is used. Salinity is measured with a hydrometer, which is calibrated for use at a specific
temperature (e.g., 75F degrees is common).

One component of salinity that neither GH or KH includes is sodium. Some freshwater fish tolerate (or even prefer) a small amount of salt (it stimulates slime coat growth). Moreover, parasites (e.g., ick) do not tolerate salt at all*. Thus, salt in concentrations of (up to) 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons can actually help prevent and cure ick and other parasitic infections.

On the other hand, some species of fish do not tolerate ANY salt well. Scaleless fish (in general) and some Corydoras catfish are far more sensitive to salt than most freshwater fish. Add salt only if you are certain that all of your tank's inhabitants prefer it or can at least tolerate it.


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UPON DOING WATER CHANGES
If you are one who uses aquarium salt as a regular tonic, replace the salt only for the amount of water that you are adding in new. Recommended doses if you keep Corydoras catfish is not to exceed ONE Tablespoon of salt per 10 gallons of water. Some suggest you can go as high as twice this dose (1 tablespoon per 5 gallons) but unless you are actually measuring your salinity with a test monitor which checks the "specific gravity" of the water, I wouldn't add the higher dose. Corydoras castfish do not have an armored skin and will immedietely begin to burn from excess salt in the aquarium.

*It is now thought that parasites over time will become immune to the continual use of salt and using salt for solely this purpose (as a continual regular tonic) is now thought to be ineffective. Salt is usefull for a remedy as needs arise and some still do use it for a regular tonic. I myself use low doses of aquarium salt in all of my tanks (past and present, 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons) and will increase salt periodically as a remedy to treat certain conditions. I also hold the opinion that adding salt as a regular tonic is probably unnecessary at all except that certain fishes such as livebearing Mollies and Swordtails seem to require it and do thrive with salt in the water. Just be aware that Corydoras are for the most part very salt intolerant and you will easily burn them alive by adding salt (in anything more then very low doses) to their environment.

I would never use salt and never will. Personally I just don't see the need for it. Nowadays, many people are stopping using it. You can find countless discussions on salt and I bet most of them are against the use of it.

While I can agree with you, my purpose was to warn against it's use if you have Corydoras Catfish and secondly, I recommend it's use (from experience) with Mollies and Swordtails, because they do appreciate a mild brackish environment. I myself use salt in very low dosages, just because. I do (and will) use it as a remedy however.

(It was not intended as a Salt Debate, but as a warning to prevent Cory's from being burned.)

I've read that somewhere before about corydoras catfish. I had some some years ago, lovely little fish. They were only in a 30 gallon tank but boy could these guys be elusive. On many occasions, I thought I'd lost a couple. Then a week later, there they would be, all healthy and alive

It's a good idea to warn people though, that's why I thought I would add that extra section. I think it will make the website more people to people who don't necessarily just have an interest in Oscars. Mind you, there are so many forums out there, it's quite amazing.

A Good addition to an already great forum. Good thinking Penn.

I currently have 3 albino Corydoras in with my two Oscars. They (Corys) were in the smaller 37 gallon tank when I brought my Oscars home and the Oscars never seemed to chase them. Then I set up the new 75 and put the Corys in that to help cycle it. Now the Oscars are in there and for the past week have not shown any aggression towards the Cory's (Of course, the Oscars may find them a tad too big to eat yet). I wish I could say the same about the Zebra Danios though, as I'm down to three now which is ok since they too were intended to cycle the tank and wind up as food for the Oscars..

If you have any ideas for the forum, just let me know. I don't want to get on to things like turtles and the such. Was toying with the idea of a marine section. Problem is, I have no knowledge of this whatsoever. If someone were to post a question, I really couldn't help so I decided to keep it fresh water. I was thinking of maybe a forum just for plants. What do you reckon?