Melafix and Aqua Salt

Question
Hi Chris, Two of my betta's had a big fight this week.  I think they had just matured, one was a betta splenden male and the other was a peacful betta.  I now know why you can't keep the male betters together. They are seperated now...

Anyway, I have been adding aqua salt for about a month "for pure healthiness of the tank" and it's been fine.

Just concerned because, I got two freshwater crabs about 3 weeks ago, one died a couple of days after and another this morning. I also got a female swordtail earlier this week and two days later it died, it's eyes were bulging and stomach was open.

I have had the tank for over 12 months without any real problems apart from a Molly that bullied a few fish and killed them "got rid of him".

My Question is...  is Aquasalt fine in conjuntion with melafix, because the mollies are swimming at the top of the tank trying to get air I presume.

Answer
Hi Paul;

The combination of Melafix and salt is not a problem at all. I recommend it frequently for sick fish. The level of salt that has built up in the tank might be too much for new arrivals to handle all at once though. I am concerned that your mollies are stressing as if there is a lack of oxygen or they aren't assimilating oxygen properly. Make a 25% water change today and tomorrow to help relieve their suffering until we can figure out what's going on in there. Don't add any more salt yet though.

What size tank is it?
How many fish do you have left and how big are they?
How much salt have you been adding and how often?
How often do you make water changes?
How much water is changed at a time?
What kind of filtration does the tank have?
How often is the filter cleaned?

If you can get a sample of water to the local fish store, ask them to test the levels of pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Most stores will charge a small fee or even do it free if you shop there. Take about a cup of tank water in a clean container or a plastic baggie. Get the actual values of each element tested. Don't let them just tell you something is "off a little" or "okay". We need actual numbers to compare as we go along and if further tests are needed.

Let me know as soon as you can......

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins