aquarium salt in freshwater tank

Question
QUESTION: Hi Nick, I add about 1/8 teaspoon aquarium salt per gallon of water along with stress coat (14 drops per gallon) when I do my weekly 25% water change. I prepare gallon jugs the night before my change .I have had my tank now for about 2 1/2 mos. I have a 29 gal tank. 3 black skirts and 5 danios. Tank is doing great. Water tests great. I am running a 205 fluval and a 6 inch bubble stone. I want to add a few more fish soon. I also have 2 low light plants and want a few more plants. I sent you another email about my light scaring the skirts. Am I doing things right? I know there are different opinions about salt. I don't add much but would like your opinion.
Thanks, Kim

ANSWER: Your doing everything right, but I don't agree with salt.

The entire point of salt, is to weaken the fish so they can adjust. By putting salt in the tank, you are hurting your fish, the idea with salt, is by hurting your fish with salt they will eventually develop to be more hardy. This is not the care however, and it will only cause disease.

The only time I use salt is when treating disease, because most diseases are killed by it. Salt doesn't prevent disease, but it can treat it.

So, NO salt unless treating disease in a quarentine tank.

Oh, and like I said. If your getting more fish, get some more black skirts.

And, I'm not sure yet if you can upgrade your lighting until I know what kind of ballast you currently have.

-Nick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi, thanks for the advice about the salt. My local petland gave me the advice to always put some in. They said this would keep my fish healthy preventing disease. Instead it hurts them. This furiates me. I am glad I emailed you. O.k. when I do my 25% water change I won't put in any more salt. Is gradually changing the water out this way alright or should I change more? Thanks for the advice about the black skirts I will add more. Kim

Answer
Hello again!

No need to do it quickly, just do your water changes like normal.

The salt won't instantly kill the fish, but it shortens their lifespan when in salt for more than a few weeks.

Salt can cure disease, and because of that many people think it can act as a preventative. It doesn't. Think of it as medicine, if you take medicine again and again when you aren't sick it would just hurt you. If you take it when you are sick, then it can help heal you.

Salt as a preventative- BAD.

Salt as a treatment in a separate quarentine tank- good in a pinch, but antibiotics are usually better.

-Nick