Low Tech W/higher salt level.

I was wanting to start another experimental tank. I don't know if you would define it as a true brackish tank or not as I don't plan to use true brackish water fish. The idea was to set up a low tech tank, and use aquarium salt consistently in amounts that would not harm the plants but be of therapeutic value to fish and possibly afford some protection against parastitic outbreaks. I was not looking at the tank as a substitute for good tank maintenance but just as something to afford greater protection to inhabitants.

It is said that : "Almost all aquarium fish can tolerate brackish water with one Tablespoon of Aquarium Salt per each five gallons of water. For example, all Livebearers, all Cichlids, all Goldfish and Koi, all Barbs, all Gouramis, and all Danios can tolerate this amount of Aquarium Salt. "
Source: Brackish Water Fish - Aquariums and Tanks at AquariumFish.net.

So, there appears to some flexibilty with choosing salt tolerant fish.

Now, that leaves the question of how tolerant plants would be to such a dosage. I heard that some plants can tolerate specific gravity up to 1.015 max.

Anarcharis, anubias, hornwort, java fern, waterm sprite, java moss, hygrophilia polysperma, are said to have this tolerance.

So, my questions, for anyone who has any experience with this are: (1) Besides Java moss, Java fern, and water sprite has anyone found other species that are more or less salt tolerant and up to what level. I am thinking of using 1 Tablespoon per 5 gallons. Can anyone confirm if 1 tablespoon of aquarium salt per 5 gallons results in a specific gravity over 1.015. (2) Is this even doable with respect to its effect(s) on long term healthy plant growth. I am more looking to tear a Natural Planted Tank that is not doing so well(not blaming the method; I just failed with the method and want to try something else) and replace it with this type of setup. Fortunately, I have all the plants and additional clippings from other tanks if I need them. I also have some Leonardite and Seachem Onyx left over from another project to use as a substrate for this project, so cost is not an issue.

Any suggestions/feedback would be most appreciated. Many thanks.

 

Many thanks, Tom

 

That makes a lot of sense and sounds like very sound advice. Thanks

 

I absolutely agree with you. Prior to exploring planted tanks. I had no-nonplanted tanks. The 40 gallon still has many fish that are 9+ years. I just did the basics: regular partial weekly water changes, gravel siphoning, and a sprinkle of salt. Lol, I even have a peppered cory catfish at work that is still alive. He was only in a 2.5 gallon bowl and all I did was feed him every 2nd day, 50% weekly water changes, and gravel siphoning.

The current string of fish deaths in my 10 gallon has me really stumped. I lost a female betta to dropsy, a Bolivian Ram to God knows what, and a Bristlenose Pleco. I was doing 50% weekly water changes on the tank and there is even a UV sterilizer running in that tank. The plants appear to be doing well other than some green spot algae on some cardamine leaves. DIY c02 is at 30ppm as measured via drop checker. I have been testing water parameters monthly and nothing seems out of the ordinary.

Just curious Tom, have you ever had a run in with Mycobacteriosis, referred to the Stealth Disease by Diana Walstead.

For anyone interested, there is an intesting article from Diana Walstead on this guy's Natural Planted Tank blog, in which she speaks about her battle with this bacteria.
Adrian’s Aquarium Weblog

 

Excellent sound advise, I guess it really boils down to some good old common-sense. Thanks

 

Thank you