Should I ADD salt TO my Phoenix pond? We often get the question about salting ponds. Salt enhances the slime coat on fish, which aids them in fending off parasites. If your fish are jumping and flashing (scratching up against rocks, or other hard edges), then we do recommend salt for helping the fish fight the itching that comes with the spring parasite bloom. But there are some rules and caveats! What are the drawbacks to using salt in my Phoenix ecosystem pond? The main drawback is that your aquatic plants are not keen on a lot of salt in the water, so you have to be careful as to how much you add. Too much salt may affect your plants and cause them to die. Also, when salt is used constantly in a system, even at low levels, various parasites can become resistant and pose an even bigger threat to the overall health of your fish. For this reason, it would be best to use salt as a preventative for disease in the springtime only, allowing the water to return to it's natural level the rest of the year. Massive die-offs of algae due to the addition of salt can also cause a substantial drop in oxygen levels in your pond, causing stress and/or death to your fish. How much salt should I use in my Phoenix ecosystem pond? Recommendations range from 1% to 3% solutions in your water. So....if your fish seem fine and your plants are young, you probably shouldn't add anything to the water. If your fish are itchy and your plants are mature, you might want to add a 2-3% solution, but be aware that your plants will start to suffer and burn at a level over 2%, and at over 3% you will kill more delicate plants. What kind of salt should I use in my Phoenix ecosystem pond?You absolutely don't use table salt! You want pure non-iodized salt. Avoid using any salt with additives such as iodine and other minerals, as well as those with anti-caking agents which can out-right suffocate your fish. Pond salt can be purchased on-line, or at various pet supply stores. OTHER SUBJECTS THAT MIGHT INTEREST YOU: HOW DO I CLEAN MY POND? MORE ABOUT POND MAINTENANCE MORE ABOUT WATER TREATMENTS FOR MY PHOENIX POND NEED SOME professinal pond management HELP? Comments are closed.
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