Hi everyone question about water quality

[cinder]

First let me thank everyone for all the help and comments when my fish were dying, whatever it wss seems to be under control now. I've been checking my water and it's fine now, but i was wondering i never had added pond salts to the water , and when i was having all the problems the pond store i deal with said i really should add them, is that something that needs to be added, and since i haven't added it before what does it do to the fish? I have 5 fish left and today i saw 3 very tiny tiny babies! Was really glad to see them, I've never seen them before when they were so small it was very cool to see. I've always seen them when they have gotten a little bigger. I want to make sure the pond water is as healthy as can be , thanks for any help.

 

[Becky]

Hi there @cinder, I've moved your topic to Water Chemistry for you

 

[MitchM]

Hi cinder,
Salt is not something that needs to be added to a pond.
Salt is something that can be used as a treatment for parasites, it should not be added to a pond "just in case" something is wrong.
If you are regularly testing your water conditions, the test results are within healthy parameters and your fish are active, just enjoy your pond..

 

[Lisak1]

We've never added salt to our pond. Early on we were told that it was a must and my husband really pushed for it (he's an old aquarium guy and LOVES fooling with the water chemistry). I resisted because I heard it could be really detrimental to pond plants, which were equally important to me.

We did, as @MitchM mentions, use a salt bath for a fish that had an open wound on his head and it healed very nicely. And then he got eaten by a skunk. Maybe we made him tastier by salting him up? Actually, after he was stolen from our pond by Pepe Lepew, we realized that the initial head wound had probably come from the same critter that ended up catching and NOT releasing him later. It's a dangerous life when you're the only white fish in a pond.

 

[sissy]

I tried the national geographic stuff that pet smart sells it is really a good product .They have 2 kinds and one is for ick and it worked great for people who bring me sick fish

 

[cinder]

Thanks for all the info, I never used the pond salts and until recently I have had a healthy pond. I just wasn't sure if I really needed it. I think I'll do what everyone suggests unless my water isn't balanced but for now I really don't want the plants to die either. I think the fish enjoy hiding under them and also eating tbe roots! LOL. I think they would miss them also.

 

[cinder]

Thanks new to this site, so I guess I posted the question in the wrong spot. UOTE="Becky, post: 280411, member: 3703"]Hi there @cinder, I've moved your topic to Water Chemistry for you [/QUOTE]
Th

 

[Mmathis]

Koi & goldfish are fresh water fish. They aren't salt water fish. From what I understand, there is enough "salt" in your source water to satisfy any osmotic needs the fish might have. We tend to use salt more as a medication. If you use salt routinely in the water, you risk having a situation where salt won't work when you need it to. And salt doesn't evaporate, so you're always having to monitor salt levels......

When people say to add salt, I want to ask "Why?"

 

[cinder]

Thanks again I do have another question, my pond is pretty clear, but i'm starting to. See some string algae and on the rocks and also some not sure if its string algae that died or another type of algae but it's black. So I took it off the rocks as much as I could, but before the ponds water gets full of algae what do I do with it?? I really don't like to add tbe algae killer any other options??

 

[Dave 54]

Quite simply cinder they were wrong to tell you that , goldfish and koi are both fresh water fish and as such should only be given salt baths , no salt should be used on the pond .
Salt baths are given to remove parasites on fresh water fish the same as a marine fish keeper would use fresh water baths .
They sell medicated salts as a money spinner , save yourself some moey and buy cooking salts from your supermarket [dont use table salt].
Cinder the algae growing up the sides of our own pond is black its because its new growth thats all .
Algea in a pond can be our friend its not to be hated it produces oxygen during the day it also helps reduce nitrates in the pond .
However care must be taken to add air to the pond because at night it produces co2

Dave

 

[MitchM]

A little algae is a good thing.

 

[sissy]

They say to buy sea salt as it is a natural salt .I have used it for years for everything .

 

[cinder]

Thanks everyone for your responses. Glad the black algae is nothing to worry about. I was just cleaning my filters and I saw a little worm in the filter pad, is that normal or is that considered some kind of parasite? ? And also when I cleaned the second pump there were a few tiny snails is that another thing thats normal or something else to worry about?? I'm not to knowledgeable about this kind of stuff. I've been very lucky for the past 5 years I have never had any problems until this year when my fish started to die. Now I find myself questioning everything that seems a little odd to me. Guess I have alot to learn yet!! I knew I didn't know everything but I thought I was a little more knowledgeable than I am!! LOL

 

[Tula]

Actually a few worms and snails are also a good thing...proof that your filters are healthy and hosting life.

 

[cinder]

Thanks Tula i learned something more. I guess I am going to probably have more questions over time, but thanks to this site i found everyone has been very helpful and knowledgeable. Glad i found this site!