EcoRx - Pond Salt

Regular observation of your koi and goldfish will allow problems such as parasites and bacterial or fungal diseases to be detected early.

Be familiar with your koi or goldfish's normal shape, size and color as well as swimming habits.

A change in these factors may signal a problem. The problem must be identified in order to know the steps to take for treatment with the proper medication.  Treating for a parasite, bacteria or fungus requires different medication.

Every pond owner with fish, at some time or another, will probably have to medicate their pond.
 
Though Koi are extremely hardy, it is very important to keep a watch on their environment to keep them at their healthiest.

Attention should be paid to the quality of water and balance of the pond (i.e. pH levels etc.). However, if problems do occur, the first step is to remove the individual fish or decide whether to treat the entire pond.

It is sometimes difficult to be aware of a problem with a koi or goldfish until its too late.

Be aware of your Koi's behavior patterns so changes can be detected early. A change in your Koi's behavior is usually the first sign that that your Koi are stressed or ill and may need some type of koi medicine or treatment.

How Does It Work?

Pond Salt improves gill function and protects against common pond toxins. Most common diseases and infections can be cured and prevented simply by adding pond salt. Pond Salt will also help in the fight against string algae by softening the water!

• Designed to replace electrolytes such as magnesium, calcium and potassium maintaing fish health after being exposed to stress.
• An all natural sea salt that replaces electolytes which fish lose in times of stress, including potassium, sodium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium. All are essential for the uptake of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide and ammonia.
• Made from evaporated sea water (not table or rock salt)
• Helps eliminate the toxic effects of nitrate
• Improves fish gill function
• Fish will have better gill efficiency and improved oxygen intake.
• Use in combination with our Koi Medic Salt Pen for accurate dosing.
• Always test the water before adding Pond Salt.
• Increased salt levels will also help control algae
• Consistant low levels of salt will breed salt resistance in parasites and high salt levels will kill your plant material (even though your fish will love it!)
• Using an electronic salt meter like the Koi Salt Pen will give you control of your salt levels. When I add salt to my ponds, I place the salt in front of my skimmer so it disolves slowly as the water is being drawn into the skimmer and up to my waterfalls. This gives my fish time to adjust to the higher salt levels safely.
• Do not allow the salt to come in direct contact with the fish because it could hurt them in such high concentration form.
• A 0.25% level is best for bacteria and parisite control.  Allow to stay at this level for one week, then dilute down to 0.10%

With Aquatic Plants:
Use 1-1/4 cups per 100 gallons of water. When treating for disease, isolate the fish into another tank with vigorous aeration and use 5 cups per 100 gallons.

TJB-INC TESTING TIP:

•  Because high levels of salt in your pond water will injure plants and fish, be sure to have some sort of salinity measuring device before adding any salt. Then only add small amounts until the meter reads 0.25% mamimum.  This level is high enough to kill 99% of the harmful parisites & bacteria in your pond but not kill all of your pond plants.  For more information about proper salt treatments, read Dr. Eric Johnson DVM's book: KOI HEATH & DISEASE available by clicking on the books title (this will link you to it on this site or order it at the bottom of the page.)

TJB-INC Treatment Reccommendations:

• Salt at 0.1% Solution: Use this treatment primarily as a stress reducer.  As a stress reducer, it can be used after major emergency water changes or when handling the fish during pond clean-out.  It will also slow down any attacking pathogens, as well as promote more slime coat production, which is vital to the integrity of the fish's immune system.  Overcrowding and overfeeding can lead to toxic levels of nitrite.(see artical below)  Pond salt will temporarily block the toxic effects of nitrite while corrective action is taken.
• Salt at 0.2% Solution: This treatment is also utilized as a stress reducer, slime coat enhancer and will improve fish gill function.  During periods of stress and disease, healthy gill function is disturbed causing "osmotic shock".  This can cause a loss of electrolyte (magneseium, calcium, sodium, chloride and potassium) in the body fluids of pond fish, as well as increase the levels of carbon dioxide and ammonium leading to serious health problems.  Pond salt provides the essential electrolytes fish need to maintain good health.  In addition, a 0.2% salt solution will do a slightly better job a killing certain protozoan parasites, such as Trichodina, Ich, and Chilodonella.  However, don't use as the sole means for curing these parasites.

Nitrate Poisoning