Plecos feeding on the bottom of a fish tank an algae eater fish

Can Algae Eater Fish Tolerate Aquarium Salt

5 min read

As anyone who has kept aquariums in the past will know, keeping a fish tank is not always smooth sailing – there often will be unexpected issues. 

One of the issues you may face is the unchecked growth of algae, while the other is bacterial/fungal/parasitic infections.

One solution to algae is algae eating fish, while a solution to various infections is dosing your tank with aquarium salt.

In this post, we’ll be looking at whether two of the solutions to these unique situations can be used at the same time; in other words, can algae eater fish tolerate salt?

We’ll be looking at whether some of the commonly used algivore can tolerate salt.

Let’s get started.

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Why Use Algae Eater for Your Aquarium

Aquarists universally agree that excess algae is undesirable for their tanks.

First off, it makes the tank look untidy, with a coating of greenish, brownish, or reddish film on various surfaces, or by making the water cloudy.

Secondly, it makes your aquarium kinda smelly, which is the last thing you would want in your beautiful living room. 

Algae also compete with aquarium plants for resources such as light and nutrients

Like all plants, algae need light and nutrients to sustain themselves; whenever there is excess light and chemical imbalance in the water, algae will become unmanageable in the aquarium. 

Since light is often essential in an aquarium, and it is difficult to maintain perfect water conditions all the time, aquarists turn to the help of algivore fish to keep the algae menace in check.

An algivore is an aquatic animal that feeds on algae and phytoplankton. Examples include the Siamese algae eater, Chinese algae eater, Amano shrimp, Cherry shrimp, Plecos, and Nerite snails. 

Different algae eating fish have different types of mouths and body shapes, so each one specializes in a specific form of algae.

You can get an algae cleaner that targets brown algae, blue-green algae, red/beard algae, green algae, or green water.

Why Use Salt In An Aquarium

Salt is used as a readily available remedy for sick fish. It can reduce the growth of bacteria and fungi in your tank, making sure your fish is free of infections.

API Aquarium salt container

It can target parasites such as ick/fluke and . also manage conditions such as fin rot.

Salt is also known to reduce the toxicity of nitrites, a by-product of nitrogen cycling in your tank. It can also enhance gill function and electrolyte balance in your fish.

Another interesting fact: salt can inhibit the growth of algae.

Can Algae Eater Fish Tolerate Salt

There is a healthy debate in the aquarium community over the effectiveness and safety of aquarium salt, with some saying that long-term use can actually be harmful.

What we would say is that, depending on the kind of fish, temporary use of salt is fine as long as it is within tolerable limits.

After all, salt has been used as a staple in aquariums for decades – it’s not like fish are floating dead with its use. 

Some aquarists state that salt is just not necessary – many of the problems it solves can also be avoided with proper water maintenance.

While the debate rages on, you can use salt in moderation, considering the specific species you have. 

For instance, salt is a no-no for scaleless fish such as Corydoras catfish. Also, make sure you use aquarium salt, not the table salt taken straight from your kitchen.

Let’s look at the aquarium salt tolerance levels of various algae eating fish next.

Is Aquarium Salt Safe For Plecos

Plecos are a commonly used aquarium fish to keep algae in check. They are characterized by their sucking mouthparts, leopard-like skin, and flat stomach that allows them to glide over surfaces.

Plecos feeding on the bottom of a fish tank an algae eater fish

Examples include the common Pleco, leopard sailfin catfish,and suckermouth catfish.

Will aquarium salt kill plecos? No, unless you dump boatloads of salt in your tank, which is not a wise thing.

The pleco salt tolerance is pretty good. In fact, some species of plecos actually live in brackish water. 

So what is the reasonable amount of salt to add to an aquarium with plecos in it? Aim for 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water.

Can Bristlenose Plecos Tolerate Salt

Bristlenose is a freshwater fish, so they can only tolerate a low concentration of salt. The dose should not be more than 1 teaspoon per gallon.

Is Aquarium Salt Safe For Cherry Shrimp

Cherry shrimps are not only reliable algae cleaners (in large numbers), but they are gorgeous additions to your tank.

red cherry shrimp sitting on a rock in a freshwater tank

Being tiny, they will be efficient cleaners in your aquarium.

Cherry shrimps are freshwater creatures, so if you’re going to add aquarium salt, it is better to do it as a temporary measure.

Also, when it comes to cherry shrimp and aquarium salt, aim for a low dose of 1 gram per liter of water.   

Is Aquarium Salt Safe For Nerite Snails

Nerite snails are specialists when it comes to cleaning green spot algae from rocks and plants that are hard to remove. 

Most freshwater snails are not very tolerant of salt, but luckily, the nerite snails is an exception – they can live in both freshwater and saltwater. 

In fact, they need brackish or saltwater to successfully reproduce. 

Therefore, you can be liberal with the use of salt: you can even go up to 1-1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water, which is enough to stop all those nasty infections in their tracks. 

Can You Use Aquarium Salt For Mollies

These livebearers are a popular fish breed when it comes to aquariums. Did you know that they are good at cleaning algae too?

close image of mollies in a freshwater tank

Did you also know that they are highly tolerant of saltwater? In fact, they are hardy fish that can even traverse the sea to find new habitats along the land.

As such, you can even dose your aquarium up to 1 tablespoon per 2 gallons of water.

Conclusion

Depending on the species, fish can tolerate salt to varying degrees, so it is vital to do your research about the fish you got – algae eater fish are no different from other fish in this regard.

We advise the use of aquarium salt as a temporary measure to ward off various infections – we don’t really know if constant long-term use is good for the fish.

Whether it is algae eaters or salt, it is all about keeping your aquarium clean and healthy so that your fish can live their full lifespan. 

Written by:

Pet Aquariums

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