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Salt in the Pond      Home Up

Dr Erik Johnson recommends that you use salt, before you try anything else for parasites for the following reasons ...


1) harmless to almost all fish
2) even if it does not cure it does not kill sick fish
3) most parasites are killed quickly
4) has little if any impact upon most pond systems and their bio filters and is unaffected by weather
5) safe to humans and animals
6) low cost

Salt kills these species ....
Ichthyophthirius
Chilodinella
Costiasis (Ichthyobodo necatrix)
Most Trichodiniid/Tripartiella organisms.
Glossatella
Scyphidia
Epistylis
Trichophrya
External Tetrahymena
Inhibits trematode reproduction, clears 30% of adults.
Inhibits Lerneiid reproduction

this reference source is our colleague Dr Johnson of Koivet.com

Salt Dosage:  between 0.1 and 0.3 percent depending on severity. Take advice from specialist advisor if unsure. The salt must  be non-iodized food grade with no anti-caking agents and should be added in 3 lots spaced out at intervals of about 12 hours.

The American Koi Club says:

Pond salt is well known to be one of the most beneficial stress reducers for koi. Remember when we discussed how a stressed koi loses some of it's ability to osmoregulate properly across the gills? Rock salt at 0.3% to 0.6% can prevent the loss of internal body salts during stress. The koi is closer to what is called an isotonic solution. The koi does not have to expend as much energy recovering these lost salts on top of his already weakened condition. This helps us achieve our main objective. Also, for some reason, koi seem to be able to handle cold water better and I always keep these levels of salt in my ponds during the winter and spring. Furthermore salt at these levels retards or kills many ectoparasites. There is also reason to believe that these levels of salt help koi overcome bacterial infections. How many of you have gone for a swim in the ocean with cuts on your fingers, and found the cuts to be exceptionally cleaner after the swim? Don't we also gargle with salt water when we have a sore throat?

Salt is definitely a good thing, however, you need to apply a little knowledge before using it.
Dosage:

  • 2.5 pounds per 100 gals. equals 0.3%. This is minimum dose.
  • 5 pounds per 100 gals. equals 0.6%. This is maximum dose. Achieve these dosages gradually in the pond over a 2 to 3 day period.

    Remove excess algae or aquatic plants before using this dose. Salt will kill these and cause pollution and oxygen depletion. Never use salt during a planktonic algae bloom.

    Maintain these levels of salt for the duration of the koi's dis-ease by using a pond salt tester or a digital meter for best results. Regular water changes will gradually reduce salt levels over a month or two. There is no need to maintain these salt levels permanently in my opinion.

    Alternatively, if you only have one or two koi Which seem to need treatment you may give them a salt bath in a separate tub with 5 gals of pond water and 1 pound of rock salt. This produces a 2% solution. Bathe the koi for only 5 to 10 minutes. Use a plastic bag to transfer the koi to and from the bath so as not to damage skin and mucous,

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    Last modified: Wednesday February 06, 2008.