Do axies need aquarium salt?

[Rocket Dad]

I've read the "water hardness and dissolved salts" piece in the requirements section. The list of chemicals need to make my own salt is daunting, and I just don't get it. I have aquarium salt and pond salt that I get from the pet shops for my other creatures. Can / should I use this at the level recommended for typical aquariums, which is 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons?

I've read posts that discuss how the lakes in Mexico are glacier fed, and far from the oceans, therefore salt is a no-no. I've also read the posts that talk about salt being needed for water hardness. I currently have very soft water.

Does anyone have the definitive answer about adding salt to the water?

 

[coendeurloo]

I would say you do not need salt at all. Just keep the water in proper condition.

 

[g_k]

both my newt tank and axolotl tank has some aquarium salt in them. not very much just a tiny amount that i add to every few months. the lotls dont mind it and it helps keep the river shrimp alive.

 

[Ed]

people use salt to bring up the ion content of the water with the idea that this changes the osmotic potential more closely mimicking the hard water for the animals however the addition of salt to the tank doesn't provide the different ions in sufficient quantity to mimick hard water. If you really want to mimick hard water there are several buffers out there made for African Cichlids that will enable to do so.

Ed

 

[Ed]

If the water goes through a water softener then you will want to use the water before it goes through the softener due the change in the ions.

Ed

 

[Rocket Dad]

Thanks again Ed.
I'll look into the Cichlid additives. I'll also use the pre softened water.