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#1
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Saving $ on pond salt
Why pay $10 - $20 on "pond salt" that is available at local water
gardening stores when you can buy a 40lb bag of "solar salt" crystals at Home Depot for $5.00 !!! I've been using solar salt in my pond this year and have achieved the same results that I had when I used the more expensive "pond salt". Inexpensive and quite pure solar-dried or kiln-dried salt used in home water softeners is available at most supermarkets and home improvement centers. Do not use pelletized water softener salt that has binding agents or any type of iodized salt. For those of you asking, "Why do I need salt in my pond?" - Common salt, sodium chloride, NaCl, has been termed "The KOI Wonder Drug". A misnomer perhaps, but salt is a proven staple in the health care and maintenance of Koi worldwide. Koi maintain an internal concentration of salt in their body fluids higher than that of their liquid environment. Osmosis causes water to transfer from the lower salinity of the pond water into the tissues of the fish. This additional water build up must be eliminated by the kidneys. Although salt in higher concentrations may slow some disease causing bacterial growth in the pond, the predominantly accepted theories ascribe the primary benefits of salt to lowering the osmotic pressure. This reduces the effort the fish must expend in eliminating the excess water. The saved energy is then available for use by the fish's own immune system to take care of other potential problems. The presence of salt also helps counteract any nitrite toxicity. In some cold climate areas, it is added in the Winter to lower the freezing point of the water. A salinity test kit is available at most water gardening stores. The procedure in the kit can be used in adding the solar salt instead of pond salt. I've seen too many people with fish problems not even consider the lack of salt as a possible problem. Soooo, for you pond lovers, check your pond's ph and salinity and have healthy fish all year! PondMan MD |
#2
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Saving $ on pond salt
Just a comment about the use of salt in ponds: it tends to increase in
concentration with each treatment, assuming water exchanges are not routinely conducted. Many submersed, floating-leaved, and marginal plants kept by pond owners have low salt tolerances. Make your fish feel better, but watch your plants for salt burn (usually browned leaf tips or edges, wilting, etc.). "Jazzman" wrote: Why pay $10 - $20 on "pond salt" that is available at local water gardening stores when you can buy a 40lb bag of "solar salt" crystals at Home Depot for $5.00 !!! I've been using solar salt in my pond this year and have achieved the same results that I had when I used the more expensive "pond salt". Inexpensive and quite pure solar-dried or kiln-dried salt used in home water softeners is available at most supermarkets and home improvement centers. Do not use pelletized water softener salt that has binding agents or any type of iodized salt. For those of you asking, "Why do I need salt in my pond?" - Common salt, sodium chloride, NaCl, has been termed "The KOI Wonder Drug". A misnomer perhaps, but salt is a proven staple in the health care and maintenance of Koi worldwide. Koi maintain an internal concentration of salt in their body fluids higher than that of their liquid environment. Osmosis causes water to transfer from the lower salinity of the pond water into the tissues of the fish. This additional water build up must be eliminated by the kidneys. Although salt in higher concentrations may slow some disease causing bacterial growth in the pond, the predominantly accepted theories ascribe the primary benefits of salt to lowering the osmotic pressure. This reduces the effort the fish must expend in eliminating the excess water. The saved energy is then available for use by the fish's own immune system to take care of other potential problems. The presence of salt also helps counteract any nitrite toxicity. In some cold climate areas, it is added in the Winter to lower the freezing point of the water. A salinity test kit is available at most water gardening stores. The procedure in the kit can be used in adding the solar salt instead of pond salt. I've seen too many people with fish problems not even consider the lack of salt as a possible problem. Soooo, for you pond lovers, check your pond's ph and salinity and have healthy fish all year! PondMan MD |
#4
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Saving $ on pond salt
My wife uses the canning salt. You get it at the local grocery store. No
additives, and you do not need to buy a years supply all at once. Gregory Young wrote in message . .. I totally agree with your comments on routine use of salt.... Routine use of salt has been discussed ad nauseum in this NG, so I will not repeat it again. By routine I am referring to the continuous use of salt, not the annual spring time addition, which is then removed from water change outs (your weekly 10%, etc.), nor do I refer to intermittent use to treat diseases (parasitic). Interested parties can look up the many salt postings under this newsgroup. You may also email me direct, and I can send you the postings on this topic via email format. That being said, I have a bag of salt handy at all times, when I perform pond side Rx that I use when salt is indicated. I also use the "solar salt", using the 40# bags as mentioned, which cost considerably less than "pond salt". Happy ponding, Greg -- "GD" wrote in message ... Just a comment about the use of salt in ponds: it tends to increase in concentration with each treatment, assuming water exchanges are not routinely conducted. Many submersed, floating-leaved, and marginal plants kept by pond owners have low salt tolerances. Make your fish feel better, but watch your plants for salt burn (usually browned leaf tips or edges, wilting, etc.). "Jazzman" wrote: Why pay $10 - $20 on "pond salt" that is available at local water gardening stores when you can buy a 40lb bag of "solar salt" crystals at Home Depot for $5.00 !!! I've been using solar salt in my pond this year and have achieved the same results that I had when I used the more expensive "pond salt". Inexpensive and quite pure solar-dried or kiln-dried salt used in home water softeners is available at most supermarkets and home improvement centers. Do not use pelletized water softener salt that has binding agents or any type of iodized salt. For those of you asking, "Why do I need salt in my pond?" - Common salt, sodium chloride, NaCl, has been termed "The KOI Wonder Drug". A misnomer perhaps, but salt is a proven staple in the health care and maintenance of Koi worldwide. Koi maintain an internal concentration of salt in their body fluids higher than that of their liquid environment. Osmosis causes water to transfer from the lower salinity of the pond water into the tissues of the fish. This additional water build up must be eliminated by the kidneys. Although salt in higher concentrations may slow some disease causing bacterial growth in the pond, the predominantly accepted theories ascribe the primary benefits of salt to lowering the osmotic pressure. This reduces the effort the fish must expend in eliminating the excess water. The saved energy is then available for use by the fish's own immune system to take care of other potential problems. The presence of salt also helps counteract any nitrite toxicity. In some cold climate areas, it is added in the Winter to lower the freezing point of the water. A salinity test kit is available at most water gardening stores. The procedure in the kit can be used in adding the solar salt instead of pond salt. I've seen too many people with fish problems not even consider the lack of salt as a possible problem. Soooo, for you pond lovers, check your pond's ph and salinity and have healthy fish all year! PondMan MD |
#5
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Saving $ on pond salt
Hi Mike:
How much does canning salt cost? A 40# bag of "solar" salt is under $5 locally (Home Depot). My water garden runs about 8,000 gallons so I use more than some may. Haven't had a need to use it in my water garden for past few years, but have used it for other's ponds, etc when indicated, so I usually go through several bags per season... happy ponding, Greg "Mike Naime" wrote in message ... My wife uses the canning salt. You get it at the local grocery store. No additives, and you do not need to buy a years supply all at once. Gregory Young wrote in message . .. I totally agree with your comments on routine use of salt.... Routine use of salt has been discussed ad nauseum in this NG, so I will not repeat it again. By routine I am referring to the continuous use of salt, not the annual spring time addition, which is then removed from water change outs (your weekly 10%, etc.), nor do I refer to intermittent use to treat diseases (parasitic). Interested parties can look up the many salt postings under this newsgroup. You may also email me direct, and I can send you the postings on this topic via email format. That being said, I have a bag of salt handy at all times, when I perform pond side Rx that I use when salt is indicated. I also use the "solar salt", using the 40# bags as mentioned, which cost considerably less than "pond salt". Happy ponding, Greg -- "GD" wrote in message ... Just a comment about the use of salt in ponds: it tends to increase in concentration with each treatment, assuming water exchanges are not routinely conducted. Many submersed, floating-leaved, and marginal plants kept by pond owners have low salt tolerances. Make your fish feel better, but watch your plants for salt burn (usually browned leaf tips or edges, wilting, etc.). "Jazzman" wrote: Why pay $10 - $20 on "pond salt" that is available at local water gardening stores when you can buy a 40lb bag of "solar salt" crystals at Home Depot for $5.00 !!! I've been using solar salt in my pond this year and have achieved the same results that I had when I used the more expensive "pond salt". Inexpensive and quite pure solar-dried or kiln-dried salt used in home water softeners is available at most supermarkets and home improvement centers. Do not use pelletized water softener salt that has binding agents or any type of iodized salt. For those of you asking, "Why do I need salt in my pond?" - Common salt, sodium chloride, NaCl, has been termed "The KOI Wonder Drug". A misnomer perhaps, but salt is a proven staple in the health care and maintenance of Koi worldwide. Koi maintain an internal concentration of salt in their body fluids higher than that of their liquid environment. Osmosis causes water to transfer from the lower salinity of the pond water into the tissues of the fish. This additional water build up must be eliminated by the kidneys. Although salt in higher concentrations may slow some disease causing bacterial growth in the pond, the predominantly accepted theories ascribe the primary benefits of salt to lowering the osmotic pressure. This reduces the effort the fish must expend in eliminating the excess water. The saved energy is then available for use by the fish's own immune system to take care of other potential problems. The presence of salt also helps counteract any nitrite toxicity. In some cold climate areas, it is added in the Winter to lower the freezing point of the water. A salinity test kit is available at most water gardening stores. The procedure in the kit can be used in adding the solar salt instead of pond salt. I've seen too many people with fish problems not even consider the lack of salt as a possible problem. Soooo, for you pond lovers, check your pond's ph and salinity and have healthy fish all year! PondMan MD |
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