How to Add Salt to Water

Converting your fresh water aquarium into a saltwater tank can be done by adding aquarium salt. Adding aquarium salt to your tank is done for a couple of reasons, including that salt can act as a medicine to cure fish that have been exposed to Ich or other bacterial infections. Salt also creates a stable balance of Osmosis in the fish, eliminating nitrite toxicity in the fish. Salt should be added at a ratio of one teaspoon of salt for every 10 gallons of water in the tank.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium salt
  • Teaspoon
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the ratio of aquarium salt to the amount of water in your tank. Add one teaspoon of aquarium salt for every 10 gallons of freshwater in your tank.

    • 2

      Use a teaspoon to measure and pour the aquarium salt into the freshwater tank. If your aquarium holds 10 gallons, only one teaspoon is needed. If your aquarium holds thirty gallons of water, add three teaspoons of aquarium salt.

    • 3

      Allow the tank to sit and cycle for a few days to let the salt and calcium levels increase in the water.