NT Labs Floating Salt Test

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Salt (Sodium Chloride), is one of the best anti-parasite agents available, it is cheap, effective, harmless to the filter system, and relatively harmless to the fish in comparison with some other treatments.

Salt has a number of uses for the koi keeper. It can be applied to the pond to prevent stress over the winter (half oz per Imperial gallon), or at the same dose to prevent osmotic shock of wounded fish. A short-term 4 oz per Imperial gallon dip treatment for half hour can be used to treat against ecto-parasites. However a long-term 3 oz per Imperial gallon treatment may be preferred.

Disadvantages of salt treatment however are that some plants such as Elodea, Cabomba, Anachris and Water Clover will be killed as they are salt intolerant. Also some strains of parasite are resistant to salt treatment. Another disadvantage of salt treatment is that accurate treatment is quite tricky. Evaporation, and regular water changes can cause fluctuations in the salt level present. To ensure the correct dose is applied, use the Salt Tester.

Simply lower the Salt Tester into a tall jar containing a sample of the treatment water. Then read on the hydrometer scale how much salt is in the water.

A Salt Tester with thermometer is also available.