Calculate the exact amount of aquarium salt needed for fish treatment. Get dosage in grams, teaspoons, and tablespoons plus a 3-day gradual dosing schedule.
Aquarium salt treatments remain one of the most effective, lowest-cost therapies for parasite control, ammonia mitigation, and electrolyte support, but the difference between a therapeutic dose and a stressful one is only a few grams per liter. This calculator converts tank volume and treatment intensity into a precise sodium chloride amount in grams, teaspoons, and tablespoons, then lays out a multi-day dosing schedule to ramp salinity up safely and bring it back down through water changes. Always use pure aquarium or kosher salt without anti-caking agents or iodine.
We map three common treatment tiers to target salinities: general tonic at roughly 1 g/L, mild prophylactic at 3 g/L for ich and minor wounds, and disease-grade at 5 g/L for resistant external parasites. From your net water volume the calculator returns total grams required and converts to household teaspoons (about 6 g) and tablespoons (about 18 g) for hobbyists without scales. A staged schedule splits the dose across two or three days so osmotic shock is minimized, and warns when species such as Corydoras, plecos, scaleless loaches, and live plants will not tolerate the higher tiers.
Enter your tank volume and treatment type to calculate the salt amount and a 3-day gradual dosing schedule. Always use aquarium-grade salt (100% sodium chloride, no additives).
Adding salt suddenly stresses fish. Divide the total into 3 daily doses to allow gradual adaptation. Treatment typically lasts 2–4 weeks. Monitor fish behavior closely.
Scaleless fish (corydoras, plecos), freshwater shrimp, snails, and live plants are highly sensitive to salt. Avoid salt treatment or use the lowest concentration possible if these species are present.
Salt treatment helps with certain fish diseases like ich and fin rot. It also reduces stress during transport. Use only as directed; some fish are salt-sensitive. Quarantine treated fish separately if possible.
Typical treatment is 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons (0.3% salinity). Some treatments use 1 teaspoon per gallon (3% salinity) for severe cases. Follow product instructions carefully. Monitor fish behavior for stress.
This calculator estimates salt needed for standard treatment concentrations. Actual dosing depends on product type and fish species. Follow product instructions. Consult a vet for severe cases.
Typical treatment is 7-14 days. Some products recommend 3-day cycles with water changes between. Follow product instructions. Monitor fish recovery. Remove salt gradually with water changes.
Most fish tolerate salt at treatment concentrations. However, some species (plecos, corydoras, scaleless fish) are sensitive. Research your fish before treating. Quarantine sensitive fish separately.