Water Treatments » Salt and Stress Coat

Pond 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. The addition of one to two pounds of salt per
hundred gallons of pond water (0.1% to 0.2%) is recommended for most ponds, especially in the Spring and
Fall. This is a fairly conservative dosage but unless one has an accurate measurement method, higher
concentrations should be avoided. If nitrite is present, two pounds of salt per hundred gallons is appropriate to
reduce nitrite toxicity.

The amount of pond salt dissolved in water is termed the salinity and is measured either as a per cent (%), in
parts-per-thousand (ppt), or in parts-per-million (ppm) (where 10 ppt = 1% = 10000 ppm). The more common
parts-per-thousand measurement is the weight of the salt in pounds per thousand pounds of water (about 125
gallons). Since 100 gallons of pure water weighs about 800 pounds, one pound of salt per hundred gallons
equates to a salinity of 1.25 ppt (0.125% or 1250 ppm). (1 ppt = 0.8 pounds per hundred gallons).

Salt at 0.1% Solution
Use this treatment primarily as a stress reducer. As a stress reducer, it is used in situations such as after major
emergency water changes, or when handling the fish during a pond clean-outs. It will also slow down any
attacking pathogens, as well as promote more slime coat production, vital to the integrity of the fish’s immune
system. Overcrowding and overfeeding can lead to toxic levels of nitrite. Pond Salt will temporarily block the
toxic effects of nitrite while corrective action is taken.

Salt at 0.2% Solution
This treatment is also utilized as a stress reducer, slime coat enhancer and will improve fish gill function. During
periods of stress and disease, healthy gill function is disturbed causing “osmotic shock”. This can cause a loss
of electrolytes (magnesium, calcium, sodium, chloride and potassium) in the body fluids of pond fish, as well as
increase the levels of carbon dioxide and ammonium leading to serious health problems. Pond Salt provides the
essential electrolytes fish need to maintain good health. In addition, a 0.2% salt solution will do a slightly better
job at killing certain protozoan parasites, such as Trichodina, Ich, and Chilodonella. However, don’t use as the
sole means for curing these parasites.

Applying Pond Salt

Introduce the salt, if possible, at the discharge side of the waterfall box or in the stream bed. If the addition must be
made directly into the pond, dissolve the salt in a bucket of pond water and distribute it evenly around the edges of the
pond. Inquisitive Koi will check to see if any new addition to the pond might be something to eat. Although they will probably
not swallow the pieces of salt, direct contact of crystalline salt with the fish for more than a few seconds can cause injuries
similar to burns. Recommended pond salt is dehydrated sea salt. Dehydrated sea salt is all natural and high in electrolytes. Do
not use pelletized water softener salt that has binding agents or any type of iodized salt.