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Neal, I said it's a myth that they NEED salt. I'm aware of the benefits and I use it.
That was my point. When people say something is a myth, they usually mean it's wrong or misleading. That's not the case here. Using salt, especially marine salt mix, consistently makes keeping mollies easier. I don't think anyone anywhere would argue the opposite! But whether salt is 100% essential, then yes, I agree, that's debatable.
We all have our methods that work for us and the great thing about forums is everyone shares their methods, so those reading can put it all together and do what's right for them. 
Indeed. But when I write magazine articles or books I tend to get it in the neck if I say something that doesn't work! So I opt for a conservative, cautious approach -- what works reliably. In this case, using a bit of salt will at worst do nothing and at best make mollies easier to keep. Not using salt stands a good chance of making mollies harder to maintain. So on balance, I always recommend the use of salt, at least for beginners. You're obviously an expert fishkeeper with plenty of experience, so me telling you what to do would be pointless. But for someone with their first community aquarium, the warning that mollies often need slightly salty water is important and useful.
Cheers, Neale
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Last Login: 10/12/2012 7:58:53 AM
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Hi,
Thanks for all the info 
Also my friend replied back, he only has 8 mollies and he hasnt said if hes selling them to the petstore yet or not.
He has some of the normal black mollies like mine, then a couple of the mottled mollies that has the specks on them.
I put 2 teaspoons in the tank, its a three gallon tank so thats not that much.
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| I think you'll have a difficult time maintaining the environment well enough for Mollies in a 3 gallon, but I wish you all the best with it. Neal, I think I see the issue now. I was addressing the OP's mention of salt, not arguing with your advice. I am horrible for not quoting who I'm speaking to and I can see how you would take that as a direct challenge to what you had said. I'll still always preach proper maintenance because that will serve fishkeepers well no matter what they keep, but the salt info was just that - more info. Mollies will also be easier to keep in a 90g tank than in a 30g tank, but it doesn't mean they need it to thrive. The salt debate will rage on long after I'm gone, but it's not standard advice amongst most Livebearer experts. It used to be moreso though. Ted Coletti has a good article somewhere about it, in which he tackles both sides of the debate. The late Dr. Joanne Norton, whom nobody would question is a true expert, put it this way, "If water changes are large enough and frequent enough, and if all water is well aerated and circulated, Livebearers (all the species I have kept) do fine without salt added to the water. If these conditions are not met, or if the fish are crowded, then troubles appear. Thus, salt enables you to continue one or more poor tank management practices that are still harmful, even though the fish may survive in the presence of salt." Another big factor in Molly success is the source. Unfortunately, the hobby is flooded with unhealthy fish, or those pumped up on antibiotics. Some of the toughest fish I have are Mollies, but keeping one alive from a questionable source is more luck than skill. Private breeders and Goliad Farms have provided me with both beauty and health in the Molly department. The rest comes from proper basic care and a focus on natural immunity. I used to think I was pretty close to an expert on Livebearers. Then I joined the American Livebearer Association and realized I know NOTHING...LOL. There's always so much to learn in this hobby, and that is precisely why I enjoy it. Writing about it is one of the most enjoyable things I do, because I usually learn something while I'm researching it. Thank you for giving me a reason to ramble on about it. Jreidsma, I appreciate your indulging our debate in your thread.
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}}=':> Melody <:'={{
AllNaturalPetCare.com
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Hello Melody,
I think this is what I've been saying all along. Salt is essential, but it helps, and for beginners, it can make all the difference.
I keep Limia nigrofasciata, a species apparently more commonly found in brackish rather than freshwater habitats. Oddly, my specimens seem to be doing just fine in the same moderately hard, neutral water I keep my Celebes halfbeaks in! So I accept it's a complicated issue.
Cheers, Neale
The late Dr. Joanne Norton, whom nobody would question is atrue expert,put it this way, "If water changes are large enough and frequent enough, and if all water is well aerated and circulated, Livebearers (all the species I have kept) do fine without salt added to the water. If these conditions are not met, or if the fish are crowded, then troubles appear. Thus, salt enables you to continue one or more poor tank management practices that are still harmful, even though the fish may survive in the presence of salt."
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I bought two amazon swords.
The only thing bad with the tank now is that its staying cold for some reason? The weird thing is the tanks almost right next to it are staying a nice 75-78F all day but this tank isnt?
Would it be safe to get a small heater for 2-10 gallons and stick in here? I dont think it would because this is a 3 gallon tank and if the heater does down two 2 gallons it should be fine. But I was wondering about the fact that the tank is plastic?
Thanks for all the help
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Spending money on kit for a 3 gallon tank is throwing good money after bad. I cannot stress this point too strongly. Small tanks, especially ones as small as this, invariably experience wild temperature swings. Evaporation and the thermal stability of small volumes of water are key issues.
Provided a plastic tank is acrylic and designed to be safe with a heater, then yes, any heater designed for that volume of water should be safe. Some cheap plastic tanks are not designed for heaters though, so check with the manufacturer.
I find it hard to imagine a three-gallon tank has adequate lighting for Amazon swords, or for that matter, sufficient space for the 3 inches of gravel they need.
Cheers, Neale
Would it be safe to get a small heater for 2-10 gallons and stick in here? I dont think it would because this is a 3 gallon tank and if the heater does down two 2 gallons it should be fine. But I was wondering about the fact that the tank is plastic?
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I didnt know that amazon swords needed that much, o well I guess its to late to worry about that now. They look better sense I got them. If they do start to out grow this tank I guess I could make a mini water garden? Or stick them in a bigger tank of mine, either one I guess. I have plants all over the place any ways.
I also got a heater for it and it stays at a constant 76-78 degrees. Never any more or less. I monitored it for a while checking through out the day. This heater heats the water up if it gets 76 or under until it reaches 78 then turns off by its self. I have used this type of heater before and it does a good job. And if it was wasted money then I can always save it for a different tank.
I am just trying to set up this tank the best I can for this fish. It is to old for the pet stores to take it because we have had it for 2 years now so I am just trying to set up this tank for it. I might have this molly for a little bit longer, or for a couple more years.
My friend with the extra mollies is selling them to VI pets after they have babies. Then I am going to put the babies in my older molly tank until the pet store wants them. So I will soon have some baby mollies to take care for. but I wont permanently have them. VI pets usually gives instore credit for stuff like this and we figured if I raised the baby mollies then sold them when they got big enough for them to take them that we could get something for our fish.
Well I hope the molly likes all this. It does so far as it has been in there about half an hour and is running through the plants and checking everything out.
Heres the new tank:
http://www.fishchannel.com/blog/viewbio.aspx?apid=185593
Talk to ya later
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