Aquarium salt and plants

[betaboi]

I just have one plant in my 20gal and it is a java fern but i think that this might be useful to a lot of people. How would aquarium salt affect aquatic plants? Would it suck the nutrients and water out of them a dehydrate them? I am asking this because i added som salt to my aquarium to help my gourami cope with his slightly torn fin. The next day i noticed that the healthy leaves on my java fern all had a bit of brown of them. I haven't added anymore and the leaves are looking better but i am just curious since i am new to live plants.

[aquak]

Gouramis are especially sensitive to salt. Better to use garlic with him. As to the plants, they are more or less sensitivite to it, depending on the type. Java fern is one that is supposed to be more tolerant to salt and even be used in brackish water tanks.

[betaboi]

Wow, i didn't know that about gouramis. Is this garlic available in LFS or can i make it myself? Personally i don't care about the smell of garlic (i actually like it:D). I do know that kribs don't mind salt but how are they with the garlic? This is the only place that i have read about using garlic in aquariums. Will it affect the biological filtration? (e.g. smell after a while) As i said i do like garlic but if i have to live in it then that would make me sick of it.

[AngelMom]

You should be able to get it from your LFS. It comes in liquid and (I think) paste form. Seachem and Kent both make a couple of varieties.

All fish are attracted to garlic so the kribs should like it too. And no, it won't make the tank or filter smell.

[betaboi]

I would like to thank you Anglemom and you too aquak, both, for your help!