To salt or not to salt…. This is a seemingly endless debate in the field of pond/fish keeping. However on my part there is no debate, I have come to my conclusion as a professional aquarist of 25+ years, a professional pond installer of 15+ years, a professional water gardener of 12+ years. Unless it is being used very specifically and purposefully as a therapeutic treatment for fish…. NO SALT, that’s right, NO SALT. I came to realize this on my own but I do not want you to take my word for it, take the words of several of the top koi and fish veterinarians in the country. I recently attended the University Of Georgia School Of Veterinary Sciences. The panel of koi veterinarians that came in from across the country all agreed that salt should not be added to pond water UNLESS it is being used specifically as a therapeutic treatment. Koi, goldfish, orfes, mosquito fish; all are very popular for use in ponds, but NONE of them come from salty waters or brackish conditions. Elevated salt levels are not good for pond plants either and will cause burn out, wilt, and browning; if not outright death. This salt myth has been circulating for some time in the aquarium trade as well and is little by little being dispelled. It is a lengthy topic that I would be happy to discuss by phone in much greated depth, but the short of it is...NO SALT, save it for the ocean.