New heater...but now have ick!

[Calypso mermaid]

Okay, I woke up this morning and found the tank temp had gone up to a little over 80 degrees, so I uncovered it and turned the space heater off. I went and picked up a heater put it in and set it to around 76-78 degree. I think I mentioned I'm new to tropical fish so am really unclear about how a few degrees can effect the fish. My goldfish LOVE it when it's cool and drafty in here and I never use a heater for them. This morning, I noticed that the heat seemed to make the white spot on my big girl's eye go away, but by the end of the day, lo and behold....there's ick on the sick little guy (who just had his last dose of medication for his "skinny problem" tonight and was eating!!!!)
This entire tank has been through sooo much! I'm really not big on overmedication...do I NOW go purchase some toxic chemical? Or do I turn up the heat and use salt? I read the sticky on ick, but it really discouraged salt and was big on the meds.....but I've had great luck with salt and my goldies for years....I didn't even kill my snails with it. The sticky said themeds are so toxic, I might lose some fish....what's the difference if I do it with something toxic or with salt? Will the salt or meds hurt my pleco or rainbow fish?

[angelfish83]

It depends what fish you have. If your fish will tolerate 86F for a few days then yes. If not, then no.

For example, most goldfish aren't going to do very well at 86F. Weather loaches might not make it throught the few days at that temp. On the other hand, a clown loach wouldn't even notice... so it depends what you've got. same with salt. The goldfish could care less and actually appreciate some salt..

The main thing in that recipe though is heat. The salt doesn't do nearly as much. The actual Ich parasite has a hard time at anything over 83-84 and usually dies at about 86, though there are some reports of certain strains of ich making it to almost 90. If you keep it at 86 for a couple of days and the ich doesnt go away its not ich.

[Calypso mermaid]

I don't think they are rainbow gobys? One is a red rainbow fish and the other a New Guinea rainbow fish....botblahblah or something like that, from around Australia, and obviously New Guinea, I'm guessing....can they and the Pleco tolerate the heat? The rainbow fish both seem oblivious to the temp changes and all the meds....my red rainbow is always up in my face chasing eveyone away....doesn't seem to notice anything except me and food, but can I do 86 degrees with them? I figure everyone lived through last night with my inadvertent attempt to keep them warm and basically pushing the temp up.....but I'm not sure of exact temperatures. I hate to say I have a favorite, by I love my pleco.......can common plecos tolerate 86 degrees?