http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php ... fcb25c7a50
Please correct the information, regarding 7. Ich will not die from high temp, their life cycle only speeds up from high temp.7. Some sources have said that temperatures above 86 degrees Fahrenheit alone will kill off the parasite.. Actually, most sources I've seen say temp above 88F or 89F, see for example:
http://www.caloriesperhour.com/fish/notes_ich.html#temp
These two degrees make a difference, since at 86F not only one would not kill the parasite, one will make it reproduce faster. Maybe it is best to say that temp only cure is often just not a good idea.
Fish can handle the ozmotic pressure from a change in the salinity level in the tank, ich cannot.
Loaches can handle aquarium salt. It was the this very forum (probably now contained in the old forum archives) where I first read this information several years ago which I used to treat one of my clown loaches that had ich. I raised the temps, added salt, and also reduced the amount of light as an added benifit. The reason is, ich is caused by stress on the fish, reduced light=sleep=less stress. Most problems people have with salt is they add the salt DIRECTLY into the tank, without allowing the salt to dissolve. Therefore, any bottom dweller (plecos, loaches, etc.) that come in contact with such a strong concentration, may end up causing more harm.
The best way to use salt in a tank would be to allow the salt crystals to dissolve thoroughly in a seperate container of water, then pour the solution over a LONG PERIOD of time in your tank, allowing it to spread in various areas of the tank, mainly around the filter output.
