Mixed messages about Ich

[Maverynthia]

I currently have a Gold Dojo Loach that has some Ich on it and have read the sticky about Ich here in this forum. However browsing other posts I see conflicting evidence about treating Loachy.

I currently have a half dose of Rid-Ich+ and have raised the temperature to around 84.7. I didn't go up to 86 as the heater I have doesn't have exact markings on it and I don't want to cook my fish. Does that temp still speed up the life cycle enough to matter or should I just not bother?

I also have an airstone in there providing oxygen and two small plants.

I hear people say that salting the tank is the best/easiest/only way to kill Ich. I do have some Aquarium salt I can put into the tank however the sticky said no salt, yet I see people swear by it.

I'm worried about stressing Loachy out more than it's been stressed out with the water changes, medication and the temp changes. I only see a few of the Ich crystals left on the body however I'm not sure how many just haven't developed yet and how many are dead.

[starsplitter7]

Where do you live? That may help in available medications.

Are you treating in a Q-tank? Do you know how you got the ick? (What the stress sorce is?)

Loaches are very susceptible to medication and salt is really bad for them. I think some fish handle salt better than the loaches, but salt is really bad for loaches.

If you have a hang on the back filter, drop the water level by an inch or two, so that the water splashes into the tank increasing the oxygen.

Have you been vacuuming the gravel? You need to vacuum out the ick and do lots of water changes.

What other fish live with the loach? Do you have live plants or inverts in the tank?

[starsplitter7]

Here's a collection of salt articles.

http://tbas1.com/TBASpages/salt.html

[Maverynthia]

Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately Loachy didn't make ;^; He died the night I posted for help. With the combination of the medicine and the higher temperature it was under a lot of stress. Come to find out the ammonia had spiked due to the deaths of the other fish ;^; Apparently the other loaches that were at the pet store had died as well even being treated with meds.

Considering Loachy was the only fish in the tank I treated the tank (20G) with Rid-Ich+ and did a water change, by that time however it seemed to be too late. I also had an air stone block in there (it's blue and wide).

I'm not going to give up on loaches though. I've let the tank cycle a week and have gotten some Bloodfin Tetras to test the tank. If all goes well I'll pick up some Kuhli loaches :3 Though this is the first time with a tropical tank

[starsplitter7]

A week won't be enough for cycling. Takes about 6 weeks, so keep an eye on your water readings. You will be cycled when your readings are Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0 and Nitrate under 10.

You want to make sure your tetras don't suffer from an ammonia spike?