ich treatment

Question
my computer either sent or deleted half of my question so disreguard last email from me if you got it. I have a freshwater tank that has 3 pink convicts, 2 oscars, 1 electric african yellow, a plecostomus and a spoted chiclid (not sure of name) also 3 red ear slider turtles. 4-5 days ago we spoted ich on 1 fish the pet store recomended jungle brand ich guard. (although they did not tell me to turn up my tank, they also told me that a carbon filter was unnesasary) after doing some of my own research ive found that the heat salt method is probably the way to go, and that a carbon filter is nessasary. im turning my tank up to 85 slowly as we speak and im off to pick up my carbon as soom as I hit send (although I wont start using it untill I hear from you, I assume I need to get that chemical out) My questions are, how much salt to water, ive heard 2tsp pr gal and 3tblsp pr 5gal, which is it? also I read i wont have to add any more salt unless I do a water change, should I do a water change (has been done recently chemical says 25% between doses) or am I better off just adding the salt and letting it sit for 3 weeks (also what I read) Next I was told that I had to remove the turtles for the chemical treatment, could they go back in the tank while Im treating with salt?? I only ask because the tub Im keeping the turtles in is substandard (theyre not nearly as content). also I had to use one of my powerfilters for that and I want it back on the fishtank ( I run two large (say 500 gal but not sure if its accurate) filters because of how dirty turtles can be). so far we have lost two fish to the ich (not listed) and Im starting to get really frustrated with the misinformation ive been getting and I really dont want to lose the fish I still have left. so it goes without saying that any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated the more info you can give me the better (even related info that I might not know enough to ask about that could also be contributing to my problem) the more detail the better. thanks ahead of time.
chris Etten

Answer
Hi Chris,
Be very careful of bringing the temperature of your water up too fast.  This is very bad for fish as the temperature should be brought up one degree each day, or second day.  I would not bring the temperature of to 85 degrees, 80 or 82 is high enough. Water changes are a must with ick.  The right dosage is 3 teaspoons per 5 gallons of water. You do not add the salt all at once.  Make sure it is diluted before putting it into your tank.  Divide the salt into three parts...the first day you add one portion of the salt, the second day, another portion, and the third day the last portion.  The cure is 15 days.  You will have to do water changes, and when you do, add the salt that you have taken out.  If you remove 25% of water add salt for 25%.  Make sure that your net, and other equipment that you use are dry before using them again in your tank.
Ick is always present in tanks, and will attack weak fish.  This is why they should have quality food.  Vary their food so that they get the vitamins they need.  Oscars love broccoli, peas, green beans, and carrots.  They also love fruit, insects, and frozen foods that you find at the Pet Store.  A good quality flake, and pellets should be added to their menu.  Always soak the pellets a little before serving them to your Oscars.  This helps them digest them better.  I buy a bag of frozen mixed veggies, and blanch them before serving them to my Oscar.  Always make sure the veggies are cooled off before giving them to the Oscars.  There are more vitamins in frozen vegetables than canned, and no salt.  If you buy fresh cooked them before serving them to you fish.   They like crickets, ants, and cleaned worms.   The way to clean the worms is to put them in oats for a week or so.  You may also find mealworms at you pet store.  They love these, and it is very good for your fish.   Mangos, and melons are also food that they like.  Make sure that they have lots of protein, and vitamins.   They also love fish such as trout that we can buy frozen, sometimes unfrozen at the market.  Never feed them salt water fish.  Fish from rivers or lakes.  Avoid feeding them feeder fish, they are full of disease, and have no nutritional value.
Oscars are messy, and so are turtles.  I would not keep turtles with fish.  You must check for ammonia everyday, and do water changes very often.
There is also "Quick Cure" for ick which is very good.  The bottle says two days, but you could continue the treatment longer as it does not kill the ick eggs.  
I hope this helps
Lynda