Safe Ich/white spot Treatment

Question
Hi Nathan, I have a 180l juwel tank, which has been cycled and stable since Nov 08. My Nitrite level, is less then 0.1,pH 7.5, Ammonia no trace.
I have 2 silver dollars, 3 mollies,4 harlequins, 5 platies, 5 silver tipped tetras, 3 zebra danios, 1 gold gourami and have recently added 2 clown loach.
I believe with the clown loach we also added ich, which has particularly affected the silver dollars, and loaches, who have an appearance of being speckled with salt. I think most fish are affected but to a lesser degree.
I have raised my tank from 78F to 86F as I was informed the ich would die at this temp. I have also with a 20% water change today and yesterday added a total of 2 tbsp aquarium salt with pH buffer. I am nervous about adding more salt as the fist water change resulted in one of the silver tipped tetras dying, however I think this fish wasn't thriving. I hope my aeration is okay, as we have artificial plants I already have an attachment to suck more air into the water. This is the 2nd day of treatment the danios and tetras do seem slightly stressed, both species spending more time in the top section of the tank. I have been informed that I need to keep temps raised for 10 days, will this be too much for the tetras and danios? Separate treatment isn't an option.
Thanks for your time, Sarah

Answer
Hi Sarah,

Just raising the temperature isn't very effective for killing Ich. adding a medicine is the most efficient way, and will prevent the loss of your fish. Simply raising the temperature will be stressful to many of your fish, and the temperature raise should be done in conjunction with a separate medication treatment, available at your local fish store.

Ich normally dies at 86F, but sometimes, it takes temperatures of 88F+ to kill it.

The Danios won't like the temperature raise, but they are extremely hardy, so they should be OK. Add an airstone, or in your case, an EXTRA airstone, with an air pump, to provide oxygen.

The Clown Loaches do not like salt, and I would recommend that you get a medication for Ich/parasites at your local fish store. If you don't the fish may die during the week(s) of temperature-only treatment.

If you're not going to treat the fish with medication, for whatever reason (i.e. you live in a rural area), then the only method would be to raise the temperature, as you've already done. Remember to add the additional airstone, to provide MORE oxygen than what your fish are used to. Extra oxygen is not harmful, as your tank doesn't need any Co2, because your tank does not have live plants.

If you want the treatment to be fast and effective, and not risk the death of any fish, please get a medication, if possible.

Good Luck, and I hope your fish recover!