It's been over 2 weeks since my ich outbreak has begun and my fish are becoming restless in my quarantine tank. I've raised the temperature to 89 degrees on my heater, which since it's a little old, keeps the temperature between 82 and 86 degrees F. At the beginning of the treatment I treated the tank with the recommended dosage of aquarium salt and whenever I do a waterchange I make sure to replenish the salt (even maybe a little over the recommended dosage) and make sure to equilibrate the temperature before adding it back to the tank. The fish seem normal now, almost no more jerking behavior, most of the fish have colored up beautifully, and all of them eat like pigs (seriously, they eat everything!). So it seems like I've been doing everything right, but the ich just keeps on going. And my mom is hosting a party next week and I really wanted to get them in the show tank by then so I can hear people say "oh, nice fish" 
but I can't if they're covered in white spots. Basically all of them have white spots except for the biggest and most colorful herotiliapia, the ebjd, 3 ottocinclus, and the bolivian ram. All the other have whitespots ranging from only a few spots to quite a few spots.
What should I do? I saw this article: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226328 in which it says "THE USE OF SALT AS A PARASITICIDE
Used in proper amounts, salt effectively controls protozoans on the gills and skin of fish. In many instances, however, too little salt is used, rendering the treatment ineffective. The duration of treatment is used to determine the appropriate salt concentration.
A 3 percent salt dip effectively removes protozoa from the skin, gills, and fins of freshwater fish; it also enhances mucus production. Depending on the species, fish can remain in a 3 percent salt solution from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. In general, fish should be left in the salt solution until they lose equilibrium and roll over. When this happens, the fish should be quickly removed from the salt solution and placed in clean, untreated water. Because some species (notably, some tetras) do not tolerate salt well, a bioassay (a test to determine safe concentration) should be conducted before large numbers of these fish are treated. A similar benefit may be obtained by dipping marine fish in fresh water. Marine protozoa burst when placed in fresh water, effectively removing them from the external surfaces of fish. Marine fish should be left in fresh water for no more than 10 minutes, then returned to a clean seawater environment.
If dipping is not feasible, freshwater fish may be placed in a brackish water (i.e., 1 percent salt) solution for 30 minutes up to several hours. This procedure produces the same effects as a saltwater dip; that is, it removes external parasites (protozoa) and enhances mucus production. It also benefits fish recovering from skin wounds.
Finally, a light solution of 0.01 to 0.2 percent salt may be used as a permanent treatment in recirculating systems. Such levels are quite effective in eliminating single-cell protozoans. Most fish can tolerate prolonged exposure to salt at these concentrations; however, tetras and fish that navigate by electrical field (e.g., elephant nose) should not be maintained in salt."
I was wondering if this quick "salt-dip" would solve my problem. AND, it is a given, but I really don't want to kill my fish because if I do, I'm not buying anymore. What really scares me is the "In general, fish should be left in the salt solution until they lose equilibrium and roll over"
So basically, I want to know if anyone has ever tried this method and it's effectiveness. Thanks.
All feedback appreciated.
but I can't if they're covered in white spots. Basically all of them have white spots except for the biggest and most colorful herotiliapia, the ebjd, 3 ottocinclus, and the bolivian ram. All the other have whitespots ranging from only a few spots to quite a few spots. What should I do? I saw this article: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226328 in which it says "THE USE OF SALT AS A PARASITICIDE
Used in proper amounts, salt effectively controls protozoans on the gills and skin of fish. In many instances, however, too little salt is used, rendering the treatment ineffective. The duration of treatment is used to determine the appropriate salt concentration.
A 3 percent salt dip effectively removes protozoa from the skin, gills, and fins of freshwater fish; it also enhances mucus production. Depending on the species, fish can remain in a 3 percent salt solution from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. In general, fish should be left in the salt solution until they lose equilibrium and roll over. When this happens, the fish should be quickly removed from the salt solution and placed in clean, untreated water. Because some species (notably, some tetras) do not tolerate salt well, a bioassay (a test to determine safe concentration) should be conducted before large numbers of these fish are treated. A similar benefit may be obtained by dipping marine fish in fresh water. Marine protozoa burst when placed in fresh water, effectively removing them from the external surfaces of fish. Marine fish should be left in fresh water for no more than 10 minutes, then returned to a clean seawater environment.
If dipping is not feasible, freshwater fish may be placed in a brackish water (i.e., 1 percent salt) solution for 30 minutes up to several hours. This procedure produces the same effects as a saltwater dip; that is, it removes external parasites (protozoa) and enhances mucus production. It also benefits fish recovering from skin wounds.
Finally, a light solution of 0.01 to 0.2 percent salt may be used as a permanent treatment in recirculating systems. Such levels are quite effective in eliminating single-cell protozoans. Most fish can tolerate prolonged exposure to salt at these concentrations; however, tetras and fish that navigate by electrical field (e.g., elephant nose) should not be maintained in salt."
I was wondering if this quick "salt-dip" would solve my problem. AND, it is a given, but I really don't want to kill my fish because if I do, I'm not buying anymore. What really scares me is the "In general, fish should be left in the salt solution until they lose equilibrium and roll over"
So basically, I want to know if anyone has ever tried this method and it's effectiveness. Thanks.All feedback appreciated.
