Salting tank for first time- HELP

[HannahJo]

Hey guys,
I think there is something bad going on in my 72G community (mollies, platys, tetras, BN pleco). Noticed the black neon tetras have some weird looking spots/patches on them that appear to be greyish colored. They are not fuzzy patches- just looks like their scales are discolored. One of them has a gill that is injured. All of the fish are flashing a little bit but nobody else has the weird spots. Nobody is acting strange- still active and eating. I did not get any pictures of the tetras- they are so hard to get still.
I am leaning towards gill flukes or ICH? I introduced a few new fish last week (and the week before) without quarantining first (yep- my bad). I've never had any issues like this so it's my first time dealing with it but I want to try salting my tank before I try medication because I don't know what exactly is causing the issue. I've been reading up on salting and I've found this treatment (to treat illnesses): 1 tablespoon salt per 2 gallons of water.
Does that sound right? Lots of websites give different treatments so I'm not 100% sure which one to go with. Also note I am not doing a dip, I am treating the entire 72G tank.
Any info you can give me would be much appreciated as I've never ever used salt in my tanks before! THANKS!

 

[charliebankston]

Did you check your water parameters? Adding new fish can sometimes cause a disruption. Ammonia burns can cause some of your symptoms too

 

[HannahJo]

Yes- I checked as soon as I noticed the weird spots on tetras but everything is normal as it always is. No changes there. I'm very anal about my parameters

 

[HannahJo]

Well I salted my tank 5 days ago and cranked the heat up to 86. I plan to keep the heat up for 4 days. Everybody seems to be fine- no more patches have appeared and it seems the patches have started to disappear. I guess that's a good sign? I did treat with some Ich medicine before I salted tank- but did a water change the day after (because I wasn't sure how the medicine would react once I salted the tank). I put A TON of salt in there- I did a "level 2" recommendation from a website for treating ich.
I guess it's just a waiting game now. I will remove the salt in another 5 days with water changes and turn the heat back down. If this hasn't killed the ich I will try medicine again. I don't really know what I'm doing- just following the regimen I found. But everybody seems to be doing better so must be alright.

 

[charliebankston]

Yeah, that sounds right. And that same treatment will cure a fungal issue in case that was the problem instead. Keep on with your plan

 

[HannahJo]

Yeah, that sounds right. And that same treatment will cure a fungal issue in case that was the problem instead. Keep on with your plan

 

[Kyleallen22]

Out of curiosity did you go with the tablespoon per 2 gallons or what was your exact salt dosage?

 

[charliebankston]

That's what I've always used. The 2 to 1 ratio, just fyi

 

[charliebankston]

50 tablespoons per 100g

 

[HannahJo]

Yes I did 1 tablespoon per 2 gallons. So I put in 36 tablespoons in my 72G.

 

[Kyleallen22]

Great thanks for the response I’m sure there will be a time I need to use it, 2 to 1 is an easy ratio to remember. Do you mix it all at once or over time?

 

[charliebankston]

I do mine all at once. Most ppl mix it in tank water and dump it in slowly. I like to live on the edge, lol, and just dump kosher salt in by the table spoon

 

[Kyleallen22]

I do mine all at once. Most ppl mix it in tank water and dump it in slowly. I like to live on the edge, lol, and just dump kosher salt in by the table spoon

Lmao I like your style! [emoji23]

 

[charliebankston]

Haha haha!

 

[HannahJo]

I tried to mix mine with tank water but it was SO MUCH SALT that it was taking forever to dissolve so I ended up just dumping it in half dissolved. Nobody seemed to mind