Despite the fact everyone around here always recommends the heat & salt method, I do NOT recommend it.
And your entitled to your opinion, but opinions are like
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Having your tank at 86F is ridiculous and very stressful to fish, even if they "appear fine."
Yes, higher than normal temps can be very stressfull to fish, some more than others. Which is why people are asked to research their fish before using heat, raise the temp slowly and to monitor them during the treatment.
Salt is just as ridiculous -- these are called "freshwater" fish for a reason.
Salt is a medication and a very effective one. There are differences in the salts used for treatment and those used for Saltwater Aquaria. Not to mention drastic differences in the levels of salinity.
Think about it. If heat works fine, why is salt necessary? Or if salt works fine, why is heat necessary? I would never use both at the same time.
It is not necessary to use both at one time, but when used in conjunction with each other they are potent.
I'm a member of the "better living through medications" club. For Ich, I highly recommend a product called RidIch+. It is safe for all fishes -- yes, even scaleless fishes like loaches and Ottos. You'll hear people say "better use it at half-dose if you have loaches!" Incorrect. RidIch+ is ALREADY diluted to half-dose compared to other similar products. I have been through several bouts of Ich and it has always worked without fail; and I have clown loaches, kuhli loaches, Ottos, and other delicate fish who all survive.
Good for you! And we see how you have what appears to be chronic ICH infestations. Using heat you can completely eradicate the ICH parasite from your tank, so unless you don't quarantine or cross contaminate...
Med's are great and we here at AA and other sites recommend them for all sorts of ailments, even ICH med's.
When using RidIch+, I also recommend bumping up the heat SLIGHTLY -- 80F at the most. This accelerates Ich's lifecycle. Even if you are sticking with the salt method, I still would not go over 80F, period.
You yourself recommend using heat just as we do to speed-up the parasites
lifecycle in order to catch it in a more treatable form.
You recommend one type of med, while we another, neither is wrong.
Once again it falls to opinion, and you know what I think about opinion.
Now, you really should learn how to get along better with others, I bet my prod above got your unfavorable attention....
Your lack of etiquette and sour demeanor is not appreciated, try being gracious and polite to others even if they seem dimwitted or slow to you.
Fill in your profile, tell us about your tanks and fish.
You come off like a troll, and you know what they say...
If it walks like a Duck,
Quacks like a Duck,
It must be a Duck!