Loaches, corys, live plants and ich(k)......

[kooter]

I've been reading for the last 2 days about ich(k). My last post I mentioned that my 2 smallest loaches have been squabbling a bit and now I think they are showing signs of ich. I'm not sure though, the spots are very dull, not a bright white so I was wondering if this could be just from them fighting? No other fish in the tank has any signs at all. The 2 little clowns are still active as ever, no heavy breathing and a very good appetite. Now, if I do have ich my question would be, " Since I have loached, corys and live plants, can I treat with the salt method and be ok?" Should I take the plants out? I have raised the tank to 82 over the past couple days in case I should start putting the salt in. My other question is, " should I do the "ich treatment" anyways just in case?"
You can view my parameters and inhabitants in my profile.

Thanks everyone.

[jwddboy]

does it look like grains of salt? or a kinda fluff?

[jwddboy]

oh and its best to use a hospital tank if you have plants. They dont like salt that much.

[kooter]

It doesn't look puffy, more like transparent spots on the tail and I can see 1 white spot on the top fin. I wish I had my digital camera here.
Unfortunately I don't have a hospital tank. Would the plants be ok in a bucket of tank water?

[jwddboy]

what plants have you got? A lot will not enjoy being uprooted

[kooter]

From what I have read and researched, I have vallisneria, anubia and bacopa.
I have uprooted once before and it did take a little to get them growing again but they were ok. Are these variations ok with the salt or should I take them out?

[jwddboy]

vallisneria should be fine, as with anubia.

as for the bacopa im not so sure. A small ammount of salt however, should not harm it.

A bucket may work... in the water add some aquarium fertiliser.

Plants wont like it much to be uprooted but they should survive if it is not for too long.

[daveedka]

For the period of time it takes to treat ich the plants will be fine. I have used salt in my Q-tank with a multitude of different plants and had no issues. For more details and answers check this article.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39759

Dave