The Puffer Forum

LOL yes you are making it too complicated You can mix the salt into a cup of water, a bucket, the filter, whatever.. it will dissolve and spread out. The only thing you should really think hard about is when you do your water changes, make sure you only put in enough salt to replace what you took out (which is why doing 50% changes is good, it makes the math easier, hehe). Remember too, that a 5 gallon bucket only holds 4 gallon filled to those top "ridges", to get 5 gallons in there you need to fill it to the rim and its hard to carry that way

Yes, lowering the tank level will help some, the splashing will increase oxygen. It might not be enough though, so watch for the fish breathing fast or gasping at the surface.

Keep an eye on your kuhli loaches though, those are cool water fish and won't like the rise in temperature. They probably already don't like 80 degrees, and if you take it higher, they'll really be unhappy (but happier than if they are dead from ich!)

Well if the loaches won't like the temp raise would it be ok to leave it at 80F?
My loaches don't seem to mind the current temp at 80F, they are quite active (doing the kuhli dance) and eating. Although maybe when this treatment is done I will lower the temp because I want them to happy!!

You can raise it if you'd like, just watch them and lower it back down (gradually) if they start to look stressed.

Just for future reference what temp would the loaches prefer to be at?
I read somewhere that 80F was fine....that is what you get for trusting random Google sites instead of coming here!!

Hmmm, its been a while since I've had them, I always kept mine with rainbowfish that also liked cooler water. When I think "cooler", I'm thinking low 70's.

However, as I'm skimming species profiles on well known, reputable websites, I'm not seeing any mention of them liking cooler water! So maybe I'm just nuts, but I swear they are cooler water fish.

Lol!