Bob Fenner says that once Ich is introduced, it is extremely difficult to eliminate it from your tank. Going fallow for 8 weeks will kill most but may not rid the tank of ich. In fact, he says that the biggest benefit of going fallow for 8 weeks is that you reduce the population to such that most fish can deal with it. But there is no guarantee and it may come back. Unfortunately, a lot of people found this out the hard way.
That is entirely correct. There have been some studies that have shown Cryptocaryon irritans present in tanks that have been fallow for up to 14 weeks (probably even longer but that's as long as the study went). I like Fenner but his latest FAMA article on Moorish Idols left something to be desired.
This is why most people do a full 10+ week fallow period. Ich simply can not survive without a host. Ich can not go dormant for an extended period either. It MUST run the natural course of its life cycle. 8 weeks is the minimum recommended fallow period, but is not guaranteed to rid your tank completely, 10+ weeks provides enough extra time to essentially guarantee your tank Ich free.
I'd like to read up on the research he is basing his opinion on, do you happen to have a link? To me, it sems pretty simple. Ich cannot live without a fish to host it and its cyst's life cycle is fixed. Unless the cyst can put itself into hybernation or something equivalent, I don't see how this can happen. I have never heard anywhere that a cyst can hibernate.
Bob Fenner and company have received numerous feedback from their readers that going fallow for 8-10 weeks didn't work for them. And there are plenty of people on RC who have stated the same thing. One researcher has theorized that some cysts do not hatch in absence of fish hormone. And they can stay as cysts almost indefinitely until fish are introduced back in the tank. Pretty scary stuff.
I would like to read his article on Moorish Idols. Do you have the link?
That's the copper treatment I've been using. the Cupramine by Seachem. And wow... i had no idea there was so much to QT-ing a fish... Looks like I'll have to start reading about proper QT technics as this is definately lesson learned. Also is nice that i finally got a larger QT than a 10gal. All my fish should be more comfortable in a 20L.
Is there any possiblity that maybe a few parasites are left behind somehow even after the 8-10week period? I assume there is no way to test it besides letting fish into the tank after the fallow period and observing.
Well, in lieu of nothing, I'd still do an 8-10 week fallow period as opposed to not doing it at all and taking my chances. Aside from anecdotal eveidence provided by hobbiests, there are enough very knowledgable people who support a fallow period. I haven't read everything by Fenner but it sounds like he recommends it even if the outcome may only be a reduction in the parasite.
Unfortunately, it is proving to be rather common. Read SkullV's post that says Crypt was present after 14 weeks. I've read many articles that say cysts can stay dormant indefinitely.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/sp/feature/index.php
Well, it sounds like it is possible, but still your best way to (try and) rid your tank of ich.
Thanks! I'm gonna have to read that when i have some time tomorrow.
I have done ridiculous amount of reading on the topic after getting Ich about 7 months ago. I've lost the fish that came infected but I've not lost a fish since. I fed my fish Metrodinazole for a month. Seemed to have done the trick. Yes, it is probably in my tank. But according to Bob Fenner, you are screwed once it enters your system.
Interesting... Well the fish are in QT already... So when it's time to reintroduce them into the DT, im' gonna try that ginger trick. Never seen anyone do that! I feed spectrum thera A pellets. I can soak those in the ginger right? And i assume the mysis i also feed would be fine as well?
Copper (Cupramine) does not. My QT is cycled at all times and heavily fed with zero ammonia/nitrite issues.
