View Full Version : How long will ich survive w/out fish?
chrisblack2k2
12-14-2004, 9:21 PM
How long will Ich survive in a tank with no fish? I moved my sick fish to a quarintine tank, so I have an empty tank that had ich in it... how long should i wait to put anything in it? I changed all the water and thouroughly swept the gravel... same plants still in it...
mayreee
12-14-2004, 9:51 PM
I am not sure but make sure you are adding something to feed the good bacteria are you are going to start your cycle over again.
Totally depenedent on water temperature - at 80F, 10 days should be a margin of safety but I would allow 2 weeks. Below 70F, much longer. Below 60F, multiple weeks.
Agree with mayree of feeding the tank/nitrification bacteria.
I thought ich was present in all water, though it just doesnt show on the fish until they get stressed
Slappy*McFish
12-15-2004, 12:01 AM
That's just one of the many age-old myths that makes RTR's skin crawl. ;)
sky.eyes.woman
12-15-2004, 12:07 AM
I thought ich was present in all water, though it just doesnt show on the fish until they get stressed
You're thinking of fungus, not ich.
Ich is a protozoan parasite. It is an obligate parasite and cannot survive without a host. There is no resting or dormant stage of this particular parasite.
It is possible to have a subclinical infection (no externally visible spots) as the parasite prefers the gills as an attachment site.
chrisblack2k2
12-15-2004, 4:36 PM
RTR,
I know Ich is a parasite and needs a host to survive, but it is possible to tranfer it into your tank via plants and such, correct? How long would you quarentine a plant before introducing it into your tank?
Chris
the_dougie
12-15-2004, 4:49 PM
in the free swimming stage, the parasite must find a host within two days or it dies. if theres any in the gravel, it will quickly break into many more and then enter the free swimming stage. So basically, if theres none left on the fish (that are visible or whatever) give your tank at least a week and you will be in the clear.
deocder
12-15-2004, 4:57 PM
RTR,
I know Ich is a parasite and needs a host to survive, but it is possible to tranfer it into your tank via plants and such, correct? How long would you quarentine a plant before introducing it into your tank?
Chris
It is possible to bring it in on a plant. Many people suggest dipping plants in a potassium permanganate solution to take care of any hitch hikers. I take my chances and get ICH..... :thud:
My normal QT period is 3-4 weeks minimum, for anything. To be clear of Ich specifically, a much shorter period would serve - as already stated by others - 3 days is about the minimum cycle time for the parasite, so 2x that should indicate safety so long as the temp is the upper 70s to low 80sF.
The issue with visible Ich is that subclinical infections involving the gills only are possible, so the infected fish may not show visible parasites.