Ich Strategy...Suggestions?
 

I had a bad outbreak of Ich last year.
I took all the fish out and left the tank fallow for almost 2 months.
The infested fish never went back to the tank.....RIP.

I restocked the tank with an order in May .....and the Ich was still there and killed a tang and angel within weeks---by June. Of that restocking order, I was left with a rabbitfish and potter's angel.
The rabbitfish and potter's angel have never had signs of Ich.

Last week, I removed the Rabbitfish and Angel to QT---to go to hyposalinity----even though they look and act great......

My objective is to keep the tank fallow for 2 months....and keep the fish in QT and hyposalinity for this time...am I being overcautious (as these 2 fish have shown no signs of Ich) .....or not cautious enough (keep a longer fallow period as my previous 2 months was not enough) ?

Make sure that show tank has been fallow of fish, ALL fish, for at least six to eight weeks depending on temp..

For all new fish, actively treat in QT to eradicate ich for at least six weeks. QT does not mean observe, it means actively treat to eradicate ich.

Works.

I haven't seen a single case of ich in over twenty years.

Fallow time.Two months is well within generally accepted practice. However, there are articles which point out that some cryptocaryon cysts can remain viable without "hatching"or hosting for up to 72 days.Is it possible your new stock reintroduced ich? While I'm sure actively treating all new specimens with copper or hyposalinity and or other things may prevent disease,I,personally do not see the need to treat and stress all new fish prophylacticly.I prefer to establish a comfortable quarantine tank and to closely observe brfore treating and to treat aggressively if symptoms appear during a 4 week q period.

There is a great article in Reefkeeper Magazine that details cures. Recommends hypo for 2-6 weeks and freshwater RO dips as the safest cure.

[url=http://]Marine Ich/Cryptocaryon irritans -[/URL]

Thanks, Would like to read the article but the link won't connect.