The life cycle has two intermediate stages outside the host. Once it encycts(tomonts), it takes about 3-6 days depending on the temp before it falls off, theoretically it can survive encysted forever, these fallen of cysts can take a long time to burst a few hundred tomites, but they don't all burst at the same time either, these tomites need to find a host within 24-48 hrs or they die, any treatment targets these tomites, cause once they encyst back on the host you can't kill them without killing the fish.
It is hard to know if your tank is absolutly free cause, one or two tomonts here and there every now and then, can carry on the next generations and you will never even spot it, to make it worse, It doesn't have to be on the body, most infection starts on the gills where you can't see, as obviously most water flows through the gills. So instead of worrying about whether you have them in your tank or not, it is easier and more peacful to just keep the maintenance regular so you can keep their numbers in check, who knows, eventually it may just disappear from your tank.... but ofcourse, you wouldn't really know that for sure. Good Luck.
It is hard to know if your tank is absolutly free cause, one or two tomonts here and there every now and then, can carry on the next generations and you will never even spot it, to make it worse, It doesn't have to be on the body, most infection starts on the gills where you can't see, as obviously most water flows through the gills. So instead of worrying about whether you have them in your tank or not, it is easier and more peacful to just keep the maintenance regular so you can keep their numbers in check, who knows, eventually it may just disappear from your tank.... but ofcourse, you wouldn't really know that for sure. Good Luck.
Maybe I am just sensitive to the subject because I am fighting Ich myself right now. I believe I got it from another member's tank who I bought some frags and inverts off of. I do not know any other way it could have come into my tank and I know that person is fighting Ich as we speak but did not disclose that to me at the time. A lackluster attitude is taken by some that comes off as, "Well it is in everyones tank, so it is no big deal!" I did not QT everything and it but me in the butt. I have since lost my two favorite fish and looks like two more are not doing so well. My lesson is learned, I will QT everything from now on, no matter who it comes from. I just do not want to have to see anyone who did not know better, fall pray to this bug again. So it sucks because my tank is sitting empty right now with nothing but coral in there. Lesson learned: Bringing in anything to my tank is kind of like being in college. If you do not use protection, sooner or later you are going to have to take a trip to the hospital (tank)! :lol2:
