Ich (Cryptocaryon Irritans) Hypoxic dormancy

[nomsmon]

There seems to be a lot of debate about whether rock work and/or substrate needs to be removed when letting a tank run fallow to treat Ich.

Based on research such as this it seems plausible that Ich could lay dormant in hypoxic areas of an aquarium (such as a deep sand bed).

Current research suggests that in the wild, Ich may even lay dormant for a large portion of the year; only becoming active when seasonal temperatures and oxygen levels are high enough.

Is a fallow treatment without removing rock and substrate essentially crossing our fingers and hoping for the best?

 

[SaltyT]

I don't believe there's any need to worry that ich tomonts are laying dormant in deep sand beds. There are numerous accounts of people eradicating ich from their tanks by using a fallow period properly. The article was an interesting read. This is why open forums are so great.

 

[Fábio Cruz]

How long without signs of the parasite on fishes to consider that there is no more in the system? I ask because it's been 6 months since my hepatus showed Ich spots or any signal.