Ick on equipment
 

How long can Ick survive on aquarium equipment such as a gravel cleaner?
I had used it the day before the visible signs of an outbreak and
haven't used it since treatment which has been about a six days, due for
a water change. All visible signs of ick on fish are gone now (I know
the ick is ever present), and I was wondering how long ick could last on
surfaces without that surface being wet or subject to deliberate
disinfection ie: left out to dry (no good environment or host = no ick?)?

TYIA,

SS

Ick on equipment
 

SS wrote:
How long can Ick survive on aquarium equipment such as a gravel cleaner?
I had used it the day before the visible signs of an outbreak and
haven't used it since treatment which has been about a six days, due for
a water change. All visible signs of ick on fish are gone now (I know
the ick is ever present), and I was wondering how long ick could last on
surfaces without that surface being wet or subject to deliberate
disinfection ie: left out to dry (no good environment or host = no ick?)?

TYIA,

SS

From my experience equipment that has dry for more than 24 hours has
not transmitted ich to other aquariums I have serviced. But I have
generally sterilized my equipment in a weak bleach/water solution (less
than 5% bleach), so as to make sure I do not transfer pathogens or
infestation between customers. (I kept this solution in a spray
bottle).
Generally an aquarium without fish, but with the filter running will be
ich free without a host after 3 weeks. But this is NOT a rule, I know
many experienced aquarists (myself included)still had ich outbreaks
even after taking these precautions.
Some of the aquariums I maintained that customers added fish regularly,
had fish sensitive to ich, or just seemed to get ich easily I used
Medicated Wonder Shells on occasion or when new fish were added.

Carl

Ick on equipment
 

put it in the sun and the UV should smash it :)
coupla hours dry seems to kill the things tho
the swimmer stage (infectious) would be particularly weak against drying out
I'd imagine



"SS" wrote in message
news:oJR1h.230778$1T2.81158@pd7urf2no...
How long can Ick survive on aquarium equipment such as a gravel cleaner? I
had used it the day before the visible signs of an outbreak and haven't
used it since treatment which has been about a six days, due for a water
change. All visible signs of ick on fish are gone now (I know the ick is
ever present), and I was wondering how long ick could last on surfaces
without that surface being wet or subject to deliberate disinfection ie:
left out to dry (no good environment or host = no ick?)?

TYIA,

SS