[leebca]

To help answer your questions, you should read this link: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ths-facts.html

Healthy and sick fish can contract and act as carriers to Marine Ich Cryptocaryon irritans. A good quarantine process should keep this parasite out of your home marine system.

I have not had Marine Ich in my home marine systems for more than 38 years now by following a good quarantine process and some prophylactic treatments on certain Tangs. See this link for what I do: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...step-step.html

Marine Ich has been studied for over 100 years and we know a lot about it. Average stage times in the life cycle can vary as much as 200% so there is always a chance to get contaminated if you don't take into account just how long the stages in the cycle can last. Dr. Burgess for instance, found a cyst that lasted over 60 days before moving onto its next stage. This is abnormal but possible.

We know that a FW dip will not cure the fish, but it can help a fish if it is particularly infected in the gills. The Marine Ich is protected from the FW by the fish's own mucous coating and top layers of skin.

If you want it out permanently, follow the quarantine guidelines and the information provided in the above link.

Good luck!