Cleaning out tank after ich

[squint]

Four weeks is for the entire lifecycle. I believe it's only necessary to wait long enough for the swimming stage to run out of juice. Wikipedia recommends 2-4 days at 80F without fish present.

 

[Brettnewell4454]

Yes, you have to wait out the whole life cycle. They don't move in one motion. Sure there will be some hatched and starving but there's still the possibility of eggs being left behind. 2 to 4 weeks will get thru the full life cycle. Caution is the best policy tho, you wanna put fish back in there too early to just have ich again in a week? I say enjoy the 4 weeks and be glad it's not 76 days like saltwater

 

[squint]

Hmmm...well, here's what Noga has to say about it:

At 25° C (77° F), theronts only remain infective for 30 hours after excystment, but delayed emergence of some theronts requires that aquaria be left without fi sh for 7 days to be rid of the infection. All stages are also killed by drying.