<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14811270#post14811270 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by billsreef
Tom, it's at least 10 years old and documented by Colorni The only reason it's not better known is the need for multiple tanks, and rigorous cleaning/disinfection between transfers making very labor intensive.
Bill is right for the most part.
Colorni documented the method over 20 years ago (Colorni, Angelo. 1987. "Biology of Cryptocaryon irritans and strategies for its control" Aquaculture 67:236-237. Thanks to Stephen Pro for the reference), and if I'm not mistaken, I've read university papers on marine biology that predated Colorni, but I'll have to find the links to those research papers again before I can say that with absolute certainty.
We've been practicing it for quite a while now and so far it has been 100% effective in clearing cryptocaryon from the host when used correctly.
The 10gal tanks on the top of the racks are being used exclusively for TTM research.
Also, at it's most basic, using the TTM is a lot less labor intensive and less expensive than most may think.
For the average hobbyist the total investment is no more than the cost of what you see below.
Two 10gal tanks, two sets of pvc, one top or eggcrate for jumpers (light optional), and one airpump with two airstones (the airstones are alternated and the tubing is turned around so that what was in the water is allowed to dry the same as each tank and set of pvc.).
Due to the thin membrane protecting the encysted Ich, all that's required to kill them is to allow the tank, pvc, and airstone to dry.
Rigorous cleaning/disinfection is not required.
Also to answer the inevitable question, since the fish is only in a single tank for less than 72 hours, biological filtration is not needed as in a longterm hospital or quarantine tank.
Amquel or a partial water change are more than sufficient to keep under check the very little amount of ammonia that the fish and feeding will produce in that time.
You can probably find all you need for this setup at a yardsale or on craigslist for less than the cost of a single fish.
It can serve double duty as a hospital tank when combined with a sponge filter, and when not in use can be easily tucked away in a closet or crawlspace.