Here guys, this will answer all of your questions and ease your mind.
http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...marineich.html
http://<br />
http://www.petsforum....osalinity.html
Note the parts on "innate and aquired" immunity, as well as "obligate" parasites. it states that an obligate parasite such as ick cannot survive without infecting a host. However, it doesn't say how long ick can remain encysted before it ruptures. Only that it "usually takes any where from 6 to 24 days.
I posted a thread in RC desease forum with this question.