Couple questions, new to hobby...

My suggestion would be to slow down a little. Yellow tangs can be aggressive and hippos are famous for ich. I would not add any more fish for a while. Make sure your pump is clean, I have to clean mine a lot. Sometimes if it is dirty or not put together correctly the vibration is worse. I have mine sitting on a pad to help... it still vibrates but not enough to cause problems. Also.... do you know what your parameters are? This hobby can be frustrating at times but once you understand a little more about it, it gets better :) 

Patience is definitely my downfall as well but trust me....it gets very expensive and sad if you rush it :) Is the pump new? Everyone has their preference on brands - if it works and is pushing enough water then it should be fine.... As far as fish... that would depend on what type you are wanting....what fish have you tried and when was the last one added?Also do you have a refugium or a sump?

Best Remedy for ICH= UV Sterilizer.

I did run a UV for a while and had no effect, so I switch to Ozone. 

You have come to one of the best sources for correct reefkeeping information on the web. We founded the WMAS in 1995, before the internet , with the main purpose being to bring hobbyists together to help all keep a better marine aquarium.

Here are some of my comments about what you have said:
- It's very unlikely the vibrating Rio pump is causing the Ich. Rio Pumps are the cheapest and can sometimes be a real pain. I would remove and clean it. Remove the impeller and clean it and the hole it goes into. An old toothbrush works good for this. Check for cracks on the impeller blades and magnet. If after the cleaning, it still vibrates, unplug it and immediately(less than 1 second) plug it back in. It may take a couple of tries. Rio pumps sometimes get out of sync and this helps them get back into sync.
- Ozone does kill the free swimming parasites.
- Ozone is about as good as a UV Sterilizer for controlling the Ich parasite
- There is an almost miracle prevention for Ich which I have used and recommended for many years. See the Reefkeeping Tips below for a whole lot of good information about keeping a healthy reef aquarium. Especially see the Tip titled "Adding new fish, fish training and the Miracle of Garlic Oil."

If you found that information enlightening, here are some questions that will help us to help you.
Is the ozone delivering O3?
How old is the unit and what is the setting?
If the ozonator is working, the fact that neither O3 nor UV has stopped the Ich means that something in the tank environment definitely needs to be improved.
You said, "Params are right where they need to be". If you don't mind, please tell us what you are testing and what those actual numbers are. I assume you are saying that the Nitrogen pollution levels; Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate are within range.
That's good but it helps if we know the numbers and how about Alkalinity and Calcium? Those are critical parameters that if not right, can cause problems.
What are the Alk and Ca levels?
As a freshwater hobbyist, you may have tested pH from time to time. Have you tested it in this tank in the morning before sunrise

There's a lot more but let's start with that. If you stick with us, I can promise you will soon be enjoying this hobby like crazy, you might even become addicted.


Edited by Mark Peterson - January 28 2012 at 7:49pm

My Apology for the  In-correct Information.

I agree completely with Tresa.

Also, the low pH is a direct result of low Alkalinity. If you are adding a "buffer" designed solely to increase pH, stop immediately. That will mess up the entire water chemistry.

Instead, check the Alkalinity and if it is under 7 dKH  get some baking soda ready.
Dissolve as much Baking Soda as will dissolve in a cup of water. Add 1/2 now and 1/2 tomorrow, then come here and tell us the dKH before and after adding the Baking Soda solution.

Also, I suspect that old, (yes, 2 years is old) ozonator is not producing much O3. There is a very easy way to test it. I gotta run but I'll come back later to explain...

THe ozone taste horrible lol. Thats a good sign. As far as everything else nothing has changed. The fish I have are breathing heavy as usual, eating well though with the exception of the Yellow Tang. 

Ill get picture up tonight hopefully. Ugh! lol

Moosetang wrote: THe ozone taste horrible lol. Thats a good sign. As far as everything else nothing has changed. The fish I have are breathing heavy as usual, eating well though with the exception of the Yellow Tang.  My LFS says to just let it be for about 8 weeks. Im so frustrated at this point and if things don't start to go in a better direction, I am definantly considering getting out of the hobby. Just to much $$ for what its worth ( so far) Anymore input would be greatly appreciated!!

You tasted it. That's freakin awesome. You are a great hobbyist already. I see good signs of a hobbyist who will soon be enjoying this hobby.
Tresa is soooo right.
The LFS is partially right.
We need to see a pic. Without it, we are flying blind.
Breathing heavy is not good. Please feel free to call me at the number below ASAP.