Greetings from Virginia

[Jeffcb]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!

 

[hawkeyejp82]

Thats all fresh water I have 1 Tiger Oscar who lives in a 75g by himself because he doesn't play well with others. I have 1 severum 7 tiger barbs and an Acara in a 75g. I have 3 geophagus tapajos with 6 bosemani rainbows and a pleco in a planted 75 that has Java Fern and Annubias. I have 2 Koi Angels 7 Danios and a pleco in a planted 60g with Valleseria and Annubias. In the smaller setups I have white cloud minnows around 2 1/2 dozen in unheated 10g and 20g tanks neon tetras and buenos aires tetras in a 30g and a betta in his own small tank. I also keep a 20g tall for hospital purposes.

 

[Fred2482]

Welcome!

 

[Schraufabagel]

 

[tharbin]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Greetings! My name is Jeremy Pollock I have been into fish keeping since 2010 although I have only kept fresh water fish up until now. I just recently got my basement fishroom setup so I moved all my tanks down to one room. I currently have 9 tanks with 366 gallons holding 74 fish of 13 different species and several plants as well. I have bred fish and created symbiotic relationships with plants and fish in the fresh water variety. A picture of my new basement setup is attached. I have done almost everything that can be done with fresh water so I am now making the leap and going to add a 200 gallon tank to my collection for a salt water reef. The tank will be delivered in February and I have already collected the supplies to get a salt water mixing station built in my basement. Unlike many others I will use my RODI waste water to supply my fresh water fish with water so there will be no "waste" water. I am excited to begin this journey and really don't have any lofty goals. I was at a tropical fish store in Virginia Beach and saw an amazing mixed reef tank a year ago which has made me want one ever since. I will mostly be in this for the fish but I for sure want a clown anemone combo. Given my tank doesn't arrive for a few months it will be a slow process until I get up and running but I would love support should I run into challenges. My salt water mix station will be a DIY build of 3 44 gallon Brute trash cans 1 for RODI 1 for Salt mix and 1 for the "waste" which I will use on my fresh tanks. My tank is a 200 gallon EXT peninsula set for delivery in late Feb. I haven't decided 100% on the lighting but likely will get ecotech Xr15 times 3 or Xr30 times 2. I also desire some tangs as well as I am mostly in this for the fish. The anemone I understand is a little harder to keep and should be introduced as the tank has been more established so as I said this will likely be a slow process but Im going to try and not have huge failures along the way as I've learned alot from freshwater care over the last decade. Anyone got questions about freshwater fish and plants I got you for sure. Any tips for a beginner in salt tank life I will gladly accept.

Hi Jeremy and
Welcome! Glad you joined. I come from freshwater side, and FOWLR is very similar to freshwater.

Have you considered starting your build thread? I found its a great place to document my tank's evolution for myself. I wish I had started when still in planning phase, like you seem to be. I started tank first then joined, so I'm still finding myself going back collecting pictures & updating historically as well as current state. Once you create your first post in your thread and link it to your account, they will give you build badge (look left, under my ID)

This is a good reference book type online article I still review:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[flyfisher2]

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Welcome to R2R and the salty world Jeremy. Wow that’s a lot of water in your basement. Must be great. Lots of knowledgeable and helpful people here who will support and advise you when needed.

 

[Manny’s Reef]

Hello and welcome to R2R. Glad to have you.

 

[Magic City Reefer]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[hawkeyejp82]

Hi Jeremy and
Welcome! Glad you joined. I come from freshwater side, and FOWLR is very similar to freshwater.

Have you considered starting your build thread? I found its a great place to document my tank's evolution for myself. I wish I had started when still in planning phase, like you seem to be. I started tank first then joined, so I'm still finding myself going back collecting pictures & updating historically as well as current state. Once you create your first post in your thread and link it to your account, they will give you build badge (look left, under my ID)

This is a good reference book type online article I still review:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

So I put some thought into the FOWLR tank and that is definitely not the way I'm going to go. The biggest goal I had was to create a symbiotic relationship with clowns and an anemone. I am most certainly considering a small amount of corals that can grow large and a significant amount of fish as they are my real passion. If there is a coral it will most likely have a purpose for my fish.

Yes I need to get my build thread going soon even though my tank isn't due to arrive until late February I will have all the supplies to build my mixing station by early next week (I already made a mistake and got CPVC for the build when it really should be PVC so another trip to the hardware store soon).

 

[atomos]

 

[AquaticReefDesign]

Welcome Gary. Insane fish room. Everyone's dream to have a cool fish room like that. Best of luck.



www.ardocala.com

 

[Kiwi reefer]

Welcome to R2R

 

[hawkeyejp82]

Hi Jeremy and
Welcome! Glad you joined. I come from freshwater side, and FOWLR is very similar to freshwater.

Have you considered starting your build thread? I found its a great place to document my tank's evolution for myself. I wish I had started when still in planning phase, like you seem to be. I started tank first then joined, so I'm still finding myself going back collecting pictures & updating historically as well as current state. Once you create your first post in your thread and link it to your account, they will give you build badge (look left, under my ID)

This is a good reference book type online article I still review:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

Started on my build thread. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-new-200g-peninsula-build.883682/

 

[hawkeyejp82]

Thanks for the welcome!

As for LFS in the Fredericksburg area unfortunately all we have is 2 Petsmarts and 1 Petco in this town. The best LFS I've seen near by is NOVA tropicals in Dale City but I haven't explored the entirety of the DC area fish stores. The best store I've seen for salt water fish in Virginia was the Aquariums Unlimited store in VA Beach which has some amazing setups.

I am still collecting supplies and don't expect my build to start in earnest for a few months but yeah I will start a build thread. Again thanks for the warm welcome.

Welcome @hawkeyejp82 to R2R. I'd suggest starting a build thread to let us know how it's going and a great place to get feedback and answers to questions.

And I'd appreciate your recommendation of LFS's in the Fredericksburg area....I visit King George with frequency and would like to see what's up in your area.

Again, welcome!

​

Another cool LFS I just found was tiki corals in Glen Allen VA which is probably harder for you to get to than NOVA tropicals is given its south of both Fredericksburg and King George on the northern side of Richmond. I got to visit there yesterday and met the owners they were really nice and they have amazing looking corals.

 

[muzikalmatt]

Welcome welcome!!!
What part of Virginia are you from?

 

[hawkeyejp82]

Welcome welcome!!!
What part of Virginia are you from?

Fredericksburg

 

[Karen00]

Welcome to the salty side and the community! I look forward to seeing your tank when you get it setup. That is one impressive fish room! I'm so envious!

 

[aSaltyKlown]

Thanks for the welcome!

As for LFS in the Fredericksburg area unfortunately all we have is 2 Petsmarts and 1 Petco in this town. The best LFS I've seen near by is NOVA tropicals in Dale City but I haven't explored the entirety of the DC area fish stores. The best store I've seen for salt water fish in Virginia was the Aquariums Unlimited store in VA Beach which has some amazing setups.

I am still collecting supplies and don't expect my build to start in earnest for a few months but yeah I will start a build thread. Again thanks for the warm welcome.

Welcome!

I'm in Stafford and have been to the following:
Capitol Aquarium in Manassas
Reef eScape in Fairfax
Supreme Reefs in Fairfax
Centreville Aquarium in Centreville
Blue Ribbon Koi and Marine in Cathapine
Reefology in Midlothian
Azalea Aquariums in Richmond
Richmond Aquarium in Richmond
You already mentioned Tiki Coral and Nova Tropical

*edit* - There is also Pets plus in Stafford. I only go there for emergency dry goods, would not get livestock here.

I have also been to Tropical Lagoon and Congressional Aquariums in MD.

My main go-to's are Nova Tropical and Capitol Aquarium.

It would also be good for you to join WAMAS, Wash DC Area Marine Aquarist Society. I get many of my corals and used hardware from local reefers.

There is also RVA Fragfest coming up Feb 12th. (I'm not affiliated) You may not be set up but would be good to see some reginal vendors. More info on FB.