Gatortailale

IceCap Inc. was a great donor to the WAMAS sponsored 600g reef tank at the National Aquarium in DC ("NADC"). See here IceCap Inc. Testimonials - Few pics of the WAMAS sponsored NADC tank. Ice_news.pdf

At the annual Marine Aquarium Conference of North America (MACNA) conference, a deserving aquarium hobbyist will receive this $2,500.00 scholarship to help further his/her education in a marine-related field! Since the WAMAS Reef Club is a MASNA Club, all WAMAS members and eligible family members are eligible. To learn more please go to http://www.masna.org/fundraiser.php. The deadline for submitting applications is August 4th! Doing our part to further "Preservation through Eductation". Craig Kuhn WAMAS President

You can also check out the WAMAS sponsored 600 gallon reef tank [6' x 5' x 3']. Funding for the tank possible from the profits the club made off of hosting MACNA XVII It's your club - giving back to the DC Metro community Special thanks to to following companies who donated items free or sold them to us at cost: Blue Zoo Aquatics: Tank builder + return & closed loop pumps Walt Smith Int.: Live Rock Carib Sea: Crushed Coral for sand bed Grey Seas Aquatics: Skimmer & life support equipment (calcium reactor, kalk stirrer & media reactor] Ice Cap Inc. - Metal Halide and VHO lighting Ballasts Pacific Coast Imports: 1 hp Chiller Ushio: 4 x 400watt MH bulbs Jeff Haddock's Pimped Out Aquariums: Sump Sea-Swirl: 2 x 1-inch sea-swirl units Oceans Motions: 2 x Oceans Motions 4-way units Hellolights: VHO Bulbs Dhoch: 80 watt UV system he won at MACNA XIX in Pittsburgh and donated to system. Pacific Garden Supply: Diamond Lumenarc III reflectors We could not have done it without their support. [my apology if I missed any vendor/donor] WAMAS logo next to tank Full Tank Right side Back Room Right 2 pumps connected to closed loop + Oceans Motions 4-way Oceans Motions 4-way connected to closed loop - 2 inlets per side per pump Top Down from back room Flow Meter on sea-swirls to monitor rate of return

looks like a bubble king clone. They worked hard to come up with new name for their skimmer line. see here for the real deal: http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/m...Code=bubbleking

next time you have a LFS order you a fish, have them acclimate the fish into their system and let it stay there a few days to adjust - unless your buying from the big R. Sounds to me like fish was stressed b/w shipping, hitting shops tank for few hours, then getting added to your tank. That is a lot of different water for the fish to be in over a 24+ hour period. Good luck, hope it works out - try keeping tank dark to limit stress and at this point, I wouldn't change water conditions any more till it settles more and starts acting more normal.

NOTE: The WAMAS Summer meeting will be on Saturday August 9, 2008 at the National Aquarium in Washington, DC. See here: WAMAS Summer Meeting WE ALSO HAVE THIS AWESOME EVENT TO GIVE THE MEMBERS MORE !!!!!! - SEE Link in 1st post for more details. Here are some basics.

Relying on honor factor - I'm trusting your image of card is real. Thus, I set your expiration to 9/6/08 as it says on the card. With 500+ paid members, Ybe has to make a error once in while. You win the prize - date with jasonthefilterfreak Craig

In fairness to any store - they have no idea what is in your tank disease wise. Why should they take any fish back in the first place. Have a scheduled day they take returns - tuesday, their 1st day of QT of new fish they get in to the shop - makes sense. While its frustrating to the consumer - think about if from shop point of view - we take back a sick fish and put in system and it takes out many fish = loss. Or if they have to dedicate a separate system just for returns = lost money just running a system. Plus they QT fish for a set number of days and if you add in 1 new fish after you start the cycle, they the proper thing would be to reset the time = lost opportunity of never getting fish past QT for us to buy. Hope this helps explain the process. Sorry your upset, but shop has to have a plan as well.

Special thanks to the many members who took the time to send me a PM or email and expressed their opinions and support for how the officers are managing the club's relationship with vendors.

not to split hairs - but the 1000 full-sheet grade B is $4 cheaper than two of the 1000 half-sheet grade D. = me toasting Rik for saving me money and keeping my tangs happy.

Thanks for your comments Dan - takes a good cook to know his way around kitchen and can explain the grade variations to us lay people. I'll just add that I was a bit concerned today at work after reading your comments. However, when I got home I grabbed the 100 pack I have (got from guy at NCPARS meeting) and turns out that it is the same Izumi "Silver" that I just ordered. So the 1000 full sheet grade B = Izumi Silver - which works awesome and does not turn to itty bitty pieces. My 7 tangs, 4 angels, and idol love it.

I'm a snob then cause I got grade B 1000 pack FULL sheet for $78 shipped = 7.80 / 100 sheets and I feed 2 full sheets a day. Rik, I owe you cold one with extra loot I just saved on nori costs. Was paying like $12+ tax at local asian market. makes me laugh thinking about shipping guy who will be packing stuff looking at all the addresses in DC metro area saying what the heck is going on in DC with new nori demand.

Dear Vendors, As you know, WAMAS is a special community that is unique among aquarium societies. We really foster a sense of friendship and family and somehow manage to stay above most frays that seem to affect the majority of organizations, regardless of their purpose. As part of this community, we hope and expect that you will conform to all of our guidelines, including the Membership Guidelines and the Vendor Terms of Service. Above all else, we value active and equal participation from our membership and do not take a heavy-handed approach to problems that are encountered because we know that our community can work things out. Lately, however, this approach has begun to fail us. There has been a lot of recent activity amongst the vendor community that has undercut our efforts and circumvented our rules. This has included everything from creating "ghost" accounts to monitor other vendors activities and to post in restricted areas to abuse of the Vendor News forum by using it as a marketing tool rather than a forum to simply announce sales and specials. This conduct has not gone unnoticed and the report button has become a magnet with members reporting threads and conduct multiple times. Should this type of activity continue, individuals will be contacted and possible sanctions shall be considered. Although we value your participation in our community, we value our community more and will take the risk of alienating you. Our approach has always been one that fosters friendship amongst our diverse membership and we trust that you will consider these words and take them to heart. Thank You, WAMAS

I hope to be there.

WAMAS SUMMER MEETING - National Aquarium - Washington, DC - August 9, 2008 (Saturday) The Summer Meeting of The Washington Area Marine Aquarist Society (WAMAS) will be on Saturday August 9, 2008 from 5:15-8:00 p.m. The National Aquarium in Washington, D.C., Commerce Building, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20230 Our featured special guest speaker is Kevin Kohen of Live Aquaria. Kevin will be giving a presentation on Fish and Coral Husbandry Techniques. Kevin is the Director of LiveAquaria.com and has extensive experience in the Tropical Fish Industry. For further information on WAMAS and the Summer Meeting, visit our web site http://www.wamas.org/ Who: W.A.M.A.S. (Washington Area Marine Aquarium Society) When: August 9, 2008 (Saturday) Time: 5:15 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. (EST) Where: The National Aquarium in Washington, D.C. Commerce Building, Room B-077 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20230 Cost: Members - Free / Non-members - $5.00 [Annual Membership = $20 - Individual; $35 - Family] Agenda 5:15 - 5:45 Sign in and Socializing 5:45 - 6:00 Club News 6:00 - 7:30 Kevin Kohen - "Fish and Coral Husbandry Techniques" 7:30 - 7:45 Raffle 7:45 Adjourn Special guests - Kevin Kohen of Live Aquaria Miscellaneous - Light refreshments and snacks will be provided. BIO Fish and Coral Husbandry Techniques Kevin Kohen Drawing on Kevin�s vast experiences, this talk will address the important questions that most hobbyists are faced with when dealing with fish and corals. Best practices in acclimatizing fish and coral Treatment of Common Fish Diseases � What works Care of fish in Quarantine Getting difficult fish to feed How to avoid Coral Pests Dealing with Coral Pests in the aquarium Kevin Kohen is the Director of LiveAquaria.com and has extensive experience in the Tropical Fish Industry. Starting his career and working for eight years in a retail Fish store, Kevin then moved on to oversee the operations of one of the largest Tropical Fish Wholesale and Import/Export businesses in the Midwest for over eight years. From there, Kevin ventured on to launch the LiveAquaria.com web site. Kevin has bred and reared nearly 100 species of fresh and saltwater fish and was one of the early pioneers in the U.S. to maintain live corals in captivity back in the early 80's. For over 20 years, he has been a leading advocate for specialized shipping techniques that ensure the health of aquatic life during transit. Professionally, Kevin has helped pioneer important research studies in water chemistry management, filtration technologies, fish diseases, and acclimation techniques to safeguard the health of a wide range of aquatic species. Kevin designed our new Drs. Foster & Smith Aquaculture Coral Facility, and oversaw the installation of this new state-of-the-art facility. Kevin oversees the operations of the facility and is actively involved in the husbandry and propagation of all of the aquatic life in this new facility. Directions: The National Aquarium in Washington, D.C. Commerce Building, Room B-077 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20230 Plan your visit

July Events Mr. Coral Social - July 12 starting at 11AM. Please visit the Mr. Coral forum for more information on this social! Check back often for more details and events!

Join us on June 21st from 4:00 pm til ???? for the WAMAS Social event!! This has always been a great event for everyone, we have had anywhere from over 80 members to no less than 40 at every event! The idea here is a meet for all members to share / trade ideas, corals, fish and anything marine. We will be providing burgers, hot dogs and beverages for all, if you would like an adult beverage please BYOB. I believe DJ OZ will be in da house that night! Specials To be added to this post as stock arrives for the event! I can promise it will be worth the trip from even our far out members! Stay tuned to this thread!!! Due to the overwhelming need to know!! I will start posting the specials, there are more to come! (these specials designed to bring members in for the social, and will not be available until then) 1) Instant Ocean 200 gal boxes $34.95 2) BRK has done it again with Maximas!! 24 - 2 1/2" - 3" maximas, blues, greens, purples, and even a few gold and blacks!! ON sale for the event only!! $59.95 ea, 2 or more $49.95 ea. MORE TO COME, STAY TUNED!

Lucky for me I didn't lose power - Reston has underground cables. However, forcast is for 96-98 temps this weekend through Monday. My advice, think about reducing/limit hours on how long you run your lights this weekend. Few days of reduced hours should not hurt anything and will prevent you from cooking your tank (it might even give your heat pump a break).

some how I can't believe this is going to be reef safe - or fish safe - much longer if it's at 6 inches in size. Interested to see what it looks like and to know what you are feeding it.

unless that is a large clam, I would guess that they are 250w double end HQI pendants. Hope you have a good job to afford the new tank, lights, skimmer, livestock you plan to get. Don't forget the electric bill increase when you go to run all this new equipment.