79chopperdr

Back in Virginia for another two weeks. I have made some decent progress on the build at home though! http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2315310

I stopped by Blue Ribbon Koi today. Some really nice stuff there and a well stocked store. I was the only one there so I got to have a great chat with John. I even picked up a few little dry goods. Mangroves in Northern California are not unheard of they are just not normally stocked in the stores and if you want to order some it's $12-15 per stalk plus shipping. So I could fight the urge no more. I would love a chance to see the hotel maids face tomorrow morning though

If you are setting up the tanks close to each other. Set up a closed loop between tanks. A friend used two rio 180 pumps to move water between the tanks. Obviously close supervision is required!! Let it run 8 hours or so and move everything. When I upgraded from a 80 to my 210 this wasn't a option because of the distance between tanks. I filled the 210 with water, dry sand and some dry rock. I added a few rocks and a couple cups of sand from the 80. I let the 210 go for a couple weeks until the diatoms got going. On move day I made sure the water tested out the same from the 210 and the 80. I just moved the coral and rocks from one tank to the other. The fish got drip acclimated before being added to the 210. I had zero losses, I have no idea if it was my crazy good science skills or dumb luck!! Good luck!

Thanks Origami! I'm in town until Sunday, then I go home for two days and head to Michigan with my wife for a wedding. When I get back from Michigan I spend about 4 days at home and head back this way. Who takes care of the tank you ask.... My 12 year old daughter is a awesome mini reefer. ( the calcium reactor is pretty helpful too) October will be the ultimate test of how well my system is put together since I will only be in the same state as the tank for about 9 days

Haha, big dogs are alright with me. Is there a for sale board on the wamas forum or am I missing it??

Back in town, wanted to stop by incredible corals and blue ribbon koi on the way to the hotel today. Both closed on Mondays..... I'll try and fit them in this week.

Back home some great progress is being made on the stand. Check out my RC build thread

Thanks for all the info folks. I enjoyed my visit and will be flying home in the morning. I plan to be back again in October

Just saw it on your calendar. 10/26. Currently I'm scheduled to be in town! I will definitely make it if I can.

Awesome, what is the date on that talk?

I have a potters and a coral beauty now. On the hunt for a male/female pair of swallow tails (Genicanthus melanospilos)

I stopped by Atlantis on Thursday. Great selection of fish and a really cool shark in one of the display tanks on the right side of the store.

@ quantum Reef. Steve, sorry i missed you. Thanks for the offer on h out of towner special. I liked you store and will be sure to drop by when I come back in October. @ Brad908, I'm from the Sacramento area. I have visited a few stores in the bay area and have never been impressed. I'm finding out that Sacramento has a pretty incredible reef community. There are 4-5 great stores within a 30-40 minutes radius. If our ever in the bay area and have a day to kill I would be happy to draw up a treasure map for you. @sachaballi reef. I traded PMs with the owner from reef creations and looked at the website. He really has some nice LPS. I have been moving away from LPS since I started keeping angels and they think LPS is delicious. Maybe next trip though.

I was able to stop by quantum reefs today. It was a nicely stocked store, with some nice corals. I really liked how there were multiple manufactures of lights over the display tanks. I wish a store in California would have done that when I was in the market. Side by side comparison is cool. Overall the prices were alittle higher than what I would expect to pay at home. Are there prices inline with the region. I'll be heading to Atlantis in Richmond tomorrow .

^^^^ thanks