cpu933k

ReefEscape in Fairfax Incredible Corals in Manassas Blue Ribbon Koi in Catharpin Centreville Aquarium - does not really have corals, but has sw fish and some dry goods

Just FYI in case anyone tries going there today (Sunday). They closed early today. I found out the hard way. At least I didn't take the toll road.

Nothing is really that close to Nationals Park. Closest (and on your way home) is probably Quantum Reefs, but they haven't had a good livestock selection recently. Tropical Lagoon usually has a good selection, but is opposite from your way home. Reef Escape may be your best bet. Not exactly close, but probably the closest with a good selection. Check their facebook page as they usually will post their fish livestock list up.

Based on their websites/social media: Incredible Corals closes at 7:00 pm on Sun Reef eScape closes at 5:30 pm on Sun Quantum Reefs closes at 5 pm on Sun Blue Ribbon Koi closes at 5 pm on Sun Tropical Lagoon closes at 5 pm on Sun Better call to double check though.

I use a Hanna Checker ULR Phosphorous, but it won't help you with your problem. Elevated phosphate levels usually will lead to hair algae problems, not diatoms or dinos. Dinos in their early stages look like diatoms. One definite way to tell is through a microscope. There are guys on R2R that you can send a sample to and they will id it for you. A more basic way is to siphon off some water, pass it through a paper towel, then shake the water. Dinos will clump back together after a time: http://www.reef2reef.com/threads/helpful-method-for-identifying-dinoflagellates.216508/

Are you sure it's diatoms? Usually this is due to excess silicates either from being a new tank, not using RODI, or old bulbs. I had what I thought were diatoms after about a year in. I was using LEDs, and always used RODI. Couldn't find any help. Turns out they were dinos, not diatoms, and am battling them now. If they are really diatoms, I think vivid aquariums used bakers yeast to combat it: https://www.facebook.com/REEF2REEF/videos/vb.341407129805/10154278463269806/?type=2&theater

Not local, but turbo aquatics (Bud aka Floyd R Turbo on RC and R2R) makes nice ones. I bought one from him - pricey, but good build quality and wonderful customer support. Santa Monica Filtration also makes some. I tried the HOG2 for about a month and didn't get any growth. The one I got from Turbo gets pretty good growth (L2 Rev 4).

Beautiful! Love how it's not stuffed to the gills.

GOSKN5, what is the name of the one in that 3rd picture?

Nice. So will you have new livestock starting on wed now?

Very nice. Definitely inspirational for a distant future upgrade.

I have a waveline dc6000 as my return and a dc4000 in my rlss r6 skimmer. Both running for over a year now with no issues.

Quantum reefs

Yeah, I already have 4 tiger sand conches in there, but they only come out at night due to my puffers and hawkfish and don't really help too much. I added more snails recently, but my puffers went to town on them as soon as I put them in. Only a few survived. What an expensive treat for them. My goby/shrimp pair do keep the area outside their burrow pretty clean. I was going to add another pair but then the new goby jumped the tank while in QT. I may consider an urchin. What kind would you recommend?

Thanks fishgate! They are mostly sand particles that you see, but there are a few bubbles as well.

Do you have any simple designs you can share? I started looking into it, but it became too daunting and would rather just purchase one premade. But if there's an easy way of doing it, I may try to make one. But again, I'm not even sure it would help me with my current issue.

Ha, yeah I'm trying everything. I'm already on the waitlist for Turbo's new ATS, but it may be a while for that.

It's driving me crazy. I scrubbed the rocks and they looked great, only to return a day later. Same with the sand. I don't even know what I am battling here - diatoms, cyano, dinos? I had cyano in my sump and it was pretty red and snotty, so I don't think this is cyano in the DT, but could be wrong. Everything I've read about diatoms has to do with new tanks or not using RODI and usually people say wait it out and it will clear up in a few weeks. This tank is over a year old and I have been battling this for months. Haven't added any new rock or sand, have always used RODI, TDS is 0, silicates of RODI water and newly made saltwater both measure 0 as does the tank water. I use LEDs and the lights are about a year old, so not due to light bulbs. Have been running GFO for half a year, tried chaeto for a few months and while it stayed alive, it wasn't really growing. Any other ideas on what I'm battling and how to conquer this?

Have you tried looking at some of the LFSes? I know quantum reefs and reef escape have some.

20% weekly water changes.

Tank is just over 1 year old, but have been battling what I think are diatoms for 3-4 months now. 75 g DT, 20 g sump Caribsea fiji pink dry sand BRS Ecosaver dry rock Nitrates are < 1 ppm phosphates are generally around .03 ppm (between 6-12 ppb Hanna ULR) silicates are 0 ppm RLSS r6i skimmer Waveline DC6000 return pump Buildmyled 20,000k LEDs, on a 10 hour lighting schedule I feed some NLS pellets in the am and 1 cube of mysis and some blackworms in the evening. I have a 100 micron filter sock leading into the sump and change it out and empty the skimmer cup every 2-3 days. Skimmate is pretty dark green/black, but cup is not more than 1/4 full when I empty it. I'm running GFO, but doesn't really seem to be doing much. I tried both Phosban and BRS high capacity GFO and din't notice much difference. Tried chaeto in the fuge, but also really didn't grow much. I'm also running ROx carbon. Using RODI, TDS of 0. Do 20% weekly water changes. Scrub the rocks every now and then when I can't bear to look at the rust colored stuff all over it. Will lightly stir up the sand bed every few days as well. I also tried PhosphateRx twice, but it didn't lead to any decrease in phosphate levels. What am I dealing with and how do I win this battle?

I'm conflicted and find myself on both sides of the debate. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/08/science/marine-life-thrives-in-unlikely-place-offshore-oil-rigs.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

Then I got this burgessi butterflyfish who dethroned the bicolor and is now the reigning king of the tank: Has tons of energy and personality. Loves to follow my magfloat around the tank when I clean the glass. Constantly swims around the tank all day long. Kept photobombing all the other fish as I was trying to take their photos.

Royal gramma - smallest fish in the tank but pretty tough looking with that scar-looking line across his face. Hawks have been harassing him, but he holds his own against them when they get near his cave: Embarassed to say how many bicolors I went through before I finally got a hardy (non-cyanide caught) specimen: Instantly became king of the tank even though he was smaller than most of the other fish.

This foxface was just a little baby when I got him. He became instant good buddies with the blue dot puffer and followed him around all over the tank: He's now the largest fish in the tank and the biggest chicken too. Bonded longnose hawkfish pair: