cpu933k

Tried going there on Sunday and it was a zoo! The nice weather caused the place to be so packed that they closed the gates for parking - I couldn't even get in. So I took the kids to the zoo today (thank you Super Tuesday!) and it was pretty empty. I made sure to get some photos of the reef tanks for you all. Enjoy:

reefcleaners.org has been great. Decent prices, great customer service.

I'm really surprised that you were getting so much ammonia in your qt. I suspect maybe your sponge filter wasn't fully cycled and therefore your qt was undergoing a cycle (the rise in ammonia was more from bacteria die off from your sponge than from the food/fish waste). When I QT my fish, they initially undergo tank transfer every 3 days - so no biofiltration at all and I have never had any ammonia issues and I feed heavily. Also nitrites aren't really toxic in the levels typically found in reef tanks. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.php

Both congressional and TL usually have them in stock.

Ha, my fish got scared whenever I used the magnet to clean the glass, so I started conditioning them by cleaning the glass right before feeding. They are now no longer scared of it and one of them even follows the magnet around.

You can always cut the pe mysis too. I used to do that for smaller fish.

You can also use magnum 350, using a micron filter.

Ha ha, seriously, I had a butterflyfish who was initally very shy. By the end of my 6 week QT, he was up at the glass like a little puppy dog begging for food everytime I approached the tank. Once I introduced him to the DT, he went into hiding. But at meal time, as I approached the tank, he was back to begging for food.

Can't go wrong with live blackworms. Tropical Lagoon in Silver Spring or Congressional Aquarium in Rockville usually have them in stock.

Yep, my favorite LFS and they are a wamas sponsor as well. They have a lot of dry goods in stock and the dry goods are the ones hobbyists are interested in, not the typical junk you see in other stores.

Tom, this is interesting. I run an MJ1200 continuosly in my brutes and I get that brown crud too. I may try running the pump for a shorter amount of time and only once per day. But I'm curious as to what makes the pump running continuously cause the anti-caking agent to precipate out? Why wouldn't it do so in our DTs where the pumps are continuosly running?

Once you see something you like, just remember to shop around. Most LFSes (especially our sponsors) can order any tank for you at pretty good prices.

You haven't gotten any yet? Do you have an idea of what you want? Have you been to House of Tropicals yet? They probably have the largest number of tanks in stock in this area. Comparable, if not more than That Fish Place (at least the last time I was there).

Inside or outside? Doesn't it leave a residue?

Haha, I love how your 5th photo included the no photo sign. Wow, I can't believe they sell fish prebagged like that.

Sorry to hear about this. Here's a good article on velvet and the different treatment options: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-07/sp/feature/index.htm Looks like you have cupramine on hand, so you may want to go with/continue the copper option. Chloroquine phosphate seems like a preferable option, but it's hard to get a hold of. NLS Ick Shied (Powder form - not the food pellets) is supposedly a form of chloroquine phosphate and is easier to get a hold of. But there are some who have questioned its purity and source. Here's some additional info on copper usage: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa165

What are the symptoms? Hard to tell from the pics. Which fish is it? The foxface or clown or both?

Here's some good reading on the subject from Randy Holmes-Farley: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/3/chemistry

Looks great, but I was really hoping for the auto frozen food feeder

The ridge on the inside near the top is around 22 gallons.

I believe Reef Escape (of recent Tanked fame ) maintains that tank.

I echo Quantum Reefs, Tropical Lagoon, House of Tropicals (but it's up by BWI). There's also Centreville Aquarium. I'm not sure whether to mention them or not, but there's also Congressional Aquarium in Rockville. Their fish are often diseased though, which is why I hesitate to mention them.

Let me just say that the Apex Android app is truly terrible. 95% of the time it says my apex is not online, whereas I then access my Apex through Fusion on the web with no issues. I stopped using the app altogether and just use fusion on the web. I think I remember I had a similar problem as you and I ended up removing apex from fusion and from the app and reintiaitng the link/sync.

Great job guys. Glad they gave you a shout out with your name and company name. It's too bad John wanted a freshwater tank. I'm sure you had to sign NDAs up the wazoo, but would appreciate you sharing what you can about the experience.

User beware, the fish in the section with the anemones/corals had ich.