Adamsapple12

Thanks for the info and replies everyone! Will be checking out a few of those places once my tank is ready for livestock!

I moved away from Virginia about 6+ years ago with my reef setup. Sold my reef about 2 years ago and moved back to Arlington a year ago. Finally rejoined WAMAS and getting back into the hobby! That being said, what are the best LFS stores in NoVA for fish/livestock/coral? Already ordered all of my dry goods and tank online during BRS'/Amazon Black Friday sale so don't need much of that. Also don't care too much if the fish are quarantined. Prefer variety and selection as I do my own quarantine. From a quick Google Maps search looks like a few are still around, but a few have gone/changed. And don't have a whole day to drive around NoVA/DC evaluating LFS' before buying. Appreciate all the recommendations and time saved in advance! Thanks, Stephen

I'll put this out there and by quick since you already have so much feed back. I have 6 AI Prime HDs, 4 over my Red Sea Reefer 350 and 1 over my IM Nuvo 20, and another 1 over my 10g frag. I absolutely love the AI lights and wouldn't have chose a different option. I find that they put out good PAR, color up all corals (SPS and zoas), and are extremely easy to use. I fun mine at about 70% and am getting 200+ Par 8 inches below the water, and 80-100 Par at the very bottom of the tank.

I've had two lawnmower blennies before in a 75 gallon tank. They never once ate any frozen or dried food but were fat and happy. They should find enough algae and food to eat if your tank is big enough. Don't really remember seeing them breathe heavy though.

Anyone have any experience with the coral beauty and/or rusty angelfish in a reef environment? And specifically how "reef safe" are they and what do/have then nipped at? I know they are technically not reef safe and that every fish has their own personality from tank to tank, but I am just looking for experiences from other people. Thinking about moving one from my 55 to my red sea reefer 350. Thanks for any advice!

I want to try out a different way to lower my nitrates and phosphates while coloring up my acros. Right now I use GFO, a small refugium, a Reef Octopus 202-S skimmer, and a plate of marinepure bio media. My phosphates and nitrates are somewhat low as it is - 0.50 ppm Nitrates, and .03 ppm Phosphates. I do large water changes every week and want to reduce how often I do them. I also want to color up my acros more as they are a bit pale. Would you guys recommend switching to a biopellet reactor? I already have an AquaMaxx one laying around that works pretty well. I tried it once before but got a crap load of white slimey biomass all over my tank (even when i directed it towards the intake of the skimmer). However, I am just a little confused on how to maintain a biopellet reactor from all of the articles and forums I am reading. Would I want to dose vodka as well if my phosphates and nitrates get too low? Also what color program should I use as I use a biopellet reactor? And if I did switch to a biopellet reactor would I continue to run GFO and my refugium? Thanks in advance for any help.