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WAMAS Spring Meeting - April 25, 2026 - Charles Delbeek


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Time: 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM (Speaker starts at 3:00 PM)

Where: North Bethesda Middle School, 8935 Bradmoor Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817

 

WAMAS members get in free. Guests are $10 each (paid at the door). Join WAMAS at this link 

 

Agenda:
1:00 Sign-in / socialize / frag sales
1:30 Workshop - TBD
2:00 Break / socialize / frag sales
3:00 Speaker - Charles Delbeek - Lessons Learned from Managing a 212,000 Gallon Reef Tank over 18 years 
4:00 Break
4:15 Raffle!
 
Directions to North Bethesda Middle School:
- NOTE: The school is just inside the north edge of the beltway near Old Georgetown Road.

Here's a map from Google Maps:
https://goo.gl/maps/bKz79Y9HmQF2
 
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Bio:
J. Charles Delbeek is currently Curator of Aquarium Projects at the Steinhart Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California. Charles consulted on the design of the Academy's 212,000 gallon reef system and now manages the team that cares for this challenging system. Previously Charles spent 13 years working at the Waikiki Aquarium in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and serves on the Steering Committee for the Aquatic Invertebrate Taxon Advisory Group (AITAG). Charles' professional interests include the ecology and captive husbandry of marine and freshwater fishes, live corals, mangroves, seagrasses, freshwater aquatic plants and cephalopods. Charles co-authored three popular aquarium books with Julian Sprung from 1994 to 2005; The Reef Aquarium series. Since 1986, Charles has presented at over 160 conferences, aquarium clubs and scientific meetings, and has written over 100 articles and papers. In recognition of his long history of contributions to the marine aquarium hobby, he was presented with the MASNA Award in 2008.
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Presentation Title: Lessons Learned from Managing a 212,000 Gallon Reef Tank over 18 years 

 

J. Charles Delbeek M.Sc.

Curator of Aquarium Projects

Steinhart Aquarium - California Academy of Sciences

 

While managing the largest indoor reef in North America over the past 18 years, one learns a thing or two. From lighting, to filtration to even the use of magic erasers, we have been able to glean a few things. However, the most telling thing, and the one that has led a miraculous turn around in our system in coral health, growth and system stability, has been the work we have done in understanding the role of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels, and more importantly, the ratio of these two and how this value level may have greater importance than their individual levels.

 

While our understanding of the role of dissolved nutrients in coral health in aquaria is still evolving, I feel the examination of N:P ratios may be a useful tool to have in your toolchest when troubleshooting coral issues. This presentation will present an overview of the system and evidence of how the N and P ratios affected the health of our corals and, ultimately led to a dramatic improvement in the system.

 

 Sponsors On Site, Selling


Vendors On Site, Selling

 

Members On Site, Selling

@gws3

 

 

Special thanks to theses sponsors. Please support them & say thanks next time you shop with them.

WAMAS Platinum Sponsors 

Air, Water & Ice

Avast Marine
Blue Ribbon Koi
- Champion Lighting & Supply
ChemiPure (Boyd Enterprises)

- Coral Candy Aquaculture

- Exotic Reef Creations

- Fintastic Aquariums of Maryland
- Frank's Tanks
Reed Mariculture (Reef Nutrition)
- Reef eScape

Supreme Reefs

WAMAS Banner-Only Sponsors 
- Bulk Reef Supply

Cobalt Aquatics

Coral Magazine
Jellyfish Art
Maxspect
Two Little Fishies

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