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Greetings! My name is Jeremy Pollock I have been into fish keeping since 2010 although I have only kept fresh water fish up until now. I just recently got my basement fishroom setup so I moved all my tanks down to one room. I currently have 9 tanks with 366 gallons holding 74 fish of 13 different species and several plants as well. I have bred fish and created symbiotic relationships with plants and fish in the fresh water variety. A picture of my new basement setup is attached. I have done almost everything that can be done with fresh water so I am now making the leap and going to add a 200 gallon tank to my collection for a salt water reef. The tank will be delivered in February and I have already collected the supplies to get a salt water mixing station built in my basement. Unlike many others I will use my RODI waste water to supply my fresh water fish with water so there will be no "waste" water. I am excited to begin this journey and really don't have any lofty goals. I was at a tropical fish store in Virginia Beach and saw an amazing mixed reef tank a year ago which has made me want one ever since. I will mostly be in this for the fish but I for sure want a clown anemone combo. Given my tank doesn't arrive for a few months it will be a slow process until I get up and running but I would love support should I run into challenges. My salt water mix station will be a DIY build of 3 44 gallon Brute trash cans 1 for RODI 1 for Salt mix and 1 for the "waste" which I will use on my fresh tanks. My tank is a 200 gallon EXT peninsula set for delivery in late Feb. I haven't decided 100% on the lighting but likely will get ecotech Xr15 times 3 or Xr30 times 2. I also desire some tangs as well as I am mostly in this for the fish. The anemone I understand is a little harder to keep and should be introduced as the tank has been more established so as I said this will likely be a slow process but Im going to try and not have huge failures along the way as I've learned alot from freshwater care over the last decade. Anyone got questions about freshwater fish and plants I got you for sure. Any tips for a beginner in salt tank life I will gladly accept.
Hi Jeremy and
Welcome! Glad you joined. I come from freshwater side, and FOWLR is very similar to freshwater.
Have you considered starting your build thread? I found its a great place to document my tank's evolution for myself. I wish I had started when still in planning phase, like you seem to be. I started tank first then joined, so I'm still finding myself going back collecting pictures & updating historically as well as current state. Once you create your first post in your thread and link it to your account, they will give you build badge (look left, under my ID)
This is a good reference book type online article I still review:
The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium
This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...www.reef2reef.com
Started on my build thread. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-new-200g-peninsula-build.883682/Hi Jeremy and
Welcome! Glad you joined. I come from freshwater side, and FOWLR is very similar to freshwater.
Have you considered starting your build thread? I found its a great place to document my tank's evolution for myself. I wish I had started when still in planning phase, like you seem to be. I started tank first then joined, so I'm still finding myself going back collecting pictures & updating historically as well as current state. Once you create your first post in your thread and link it to your account, they will give you build badge (look left, under my ID)
This is a good reference book type online article I still review:
The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium
This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...www.reef2reef.com
Thanks for the welcome!
As for LFS in the Fredericksburg area unfortunately all we have is 2 Petsmarts and 1 Petco in this town. The best LFS I've seen near by is NOVA tropicals in Dale City but I haven't explored the entirety of the DC area fish stores. The best store I've seen for salt water fish in Virginia was the Aquariums Unlimited store in VA Beach which has some amazing setups.
I am still collecting supplies and don't expect my build to start in earnest for a few months but yeah I will start a build thread. Again thanks for the warm welcome.
Another cool LFS I just found was tiki corals in Glen Allen VA which is probably harder for you to get to than NOVA tropicals is given its south of both Fredericksburg and King George on the northern side of Richmond. I got to visit there yesterday and met the owners they were really nice and they have amazing looking corals.Welcome @hawkeyejp82 to R2R. I'd suggest starting a build thread to let us know how it's going and a great place to get feedback and answers to questions.
And I'd appreciate your recommendation of LFS's in the Fredericksburg area....I visit King George with frequency and would like to see what's up in your area.
Again, welcome!
FredericksburgWelcome welcome!!!
What part of Virginia are you from?
Welcome!Thanks for the welcome!
As for LFS in the Fredericksburg area unfortunately all we have is 2 Petsmarts and 1 Petco in this town. The best LFS I've seen near by is NOVA tropicals in Dale City but I haven't explored the entirety of the DC area fish stores. The best store I've seen for salt water fish in Virginia was the Aquariums Unlimited store in VA Beach which has some amazing setups.
I am still collecting supplies and don't expect my build to start in earnest for a few months but yeah I will start a build thread. Again thanks for the warm welcome.