Anybody in Central Virginia?

[CarrieB]

Located in Charlottesville. I'm thinking about getting back into the hobby and wondering about local resources.

 

[CarrieB]

rvareef- thanks for the PM! I tried to reply, but I got this message:

Sorry, you can only send messages to the RC Moderator group until you have 10 posts.

Not sure if this means that my PM didn't go out, or if it just is being moderated.

I guess I'll try again after five more posts.

 

[Mrramsey]

Check out the club forums - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=80

 

[CarrieB]

Thanks, Mike. Looks like Roanoke is the closest, which is still a bit of a jaunt for me. I got a nice PM from rvareef, so it's not quite a reef-free zone.

 

[GOSKN5]

Richmond area has a good club and a few good stores too... only about an hour or so south of ya... check out richmond reefers site

 

[A.Astore]

Finding resources in the local area is next to impossible. Can't count the hours in the car driving to Richmond with three kids. Next trip is up to Quantum Reef...

That being said, what you do have in mind? We found online to be the most practical for set up needs.

 

[CarrieB]

Well, you asked.

Well, you asked.

I had a reef tank in the 90's that I gave up when we moved. Now I have a small grandson that loves fish, and the sirens are calling again.

I've been talking to a guy that has a 150g tall tank that was a reef tank. He lost his coral after a house fire and consequent move. He didn't have the heart/money to rebuild and the tank needs equipment and a lot of attention. It has 200 lbs of LR and four fish (well, five, but he wants to keep the clownfish.) He wants the fish to go to a good home (i.e not the LFS). Unfortunately, my reading tells me that the tank is too small for the fish: Orange shoulder tang, sailfin tang (sigh), niger trigger, gold spotted rabbitfish.

I'm lusting after the big tank and the LR. I thought I'd ask about local people with big tanks that might want to adopt a fish, or four.

 

[A.Astore]

You could call Fish World in Richmond. They have a HUGE display tank (and I do mean HUGE... like 1200 gallons I think) he might be able to at least rehome the fish so they aren't sold to someone else that wants to cram them into another small tank.

 

[CarrieB]

That's a thought.

Richmond is quite a distance for you. Where do you get your livestock?

Edit: Silly me, you already said you go to Richmond or NoVa. Long way to transport live stuff.

 

[A.Astore]

Well, that has been an interesting adventure. Bought two different times from Bluezoo and both times ended up with very sick fish. I would not suggest going through them unless you feel like dealing with treating (ICH, Velvet, and internal parasites). Of the four fish only two have made it from there. Yeah, they offered credit but do I really want to deal with that again and have to pay the shipping again? The other thing with that one was they sent a Sun Polyp coral that looked like someone let an anger ridden person take a hacksaw to. It has since recovered well, but it was horrible looking when I got it.

My stocking is still very low in terms of fish because we opted to go slow. I am trying something with Quantum near DC because he offers QTing service. He is currently QTing a Copperband for me and I pick him up the 11th. I can let you know if it is worth the drive but he has been great to work with thus far. Willing to send pictures, accepts payment through invoice so I don't have to drive up more than once unless I am concerned about something.

I have gotten an LPS and some hermits from Fish World. The lobo is doing great.

Live Aquaria sent me two Acros which I am happy with their condition as well as shipping (they were through Divers Den). I have not ordered any fish from them yet but plan to the next time I do order. We have a vacation coming up and I don't want to chance having a fish in QT due to illness when someone is helping me out with the tank since I will not be reachable.

By far the one I was most impressed with though was Vivid Aquariums. I ordered a star fish and some frags (one pipe organ and then three acros) and everything got to my house in amazing shape! I would put money on him sending healthy fish as well because of the health of the frags I received. They are great to deal with.

I think there are a few other fish stores in Richmond but I have not stopped at them.

 

[CarrieB]

Have you been to Albemarle Aquariums in Charlottesville? I went by last week but they are closed M-W.

 

[A.Astore]

For some reason I want to say when I first started to get back into this they did not have saltwater set up yet. I honestly forgot about them because of them not having a date set or something... or maybe I have lost my mind and thinking of something else (which is very possible).

You said not open Mon - Wed? Maybe I will stop over if the weather is nice to us this week. Worth a look if they are stocking saltwater and close!

 

[CarrieB]

Just checked their Facebook page.

Open Thursday 1-6 Friday 2-7 Saturday 2-7

The guy who recommended them said they have good prices on frags. Let me know what you think.

 

[Rilelen]

Hi Carrie - I'm also located in Charlottesville!

We used to go to Aquascapes, but they closed their retail front about 6 months ago.

I've really liked Albemarle Aquariums - it's only open Thurs-Sat I believe. It's somewhat of a hobby store for the owner, I think, but he's a good guy - on my first visit, he wasn't technically open for business yet (I jumped the gun!) but he saw me peering in the window and invited me in, wound up selling me a lovely frogspawn frag. I can second the good price on frags, very very reasonable, more comparable to what you'd pay a fellow reefer than an LFS. The owner may know some folks in town who could house the bigger fish (unfortunately can't help there with my 72 gallon!). I haven't been by recently because life got in the way of my tanks. I'm planning to stop in as a reward for getting my saltwater tank all cleaned up again (finished renovating the freshwater last week!).

Aside from that, I've driven over to Richmond a couple times, but most of my orders have been from online. Done both BlueZoo and LiveAquaria - I prefer LiveAquaria and Diver's Den, as I've had better survival rates from them (although customer support at BlueZoo was perfectly charming and helpful in crediting the losses).

 

[CarrieB]

Good to know! Sounds like a useful place.

I'm going to look at the 150g once the roads are clear and see what would need doing. I would want to go slow with the goal of a big tank with a light load to keep maintenance time down.

 

[Koop]

Hi Carrie

I am in Madison County and come to Charlottesville regularly.

I am just getting back into saltwater myself after a 20 + year hiatus.

Dave at Albemarle Aquariums is a nice guy. He runs the store mostly just for fun thats why the odd hours. Last time I was in the store he was in a transition state. He thought he would have new livestock at this point but I have not been in since before Xmas.

 

[CarrieB]

Hi Koop!

What kind of tank do you have?

 

[Koop]

Hey
Currently have a 120 gallon tall tank with African cichlids. Its also heavily planted with Java Fern. I am slowly beginning the transition to a salt tank. I have the rock and sand and skimmer now. I have to finish cleaning everything and then I hope to start the cycle process.

How about you?

 

[CarrieB]

Still pondering. I'm talking to a guy with a 150g (4'x2'x30"). I know that's deep, but I like the width and I don't have a good wall for a longer tank in the room we spend time in. If I'm going to spend the time and the money, I want the tank where I can enjoy it.

In the meantime, trying to catch up on everything that's changed in the last 20 years.

 

[Rilelen]

Oh that does sound tempting...and if you're limited to a four foot tank due to the wall, it sounds even better, that width is glorious. Really curious to see how your plans develop!