top of page

Forum Posts

Patchin Curtis
Apr 18, 2025
In News & Events
From the American Cichlid Association It is with a sad heart that we have learned of the passing of another legend of the aquarium hobby, Dr Paul Loiselle. A true giant in the hobby and beyond. A founding member and Fellow of the American Cichlid Association, an Honorary Fellow of the Association France Cichlid and a Life Member of the North Jersey Aquarium Society, he is an internationally published author of numerous articles on the care and breeding of ornamental fishes and such books as The Cichlid Aquarium, Your Garden Pond, and The Fishkeeper’s Guide to African Cichlids. The inspiration for the creation of CARES and an eminent and highly respected ambassador for fish conservation, Paul has served as CARES Technical Editor of Freshwater Fishes, Madagascar Regional Coordinator, and CARES Speaker and Consultant since its inception in 2004. Thank you for your contributions and RIP Dr Loiselle.
1
0
43
Patchin Curtis
Apr 15, 2025
In Fish Mongers
Clean, used substrate is available for pick up in Annapolis, MD. All substrates are from the CaribSea Super Naturals series. There is Sunset Gold sand, Peace River fine gravel, and Gemstone creek medium gravel perhaps mixed with some Jelly Beans. All must go by May 1. After that, it goes to the rubble pile at the county dump. Forgot to mention earlier that I also have a fair amount of river rocks, some quite large in the 180g. Mostly various forms of granite.
0
4
84
Patchin Curtis
Mar 22, 2025
In News & Events
Spring is in the air, daphnia in the ponds, and fish ready to spawn. It must be time for the PVAS Spring All-Day Auction. It's just over two weeks away giving everyone this weekend and next weekend to whip fishrooms into shape and perform plenty of water changes in preparation for selling and buying fish, shrimp, and plants. We're back to our normal schedule this year of holding our auctions on the Sunday following the first Saturday of the month in April and October. Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025 Location: Green Acres Center, 4401 Sideburn Rd, Fairfax VA in the cafeteria Times: 8:30 am Set-up 10:00 am Registration opens 10:30 am Tag sale opens 10:45 am Auction opens 4:00 pm Bidding winds down 5:00 pm Take-down Auction Rules MyGroupAuctions Volunteers: It takes a lot of people to make an auction work smoothly. We need volunteers. Sign up or ask questions in Aly's posting. Sellers: We have an incentive in our Auction Rules to enter items early. It reads, "Early registration of auction items will result in them being auctioned in the first group of auction items. This incentive is available to the first 200 items listed and is limited to 20 items per seller." That refers specifically to 200 auction items, not tag sale items. As the auction announcements go out, people visit MyGroupAuctions to see what's on offer and decide if they think it's worth attending the auction. More buyers equals more money for sellers. So get your items listed in MGA early so we can have a lively and fun auction. Sellers: Make sure your address is complete and accurate in MGA or your check will not reach you and you will have to wait for it to expire before the club will issue another one, or you can cover the Stop Payment bank fee to get a replacement check right away. If you have any questions about interpreting Auction Rules, go ahead and post them here. Hope to see everyone at the auction.
0
13
192
Patchin Curtis
Jan 03, 2025
In News & Events
Happy New Year Fellow Fish Keepers! Tomorrow we will be kicking off the New Year with our very own Jacob Waters helping us with "Upping Your Shrimp Game". Same time, same place as always. About Jacob I have had a long history with aquarium keeping dating back to my childhood when my father had a 110gal tall tank with wild caught discus back in the early 90’s. Around 2005 I got into saltwater and dove head first into breeding rare clownfish types but in 2014 got out of the hobby when I met my wife. Fast forward to 2018 my oldest son who was 3 at the time wanted a Betta and of course my brother bought it for him and that started my descent back in to the aquarium hobby. We went to our first pvas club meeting that same year right after the CatCon and it was so much fun and I met Frank Cowherd and was able to get my first bag of cherry shrimp. I fell in love with these little creatures and quickly set up their very own 2.5 gallon tank and quickly went from 10 to 100 in a matter of a several months. So I had to get another tank and look for other types. I truly enjoy research and found my passion in the harder to keep Caridina shrimp species and have gone from 1 dedicated shrimp tank to over 60 and 24 different freshwater shrimp variants. I focus on the genetics of shrimp keeping and have met some of the best breeders in the world and have had the pleasure of talking at many clubs up and down the east coast. I also compete in shrimp contests all over the US and have judged a few contests as well.
January Meeting content media
0
0
31
Patchin Curtis
Sep 06, 2024
In News & Events
Glen Echo Park Aquarium Saturday, October 12 at 11:00 am To replace the October meeting/auction date we have arranged for a private tour of the Glen Echo Park Aquarium on Saturday, October 12 at 11:00 am.  This is open to paid PVAS members only.  PVAS will cover the cost of admission for all attending.  Please sign up here so we know how many people will attend.
Private Tour of Glen Echo Park Aquarium Sign-Up content media
2
14
149
Patchin Curtis
Nov 03, 2023
In News & Events
If you've been snoozing, time to wake up and remember that tomorrow's meeting begins promptly at 12 noon with our first presentation on Tetras by reknowned breeding expert Regina Spotti. A second talk on Spawning Cory Cats will be presented by long-time friend of the club and frequent CatCon presenter Eric Bodrock. Lunch will be provided by the club. 11:30 pm Set-up 12:00 pm Regina Spotti "Tetras" 1:00 pm Club sponsored lunch 1:45 pm Elections 2:00 pm Erik Bodrock "Spawning Cory Cats" 3:30 pm Mini-auction 5:00 pm Take-down
0
2
45
Patchin Curtis
Sep 28, 2023
In News & Events
Hi All, Hopefully everyone got the email blast about the Fall All-Day Auction this coming Sunday. It will be a busy weekend with the DMV Aquarium Showcase & Workshop the day before on Saturday. If you haven't seen the details about this additional all-day event, see the separate forum thread and dedicated web page.(https://www.pvas.com/dmvaquariumshowcase) Fall All-Day Auction Schedule 8:30 am Set-up 10:00 am Registration opens 10:30 am Tag sale opens 10:45 am Auction opens 4:00 Bidding winds down 5:00 pm Take-down MyGroupAuctions There are well over 200 items listed in MyGroupAuctions (https://mygroupauctions.com/)for Sunday. Check out all the beautiful shrimp, fish, and plants. Now is the time to go through your equipment and identify items to enter into the tag sale at a fixed price. Expect the number of items listed to double and then double again on Saturday as sellers bag up their fish. Now is a good time to review the Auction Rules.(https://www.pvas.com/auctions) A couple of items to keep in mind. • Sellers MUST have their CURRENT, complete and accurate address listed in MyGroupAuctions. Your checks will be sent to the address on file. Every auction we remind sellers to update their address, and every auction someone hasn't and doesn't get paid until the initial check expires. It's sad for everyone :( • Sellers: All bags must be properly labelled. This will be enforced, and we will be fussier than we are for the monthly mini-auctions. You will save yourself time and headaches by printing out your own labels at home. If you don't have properly sized labels, you can always print out your labels onto an 8.5 X 11" piece of paper and cut it up and apply the labels using packing tape. There will be a label printer and some labels at the auction. This is a courtesy. There can be long wait times to use the printer. Plus, it's stressful to be unloading your fish at the auction and then scrambling to get the bags labelled. Give yourself a break by labelling your items at home. • Buyers: The check-out line to pay by credit card can get long especially right at the end of the auction. Consider bringing cash so you don't have to wait to pay. Hope to see everyone on Saturday and Sunday.
1
9
129
Patchin Curtis
Sep 20, 2023
In DMV Aquarium Showcase/Workshop
Are you ready for the stupendous, spectacular double all-day, back-to-back events in less than 2 weeks? If you haven't already blocked your calendars for Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1, don't delay.
DMV Aquarium Showcase and Workshop | Sat Sep 30 2023 content media
1
4
81
Patchin Curtis
Sep 01, 2023
In News & Events
Join us tomorrow for our September feature presentation by Shane Linder. About PVAS Member Shane (on the left in above photo) Catfish expert and naturalist Shane Linder is the “Shane” behind Planetcatfish.com‘(http://Planetcatfish.com)s Shane World. Shane’s World houses well over 150 articles by various catfish experts making it the largest such resource known to exist. Shane is also a frequent contributor to several US and international aquarium periodicals and has been a guest speaker at numerous fish conventions in the US and Europe. From 2000-2020 Shane lived and collected fishes extensively in Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, South Africa, Uganda, and Nigeria. He has made additional collecting expeditions into Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. The September PVAS Program: Fats, Flats, and Gnats: The Pleco Subfamilies.
September Meeting: Shane Linder "Fats, Flats, and Gnats: The Pleco subfamilies" content media
2
0
62
Patchin Curtis
Aug 04, 2023
In News & Events
See everyone at tomorrow's meeting where we will enjoy a feature presentation by Jennifer Williams on building backyard biotopes. About Jen I got my first tank when I was seven and went through the appropriate array of guppies, barbs, and tetras through to my first encounter with keeping cichlids when I was in high school. Years later, in response to a craigslist ad I posted stating “Firemouth Cichlids, bring a net and a bucket”, I was introduced to something I wasn’t expecting… a formidable former Army Lieutenant in my living room filling his bucket with fish, and telling me all about local fish clubs and planted tanks. Armed with a healthy dose of curiosity at what kind of characters would be at a fish club meeting, I attended my first GWAPA gathering and was completely hooked. Serving on the Board in several positions (including President) I have also enjoyed participating in events with the other local clubs and the true friendships I have made in this hobby. I currently also sit on the board for the Aquatic Gardener's Association (AGA). To date, I have a stack of ribbons from aquascaping contests, including most recently a repeat win at the 2015 Aquatic Experience/AGA Aquascaping Live! Invitational Competition in Chicago, IL for my 75 gallon entry collaboration with Rachel O'Leary and her daughters. I am also an avid fan of Blue-eyed Rainbowfish (specifically Pseudomugil) and enjoy keeping and breeding them with the rest of my eclectic assortment of fish. To pay the electric and water bills that accompany all of the assorted gallons of aquatic madness, I work as a Graphic Designer…and also enjoy fast cars as a former professional drag racer and purring cats as a long-time volunteer/rescuer with the 4Paws Rescue Team.
August Meeting | Jennifer Williams "Building a Backyard Biotope" content media
1
0
40
Patchin Curtis
Jun 23, 2023
In News & Events
Hi Everyone, The July Bowl Show & Indoor Picnic will be held on July 8 at Green Acres. We all love a good feast. Please share what dish you will be bringing here so others can plan what to bring and we can fill menu holes and avoid duplicates. Of course, there can never be too many deviled eggs, right?
3
11
170
Patchin Curtis
Jun 02, 2023
In News & Events
Hi All, Tomorrow Blake and SJ Jimenez-Calhoun will present on Medaka Ricefish. This will be a great opportunity to hear all about how to keep and breed these perennial favorites. Hope to see everyone at Green Acres.
0
0
43
Patchin Curtis
May 05, 2023
In News & Events
Tomorrow we will have one of the all-time aquarist greats present at our club: Dr. Paul V. Loiselle. Dr. Loiselle will speak on "Australoheros: The Heroic Cichlids of the South." About Dr. Loiselle Dr. Paul V. Loiselle is an enthusiastic aquarist of 50 years' experience. During the course of his career, Paul has had the opportunity to study cichlids in Madagascar, West Africa, Lakes Victoria and Tanganyika, Haiti, Mexico, Central America and the Peruvian Amazon. Emeritus Curator of Freshwater Fishes at the New York Aquarium and a Senior Conservation Fellow of the Wildlife Conservation Society, he is actively involved in conservation programs focused on the fishes of Madagascar. Paul is co-chair of the I.U.C.N.’s Madagascar Region Freshwater Fish Specialty Group. He serves as a scientific advisor to the Lake Victoria Cichlid Species Survival Program and the Madagascar Faunal Interest Group. A founding member and Fellow of the American Cichlid Association, an honorary fellow of the Association France Cichlid and a life Member of the North Jersey Aquarium Society, he is an internationally published author of numerous articles on the care and breeding of ornamental fishes and such books as The Cichlid Aquarium, Your Garden Pond and The Fishkeeper's Guide to African Cichlids.
May 6 Meeting: Dr. Paul V. Loiselle content media
0
0
39
Patchin Curtis
Apr 01, 2023
In News & Events
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Spring All-Day Auction tomorrow. Sellers are madly listing their items in MyGroupAuctions. Don't forget that there will be a regular Tag Sale, so take a look around your fish room for any equipment or dry goods you'd like to move along and get them entered. Sellers can avoid lines to print out labels by printing them out tonight. We don't accept hand-written labels at the All-Day Auctions as we do for the monthly mini-auctions. Your entered lots MUST have a VALID email address on them so that buyers or the Treasurer can contact you to resolve any issues. That means the email address you have entered in MGA must be current and valid. Same goes for your mailing address in MGA. Save yourself a big headache tomorrow by making sure your information in MGA is complete and accurate. Any and all help is appreciated for setting up, taking down, and clerking. Please volunteer. Many hands make light work. See you tomorrow!
1
0
61
Patchin Curtis
Jan 06, 2023
In News & Events
Tomorrow is our first monthly meeting of 2023. Mark Kaprow has graciously agreed to be our feature presenter. Mark's presentation is entitled "My Experiences Keeping and Breeding Tanganyikan Secretive Cave Spawners (aka Tanganyikan Rock Dwellers)". There are already plenty of great fish, plants, and hard goods posted in MyGroupAuctions. Also, review the post unveiling our 2023 Program, in case you missed some of the great upcoming events outside of our regular monthly meetings. Some of them, like the behind-the-scenes tour of the National Zoo's Amazonia Exhibit with Nick Little, or the NIH Zebrafish Facility Tour with Manuel Moro, have limits on the numbers of participants. Happy New Year, Patchin
1
1
60
Patchin Curtis
Dec 31, 2022
In News & Events
Happy 2023 aquarium enthusiasts! PVAS is geared up for another great year. Here’s what we have in the hopper so far. In addition to our monthly meetings, we have a number of events planned. Pay attention or you may miss out. Jan 7 | Mark Kaprow “My Experiences Keeping and Breeding Tanganyikan Secretive Cave Spawners (aka Tanganyikan Rock Dwellers” Feb 4 | Barbara Day “Betta Fish Varieties Over Time: From veiltails to avatars” Feb 19 | Fish & Brew Swap Meet Sunday afternoon from 1 - 5 at Atlas Brew Works in the District. Bring your fish, plants, or supplies for trade, sell, or giveaway and share a beer with like-minded people. Mar 4 | Nick Little “The Organic Mechanic: Operating life support systems at the National Zoo” Spring Saturday TBD | Tour of Amazonia Exhibit Life Support Systems at Smithsonian National Zoo with Nick Little (Limited to 6 members; there will be a forum sign-up sheet again) Apr 2 (SUNDAY) | Spring All-Day Auction May 6 | Awaiting confirmation from invited speaker May Date TBD | Tour of NIH Zebrafish Facility with Dr. Manuel Moro (Limited to 15 members; there will be a forum sign-up sheet) Jun 3 | Blake & SJ Jimenez-Calhoun “Medaka Ricefish” Jul 8 | Bowl Show & Indoor Picnic Aug 5 | Awaiting confirmation from invited speaker Sep 2 | Awaiting confirmation from invited speaker Sep 30 | Special Pre-Auction All-Day Workshop (stay tuned for details) Oct 1 (SUNDAY) | Fall All-Day Auction Nov 4 | Regina Spotti and Eric Bodrock for special half-day monthly meeting; topics to be announced Dec 2 | Holiday Party & Potluck Dinner Check back frequently on the website 2023 Program page (under construction), the PVAS Facebook page, and the Forum for details as they become available. Here’s looking forward to a splendid 2023 full of fun, comraderie, and full aquaria!
0
0
85
Patchin Curtis
Oct 29, 2022
In News & Events
Hello. Our good friend Julian Sprung owner of Two Little Fishies, will be doing a meet and greet here. at Rick's Fish and Pet Supply Frederick, Maryland. Sunday, October 30th from 12 to 5. We will have discounts on his products. (Super discount on his Two Little Fishies AccuraSea 1 marine salt while it lasts.) Bring your books and underwear for autographs!! Specials on corals, fish, and bubble tip anemones. Don from Ruby Reef will be here to explain and sell his products. Kurt from Marine Pure will be here to explain and sell his products. There will be a raffle for corals (TBD) Hagen has added a 32 gallon Flex Marine Aquarium to the Raffle. Marineland has added some 3 and 5-gallon combos. To raffle. We will be raffling 50-dollar gift certificates hourly (4) Check our Facebook for updates. Ask us about APEX. Look at our Facebook page. I did not know how to connect to it. Julian and I would appreciate it if you could get this out. Thanks, Rick
2
0
43
Patchin Curtis
Sep 20, 2022
In News & Events
Hi Everyone, In case anyone has been away, hasn't been focusing, or is otherwise disengaged from current club happenings, here are some things to note: THERE IS NO REGULAR MONTHLY OCTOBER MEETING. Don't come to Green Acres the first Saturday of the month. No one will be there because everyone will be too busy getting ready for CatCon. The Catfish Convention is Friday and Saturday, October 7 & 8 at the Hyatt Regency Dulles. No self-respecting fishkeeper will miss the Spree on Three Friday night or the banquet on Saturday night. A little birdie told me that the hotel hasn't shut down the room reservations at the convention rate yet. It was supposed to end on 9/14. It might be possible to slip in if you don't fancy drinking and then driving late at night. If you come to your senses and realize you need a room reservation, go to the CatCon Venue web page and follow the link. Hopefully it will still give you the convention rate. THE AUCTION WILL BE AT THE HYATT REGENCY DULLES ON SUNDAY, OCT 9. Hyatt has built many new properties in the Herndon/Reston area, and an internet search can yield confusing results because the newer properties show up first. Here's the correct hotel and address: Hyatt Regency Dulles 2300 Dulles Corner Blvd. Herndon, Virginia If you've been snoozing, you might have missed the fact that the Hyatt is now charging for parking. Michael negotiated free parking for convention hotel guests, so if you're staying at the hotel parking will be free. SELLERS SHOULD ENTER ITEMS INTO MY GROUP AUCTIONS STARTING NOW. Email blasts are going to start going out. When that happens, people navigate to MGA to see what enticing fish, shrimp, or plants might get them out of their warm beds and open their wallets. If MGA is empty, bidders won't come and sellers will be disappointed. You get the picture. The best advertisement for an All-Day Auction is a bursting-at-the-seams MGA. So even if you don't know exactly how many of what you are planning to sell, start entering them now. (Many thanks to Jacob Waters for getting the MGA ball rolling.) Ever sit at an auction and notice that the lowliest worm or snail will garner a high price if there's a great picture? The description you provide, the picture you attach, and the quality of your bagging all make a difference in the perceived desirability and quality of what you're selling. Just some food for thought.
0
2
132
Patchin Curtis
Sep 03, 2022
In News & Events
Michael Barber and I are already hard at work pulling together speakers for 2023. If you have seen speakers at other clubs or events or through other channels that you'd like to have invited to PVAS, please indicate them in this thread. Sometimes there is a multi-year lead time for international and domestic in-demand speakers. For example, we first tried to schedule Lucas Bretz in 2018. But sometimes the stars align and someone has availability sooner rather than later. We want to hear your thoughts. You can also offer suggestions for extracurricular activities. The Smithsonian Amazonia Exhibit private tour is an example. We abandoned the outdoor pond tour at member's homes this year for a couple reasons, but I'd love to try this again next year. Let us know your thoughts and it will shape our planning for the next couple of years programming.
1
22
290
Patchin Curtis
Aug 03, 2022
In News & Events
Every year we devote one meeting to a hands-on workshop, usually in August or November. However, this year it will be in September. We regret that might pose a challenge for some members who may be travelling over the Labor Day weekend, but the scheduling couldn't be helped. In February 2021 Dean Tweeddale gave a fantastic virtual presentation on his fry raising system. We immediately asked him if he would be willing to conduct a workshop with us when we could get together in person again, and he agreed. Members are welcome to attend to watch only, or you can sign up to build your own during the workshop. These systems are effective and beautiful, and also require a lot of materials to build. If you would like to build a system in the workshop, you MUST sign up (firm commitment) by August 25 and commit to bringing cash or a check to the September workshop. The club will source and provide all the materials you need at cost except a 20 gallon long tank and water pump which you will need to supply yourself. The systems require aluminum bars, PVC pipe, joints, and caps, air valves, water valves, plugs, cement, silicone, various types of airline tubing, and more. It may seem pricey, but trying to source all the materials on your own would be even more expensive. At Dean's request, we will not be publishing the supply list or design as this is his proprietary intellectual property. Cost: $125 for set up with 4 large trays $150 for set up with 6 small trays Other Materials Not Included: 20 gallon long tank Water pump About Dean: Dean Tweeddale is a master breeder who started keeping fish over 50 years ago. He started with guppies, moved on to discus, and has since bred countless species of freshwater fish. Always an innovator, Dean has, throughout his fishkeeping career, built three in-house fish rooms and developed an incredible fry system. Some of his proudest moments in the hobby are developing a system to raise discus artificially, breeding many rare dwarf cichlids, continuous spawning of German blue rams, and spawning several L-number plecos. He has collected and bred wild fish from Peru and has appeared on a number of YouTube channels including Aquarium Co-Op, Swishkey, L.R.Bretz’s Aquatics, Bentley Pasco, and Dustin's Fish Tanks. Sign up by responding to this forum thread. We would be happy to answer questions but there could be a delay in the response as Michael is leaving for Peru today and will have intermittent internet access during the collecting trip.
September Workshop Sign-Up - Dean's Fry Raising System Build content media
0
30
561

Patchin Curtis

Admin
More actions

Potomac Valley Aquarium Society

PO Box 664

Merrifield, VA 22116

©2025 by Potomac Valley Aquarium Society, Inc.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Notice

bottom of page