To swap or not to swap...that is the.....?

[Rayzor]

My wife and I are considering attending this yrs Frag Swap....our new 30 gallon reef...has only been up and running about 5 weeks....had a very short cycle period (used good live rock from MA)....have bought only a few zoas, button polyps, xenia and a small clover colony....5 snails (2 star astrea,3 nassarius)letting everything get settled and stabilized for a few weeks....pods, brittle stars...etc etc....but i digress....
Wondering if the frag swap offers anything to extreme newcomers like us.....will frags be sold at the swap...are the prices better or similar to LFSs.....will there be fish to buy........may be a dumb question but: do we have to bring something to swap? Will there be parking available?
Have been haunting this site day and night for two months now and we would be very happy to meet some of the great reefers that have already given us such helpful hints and advice....like Russ(Masterswimmer),...Awi,.....Motortrendz,...and others.....

 

[James]

There will definitely be lots for you. MR sets up a table for members just like you where they offer nice frags at great prices that have been donated by other hobbyists and vendors. You will also get to meet a lot of great people and learn a ton. Hope to see you there.

James

 

[BIG L A]

IMO you should go, you might go alil crazy when you see things you shouldnt be buying but overall a great experience... Frags will be sold, IMO prices are better, there was fishes last time, and not a dumb question at all, you dont have to bring anything...

 

[motortrendz]

you can call me mike...lolo altho since i opened my business, ive been refered to as mikey motortrendz for abt 5 yrs now..lolbut look forward to meeting you..and all you have to bring to the swap...is youself and a smile!!

 

[prattreef]

Yes to all your questions, except the have to bring something one These events are excellent opportunities for new hobbyists to connect to the local reefing community. The lectures and demos are a great way to learn, and there are literally a few thousand frags of all descriptions and price ranges offering corals suitable to all levels of hobbyists. James is correct that we sell very cheaply or give away corals that are donated to us and this is a great way to get your feet wet and try out some appropriate livestock for your new system.

Ultimately, meeting other hobbyists is the best reason of all to attend--but you already knew that

 

[Chraddam]

The SWAP is a BLAST...meeting new people, making new friends, finding cool stuff...the prices for frags in the SWAP Thread and at the swap are waaaaaaaaaay better than ANY LFS out there, just make sure you budget wisely...DON'T bring more than you want to spend, because you will want to spend it all and go home with no money and a bunch of corals and fish...and lights...and glue...and supplies...

 

[Rayzor]

Thanks again all for the quick answers.....is that a yes to the parking question too....?
sounds like I'll need my hatchback Matrix to fit all the great stuff there will be available...j/k...lol.....(but maybe not????)
Any "beginner" lectures....Reefing fo' Dummies...Or Do and Donts for Newbies....
Listened to all three podcasts of Afishionado this weekend....episode three was really insightful....maybe a lecture along those lines???

 

[prattreef]

Yes you will be allowed to park on campus for free. The lectures are not super beginner level but should be informative for all. Fragging demos might be of interest as well. Tours of my reefs also.

And you just might get to meet the Afishionado himself


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[beerfish]

Any "beginner" lectures....Reefing fo' Dummies...Or Do and Donts for Newbies....

Don't know about lectures, but if you try really hard, you might be able to get someone there to talk to you about reef stuff. You may even be able to ask a question or two directly to some of the most experienced reefers in the hobby.

 

[motortrendz]

Don't know about lectures, but if you try really hard, you might be able to get someone there to talk to you about reef stuff. You may even be able to ask a question or two directly to some of the most experienced reefers in the hobby.

Lol, yea but u gotta be ultra nice and offer them something in return for their experience and their time...lol j/k
But u need to wear a purple wig and a pink shirt so we know who you are...lol and def bring the hatchback

 

[beerfish]

Oh and one more thing to note about the swap... Many a reefer has gotten in trouble with their significant other at the swap. Ask anyone that's won a free tank and tried to convince their husband / wife / g/b friend that it's just ONE more tank!

 

[Rayzor]

Ooooo...Free tank huh.....muah ha ha ha....
Better if i tell her...she won it...."it'll be a tank just for YOU honey....."
Just hard to wait to wanna buy new corals...but I'll try to be good and wait for the deals at the swap....

 

[duke62]

haha if its a raffle just come in with me and buy the raffle before me.i always lose and the person with the next number always wins..never fails

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Hey Duke-- wanna car pool? LOL

 

[Awibrandy]

Rayzor, all your questions have been answered, so I will only say this:
I will be looking forward to meeting you, and your honey! I will definitely be there, and this time I plan on attending the lectures that I always miss cause I'm to busy saying hello to peeps that I only get to see at the swaps.

Don't forget to pick up some IC Gel for all those nice frags you'll be picking up. They have it at the table you checking.

 

[Rayzor]

Thanks Awi...Im looking forward to meeting u too....too bad u cant bring the sleepy kids in ur avatar..love to meet them too:dog:
Was wondering if there will be opportunities at the swap to buy equipment...like a Phosban reactor....??