First time going to Reef-A-Palooza

[SeZMehK]

Hello all!
I didn't see a thread regarding questions for the event. This will be my first time going to Reef-A-Palooza. Heck, first time attending an aquarium festival in general. I know it is possible to buy frags from there but what else can I get? Also, what should I use to transport frags home? I live on Long Island, NY so the commute is a max of 1 hour. I will be going Sunday.

What other things I should I be aware of when I go?

Looking forward to meeting fellow aquarists!

 

[JumboShrimp]

Don’t you live “in” New York, but “on” Long Island? Lol— just had to get that one in

I went to Reef-A-Palooza in Orlando and had a great time. Besides the corals for sale, however, mostly everything else was ‘to look at.’ For example, a vendor might have a wall of different reef additives on display— let’s say their full product line— but none are for sale. Not that it’s impossible to buy anything but corals, but that is the vast majority of what I found for sale. Hope this helps.

 

[SeZMehK]

Don’t you live “in” New York, but “on” Long Island? Lol— just had to get that one in

I went to Reef-A-Palooza in Orlando and had a great time. Besides the corals for sale, however, mostly everything else was ‘to look at.’ For example, a vendor might have a wall of different reef additives on display— let’s say their full product line— but none are for sale. Not that it’s impossible to buy anything but corals, but that is the vast majority of what I found for sale. Hope this helps.

Lol, thanks.
Is it possible to get invertebrates? Trying to find Trochus and Cerith snails locally have been impossible for me. I really don't want to order from online since I don't really need to get anything else to justify the shipping cost.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Not from what I saw. I guess the cost of traveling and setting up for a vendor would not be justified by selling a few $1.99 items. They tend to showcase new products. Really the only fish I can remember for sale were a $600 pair of ‘designer’ Clown Fish. So it’s definitely not a flea-market for fish and inverts. In Orlando (when I went in 2018), I was surprised that virtually no one had leather corals; don’t ask me why.

 

[LiveWire]

This will be my first ReefAPalooza also @SeZMehK. I am very much looking forward to it. I have been to MACNA a few times so now is my chance to see the other side. I hear there are tons of corals vendors at RAP shows.

 

[Peace River]

Don’t you live “in” New York, but “on” Long Island? Lol— just had to get that one in

I went to Reef-A-Palooza in Orlando and had a great time. Besides the corals for sale, however, mostly everything else was ‘to look at.’ For example, a vendor might have a wall of different reef additives on display— let’s say their full product line— but none are for sale. Not that it’s impossible to buy anything but corals, but that is the vast majority of what I found for sale. Hope this helps.

+1. This feedback matched my experience at multiple RAPs. I did see a few CUC bags.

 

[SeZMehK]

That is good to know. Looking forward to seeing everything at the event.

 

[Peace River]

That is good to know. Looking forward to seeing everything at the event.

Make sure you stop by the R2R and BRS booths - these are amazing people!

 

[Opus]

Haven't been to a Reef-A-Palooza since there are none near me but I have gone to the MACNA that was in Dallas plus the 3 to 5 frag swaps there are around the area each year. Also, we had Aquashella this year which I would rank above MACNA personally. I would say bring a small cooler that will hold whatever coral you plan on buying. My wife recently bought a backpack that is a cooler so I may take that to my next swap. If you are a people person, then be prepared to do a lot of talking. I'm not so I usually just chat with the vendors that I've known for years such as zoanthids.com or reefkoi if he is there. Also be prepared for the high end stuff to be on display everywhere. At aquashella there were booths wanting over $100 for green finger leather frags so know what stuff normally goes for online and locally.

Also, just voicing a pet peeve, but be mindful that there are others trying to shop/browse around you. I hate it when I'm trying find out prices of coral from a vendor but some person is tying them up for 30 minutes telling them their tank's life history.

IF the Reef-A-Palooza gods are listening, bring a show to the Dallas area for the fall time frame!!!!!

 

[gmneil]

there may be some vendors with fish and inverts I have seen some in the past. you definitely will find hard to get and high end corals. there will also be some products for sale and a lot of new products you can learn about and see in person to decide if you want to purchase after the show.

 

[JustAnt]

Lol, thanks.
Is it possible to get invertebrates? Trying to find Trochus and Cerith snails locally have been impossible for me. I really don't want to order from online since I don't really need to get anything else to justify the shipping cost.

Pet warehouse had snails at last years reefapaloza NY. I picked some up

 

[JustAnt]

I’ll be going to the show on Saturday. Can’t wait!

 

[JumboShrimp]

Oh, and to the original poster about transporting your corals— in case you didn’t know, the vendors will hold what you buy until the end of the day. (Be SURE to keep track of which booths you buy from; you will tell yourself you’ll ‘never forget’ what you bought where— but by the end of the day it will all become a blur. ) Anyway, your ‘bag-time’ for the trip home won’t have to begin until you go back and collect your purchases at the end of the day.

 

[SeZMehK]

Oh, and to the original poster about transporting your corals— in case you didn’t know, the vendors will hold what you buy until the end of the day. (Be SURE to keep track of which booths you buy from; you will tell yourself you’ll ‘never forget’ what you bought where— but by the end of the day it will all become a blur. ) Anyway, your ‘bag-time’ for the trip home won’t have to begin until you go back and collect your purchases at the end of the day.

That is very good to know. I was thinking that I had to walk around with the corals until it was time to go.

 

[RMS18]

Been in the hobby for 6 years now... This will be my first ever reefing show. I'll be bringing a cooler and hoping to come home with some nice sps and big lps pieces.

 

[ZoWhat]

getting corals home?
find a UPS Store and ship them to THYSELF

while at the Show...look for the booth where you can borrow against your Home Equity




.

 

[Peace River]

Been in the hobby for 6 years now... This will be my first ever reefing show. I'll be bringing a cooler and hoping to come home with some nice sps and big lps pieces.

At Reef-a-Palooza 2019 there were a ton of small frags. A few vendors had some larger pieces that were gorgeous but the smaller pieces were the norm. Also, I encourage you to have an idea of what you are looking for and what is an appropriate price - there were some good deals and some not so good deals. All in all, I expect that you will thoroughly enjoy yourself - I know that I have always had a great time at the RAP events!

 

[RMS18]

At Reef-a-Palooza 2019 there were a ton of small frags. A few vendors had some larger pieces that were gorgeous but the smaller pieces were the norm. Also, I encourage you to have an idea of what you are looking for and what is an appropriate price - there were some good deals and some not so good deals. All in all, I expect that you will thoroughly enjoy yourself - I know that I have always had a great time at the RAP events!

O I know what I want lol. I think I'll have a hard time finding the lps I want. Hard to find big pieces. I was watching gallery aquatics on YouTube, he was adding new corals to a client's tank. These lps pieces were huge, but that may be the perk of living in Australia.

 

[ca1ore]

Don’t you live “in” New York, but “on” Long Island? Lol— just had to get that one in .

.... and folks live at the Jersey shore .....

 

[ca1ore]

I am going on Saturday. Not my first show (went to the first few MACNAs back before electricity), but my first palooza. I don’t linger. I have a purpose to find a few nice rock flower anemones and then I’m out.