MACNA 2014 Questions

cdness · Feb 6, 2014

Hi All,

This year will be my first MACNA. I have some questions before I book flights that I am hoping the seasoned MACNA goers can assist with:

1. I am going to fly out early, but I am considering flying out the next day (Monday) after MACNA ends. This way I can not be rushed on Sunday. I know other conferences, the last day is the one that's ok to miss. So would you recommend sticking around for Sunday or is it ok to head out early?

2. Is the raffle a "must be present to win" sort of event? I wouldn't want to lose out on the chances to win...

3. Anyone have a line on inexpensive rental cars in the Denver area?

4. Any tips to get a checked cooler box of corals past the security check? I plan on checking the box, but I don't want it to flag stuff and cause it to be opened and rummaged through and badly sealed up again... Do you think I should bring my own cooler with or do you think there will be enough there that someone would have an extra one?

5. Do you recommend staying at the conference hotel or look for a cheaper nearby hotel?

6. Is there anything you would recommend I do not leave the house without? I am bringing an air pump, powerhead, heater and salt to mix up a holding tank while there just in case...

90greefman · Feb 6, 2014

Do what I did and what for it to come to you. Lol. Will be my first one too, should be a blast.

nova65ss · Feb 6, 2014

My first Macna was this past year. I had the vendors hold my corals and I grabbed them Saturday night before they closed up for the evening because my flight left early Sunday. If you leave a little later Sunday just have them keep them til your about to leave. I brought an insulated box that fit in my suitcase and checked it. When I called the airline they said as long as it was sealed good it wouldn't be an issue. One thing I orgot was tape so make sure you bring some to make it easy.

nova65ss · Feb 6, 2014

nova65ss said:
My first Macna was this past year. I had the vendors hold my corals and I grabbed them Saturday night before they closed up for the evening because my flight left early Sunday. If you leave a little later Sunday just have them keep them til your about to leave. I brought an insulated box that fit in my suitcase and checked it. When I called the airline they said as long as it was sealed good it wouldn't be an issue. One thing I orgot was tape so make sure you bring some to make it easy.

I liked staying at the event hotel just so I could go back and forth to my room and chill for a bit after walking around and listening to speakers.

cdness · Feb 7, 2014

OK, but what about the raffle? Is it a must be present to win sort of thing?

nova65ss · Feb 7, 2014

cdness said:
OK, but what about the raffle? Is it a must be present to win sort of thing?

I didnt do any raffles but what I saw and heard was a lot of them happened throughout each day so you bought the tix and they told you when they would be calling out the winners so you knew.

Aquarium Art · Feb 7, 2014

nova65ss said:
My first Macna was this past year. I had the vendors hold my corals and I grabbed them Saturday night before they closed up for the evening because my flight left early Sunday. If you leave a little later Sunday just have them keep them til your about to leave. I brought an insulated box that fit in my suitcase and checked it. When I called the airline they said as long as it was sealed good it wouldn't be an issue. One thing I orgot was tape so make sure you bring some to make it easy.

i agree with Nova , when we did MACNA 2013 we put on hold all the corals that our clients bought and even shipped it to them . Not saying all the vendors have that option but it doesnt hurt to ask

Eric B · Feb 7, 2014

cdness said:
Hi All,

This year will be my first MACNA. I have some questions before I book flights that I am hoping the seasoned MACNA goers can assist with:

1. I am going to fly out early, but I am considering flying out the next day (Monday) after MACNA ends. This way I can not be rushed on Sunday. I know other conferences, the last day is the one that's ok to miss. So would you recommend sticking around for Sunday or is it ok to head out early? "It really depends on you if you want to stay on Sunday or not. A large amount of deals can possibly be made from vendors who do not want to pack the stuff back up on Sunday. Also the big raffle is on Sunday and you have to be present. If you paid for a full conference pass I would stay and use it never know there might be a speaker on Sunday that you want to see."

2. Is the raffle a "must be present to win" sort of event? I wouldn't want to lose out on the chances to win... "Yes you have to be present on most of them but some of the vendors do there own raffle that you do not need to be present but this is a small amount of them. There are also raffles that go on throughout all the show days all around for different types of items from full set-ups to T-shirts."

3. Anyone have a line on inexpensive rental cars in the Denver area? "Can't help you there! Sorry"

4. Any tips to get a checked cooler box of corals past the security check? I plan on checking the box, but I don't want it to flag stuff and cause it to be opened and rummaged through and badly sealed up again... Do you think I should bring my own cooler with or do you think there will be enough there that someone would have an extra one? "I have never flown with corals I actually drove to Miami last year and brought coolers with me for the drive home with corals. Someone else might be able to chime in here for you."

5. Do you recommend staying at the conference hotel or look for a cheaper nearby hotel? "I usually always stay at the hotel where MACNA is located just because everyone usually ends up hanging out all around the hotel shooting the breeze, meeting new reefers, etc."

6. Is there anything you would recommend I do not leave the house without? I am bringing an air pump, powerhead, heater and salt to mix up a holding tank while there just in case...

(Answer to #6)"All the corals I bought in Miami I just had the vendors hold them for me until Sunday morning and I went around right before I was leaving and collected all that I purchased as most everyone will hold them for you. I have never brought all the stuff you are listing out as I know that some people do bring small tanks to set up in their room to house corals, but that always seemed like a pain in the rear to me.

"
The rest of the questions I could answer I did after each question above but don't know why this one popped out here! LOL

evolved · Feb 7, 2014

cdness said:
Hi All,

This year will be my first MACNA. I have some questions before I book flights that I am hoping the seasoned MACNA goers can assist with:

1. I am going to fly out early, but I am considering flying out the next day (Monday) after MACNA ends. This way I can not be rushed on Sunday. I know other conferences, the last day is the one that's ok to miss. So would you recommend sticking around for Sunday or is it ok to head out early?

2. Is the raffle a "must be present to win" sort of event? I wouldn't want to lose out on the chances to win...

3. Anyone have a line on inexpensive rental cars in the Denver area?

4. Any tips to get a checked cooler box of corals past the security check? I plan on checking the box, but I don't want it to flag stuff and cause it to be opened and rummaged through and badly sealed up again... Do you think I should bring my own cooler with or do you think there will be enough there that someone would have an extra one?

5. Do you recommend staying at the conference hotel or look for a cheaper nearby hotel?

6. Is there anything you would recommend I do not leave the house without? I am bringing an air pump, powerhead, heater and salt to mix up a holding tank while there just in case...

1. Stay for Sunday. You might be sorry if you don't. Either leave late Sunday or wait till Monday (which is labor day, I might add)
2. Yes
3. Typically the hosting club doesn't do anything here. You'll be on your own most likely. In Dallas (2012), they did do a shuttle service, but a cab was about the same price.
4. Honestly, the less attention you can draw to it, the better. It's not a TSA hassle, but rather an airline hassle. Putting a cooler into a checked bag is much easier than trying to explain a cardboard box. Bring your own supplies for this with you.
5. Stay at the conference hotel. You'll regret it if not. It's basically a 24 hour event inside the conference hotel, you won't want to leave every night.
6. You shouldn't need a holding tank, but you can do it if you want. Those items will cause a TSA search of your bag, however (the heater especially - think how that looks in an x-ray). Most vendors will hold your purchases until the last day; you can go around and pick them up early Sunday afternoon.

jdinchak · Feb 7, 2014

Hi All,

This year will be my first MACNA. I have some questions before I book flights that I am hoping the seasoned MACNA goers can assist with:

1. I am going to fly out early, but I am considering flying out the next day (Monday) after MACNA ends. This way I can not be rushed on Sunday. I know other conferences, the last day is the one that's ok to miss. So would you recommend sticking around for Sunday or is it ok to head out early?

2. Is the raffle a "must be present to win" sort of event? I wouldn't want to lose out on the chances to win...

3. Anyone have a line on inexpensive rental cars in the Denver area?

4. Any tips to get a checked cooler box of corals past the security check? I plan on checking the box, but I don't want it to flag stuff and cause it to be opened and rummaged through and badly sealed up again... Do you think I should bring my own cooler with or do you think there will be enough there that someone would have an extra one?

5. Do you recommend staying at the conference hotel or look for a cheaper nearby hotel?

6. Is there anything you would recommend I do not leave the house without? I am bringing an air pump, powerhead, heater and salt to mix up a holding tank while there just in case...

We went to Dallas and Miami. Dallas we did buy and take home coral. Miami we did not (we made a vacation out of it and stayed after).
1 - I would recommend Monday. You can insure you won't miss anything and have a relaxing evening. Also with the raffle the last two years has been 3+ hour raffles on Sunday, if you do put in tickets you wouldn't want to have to leave.
2 - From what I hear yes.
3 - A lot of stuff is in walking distance in Denver, you may be able to get away with a shuttle to and from airport.
4 - I have taken corals multiple times. I found using an ice chest was best, we packed it up well, insulated with towels and then duct taped the hell out of it. Usually the gate agent asks whats in it, I just say food or fish food. I would not tell them it's corals, I know friends who have flown Southwest Airlines and said that and the gate agent refused.
5 - We won't be staying at the conf hotel because we have points at another one but the proximity is worth it. If you try to do everything you will be up early and finished late, makes it easy knowing it's just across the street.
6 - We brought a heater and salt and a powerhead. What we did was we found a vendor who was giving away empty salt buckets and just grabbed one of those, cleaned it out. We found another vendor who was super generous and gave us 5 gallons of RO (Franks Tanks was awesome) and we just mixed it up and had a mini frag tank. Then we threw out the bucket. I am lucky enough to drive this year so I will take a tank.

specvjeff · Feb 7, 2014

I would absolutely stick around for the last day. The raffle on Sunday seems to be the best day. I would also highly recommend staying at the hotel. It just adds to the experience. As far as rental cars, I go to Denver a couple times a year to visit family. We've always gone with Enterprise. I think we paid something like $120 or so for 8 days the last time we went out in summer. The Denver Airport is pretty far from Denver so the cab ride isn't going to be cheap.