2020 Annual Pittsburgh 3RMAS Fragswap Thread

acer · Jan 6, 2020

OK - as expected, the board voted to utilize Reeftrader again for the swap. It should be listed soon. I will link it here as soon as I see it listed.

python73 · Jan 7, 2020

loui said:
Guess you can limit how many different corals some one can sell unless they pay the 30.00 club membership. So if you have more then 5 adds then u need to pay the 30.00 membership fee.

As someone with quite a bit of experience with frag swaps... no, you cannot. For many reasons. These swaps are not professionally run. Even the best run, smoothest and most successful swaps I've been to have BARELY had the staff to manage the bare minimums (collect entry fees, get people to the right tables, make sure people have what they need, make sure people have room to get around and see items, deal with the raffle). P2P deals are a staple of these events, but the host doesn't have any input. No way to moderate, no way to collect any fees, no way to stop it even if they wanted to try.

Think about it. Say you have your swap in Cranberry (a pipe dream I know) at the Sheraton for example. The host says NO PRIVATE DEALS and for some reason people still show up. Because many would immediately just not go. There are about forty places handy to there that the host would have literally no control of that would only mildly inconvenience swappers to utilize. "Let's meet at Arby's on the way there at 10:30." The amount of bad blood you'd create in order to funnel sales where the host prefers would not be worth the cost. Can you imagine searching purses to make sure people didn't sneak in frags without paying a host tax? Yeah, no you can't.

Anyway, I wish everyone a great time at the swap. Some day one will happen outside of the South Hills (where I wouldn't travel to for free <name awesome thing here>) or Monroeville (see previous comment) and I'll show up to help out. Always had a blast selling micro critter packs with a small scoop of live sand for a couple bucks.

acer · Jan 7, 2020

Reeftrader is Up = https://www.reeftrader.com/swaps/94

Python- we actually did try to look at the Sheraton in Cranberry- thier quote was "prohibitive" to say the least. Please continue to look for any venue in the north are of Pittsburgh as I am NOT looking forward to the drive to this years swap.

acer · Jan 10, 2020

Have great news:

1) Jason Fox and Frost will both be vendors at the swap. A full list of vendors is coming soon - I would rather wait till we are full and post it once instead of changing it/adding etc. and we are getting close to full already.

2) Fritz is sending a raffle prize package including salt, dosing liquids,etc. https://fritzaquatics.com/

barber42 · Jan 10, 2020

You guys are going to put on one heck of a show! Are there many hobbyist spots left?

acer · Jan 10, 2020

Get them when there hot, yes we do. Only have two hobbyist paid so far.

Nick forlini · Jan 15, 2020

Slight amendment* setup will be the day "before" if vendors wish to set up (allowing the corals to looks their best) after the tables are set up but that time is still TBA.

Nick forlini · Jan 15, 2020

Sneak peek of the vendor list so far. This list is tentative and subject to change

Nick forlini · Jan 16, 2020

acer said:
Here you go: The Fragswap will be on 5/9/2020 from noon till 5 PM. The location is: 1100 Fells Church Road, Rostraver Twp, Pa 15012-4713.

It is our annual frag swap, come see and buy awesome corals from vendors and other hobbyists. Vendor tables = (6 foot table with electric for LED light/small circulation pump, access the evening before for set up 8-10 PM or at 9 AM the day of the swap) are $100 plus a donation to the raffle of at least $50, or $150 with no raffle donation. We are limiting coral vendors to approximately 20. Hobbyist table (1/2 of a 6 foot table with electric - setup is allowed at 10 AM the morning of the swap) is $60 plus a frag or two donation ( $30) to the raffle. General Entrance is $5. We will be utilizing Reef Trader for the swap - so look for that on thier website Reeftrader.com.

Amendment: 8' tables

acer · Jan 18, 2020

Had a package waiting for me when I got home today = https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/2-pa...e-portioned-with-dosers-bulk-reef-supply.html Bulk reef supply came through with thier fragswap raffle donation - thank you Bulk Reef!!

Nick forlini · Jan 22, 2020

In waiting on packages from sicce and inkbird! Its going to be a nice raffle table for sure!

acer · Jan 29, 2020

The vendor tables are all full - maybe squeeze one more in - depending how many hobbyist we have sign up.

Joe462 · Feb 12, 2020

acer said:
Get them when there hot, yes we do. Only have two hobbyist paid so far.

How do we get them? What is the preferred method of contact?

acer · Feb 12, 2020

Pm Me or Jaime on R2R or Message us on the Facebook page if you do Facebook. If you PM me here I will give you my cell phone number so we can talk/text - or you can just use PayPal and sent the money to us = [email protected], noting the payment is for "hobbyist frag swap table".

Joe462 · Feb 12, 2020

acer said:
Pm Me or Jaime on R2R or Message us on the Facebook page if you do Facebook. If you PM me here I will give you my cell phone number so we can talk/text - or you can just use PayPal and sent the money to us = [email protected], noting the payment is for "hobbyist frag swap table".

Thanks! PM and payment sent

barber42 · Feb 12, 2020

Joe462 has awesome frags!

acer · Feb 14, 2020

Joe462 is officially in as a hobbyist.

acer · Feb 26, 2020

Got home to three packages from Central Pet in WI today = https://www.central-aquatics.com/. They donated a bunch of Kent additives and phytoplankton, a nice Coralvue 150 skimmer, and 2 Coralvue lights for the Fragswap. Awesome!!