FRAG Swaps

[Hunna’s Stunnas]

Please send me some info Atlanta is only 3 hrs away I travel that to the fish store frequently

https://atlantareefclub.org/
Feel free to reach out with any specific questions you have.

 

[hbryan14]

Any frag swaps around NE Arkansas or Memphis area?

 

[SoGaReefer]

Man I wish you were close to Chicago!!!

Those are the 5 frags I have left. Started with 10. Also had to make more zoa frags because 3 of the 5 people were newly supporting members, and one guy also just went through a divorce and was starting over. He left with 3 free things. I’ve been given a lot of stuff for free or dirt cheap lately, and while I don’t have a lot currently I want to pass the favor along with what I can.

That's awesome I'm 3 hours from ATL and new to the hobby any decent LFS up there I usually head to Daytona and just found a good one in Tallahassee

 

[mmodo]

I would have to drive 2-3 hours to get to a store or a meet. There's more events that happen 3 hours away but it's more freshwater than salt. I have joined a lot of online groups and everything is insanely priced, the same as a storefront. The events seem to be very small for such a massive city and I've noticed that a lot of people commit to participating, bringing something, or buying, but then don't follow through.

I just don't see any value to schedule a one way 3 hour drive for overpriced frags when I don't have a lot of faith that anyone is showing up. I'd rather just go to a store that I know will be open.

 

[Biokabe]

I think it's very location-dependent.

Up here (PNW) we can't even keep a local club going. There've been attempts, but attendance has always been poor - I went to a few scheduled meetups years ago, and basically no one showed up. So it's a lovely negative feedback loop - you go to your first meetup with high hopes and discover that only two other people showed up, and they're already friends who don't really want to make a new friend. So they talk to each other and you just twiddle your thumbs. Come back the next time, and it's just you and the organizer. Next one rolls around, and you feel like, "Why bother?"

The Seattle Freeze is real.

 

[b1llvance]

We still have regular swaps around here. I believe we just had the Fragginstein Swap in Cleveland area.
Dayton Frag Swap coming up October 25.
In November we have the CORA frag swap for Columbus.

LEAR had theirs in February
Cinci had one in January and July

All are within a 2.5 hour drive for me.

Fellow Columbus metro reefer?

 

[Eggs]

We still have regular swaps around here. I believe we just had the Fragginstein Swap in Cleveland area.
Dayton Frag Swap coming up October 25.
In November we have the CORA frag swap for Columbus.

LEAR had theirs in February
Cinci had one in January and July

All are within a 2.5 hour drive for me.

Indianapolis used to have a decent swap (not sure if they still do) that isn’t far from the Columbus area.
Louisville is doable as well.
LEAR has had great swaps over the years, one of the best.

I think many local swaps would benefit greatly with using Reef Trader to help the smaller hobbyist set up sales, and who doesn't want to deal with setting a table display up to sell their frags at swaps.
It’s a great online tool that I’m guessing many swap organizers are unaware of. It definitely attracts more swap participants if they know they have frag sales lined up for some $ to turnaround and buy from the vendors at the swaps.

 

[Jeremy165]

I think it's very location-dependent.

Up here (PNW) we can't even keep a local club going. There've been attempts, but attendance has always been poor - I went to a few scheduled meetups years ago, and basically no one showed up. So it's a lovely negative feedback loop - you go to your first meetup with high hopes and discover that only two other people showed up, and they're already friends who don't really want to make a new friend. So they talk to each other and you just twiddle your thumbs. Come back the next time, and it's just you and the organizer. Next one rolls around, and you feel like, "Why bother?"

The Seattle Freeze is real.

I'm on the Seattle Eastside. I would definitely help arrange a frag swap. Or a day of touring where we made a plan to drive to a member's house, they can give a quick tour of their setup, then ask questions about what they could do better on their equipment, procedures, etc. Then drive to the next person's house.

 

[reefnoob83]

I think reefing as a whole has had major changes over the last decade. It seems to be a lot more isolating then it used to be.

I actually grieve for the days of frag swaps and visits to other reefers homes to buy frags. I honestly don’t understand why local reef forums have gone silent. It was so easy to fill your tank with beautiful and inexpensive large frags back then. I just don’t understand why this ended.

I think R2R is the only thing keeping me connected to others with similar interests. It’s just sad.

Price of reefing part of it.

 

[Eggs]

Fellow Columbus metro reefer?

I’m also in the area, for now. I’m back and forth with Florida. Don’t ask lol.

 

[Sean Clark]

I would love to attend a frag swap if there was ever one near me. I have to buy most of my stuff online and veryrarely get the opprotunity to purchase in person.

 

[SpSDrew]

Ohio and Michigan have no shortage of frag swaps! 75% of my coral purchases come from vendors and other hobbyist.

 

[nkyreef]

I usually attend 5-8 swaps a year. Luckily they're all within 2.5 hours. The farthest I've traveled is almost 4 hours to LEAR from Cincinnati. I sell frags that I grow out in my basement throughout the year and participate in our local club's swap in January. I like swaps because I can give deals that folks can't get at their LFS. It really helps the reefers just starting out.

 

[slingfox]

Here in the Bay Area of Northern California the local reef clubs hosts two swaps a year. We have one coming up in November!

I have only been to one frag swap and it has great attendance. The challenge with feta swaps is the frags are in highly variable levels of quality and cleanliness. I am paranoid about pests so will either only donate frags and not pick any up or will put any frags I pick up through a 1+ month quarantine process.

 

[nkyreef]

I knew I recognized that setup! I've bought from @SpSDrew at both CORA and the Cincy swap. Nice stuff and good deals!

 

[Reefing102]

Fellow Columbus metro reefer?

About an hour north of Columbus.

Indianapolis used to have a decent swap (not sure if they still do) that isn’t far from the Columbus area.
Louisville is doable as well.
LEAR has had great swaps over the years, one of the best.

I think many local swaps would benefit greatly with using Reef Trader to help the smaller hobbyist set up sales, and who doesn't want to deal with setting a table display up to sell their frags at swaps.
It’s a great online tool that I’m guessing many swap organizers are unaware of. It definitely attracts more swap participants if they know they have frag sales lined up for some $ to turnaround and buy from the vendors at the swaps.

There’s a few I see on FB that offer ReefTrader but can’t say I’ve seen that elsewhere

I haven’t been to a swap in ages though.

 

[Eggs]

I knew I recognized that setup! I've bought from @SpSDrew at both CORA and the Cincy swap. Nice stuff and good deals!

Same here, I’ve bought from him many times at swaps. Great stuff.

 

[SpSDrew]

Same here, I’ve bought from him many times at swaps. Great stuff.

I appreciate it! I’ll be back at it again this year with tables at most Ohio swaps.

 

[vittpsu21]

We still have regular swaps around here. I believe we just had the Fragginstein Swap in Cleveland area.
Dayton Frag Swap coming up October 25.
In November we have the CORA frag swap for Columbus.

LEAR had theirs in February
Cinci had one in January and July

All are within a 2.5 hour drive for me.

Ah I am in Pittsburgh I saw the Fragginstein one, but too late last weekend... Dayton is slightly far sadly, but I am sure more must exist around this area also

 

[BriDroid]

Luckily here in the Dallas area, local sellers are pretty common. I think most of them still get their stock from wholesalers, but they’re significantly cheaper than LFS.

I’ve also noticed that some local frag swaps have started popping up on FB. I haven’t been to any, but at least they still seem to be around.