Have you ever meet your reef heroes?

[DancingShark]

So you know how they say don't ever meet your heroes. Well I don't think it's true about the reef hobby. Today was my first ever frag swap. I was buying some corals and wanted to pay with my card but needed to transfer money. No signal. Had to go out side. I was doing my thing and heard a voice I recognized.

It was Rico from Rico's reef. He was a cool guy. Very laid back and polite. I kept it brief shook his hand and was on my way. After that I was looking at some corals and I didn't recognized a coral. The vendors helped was their and didn't know what he was selling. He calls huge guy over and asked him and it was billy pipes. He was helpful and was engaging everyone around him.

I stumped upon Pipes frag tank and while there Rico comes in and hands over billy his phone and says it was than(tidal gradens) on the phone. I was like omg this is so cool. It was like meeting thor and the hulk and iron man was on the phone.

Sorry for geeking out.
Please share your reef icon stories.

 

[Larry L]

Sounds like a cool experience! If you really want to meet some reef icons, get yourself to MACNA or one of the other big conferences. Between the speaker lineup (http://macnaconference.org/2018/talks/) and the exhibitor booths (http://macnaconference.org/2018/floor/) you will run into tons of the big names in the hobby, and probably find yourself having a hallway conversation or sharing drinks in the hotel bar or whatever.

 

[DancingShark]

It was really unexpected which makes it even better surprise. I love keeping my tank and to see people that have helped so much with info and their knowledge and thank them personally was a great experience. Especially in a very little reef swap in the middle of PA. That shows me they don't feel too big for something like this.

 

[saltyhog]

Scott Fellman spoke at our reef club meeting back in 2012 or 2013. He was very down to earth and gave a super presentation. He also brought a couple of awesome acro colonies for our club to frag. I still had that coral until a dino out break took it out a couple of months ago.

 

[Larry L]

Just this afternoon, @Mike Paletta gave a great talk to our local reef club in Denver. His trip from Pittsburgh to Denver was sponsored by the "MASNA Speaks" program (http://masna.org/club-resources/masna-speaks-2/) which pays for speakers to give talks at local club meetings, either in person or remotely. Check it out, you could bring one of your reef heroes to talk to your local club!

 

[DancingShark]

Man, I wish there was a local reef club.
I will be attending more frag swaps in the future. I am really a homebody type of person but I was really surprised how comfortable I felt at this event.

Does anybody else remember their first time at a frag swap?