Michigan Coral Expo and Swap

[BeakerBob]

The Mid-Michigan Marine Club (MMMC) will be hosting the Lansing swap on Sunday, January 29, 2012. This year, we are happy to announce that it will be co-hosted by the Grand Rapids Marine Aquarium Society (GRMAS). The joint swap promises to be bigger and better with many vendors and an outstanding raffle of livestock and dry goods.

This event has grown into one of the largest reef aquarium events in Michigan. Attendance last year exceeded 450 hobbyists from across the Midwest and included vendors from Michigan and several states outside of Michigan. With the GRMAS, this event will be the largest reef hobby event in Michigan! The combined event is being called Michigan Coral Expo and Swap (MCES). We anticipate a record turnout this year. Vendor's don't wait to get your space reserved table space is limited!

DATE: Sunday January 29, 2012

TIME: The main doors will be open to the general public from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm. On the day of the swap, doors will open for setup at 9 am. Only those who have purchased tables will be allowed in at that time.

LOCATION: The swap will be at the same place we have had it in the past:

Fraternal Order of the Eagles Hall
4700 N Grand River Ave
Lansing, MI 48906

ADMISSION to MCES is as follows:

-Non-seller entry fee $3 per person. Kids 12 and under free.
-MMMC, MASM and GRMAS are free with proof of membership

TABLE PRICING ** are as follows:

$50 for full table (includes admission for 2 people)
$25 for half table (includes admission for one attending seller. One person per half table, please)
Plus certain locations are designated as premium.
Visit the link below to see current pricing and availability.

**Note that early bird pricing is in effect until January 8, 2012. After this date, table prices will increase to $60 full/$30 half.

If you are a seller and need a table, please use the link below to reserve your table. Tables (especially Premium and Platinum) are going fast, so please don't wait.

MORE INFO/RESERVE TABLE LINK


As more details are available we will update this thread. For now...mark your calendars and subscribe or reply to this thread so you get updates!

 

[revhtree]

This looks like some fun!

 

[jimsflies]

Rev you should come up to Michigan for a swap! We'd love to have you!

Just an update....Tables are nearly sold out. Here is a map showing the layout for this year:

 

[Sun357]

Really hoping I have a few extra dollars so I can make this.

~Fred

 

[jimsflies]

The tables are sold out for this year's swap. It will be an awesome event you won't want to miss! The map is updated with the list of vendors. If you are seeing an older version showing tables still available, just hold your shift key and refresh the page a couple times to clear your cache.

If you didn't get a table and wanted one, I am maintaining a list in the event someone cancels.

Stay tuned to this thread ...We will be giving some previews of this year's raffle as we near the event.

 

[MarvinsReef]

This is the only event that I attend every year. should be fun. looking forward to it.

 

[jimsflies]

Looking forward to seeing everyone this year! Should be a great event. There are a lot of new vendors this time around.

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

Looking forward to it - On a quest for "the" Nem

 

[BeakerBob]

2012 Michigan Coral Expo & Swap RAFFLE

As the January 29, 2012 date for the Mid-Michigan Coral Expo and Swap nears, the raffle prizes are starting to arrive! See the raffle items below and their descriptions. We have some very unique and expensive items that will be raffled. Note that you MUST be present to win as prizes will NOT be mailed or delivered. Here are links for additional information on the swap and what reefers will be bringing: SWAP INFORMATION and WHAT REEFERS ARE BRINGING TO THE SWAP

RAFFLE ITEMS!! This list will be updated as items are added.

From Booyahsreef, a special pair of SNOWFLAKE CLOWNFISH,this pair of fish or your money back for ANY 2 fish purchased. Yes, a pair of designer snowflake clowns will be raffled off at the swap!

An AQUA 25 WATT UV STERILIZER:
Aqua UV 25W 2 inch Classic UV Sterilizer The Classic Series UV's are ideal for ponds, aquariums, and water features. The Classic's rugged design has features that allow for quick installation and easy maintenance. Aqua Ultraviolet UV's will clear your water in 3 to 5 days sometimes overnight and keep it that way. Performance is guaranteed when sized, installed and operated according to our instructions.
-Fresh Water Sterilizer: 500-1,200 gallons; Flowrate - 1,200 gph for 30,000 uw/cm2
-Fresh Water Clarifier: up to 4,000 gallons; ideal for water gardens
-Salt Water Sterilizer: up to 150 gallons; Flowrate - 400gph for 90,000 uw/cm2
-Dimensions: 26.25" X 4" X 2.5"

REEFLO BLOWHOLE HIGH WATER PUMP:

Three unique features
*3-Speed Adjustable Flow switch - The BlowHole TM pumps by ReeFlo feature a unique 3-speed AdjustaFlow switch that allows you to instantly choose flow rates, pressure and watt draw from three different settings. Cut the flow and watt draw in half during the night or at feeding time and then instantly switch back when desired.

*Very low heat transfer - The BlowHole TM pumps feature a FlowThru design that prevents the water from picking up motor heat
while churning inside the pump head. The BlowHole TM uses an aluminum cast motor which dissipates heat before it can reach the water.

*Nearly Silent Operation - The BlowHole TM pumps employ graphite motor bearings to ensure the quietest operation. You will have to put your ear near it to hear it.

Features
- Unique 3-speed AdjustaFlow switch
- FlowThru Design
- Nearly Silent operation
- Less than 6x6x6 inch footprint
- 1x1 inch threaded fittings
- 2 Year replacement warranty

 

[BeakerBob]

More raffle items!

More raffle items!!

FROM REEFNUTRITION:
Three bottles of each of the following great products!!
-Phyto-Feast: Phyto-Feast is a blend of the most important marine microalgae, those chosen by universities and hatcheries for their superior nutritional value: Pavlova, Isochrysis, Thalassiosira, Tetraselmis and Nannochloropsis.
-Roti-Feast: For superior color, vitality and growth-rates Roti-Feast is a highly nutritious plankton feed perfect for hardcorals, larval fish, and other reef carnivores that feed on small zooplankton
-Arcti-Pods: Arcti-Pods are large, nutrition-packed planktonic copepods (3000 microns) harvested fresh from artic waters. In the ocean, copepods form the basis for much of the marine food chain.
-Tigger-Pods: Tigger-Pods are attractive large red copepods, Tigriopus califoricus. They swim upwards with a stimulating, jerky swimming motion which is attractive to both fish and people. Finicky fish love them!
-Macro Feast: Macro-Feast - Gracilaria pacifica is simply the best live feed for all of your herbivorous fishes. Hard to feed Tangs, Moorish Idols and Angels, simply love this algae, and its presence will help the feeding response of most other finicky fish as well.
-Fuzzy Phytes: Fuzzy-Phytes are live red macroalgae with very fine filamentous branches. Their nutritional value is similar to other red algae.
-Oyster Feast: Reef Nutrition's Oyster-Feast is a mix of both oyster eggs and ovarian tissue (1-200 microns) for feeding SPS,LPS corals, and other invertebrates.
-Mysis Feast: Mysis-Feast is refrigerated, concentrated freshwater shrimp harvested by Piscine Energetics from pristine cold lakes fed by mountain glaciers. Mysis feed on phytoplankton and have a balanced nutritional profile high in Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids.

You want LED's? Here is one for the raffle!!

Reefbrite XHO LED blue actinic 15" LED strip valued at $175.00. Check out Reef Brite at Table #55. Designed by Tullio Dell Aquila the XHO Led’s have the highest output of any product in their class. Experience Xtreme performance at an affordable price. Mix multiple units to create your own Xtreme High Output Led lighting system. Stylish black anodized housing, high performance reflector system, and assembled in the U.S.A. XHO Led’s are the professional’s choice.

18 Watt 15″ 12 LED Strip - Actinic Blue
Actual Length: 14.25 inches (36 cm)

With this LED strip, you can start building a personalized lighting system using a mounting bracket and mixing and matching additional LED strips of various color and output! Here is a completed one showing the LED strips in a mount:

All you need now is to frag your corals.....what could be sweeter than winning this saw in the raffle?

INLAND HOBBY DFS-100 REEFKEEPER SAW

As seen in Reef Hobbyist Magazine! Coral fragging has just gotten easier with the ReefKeeper saw. It is made to meet the specific needs of Reef Aquarists:

- Reduced Heat Transfer Yields More Viable Frags: Heat is the enemy when cutting corals; it destroys tissue and seriously affects viability, especially with sensitive species like chalice corals. The DFS-100 ReefKeeper Saw employs a continuously cooled narrow diamond blade to dramatically reduce heat transfer to the delicate tissue when cutting. Less heat means more viable frags can become healthy colonies to swap or sell.

- Clearance to Handle Larger Specimens: Saw through materials as tall as 3 1/2" - something you can't do with cut-off wheels, tile saws, or any other band saw. So go ahead, tackle that Tubastrea or Favites or any large specimen with confidence.

- Narrow Cutting Path: Rotary tools and tile saws plow a wide swath through your valuable stock. The narrow diamond blade of the DFS-100 ReefKeeper Saw is removing the least possible amount of material as it cuts, resulting in less waste—up to three times less!

 

[BeakerBob]

Yes!!!! Another LED light in the raffle!!!

Orphek, an international company producing innovative LED lighting for the aquarium, has donated an Orphek DIF PENDANT SERIES 50 - 20k Reef Aquarium LED Light. This LED pendant is designed to replace your 250 MH light.

Orphek DIF PENDANT SERIES 100/50/30 – Reef Aquarium LED Lights

Revolutionary, Powerful, Efficient, Versatile, Durable

It is a fact that blue LEDs provide low lumens/watt. The Orphek R&D team invented a revolutionary emitter with a new TWO-in-ONE technology for use in the DIF Pendants Series: the first LED lighting solution mimicking a halide style light, without the addition of blue LEDs for daylight effect, offering you several color temperature options: 16000K,18000K,20000K and 25000K.

That means you won’t need to install an extra blue LED fixture to achieve a daylight effect for your tank.

Moonlight :Royal Blue,Royal Blue & UV (TWO-in-ONE )

The DIF Pendants Series are solutions for cube tank ,large reef aquariums, aquaculture facilities, and public aquariums with three different power options, and 04 interchangeable lenses in 45,60,90 and 120 degrees to choose from, according to your needs.

DIF-50 – 50 watts – Our DIF-50 fixture replaces a 250w fixture.

Depending on the lens being used, these lights are perfect for lighting large areas 24″ (or shallower), or very deep (up to 72+â€) aquariums with 45,60 degree lens. By using high quality, custom ground, interchangeable optics and providing an incredibly efficient LED chip, Orphek has surmounted previous LED depth and spread hurdles and pushed LED lighting technology even further!

HIGHLIGHTS

-Two-in-One Technology mimicking a halide style light, without addition of blue LED for daylight.

-Color temperature from 14000k to 25000K (check our spectrographs and photometrics).

-Moonlight :Royal Blue,Royal Blue & UV (check our spectrographs and photometrics).

-Easy to be installed, our DIF series LED pendants are designed for plug-and-play use.

-Pendants are entirely self-contained, not requiring external ballast or fan.

-Completely rustproof, and can easily be suspended.

-Incredibly versatile, pendants are available in three power options: 100 watts, 50 watts, and 30 watts, and the lenses are easily changed between 45,60,90 and 120 degrees.

-Cool operating temperature.

-Are environmentally friendly.

 

[BeakerBob]

Soon to be listed: LIVESTOCK!!

 

[reefhead]

I hear some of the club members got to cherry pick some nice corals for the raffle. I am coming up from Indianapolis. Pretty excited, any hotel or eating reccomendations??

 

[BeakerBob]

Yes, we picked up some large awesome corals for the raffle. I will be posting soon after we get some pictures.

I'll ask Jim to see if he know of some good places to stay along west Saginaw Road in Lansing near the airport where the Eagles club is located.

 

[jimsflies]

I hear some of the club members got to cherry pick some nice corals for the raffle. I am coming up from Indianapolis. Pretty excited, any hotel or eating reccomendations??

Vendors should have received a couple emails from me by now (sent last week). If you didn't get an email, you better contact me so I can be sure we have the right info.

The question came up about area accommodations. (The hall is near the airport.)

hotels lansing mi - Google Maps


As far as restaurants, there is the standard chain fair around the hotels there....Outback, Carrabbas, Red Robin, Bennigans...Ukai Sushi is good too!

lansing mi restaurants - Google Maps

 

[BeakerBob]

Livestock Raffle!

ORANGE FUNGIA WITH YELLOW TENTACLES!

This is a beautiful large oragnge fungia with yellow tentacles. When we saw this coral, we knew it had to go into the swap raffle for some lucky reefer to show off in their tank!

Plate coral information: The Orange Plate Coral is a relatively hard to find coral that originates from the Indo Pacific. These corals are found free living within the rubble zones of the reef, and have the ability to inflate themselves to both maximize light exposure, and to keep from being covered in sand.

It is a solitary, semi-aggressive coral with shorter tentacles than its cousin the Long Tentacle Plate Coral (Fungia sp.). Even with short tentacles, it can still damage other corals that it comes in contact with. With placement in the aquarium, keep in mind that it will often inflate itself with water and expand to twice its size. It will do best on the bottom of a reef aquarium, preferably lying on a fine sandy substrate. The Orange Plate Coral is easy to maintain in the reef aquarium and makes an excellent candidate for the beginner reef aquarist. Care should be taken in handling it however, to prevent damage. It requires moderate lighting combined with moderate water movement within the aquarium. (info taken from LiveAquaria)

 

[BeakerBob]

RED SCOLYMIA WITH BLUE SKIRT

This incredible scoly was a treasure from Reef Paradise in Flint. The picture does not do it justice as it about 6" in diameter and puffs up with intense colors when inflated.

Scoly information: The Scolymia Button Coral is a large polyp stony (LPS) coral and also referred to as the Doughnut, Artichoke, or Disk Coral. It is a round, solitary coral, usually having a single oral opening present in the center, however, multiple openings have been present in some species. The Scolymia Button Coral is found in many different mottled color forms of dark green, red, or brown with cup-, or saucer-, flat-, or dome-shaped variations. It is not an outwardly aggressive coral, but should be provided with plenty of space between itself and other corals because it can expand twice its size during the day. (info taken from LiveAquaria)

 

[BeakerBob]

TRACHYPHYLLIA

This is an Ultra grade Trachyphyllia brain coral with red/orange/purple & white coloration!

Trachyphyllia information: The Trachyphyllia Brain Coral is a Large Polyp Stony (LPS) coral, often referred to as the Pacific Rose Coral, or an Open Brain Coral. It does best in a well established reef aquarium that incorporates moderate to strong lighting and a moderate water current within the aquarium, along with the addition of calcium, strontium, and other trace elements to the water. These corals prefer to be placed on a sandy substrate, with plenty of space between it and other corals, as it is sensitive to stings from its neighbors.

It contains the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae from which it receives the majority of its nutrition through photosynthesis. They also benefit from occasional feedings of meaty items, like shrimp, clam and squid. They should only be offered food when the tentacles are fully expanded, which is typically during the night time hours. (info taken from LiveAquaria)

GREEN AND YELLOW TRACHYPHYLLIA

This is an exceptionally great looking Trachyphyllia with green and yellow colors!

 

[BeakerBob]

MORE LIVESTOCK FOR THE RAFFLE!!​

This Catalaphyllia Coral is absolutely elegant!! It is a large green specimen with different color tips.

Catalaphyllia information: The Catalaphyllia Elegance Coral is a large polyp stony (LPS) often referred to as Elegant Coral, Wonder Coral, or Ridge Coral. It is truly the most unique and interesting stony coral known. Its polyps are extended during the day showing off its vast array of color-tipped tentacles. Under actinic lighting, the fluorescent qualities are beautiful with lime green, blue, orange, or purple-tipped tentacles which vary between branched or round and bulbous shapes. The most common color variety available to aquarists is gold with pink or purple-tipped polyps.

The Catalaphyllia Elegance Coral is moderate to maintain in the reef aquarium and makes an excellent choice for the beginner to expert hobbyist. Provide ample space in the aquarium between it and other neighboring corals as it will expand to twice its usual size during the day and will sting other corals in close proximity to it. It is best to place the skeleton of the coral into a soft substrate. The soft substrate is less likely to irritate the fleshy underside of the coral when compared to the rockwork. Clownfish may accept this coral as its host if no anemone is present. Use caution when handling, as it is very fragile and can also sting its handler. (info taken from LiveAquaria)

 

[BeakerBob]

OMG!! LOOK AT THE COLOR AND SIZE OF THESE ZOANTHID ROCKS!!​

ZOA COLONIES These large colonies of red, green, orange & pink zoas will be the envy of your fellow reefers!