Reefapalooza Orlando 2026

[TheDampBean]

Do the prices go down on the second day of Reefapalooza or do they stay the same???

 

[Damage12]

I would say you may get some deals later on second day if the vendor doesn’t want to lug dry goods or corals/fish back, but likely the really good coral may have been bought already. That was my thinking when I was a coral vendor at frag swaps.

I guess it depends on what you are looking to buy.

 

[Lilly]

Are you asking of the corals? Yes, to an extent. Damage12 beat me to the response! They aren't going to give it away though!

 

[Peer.Boerner]

I really wanted to hear Julian Sprung talk about clams (or anything, really), but I suspect the best corals and things will be on Saturday.

 

[TheDampBean]

Right, I figured everything good would be on Saturday. Thanks yall!

 

[Peer.Boerner]

Just got home from the show. Absolutely glad I went. The selection of eye popping corals was overwhelming. Prices very reasonable. Super friendly and helpful vendors. Wow. My only minor criticism? The traffic to park was slow with a very long line. Not sure I could have done better so just sharing an observation. Would I go again? Absolutely!

 

[TheDampBean]

Just got home from the show. Absolutely glad I went. The selection of eye popping corals was overwhelming. Prices very reasonable. Super friendly and helpful vendors. Wow. My only minor criticism? The traffic to park was slow with a very long line. Not sure I could have done better so just sharing an observation. Would I go again? Absolutely!

Still here and I have a suggestion, ride a bicycle if you stay close enough

 

[Privateye]

I'd say the deals are what you make of them. You can haggle more on Sunday afternoon :)

Also, if you stay until the end of almost any trade show, there will be things the vendors don't want to transport back. Usually expensive, smaller things like TVs are given to friends, but you can get some really cheap IKEA furniture that way. Many of the vendors that came from far away buy their tables and stands locally, then get rid of them and fly back. Make an offer and you may get some furniture!

I once got some nice IKEA shelves by offering to help break-down a booth.

 

[Peer.Boerner]

I'd say the deals are what you make of them. You can haggle more on Sunday afternoon :)

Also, if you stay until the end of almost any trade show, there will be things the vendors don't want to transport back. Usually expensive, smaller things like TVs are given to friends, but you can get some really cheap IKEA furniture that way. Many of the vendors that came from far away buy their tables and stands locally, then get rid of them and fly back. Make an offer and you may get some furniture!

I once got some nice IKEA shelves by offering to help break-down a booth.

Great idea!! I’m definitely doing that next time

 

[Damage12]

If the line is long to park tomorrow, go to the hotel main entrance and valet. Throw the valet $20 and it’s a very short walk to the show. This is what I did and worked perfectly.

 

[Damage12]

Personally, there were too many coral vendors. Nice corals, but are people still paying $500-$650 for bounce shrooms even though they are everywhere? Didn’t see much moving of corals at those ridiculous prices, but there were a few vendors with reasonable frag prices.

I didn't see too much by the way of new and exciting equipment other than the oscillating powerheads by Tunze and another new company called Ocean Sea Wave. Not much in the way of lighting fixtures. No ATI Straton X’s on display that I saw and was hoping to see.

LaMotte had an auto tester called Pulse that looked interesting. No reagents or drops. Looked like a wheel that spins and holds these little strips, if you will, that uploads the results to a cloud and app. Right now it tests ammonia, O2, calcium, PH and temp but in a month or so it will test Mg and I think nitrate. They are a respected manufacturer of high grade lab testing equipment so it was promising.

Shockingly, Coralvue actually had the neon sign of Maven on display, which was kind of cringe. Show was definitely bigger than last year.

Crazy white tang with a little yellow and black for $40,000. SMH, but I guess if you don’t ask……

Lots of people and great show.

 

[Lou City Reefing]

Personally, there were too many coral vendors. Nice corals, but are people still paying $500-$650 for bounce shrooms even though they are everywhere? Didn’t see much moving of corals at those ridiculous prices, but there were a few vendors with reasonable frag prices.

I didn't see too much by the way of new and exciting equipment other than the oscillating powerheads by Tunze and another new company called Ocean Sea Wave. Not much in the way of lighting fixtures. No ATI Straton X’s on display that I saw and was hoping to see.

LaMotte had an auto tester called Pulse that looked interesting. No reagents or drops. Looked like a wheel that spins and holds these little strips, if you will, that uploads the results to a cloud and app. Right now it tests ammonia, O2, calcium, PH and temp but in a month or so it will test Mg and I think nitrate. They are a respected manufacturer of high grade lab testing equipment so it was promising.

Shockingly, Coralvue actually had the neon sign of Maven on display, which was kind of cringe. Show was definitely bigger than last year.

Crazy white tang with a little yellow and black for $40,000. SMH, but I guess if you don’t ask……

Lots of people and great show.

I really enjoyed learning a lot about the Neptunian Cube tanks. They were super interesting! Also, the NextGen lights were awesome as well.

This was my first ever RAP and I thought I’d only care about the corals but little did I know the tech and some of the companies who do custom aquascape grabbed most of my time!