The official "What I learned at MACNA XIX" thread!

[melev]

Let's share the knowledge! It can be funny, interesting, informative... what stood out most for you this year?

Here are a few off the top of my head:
1) Pittsburgh is a very pretty city, hidden in the hills.

2) Take quick showers or you'll get scalded by altering water pressure in the hotel. Talk about needing to react quickly! :eek2:

3) Scientists on rebreathers can cuss better than an angry wife, but sound funnier at the same time.

4) ReefCherie has a naughty fantasy about a cop.

5) My voice apparently carries.

6) New products rock. Not really a stretch, but it is so fun to see the latest goodies. There's a new GFO basket that will be available soon that I can't wait to get my hands on. (I'll add pictures of it in the other MACNA picture thread)

7) Steven Pro is the luckiest guy alive, setting up a greenhouse for the price of bakery goods.

8) Tunze does not sell their skimmer for $10,000.

9) Some Coralife lighting fixtures are nice looking (178g tank)

10) The multi-booth by Euroreef, Icecap, Salifert, EcoTech, Marine Depot, & Zero-Edge was everything they promised, and more. Jeff (of Euroreef) had a very expensive Digi-Cam to record all the fun.

11) It IS possible for two competing Reef Central Sponsors to have a very friendly conversation without any hint of hostility. Which proves we do have some awesome people in our reef keeping community.

12) It is almost impossible to see every vendor booth in the three days allotted. Truly, there is so much to see and enjoy. Take your time.

13) I can drink much more than I thought I could, and still maintain my record of never having a hangover in my life. :beer:

I'm sure there are more, but that's a good start.

 

[lvreefer]

Sweet. Sounds like fun. I'll have to hit up Jeff for the video.

 

[barbra]

Before this post I was jealous that I couldn't attend, but I didn't know what I was missing so it wasn't so bad. Now I have a mental picture of the fun and I am really envious

 

[melev]

Barbra, every year I struggle to put into words how fun it is. People tend to think it is some stupid boring trade show, and wonder why they should spend the money. Some even feel they should be allowed to attend for free.

Here are some perks we had this year:

1) Open bar - free drinks (Beer & the hard stuff) on <b>both</b> Friday night & Saturday night. Some of the sponsors paid that tab. And well over 500 people were at that reception and gala dinner. You can bet every person got at least 2 drinks.

2) Free breakfast at 7am. I never got it as I'm never up that early, but I saw coffee and danishes available until about 11am in the hallway leading into the Expo area as well as in the Vendor's section.

3) Free pizza! This was provided by Euroreef and Icecap (Maybe others as well?) so around noon you didn't have to go out to eat. A slice was all I needed to make it until dinner time.

4) Free coffee - the kind where two baristas were mixing up your favorite beverage.

5) Free t-shirts - several vendors handed those out.

6) Free products - samples of foods, additives, test kits. Heck, I heard 4 people happened to be near a booth that was being broken down and the vendor GAVE them nano-cubes new in the box. Crazy.

7) Raffles - The multibooth (Euro-Cap-Eco-Zero-Sal-Depot LOL) had several raffles each day and people won skimmers, VorTech pumps, multiple test kits and more. Everyone crowded around hoping to win.

8) Product information - vendors would take the time to explain their product thoroughly, answering every single question you could dream up.

This was probably the most <i>giving</i> MACNA I've been to yet.

 

[Conceyted]

Re: The official "What I learned at MACNA XIX" thread!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10792436#post10792436 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev


3) Scientists on rebreathers can cuss better than an angry wife, but sound funnier at the same time.

8) Tunze does not sell their skimmer for $10,000.
10) The multi-booth by Euroreef, Icecap, Salifert, EcoTech, Marine Depot, & Zero-Edge was everything they promised, and more. Jeff (of Euroreef) had a very expensive Digi-Cam to record all the fun. \

+1

Especially the scientists on rebreathers one.

 

[Conceyted]

Open bar was ridiculous! I couldn't believe we had open bar two nights in a row! And it wasn't well drinks open bar either, it was Beefeater, Bacardi, Captain Morgan, Stoli, etc.

 

[melev]

Oh, I do have a complaint about that: No Crown Royal!

Just kidding! Did all of you do the Captain Morgan stance when you ordered your drink? I did, each time! :lol:

 

[Conceyted]

Here are a few of my own:

Corals really don't need as much light as everyone claims. One presentation showed that most corals became over saturated with light after 300-450 par.

Stop lights in Pittsburgh take longer to change than any other stoplights I have ever seen.

Euro-Reef/IceCap/MarineDepot/Salifert gave away/donated much more than they made on their trip to Macna.

Drs. Foster and Smith's Staff really is as nice in person as they are on the phone. Unreal!

Macna XX looks to be the best Macna yet, with the Georgia Aquarium only 6 minutes walking distance from the hotel and the Gala AT the Georgia Aquarium.

Walt Smith has quite the sense of humor.

Colorado Reefers are extremely friendly.



One complaint:

Where were the T-shirts for Macna XIX?! I wear my Macna Houston T-shirt every chance I get, but this year I was not able to buy a Macna XIX shirt. Disappointing. Next years T-shirts appear to be polo shirts and are at the hefty price of $40! But in all honesty, the Macna XX T-shirts are top notch quality and I will be buying two of them.

Cheers.


Edit: Oh, and one more thing. If anyone has video of the presentation/speaker from Saturday nights banquet, I would love to get/buy a copy from you. What an excellent presentation. Absolutely hilarious, too!

 

[SShindell]

Regarding the shirts for MACNA XX - those were for our volunteers, and arrived just before we left on our flight. As we were unpacking, people tried to buy them (we had not thought of selling them). They ARE high quality, and we sell them basically at our cost.

You can pre-order them to be available when you come to Atlanta.

Do people want cheaper shirts also/instead? We are open to this also.

Steve

 

[Conceyted]

I would buy both if you offered both. I don't speak for everyone though, so I would imagine a poll would be in order. I spoke with Macna XIX volunteers and a few of them mentioned the reason they were not carrying shirts was due to the leftover stock once the conference was over. They basically were concerned that they would have tons of t-shirts left over with nothing to do with them.

 

[kev apsley]

I've learned that if you can't attend MACNA then Marc will provide the visuals and the scoop on all the goodies!

 

[melev]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10792973#post10792973 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kev apsley
I've learned that if you can't attend MACNA then Marc will provide the visuals and the scoop on all the goodies!

What is this <b>can't</b> you speak of?

 

[SShindell]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10792956#post10792956 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Conceyted
They basically were concerned that they would have tons of t-shirts left over with nothing to do with them.

That is a big concern with the more expensive shirts, and why we will only do pre-order. Inexpensive t-shirts are less risky, but don't look as good.

Steve

 

[kev apsley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10792987#post10792987 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
What is this <b>can't</b> you speak of?

staying home to watch my tank....LOL

 

[Conceyted]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10793021#post10793021 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kev apsley
staying home to watch my tank....LOL

Try a web based monitoring system Then you can attend every macna AND take some vacations away from home without worry.

 

[agoutihead]

Man I really wish I would have been able to attened. I live in cleveland and could have drove, but didnt have the money for the 3 day pass or hotel.

I'm going to try and plan ahead for the next one if it is in Atlanta and the Georgie Aqurium is only a 6 minute walk.

It's like a mini vacation within a mini vacation.

nice.

 

[dc]

Oh sure just rub it in. So are the rumors I heard about you true?

 

[melev]

Even if you are a big spender, if you can save $100 each month, you'll have a heck of a time at MACNA XX. I need to get a banner from Atlanta to stick on my site. Pittsburgh is sooooo passe'. :lol:

 

[marinelife]

1. Pittsburgh is a very pretty city even better when seeing it from atop one of the mountains. DUQUESNE INCLINE was great!

2. Best Zoo/Aquarium I have ever been too. The Aquarium part of the Zoo is better than The Newport Aquarium

3. I love the new style Tunze Streams over the old ones, less wires and boxes. (example: 6101 model over the 6100)

4. Not having a skimmer lets you grow more smaller creatures

5. Next time have the hosting Club post a list of everyone there so you can try and find them to say hi, I missed several RC friends because I did not even think to ask if they where they were staying.

6. Next time bring more cash as there was way to many corals to buy.

7. Next time come in a few days early to hit all the places around the hosting club's town, way to much to do in so little time.

8. Buy more raffle tickets so you can win more.

9. Take your kids to every speaker so you can win a NANO cube

10. Rent a big car/SUV so you can get all your free/purchased stuff home.

11. Some people drive nice cars with fish all over them(MR.Corals)

12. A group of drunk reef people = funny

13. Indoor/outdoor pool in 60 degree weather = cold

14. MACNA needs to be a week long event

15. PFO's LED Lights are cool!!!!

16. I could go on and I may add more later because I learned so much my brain hurts still!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Conceyted]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10793080#post10793080 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Even if you are a big spender, if you can save $100 each month, you'll have a heck of a time at MACNA XX. I need to get a banner from Atlanta to stick on my site. Pittsburgh is sooooo passe'. :lol:

I planned on making a web banner when I got home. If I get around to it, I will post it up here. Looks like Houston's web banners haven't made it live yet.