Several times every year, huge professional marine aquarium conferences take place around the world. Most of these conferences take place in the USA, with some major conferences also taking place in Europe and Australia. The most notable of these conferences are ReefAPalooza and MACNA, both of which happen in the USA. Whether you are relatively new, experienced, or even an advanced reefer, you absolutely must attend at least one of these events every year. Here is why.

1) Expand your reefing knowledge
An old Chinese proverb says: “A single conversation with a wise man is worth a month’s study of books.” Well, all the wise men (and women) of the reefing community are usually present at these conferences, and this is your chance to ask them any questions you have, get some feedback on what you are doing in your tank, or just learn about their reefing journey.

2) Find new friends who share your hobby
Unfortunately, your friends and family don’t always end up being as passionate about reefing as you are, and it can sometimes feel a little lonely not sharing your hobby with other people. There definitely won’t be a shortage of those at the industry conferences, where reefers come in their thousands, and it is a well-known fact that many people start lifetime friendships at the events.

3) Discover the latest reefing equipment
The congregation of thousands of hobbyists make these events ideal for vendors of all kinds to announce their latest gear. This isn’t only a chance for you to find out about this equipment just when they are being released, but it’s also a good idea to save some money on reefing equipment, as vendors at the events often offer hefty discounts on their products. We at Reef Kinetics are running a discount ourselves. Just enter the coupon code: “RKMACNA” to receive $50 off the ReefBot.

4) Get your hands on the best and widest selection of corals
This is the bread-and-butter of every reefer. Ultimately, we all got into this hobby because we couldn’t resist the aesthetic appeal of beautiful and rare corals that are well cared for. At these huge industry events, you’ll find the best and most exotic selection of corals of all kinds in the world. If you are new to reefing and are looking to explore all your coral options, or if you are advanced and are looking for exotic corals to spike your passion, these conferences are the place to be.

5) Collect giveaways and win raffle prizes
The vendors don’t just give generous discounts on their products at the conferences, they also sometimes organize giveaways as part of their PR strategy, because it makes sense for them to make a good impression on the influencers and hobbyists present at the events. You also get to participate in the huge raffles which include hundreds of thousands worth of reefing equipment. In fact, the raffle draws are usually where the biggest crowds gather!

If you are planning on going to MACNA next week, make sure to pass by us at booth #803. And if you plan on being there early, meet us at our booth at 9:30 am on Friday the 30th of August, where we will be making some MAJOR announcements!

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