What you think of Reef A Palooza 2026

[piranhapat]

My experience Sunday wasn’t spectacular. I was hoping to fine some sticks. It seemed like everyone brought same stuff. Had some good conversations with Julian Sprung and what a great presentation by Salem . Nobody can replace Jake Adams but Salem is incredible smart and motivated. Definitely a bright star for the hobby . To sum it up it was nice but was hoping to bring home that special coral. Some deals were there but hard to fine. I guess from seeing the hobby what it once was and now it’s just a money maker than old days. Happy Reefing. I nice guy Robert King the zombie clownfish was awesome and we talked about breeding. Definitely check him out if you’re interested in clownfish.

 

[STHILL]

Just getting back into the hobby after a long long break its definitely changed unfortunately...and wow this site used to be so good and its dead now

 

[Erics210]

My experience Sunday wasn’t spectacular. I was hoping to fine some sticks. It seemed like everyone brought same stuff. Had some good conversations with Julian Sprung and what a great presentation by Salem . Nobody can replace Jake Adams but Salem is incredible smart and motivated. Definitely a bright star for the hobby . To sum it up it was nice but was hoping to bring home that special coral. Some deals were there but hard to fine. I guess from seeing the hobby what it once was and now it’s just a money maker than old days. Happy Reefing. I nice guy Robert King the zombie clownfish was awesome and we talked about breeding. Definitely check him out if you’re interested in clownfish.

cant show up on Day 2, expecting the unusually RARE SPS. They are sold within the first few hours, if NOT before the doors officially open to early bird patrons... And Robert is a saint for putting up with all us NEWBIE Clownfish breeders.

 

[cybermeez]

It was smaller than in the past, but I was happy to see some of the big names along with some of the smaller regional outfits there. I was particularly pleased BRS, Printed Reef and WWC were in attendance. I was thrilled to bump into Alex Murphy of WWC who I hadn't seen in almost 20 years. The last time I saw him he was a skinny kid working at House of Fins.

Ever since Manhattan Aquariums became....Queens Aquariums(?) I've had no where to get fish and corals except online. I miss being able to just go into the shop and look at things and talk to other aquarists. Also, maybe I'm getting cheap in my old age, but dropping a couple hundred dollars on frags or fish and then having to pay $30 for shipping feels like adding insult to injury.

I do hope that things can bounce back here once the world quiets down. It seems like after COVID, all the economic and social turmoil has exhausted the hell out of everybody. All the more reason to dive back in, if just to get a little sanity back into your life.

 

[b-ridge]

My first time going I was honestly not impressed. Everyone had the same corals. I definitely saw more torches than sps. Everyone was selling torches and it was crazy how the prices fluctuated between vendors.
I was most definitely impressed with the guy there that did the custom rock work. Can’t remember his name but the designs he made with the rocks was unbelievable. Never saw anything like it.
I was able to pick up a few fish. Missed out on the free goodies. Like my best reefer buddy @piranapat said the hubby has changed so much over the years. I was expecting more from the stories I’ve heard in the past.
All in all it was cool. My kids had a great time and that’s all that mattered