AquariumExpo 2013 is here!

Everything is for sale, yesterday, today and tomorrow and there's even card machines.

 

Been there yesterday and to call this an Aquarium Expo is misleading and an overstatement. Home Expo with a couple of aquarium stalls at the back is more like it. This was definitely the last time I made the trip for this.

 

+1

 

Was great to meet so many people from TASA yesterday! The Aquarium Expo side was packed, especially during the talks. One less exhibitor than last year but the atmosphere was very nice. Free massages, wine and brewery stands, Samsung products, cars, Edgar's and Temptations, jewelry, fudges, furniture etc made the Home Expo side quite nice as well. Actually held a baby Alligator yesterday! The tank plants in bags were such a clever idea and SJ's demo was fascinating. Such variety in one expo was just brilliant to see.

 

....... and also overpriced.:shot:

 

I dont think the price is that bad. They are a bit more than home growers would sell them for but there's obviously a bunch of other costs that have to be taken into account and then obviously the LFS has to make a markup. Either way I think the best thing about these plants is that any LFS in the country can stock them with zero knowledge of planted tanks and even if they do know planted tanks they barely take up any "shelf space" because you don't need a tank for them. Obviously this does wonders for availability. When I started in the hobby all you could buy was vallis that came with bits of lead around the bottom. They were also all in excellent condition.

 

Sorry it was still disappointing, came from Thabazimbi on Friday. Only thing that was impressing was the animaniacs stand. I wasn't there for specials, i was there to see things you never see everday that you could only find at a special event. There was no Freshwater Livestock for sale, thought that was a missed opportunity (except some neons in 1 display tank) spent 15 minutes there than enjoyed a long drive through traffic to see the parents later that night.

From what i was expecting don't think i would have changed my opinion if i came on Saturday or Sunday......

The products on special I could have ordered online and save the petrol.

Wouldn't waste the time next year, this is just my opinion and i was really disappointed.

 

Sorry to say but -1 on the expo really really disappointed!

 

must say was expecting to spend more money(could actually not find a heater for sale lol) - thankfully the speaches made it worth it

 

Hi Guys

Was great chatting to all the reefers and planted guys....had a great time.

Thank you to all that visited the expo.

i would like to thank all the guys from MASA and Tasa for all their hard work and organizing the show.

And a big thanks to the Dorry Pets crew for setting everything up and making the show happen.

 

For those that are disappointed about the show i have the following to tell you:

Setting up a stand at the expo to sell fresh water or marine livestock is very difficult and we do not have allot of time doing this.
Buying livestock from a expo is going to be a very risky thing for you as client as those fish will be under allot of stress and our filters wont be able to run a massive bio loads due to the short time we have to set up the expo.( the tanks are only there for 3 days...think about that). We do not want to put livestock at risk just for a show.

Rather come to our shop or the other gusy shops to get fish.

The show is about showing the hobbyist new products and technology, getting new guys in the hobby. The more hobbyists we have in the hobby...the more products will come to S.A and the cheaper the stuff will become.

IF the guys would have sold fish to the public and the fish died before you got home or perhaps later that day in your tank...then the show would have been a big disappointment too in the public eye....(because why would we sell fish to you that are stressed up and was placed in a system that the bacteria maybe died of in transport ect ect)

Another thing that you can ask yourself...why did only a few guys exhibit at the show:
- perhaps due to the criticism from last year
- floor space might have been more expensive
- only the guys that would like to grow the markert wanted to go
- ect ect

 

Hi guys...

I`ll start of with the positive, and that the exhibetors that was there was great, and they made allot of effort, the knoledge of the guys was great and it was nice to get same scaping ideas.
The live scaping was awesome and I loved having the front seat, was also great to have some guys there that I have made friends with over the past years on TASA.
The pack we got with seachem flakes and some reading material was a real bonus, so thanks for this, and combining it with the home expo is great, so the ladies can be busy as well.

Some advice to the orgenizers...use it dont use it....
1. We come to buy, so have live stock plants hardware availible, cause we will spend if its there.
2. We need more exhibitors, there is so many companys out there thats in SA, why cant they make an effort to show off their products.
3. TASA has a couple of sponsors, they should all be there...so we can support them.
4. Get some input from members on what they would like to hear in terms of subjects, then do some questions and aswers @ the end of the different subjects.
5. Do some raffles when you buy certain products or spend more the an certain amount, this will encourage spending.

There is endless possibilitys, and I will be back next year for the expo, and hoping it will be bigger and better, and hoping Hooters will still be there so I can enjoy a beer with some of the membors.

But, thank you for the efforts....we appreciate it allot, as its the only of its kind in SA.

 

agree with you Hennie

 

Cant a expo be held at one of the LPS will that not work better?

 

i would even get the koi community in on this event, it would be great exposure for everyone. Get children educated on starting there first aquarium, wish i knew what i know now.