2018 Frag Swaps and Aquarium Expos

Posted by Matt Buschbacher on

A comprehensive list of 2018 Frag Swaps and Aquarium Expos. Please book mark this page and check back regularly for show updates and new show additions. If you are hosting a frag swap or aquarium expo and would like to have it listed here, please email us your show information. Be sure to include the date, city and state, name of the show and a link to a web page or social media page. Below the list of 2018 Frag Swaps you will find a Frag Swap FAQ.

UPDATED 01/01/2018

 DATE CITY STATE NAME
1/13/2018 Cincinnati Ohio Cincinnati Reefkeepers Society Frag Swap
1/20/2018 Madison Wisconsin MARS Frag Swap 2018
1/20/2018 Lancaster Pennsylvania RCS Winter Frag Swap 2018
1/28/2018 Lansing Michigan Michigan Coral Expo & Swap
1/28/2018 Spartanburg South Carolina SCAA Carolina Aquatics Trade Show 2018
2/3/2018 Lakeland Florida Florida Frag Swap 2018
2/10/2018 Saratoga California Silicon Valley Coral Farmer's Market
2/10/2018 Montgomery Alabama City of Dreams Aquarius Expo Codax
2/11/2018 Green Bay Wisconsin GBAS Swap Meet 2018
2/24/2018 Denver Colorado Reef Builders Reefstock 2018
2/24/2018 Dallas Texas DFWMAS Frag Swap 2018
2/25/2018 Cleveland Ohio LEAR Lake Eerie Frag Fest 2018
3/3/2018 Slidell Louisiana Fragniappe 2018
3/3/2018 Storrs Connecticut New England Frag Farmer's Market
3/4/2018 Ann Arbor Michigan A2 Frag Swap
3/10/2018 Plover Wisconsin CWRS Frag Swap 2018
3/10/2018 Plantation Florida FMAS 2018 Frag Swap
3/17/2018 Danville Indiana INDMAS Frag Swap 2018
3/17/2018 Charleston South Carolina Reef Dreams 2018
3/18/2018 Perrysburg Ohio Buckeye Reef Expo 2018
3/24/2018 St. Louis Missouri SLASH Spring Swap 2018
3/25/2018 Des Moines Iowa GIRS Frag Swap 2018
4/7/2018 Costa Mesa California MAX Marine Aquarium Expo 2018
4/7/2018 Orlando Florida Reef-A-Palooza 2018
4/07/2018 Nashville Tennessee MTRC Frag Swap 2018
4/14/2018 Twin Cities Minnesota TCMAS Frag Swap 2018
4/14/2017 Scottsdale Arizona Desert Frag Fest 2018
4/15/2018 Buffalo New York Queen City Frag Fest 2018
4/21/2018 Houston Texas Reef Currents 2018
4/21/2018 Raleigh North Carolina Reef Smart 2018
4/22/2018 Dallas Texas Texas Coral Fest 2018 (Unconfirmed)
4/28/2018 Chicago Illinois CMAS 2018 Frag Swap
5/5/2018 Buena Park California Coral Farmer's Market West Coast Coral Show 2018
5/19/2018 Utica Illinois Starved Rock Saltwater Expo & Frag Swap
6/23/2018 Seacaucus New Jersey Reef-A-Palooza 2018
9/7/2018 Las Vegas Nevada MACNA 2018 Frag Swap & Trade Show
9/15/2018 Fredonia Wisconsin Fragstock 2018
10/6/2018 Anaheim California Reef-A-Palooza 2018
10/6/2018 Chicago Illinois Windy City Reefers Harvest Frag Fest
10/19/2018 Seacaucus New Jersey Aquatic Experience 2018
10/20/2018 Columbia South Carolina CMAC Frag Swap 2018
10/27/2018 Cleveland Ohio Fragginstein 2018
11/10/2018 Naperville Illinois Coral Farmer's Market Midwest Aquatic Convention 2018

 

Frag Swap FAQ

How to prepare and what to expect at a frag swap.

What is a frag swap?

Frag swaps provide reefers an opportunity to buy, trade and sell captive grown coral to other hobbyists. A local reef club secures a venue, solicits vendors to buy booth space, hires notable speakers, and holds a raffle where they give away thousands of dollars worth of merchandise and livestock.

How do people transport coral?

Some people set up small frag tanks at the swap and then bag coral as it's sold. Other people prepackage coral in deli cups for easy "grab and go" purchasing.

Do I have to trade or can I sell coral?

Most vendors place a dollar value on coral and trade for cash. It's difficult sometimes to find someone who wants to make a direct swap.

If I rent a booth at a frag swap will I sell all the coral I bring?

You're likely to find someone who is willing to trade for coral or buy an item at a reduced price toward the end of the swap. You may not sell all of your coral. Some people donate leftover frags to local schools or educational outreach programs.

Is food available at the frag swap?

Typically there is food and beverages available for purchase at a frag swap venue, however you should check with the organizer of the frag swap to be sure.

How does the raffle work?

Manufacturers, hobbyists and stores donate product for the raffles. You buy raffle tickets when you arrive, and wait for the raffle prizes to be drawn. You can walk away with frags, product samples, pumps and even brand new aquariums.

What should I bring to a frag swap?

If you are attending as a buyer, you should bring cash (however most vendors do accept credit cards now), a stryofoam cooler (for your frag purchases), and a list of what you want to buy (both live stock and equipment / dry goods). Having a list pre-made can help you avoid making purchases for things you do not want or need, and can also help you remember what it is that you actually do need to buy.


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