Let's see those MACNA pics! - Page 2

victor90 · 09/07/2008, 02:06 PM

I was waiting to go back to my brothers place and actually got a chance to talk to him before the crowd rushed him. Yes he was fighting on sat

victor90 · 09/07/2008, 02:08 PM

Any photo tips on how to take better pictures when you are in a dark room and can not use flash

Jflip2002 · 09/07/2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by justinpsmith
Did Chuck fight any fish?

Probably wouldnt have got knocked out by fish, like he did lastnight against my boy Rashad.

chrismunn · 09/07/2008, 02:29 PM

so evans knocked him out then?

i dont know about not using the flash, but you can shoot the photo at an angle and get the glair from the flash to reflect elsewhere without showing up in the picture...

64Ivy · 09/07/2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ATB USA
Any photo tips on how to take better pictures when you are in a dark room and can not use flash

1. Use the fastest lens you've got and use it wide open.
2. Use the highest ISO possible.
3. Use a tripod or monopod if possible.

I did all three (monopod) on the image below.

For those who hadn't heard, The Georgia Aquarium recently added a Manta Ray to its 9.3 million gallon uber tank. Awesome doesn't even begin to describe it.

marinelife · 09/07/2008, 05:30 PM

Great Pictures, Looks like a great MACNA this year, with I could have made it. I can not think of a better place to have this event. Hopefully we will see it return to Georgia in the future!!

paintballer768 · 09/07/2008, 06:02 PM

I think next year it may be in New Jersey I heard??

marinelife · 09/07/2008, 06:10 PM

The 21st Marine & Aquarium Conference of North America (MACNA XXI) has been announced! Your destination city for this industry leading event is Atlantic City, NJ. This must attend event will be held September 25-27, 2009.

kryppy · 09/07/2008, 09:25 PM

The venue.

Up on the 67th floor of that thing.

The very hard working folks at the sign in area

Doctors Foster and Smiths / LiveAquaras small tank.

Plenty more to come.

kryppy · 09/07/2008, 10:32 PM

One of the more popular booths.

Here is why.

kryppy · 09/07/2008, 10:45 PM

A few shots from around the trade show area.

I'm off to bed, more tomorrow

hahnmeister · 09/07/2008, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ATB USA
Any photo tips on how to take better pictures when you are in a dark room and can not use flash

When I was with Greg at the 'window o water' I suggested to him that he used the largest aperture setting he could, so he swapped lenses. I would bet he has some good photos... thats what worked for me when I took my D-SLR on previous trips... although this time I didnt want to walk around with a firearm around my neck, so I brought the pocket-sized sony... it takes great photos for its size though (DSC-T5), and allows me to take some great 'sneak shots'.

kryppy · 09/07/2008, 10:53 PM

Ok, a few more before I forget about them...

These were in the DF&S small tank. Couldn't fit them in the first post.

Good night all, really this time...

CMcNeil · 09/07/2008, 11:05 PM

the awesome frags we scored from gcarrol

super nice guy with the best corals at the show as far as SPS goes.

our in room frag tank

DR Fosters 3 tier zero edge

nice warner marine skimmers

is that a Hooters i see 50 floors down there?time for lunch

scaryperson27 · 09/07/2008, 11:52 PM

Looks great!!

hahnmeister · 09/07/2008, 11:54 PM

In the lower left is a part of Tony Vargas taking a photo of the ORA display at MACNA...

Oh, wait... thats the reef at the Aquarium... oops, my bad.

Where to start... hmm.... ORA made a huge showing... maybe the largest showing second only to Foster&Smith/Live Aquaria. Everywhere you looked, unless the place was selling their own livestock, I think they were selling ORA frags, clams, and fish. They had their own slick Current setup:

And this zero-edge display that I won and they are supposed to be sending me any day now:

Quit staring at my tank!

Boyd was displaying several clowns from ORA:

Some nekid clown pron:

More of the Boyd booth, including some 'booth babes' in the back:

hahnmeister · 09/07/2008, 11:58 PM

It was requested by my local club, the Wisconsin Reef Society, when I asked if there was anything in particular that they wanted me to take photos of, that I get pictures of 'booth babes' as if it was CES in Vegas... so I tried.

Speaking of ORA though, Jeff Turner... co-founder of ORA and current star of 'Where in the World is Jeff Turner?' was there talking to the Salifert guys.

And Jeff's current interests (RAS) are part of a new organization called the National Aquarium Service Organization. They were displaying pics of many of Turner's installations, as well as this brick of a tank:

I think it was a 300g+. Cant remember right now...
But look at the construction:

The parimeter bracing was double thickness, and the base parimeter had an extra ring of plate glass for contact area for the silicone, and the overflow boxes did as well... I would never want to move this thing:

It was the 'Ahhhnold' tank.

A little mre ORA porn:

hahnmeister · 09/08/2008, 12:11 AM

The Foster and Smith/Live Aquaria Crew were there, and IMO, their stuff looked better than anything else at the show. The water was clear, the corals were happy... they really pulled it off. They somehow ended up with a booth at the very back, which sorta screwed them (but not as bad as Central which was pretty much facing the back wall), but their booth was easily 'nicest in show'. It was just very well done.

What many overlooked were many of the little goodies in the tanks swimming around...

There were more than that even... every level had an Angler and then some...

Right there, Boomer is telling Tony Vargas how they got the Live Aquaria tanks sooo clear and happy looking.

hahnmeister · 09/08/2008, 12:18 AM

Next, we visited Dave and the ladies on the Vue... rather, CoralVue. He was rockin it with a bunch of nice skimmers. The following is Victor on the left, and Dave on the right, talking about how much they hate those Sicce pumps...lol.

I got to see how the CoralVue version of the 1500 was looking:

Its pretty much based on the ATB design, and looks nice. The inside needs a little more contours, but overall... sweet looking. Nice job Shan! Here is a spy photo of something else by Dave:

The lumenbrights:

More:

And Dave's 'booth babe':

hahnmeister · 09/08/2008, 12:32 AM

Fin's was there, sporting the H&S:

And in the corner of Fins was a comparison between one 175w mogul LED replacement and 'brand x':

The PAR meter is giving a 98 there I believe. Notice how there wasnt an actual 175w halide there though.

TAAM was showing off some new stuff. They had the Polario working, and it looks rather good:

I looked inside one to figure out how it works, and I must say, its a step forward for them. The rotors spin outside the stator, and the blades outside of that. It was quiet, moved water like a stream pump, so Im kinda hoping they send me that free 'test sample' they were talking about.

They also have a new modular media system... comes with the feed pump, and even a fine mesh output siv to prevent carbon and GFO dust from getting back into the tank, and you can link them up as shown:

They were sportin' the new prop pumps, including the new ones that have the wavemaker built into the pump itself... you can pick one of a few settings, and then no more wavemaker needed... the pump has it built in! I can see them scoring big points for listening to what consumers want with that one.

hahnmeister · 09/08/2008, 12:42 AM

Salifert was there, as I mentioned earlier, but the ASM's were left rather 'unmanned':

You can see Victor's confusion as he looks around wondering if the skimmers are free handouts or what...

Right next door, the ASM's were working very good as part of a display to show the new SCWD with 1 inch outlets and a removable cap for cleaning. Dig that:

Hydor was showing off new DC controllable prop pumps. Their controllers DO look very nice:

It looks like hydor will be bringing over the 'Performer' skimmers as well.

^^^ another unmanned skimmer booth. Man, what is with that? RK2's just sitting there... must have been freebies or something. Note that 'brag' meter with the 18scfh.

hahnmeister · 09/08/2008, 01:00 AM

To many, this man needs no introduction, and if he did, well, he comes with his own sign so you dont forget:

The Doctor of Miracle Mud and the EcoSystem booth:

Deltec made a nice showing. It was nice to finally meet you face to face Phil! More on that later. What can I say... sometimes I dont pay alot of attention to these 'keystone' vendors like D-D here because, well... I already have their stuff!

So just general pictures here, and more on what's new from these guys later:

I got to take apart a Red Dragon 2 and finally see the insides. Those things are monster pumps!

hahnmeister · 09/08/2008, 01:02 AM

^^^ Hah! Where is the foam head? I knew it didnt skim well! Lol. But seriously... whats with all the 'high-end' skimmers not even running, and all the rest that are? Not a single BK running, not even the brand new Supermarine 300. Which brings me to Warner Marine... Jon was there, and HIS skimmers were working. The 'Award for most productive skimmer' goes to him for sure. His little monsters were not only running, but pulling crud out. He was showing that his skimmers not only blow bubbles, but were actually working, which was something no other vendor could say. Warner has some other nice chemicals and products like Potassium and Mg suppliments (which he sold out) that look like they should get some more interest:

^^^ Vic and Jon

Warner skimmer working: best in show skimmer!

And more empty BK's... I suppose, they are so pretty that nobody wants to get them dirty:

Premium's ATO they were showin' off:

But here is an empty skimmer tucked into a corner that may be of interest:

Is that a euro-reef patented neck? But it doesnt say Euroreef... and the center of it has a pipe, like an ATI, but without a bubble plate below (more like a H&S A150?). But that standpipe... thats like those Honya made ones... what is the 'Vertex'???

hahnmeister · 09/08/2008, 01:09 AM

I may overlook Tunze since I already own them, but there are the new Tunze Stream 2's on the way. Im sure you have heard before, they look like the nano seriesl, in that they are larger versions of those very positionable and attractive balls...

And the new 'nano' wavebox:

Its a very attractive package for that smaller tank. This is a video of it on a 65g:

hahnmeister · 09/08/2008, 01:22 AM

It seems Tunze didnt care for the old Sicce PSK pumps either...

And the new Marineland Maxi-Jet Utility pumps were there for display. Im sure these will be making some nice skimmer pumps. I bet the large one beats an Eheim 1260.

NOW THIS IS HOW YOU SERVE A COLD DRINK!

Marineland was showing off their series of tanks. They look very nice and come in some huge sizes... this one was 6 foot long and 3 foot deep... what other maker has these? They also said this tank's MSRP was only about $1000, and it has Starphire on the front 3 sides!!!

Sera was there to improve its market share in the US. They distribute directly to stores and they are looking to pick up more stores. They are a large brand in the EU, but haven't been as dominant here in the US.

I cant believe I forgot to take a pic... but they have a little nano... wait, no, pico skimmer that comes with their 'cube system' that not only looks cute, but looks like it could perform as well. The Sera rep told me that due to demand, he will be importing just the skimmer (normally sold as a part) for sale in the US. Ill try to see if I cant get a pic of that sent later. Its really sort of cool... like a micro sized Bubbleking.

These guys were also a big hit:

More hydor:

I missed Chris from Icecap... so Chris, if you are reading this, you still owe me a beer! So I talked with Tom about whats new at Aquactinics, and so he 'flipped me' something...

So now those who complain about 'no shimmer' can get these. And yes, there was shimmer. He said that the final will have LED's that are 3x as bright (Im pretty sure), and they are neato because they are 120vAC LED's.

09/07/2008, 02:29 PM	#29
chrismunn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 4,200	so evans knocked him out then? i dont know about not using the flash, but you can shoot the photo at an angle and get the glair from the flash to reflect elsewhere without showing up in the picture... __________________ Marine Aquarists Association of South Texas Austin Reef Club PBITAWA... Current Tank Info: 14g bio cube

09/07/2008, 05:30 PM	#31
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	Great Pictures, Looks like a great MACNA this year, with I could have made it. I can not think of a better place to have this event. Hopefully we will see it return to Georgia in the future!! __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.

09/07/2008, 06:02 PM	#32
paintballer768 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South FL Posts: 227	I think next year it may be in New Jersey I heard?? __________________ -Jeff Current Tank Info: 24 gallon mixed SPS LPS Zoas

09/07/2008, 06:10 PM	#33
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	The 21st Marine & Aquarium Conference of North America (MACNA XXI) has been announced! Your destination city for this industry leading event is Atlantic City, NJ. This must attend event will be held September 25-27, 2009. __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.

09/07/2008, 11:05 PM	#39
CMcNeil Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: St.Petersburg,Florida Posts: 7,368	the awesome frags we scored from gcarrol super nice guy with the best corals at the show as far as SPS goes. our in room frag tank DR Fosters 3 tier zero edge nice warner marine skimmers is that a Hooters i see 50 floors down there?time for lunch __________________ Deep Blue 28g rimless, AI Prime LED,Vortech MP-10,SCA-301 skimmer, Tunze 1073.04 return pump,Tunze nano osmolator, 10g glass sump,Ehiem 100w heater,RK Lite. SPS dominant reef

09/07/2008, 02:06 PM	#26
victor90 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: san jose ca Posts: 1,303	I was waiting to go back to my brothers place and actually got a chance to talk to him before the crowd rushed him. Yes he was fighting on sat

09/07/2008, 02:08 PM	#27
victor90 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: san jose ca Posts: 1,303	Any photo tips on how to take better pictures when you are in a dark room and can not use flash

09/07/2008, 09:25 PM	#34
kryppy Moved Down Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 869	The venue. Up on the 67th floor of that thing. The very hard working folks at the sign in area Doctors Foster and Smiths / LiveAquaras small tank. Plenty more to come.

09/07/2008, 10:32 PM	#35
kryppy Moved Down Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 869	One of the more popular booths. Here is why.

09/07/2008, 10:45 PM	#36
kryppy Moved Down Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 869	A few shots from around the trade show area. I'm off to bed, more tomorrow

09/07/2008, 10:53 PM	#38
kryppy Moved Down Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 869	Ok, a few more before I forget about them... These were in the DF&S small tank. Couldn't fit them in the first post. Good night all, really this time...

09/07/2008, 11:52 PM	#40
scaryperson27 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cape Coral, F.L. Posts: 2,106	Looks great!!

09/07/2008, 11:54 PM	#41
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	In the lower left is a part of Tony Vargas taking a photo of the ORA display at MACNA... Oh, wait... thats the reef at the Aquarium... oops, my bad. Where to start... hmm.... ORA made a huge showing... maybe the largest showing second only to Foster&Smith/Live Aquaria. Everywhere you looked, unless the place was selling their own livestock, I think they were selling ORA frags, clams, and fish. They had their own slick Current setup: And this zero-edge display that I won and they are supposed to be sending me any day now: Quit staring at my tank! Boyd was displaying several clowns from ORA: Some nekid clown pron: More of the Boyd booth, including some 'booth babes' in the back:

09/07/2008, 11:58 PM	#42
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	It was requested by my local club, the Wisconsin Reef Society, when I asked if there was anything in particular that they wanted me to take photos of, that I get pictures of 'booth babes' as if it was CES in Vegas... so I tried. Speaking of ORA though, Jeff Turner... co-founder of ORA and current star of 'Where in the World is Jeff Turner?' was there talking to the Salifert guys. And Jeff's current interests (RAS) are part of a new organization called the National Aquarium Service Organization. They were displaying pics of many of Turner's installations, as well as this brick of a tank: I think it was a 300g+. Cant remember right now... But look at the construction: The parimeter bracing was double thickness, and the base parimeter had an extra ring of plate glass for contact area for the silicone, and the overflow boxes did as well... I would never want to move this thing: It was the 'Ahhhnold' tank. A little mre ORA porn: Last edited by hahnmeister; 09/08/2008 at 12:05 AM.

09/08/2008, 12:11 AM	#43
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	The Foster and Smith/Live Aquaria Crew were there, and IMO, their stuff looked better than anything else at the show. The water was clear, the corals were happy... they really pulled it off. They somehow ended up with a booth at the very back, which sorta screwed them (but not as bad as Central which was pretty much facing the back wall), but their booth was easily 'nicest in show'. It was just very well done. What many overlooked were many of the little goodies in the tanks swimming around... There were more than that even... every level had an Angler and then some... Right there, Boomer is telling Tony Vargas how they got the Live Aquaria tanks sooo clear and happy looking.

09/08/2008, 12:18 AM	#44
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	Next, we visited Dave and the ladies on the Vue... rather, CoralVue. He was rockin it with a bunch of nice skimmers. The following is Victor on the left, and Dave on the right, talking about how much they hate those Sicce pumps...lol. I got to see how the CoralVue version of the 1500 was looking: Its pretty much based on the ATB design, and looks nice. The inside needs a little more contours, but overall... sweet looking. Nice job Shan! Here is a spy photo of something else by Dave: The lumenbrights: More: And Dave's 'booth babe':

09/08/2008, 12:32 AM	#45
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	Fin's was there, sporting the H&S: And in the corner of Fins was a comparison between one 175w mogul LED replacement and 'brand x': The PAR meter is giving a 98 there I believe. Notice how there wasnt an actual 175w halide there though. TAAM was showing off some new stuff. They had the Polario working, and it looks rather good: I looked inside one to figure out how it works, and I must say, its a step forward for them. The rotors spin outside the stator, and the blades outside of that. It was quiet, moved water like a stream pump, so Im kinda hoping they send me that free 'test sample' they were talking about. They also have a new modular media system... comes with the feed pump, and even a fine mesh output siv to prevent carbon and GFO dust from getting back into the tank, and you can link them up as shown: They were sportin' the new prop pumps, including the new ones that have the wavemaker built into the pump itself... you can pick one of a few settings, and then no more wavemaker needed... the pump has it built in! I can see them scoring big points for listening to what consumers want with that one.

09/08/2008, 12:42 AM	#46
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	Salifert was there, as I mentioned earlier, but the ASM's were left rather 'unmanned': You can see Victor's confusion as he looks around wondering if the skimmers are free handouts or what... Right next door, the ASM's were working very good as part of a display to show the new SCWD with 1 inch outlets and a removable cap for cleaning. Dig that: Hydor was showing off new DC controllable prop pumps. Their controllers DO look very nice: It looks like hydor will be bringing over the 'Performer' skimmers as well. ^^^ another unmanned skimmer booth. Man, what is with that? RK2's just sitting there... must have been freebies or something. Note that 'brag' meter with the 18scfh.

09/08/2008, 01:00 AM	#47
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	To many, this man needs no introduction, and if he did, well, he comes with his own sign so you dont forget: The Doctor of Miracle Mud and the EcoSystem booth: Deltec made a nice showing. It was nice to finally meet you face to face Phil! More on that later. What can I say... sometimes I dont pay alot of attention to these 'keystone' vendors like D-D here because, well... I already have their stuff! So just general pictures here, and more on what's new from these guys later: I got to take apart a Red Dragon 2 and finally see the insides. Those things are monster pumps!

09/08/2008, 01:02 AM	#48
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	^^^ Hah! Where is the foam head? I knew it didnt skim well! Lol. But seriously... whats with all the 'high-end' skimmers not even running, and all the rest that are? Not a single BK running, not even the brand new Supermarine 300. Which brings me to Warner Marine... Jon was there, and HIS skimmers were working. The 'Award for most productive skimmer' goes to him for sure. His little monsters were not only running, but pulling crud out. He was showing that his skimmers not only blow bubbles, but were actually working, which was something no other vendor could say. Warner has some other nice chemicals and products like Potassium and Mg suppliments (which he sold out) that look like they should get some more interest: ^^^ Vic and Jon Warner skimmer working: best in show skimmer! And more empty BK's... I suppose, they are so pretty that nobody wants to get them dirty: Premium's ATO they were showin' off: But here is an empty skimmer tucked into a corner that may be of interest: Is that a euro-reef patented neck? But it doesnt say Euroreef... and the center of it has a pipe, like an ATI, but without a bubble plate below (more like a H&S A150?). But that standpipe... thats like those Honya made ones... what is the 'Vertex'??? Last edited by hahnmeister; 09/08/2008 at 01:23 AM.

09/08/2008, 01:09 AM	#49
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	I may overlook Tunze since I already own them, but there are the new Tunze Stream 2's on the way. Im sure you have heard before, they look like the nano seriesl, in that they are larger versions of those very positionable and attractive balls... And the new 'nano' wavebox: Its a very attractive package for that smaller tank. This is a video of it on a 65g:

09/08/2008, 01:22 AM	#50
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	It seems Tunze didnt care for the old Sicce PSK pumps either... And the new Marineland Maxi-Jet Utility pumps were there for display. Im sure these will be making some nice skimmer pumps. I bet the large one beats an Eheim 1260. NOW THIS IS HOW YOU SERVE A COLD DRINK! Marineland was showing off their series of tanks. They look very nice and come in some huge sizes... this one was 6 foot long and 3 foot deep... what other maker has these? They also said this tank's MSRP was only about $1000, and it has Starphire on the front 3 sides!!! Sera was there to improve its market share in the US. They distribute directly to stores and they are looking to pick up more stores. They are a large brand in the EU, but haven't been as dominant here in the US. I cant believe I forgot to take a pic... but they have a little nano... wait, no, pico skimmer that comes with their 'cube system' that not only looks cute, but looks like it could perform as well. The Sera rep told me that due to demand, he will be importing just the skimmer (normally sold as a part) for sale in the US. Ill try to see if I cant get a pic of that sent later. Its really sort of cool... like a micro sized Bubbleking. These guys were also a big hit: More hydor: I missed Chris from Icecap... so Chris, if you are reading this, you still owe me a beer! So I talked with Tom about whats new at Aquactinics, and so he 'flipped me' something... So now those who complain about 'no shimmer' can get these. And yes, there was shimmer. He said that the final will have LED's that are 3x as bright (Im pretty sure), and they are neato because they are 120vAC LED's.