YOUR LOCAL AQUARIUM CLUB

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dmed

dmed

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 8, 2008
495
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Cincinnati, Ohio, US
A local aquarium club is a place where you can learn about aquarium keeping, buy items like fish and plants, and meet local people who enjoy the hobby. Typically you will pay a small amount for yearly dues, and most clubs provide:

  • Meetings – may be at a public location or in someone’s private home
  • Internet forum – where members can exchange information
  • Auctions and/or swap meets – where members can buy and sell livestock and plants
  • Guest speakers – many clubs get experts to come to some meetings and give talks
  • Newsletters – some clubs have newsletters that are published by the club, a typical one might include an article by a local expert, aquarium-related classifieds, upcoming club events, a profile of a selected fish species, a book review, spawning reports and/or a list of awards received by members
  • Awards programs – BAP (Breeder Award Program) is an awards program based on how many different species you breed, and HAP (Horticulturist Awards Program) is based on how many different types of plants you propagate. All this breeding and propagating leads to a club’s accumulation of knowledge, experience, and livestock – and who couldn’t use more knowledge, experience, or livestock!!!

Most clubs have a website that lists meeting times and locations. Many will let you attend one or two meetings for free before you join. Also, most auctions and swap meets are open to the public, so you can join your local club, but also shop at the events of several clubs in your area.

If your area doesn’t have a local aquarium club, WHY NOT START ONE???
 
“Membership Has Its Privileges”

  • Education
-You can learn from other local fishkeepers. You can ask questions face-to-face. When you want to see what something looks like, you can visit someone’s home to see it.
-It’s much easier to have discussions about water parameters, because everyone has the same tap water! So, if you’re wondering if you can keep discus, ask a club member who’s kept them for years how he does it.
-Wondering how to breed a certain fish? Participants in BAP have to make spawning reports that describe exactly how they bred their fish. You can read the spawning reports and ask questions of other breeders.
- You can learn new techniques in a way that is specific to your area and climate. For instance, if you’re setting up tubs or ponds, local members can tell you how deep they need to be for your local temperatures and what predators are in your area.
-Even if you have tons of experience, local clubs often bring in experts to do special lectures and programs. Many times, the guests bring eggs or fry to sell of species you could only dream about finding in the LFS. Sometimes the lectures are about fish-related things such as aquatic photography, setting up a fish room, setting up a pond, or becoming a vendor.

  • Economics
-At auctions and swap meets, you can buy wonderful fish without paying for shipping, and you can interact directly with the seller/breeder. Many times these are great bargains.
-You can find fish and supplies including used tanks and dry goods for sale in the club’s classifieds. Some great deals can be found here, like when people are upgrading tanks or moving and have to rehome fish. Again, you can pick it up, because it’s local.
-You can save major $$$ by pooling orders. For instance, most clubs have a frozen food ordering program. Online vendors sell frozen food at a very low price, but you have to pay about $20 for delivery no matter how much you order. That seems like a lot to get your 20 packs, but when a lot of people order together, you might pay less than $1 for shipping. Also, shipping is cheaper on livestock that way. You can also pool orders for specialty dry food and finally not have to buy more than you need.
-You have an automatic place to sell your offspring or any supplies that you don’t want anymore.
-If you need just a little bit of something, like fry food or a culture of something, you can negotiate with someone local who will probably be happy to share. You can buy small quantities without having to pay for shipping or wait for it to arrive.
-Never buy plants again- just trade cuttings with local people!

  • Social
-You can meet other local people that love aquarium-keeping. You might be surprised to find that the person two cubicles over in your office has a monster aquarium!
-Sometimes you will be invited to other members’ homes to see their fish rooms – very cool!
-You get to go to the meetings, auctions, and swap meets. Some clubs also have other social events like banquets.

Now that you know, everybody should want to join a local aquarium club!

PLEASE POST THE NAME AND WEBSITE OF YOUR LOCAL AQUARIUM CLUB ALONG WITH THE DATES OF ANY UPCOMING AUCTIONS OR SWAP MEETS
 
Greater Cincinnati Aquarium Society
http://www.gcas.org

Monthly meetings, two auctions per year (spring and fall), online forum, BAP/HAP/MCAP programs, and bi-monthly newsletter.

Cost to join is $10 at a meeting or $11 online. You can attend two free meetings before joining.

NEXT AUCTION: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18
 
I can't read when you write in yellow.

My local club is a reef club. I have gotten lots of cool coral frags, sand, live rock & tons of good info from them.
 
Pufferpunk;1899678; said:
I can't read when you write in yellow.

My local club is a reef club. I have gotten lots of cool coral frags, sand, live rock & tons of good info from them.
Click to expand...


Sorry - it says "If your area doesn’t have a local aquarium club, WHY NOT START ONE???"

Would you care to post the name and website of your club so other MFKers can check it out? Sounds like a great club!


 
I currently belong to two clubs:

Boston Aquarium Society: http://www.bostonaquariumsociety.org/

Meetings are 3rd Monday of the month at the New England Aquarium in Boston.

___________________________

Worcester Aquarium Society - no website

Meetings are 3rd Tuesday of the month (No July or August meetings) held at Worcester State College
 
I cant find one on my state.
And I sure as heck dont have time to make one.
:(
 
Alan - Charleston and Columbia have marine clubs. Charlotte and Raleigh have clubs. Atlanta has a great club and incidentally is hosting the American Cichlid Association convention this year July 17 - 20 (and Cincinnati will be hosting in 2009!) Even if you live far away, it might be worth checking out for the auctions and special presentations. I will post the info below.


Attackfish - what state do you live in? Maybe I can help you find one!



Camshaft - are you friggin' serious??? You live in Florida, man, you're surrounded! What cities are you close to? I'll hook you up! :cheers:
 
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