ACA convention website is now live

The ACA convention web-site is now live, although I noticed that the links for the convention schedule and vendors are not functional yet.
I'm definitely going, and some of the HCCC members are also going.
I would LOVE to have a RLC contingent there...we could all get the same T-shirts, lol!

Seattle to Washington D.C. -- I'll have to look that up, but I'm thinking I probably won't be going. I would really love to attend one, one of these days.

Aura wrote:Seattle to Washington D.C. -- I'll have to look that up, but I'm thinking I probably won't be going.

Yeah, same here. I wish they'd rotate the show locations a bit more.

Im only a few hours away from DC, what goes on the convention? I looked at the website, a few speakers, some pics from some photographer, etc... do they sell fishies there? equipment? anything worth spending some loot on? Im all about getting some knowledge from some pros, but I rather get some hard to get fish or buy the next coolest filter pad thats made out of some goats chin hair than listen to someone telling me that I should use a wet cheese cloth to catch fish rather than a net, if Im going to DC and fight the traffic
Ray

I've been discussing the convention with some HCCC members, and there's hundreds of fishies to buy, from the other attendees (I was told you can walk down the halls in the hotel and people post on the door what they have for sale), there is an auction
I think on the last day, a fish show, lots of vendors, plenty to spend your loot on....
I'm getting really exited about going.

There will be so many fish for sale... Soooooo many... This is something you don't want to miss. It's going to be one of those times you wish would never end!!! I'm a proud member of the CCA, which happens to be the best freaking club in the UNIVERSE!!! And we are very proud to be hosting this year.

Me and J (footballmom) will definitely be there. Betty, if at all possible... You need to be there!!! It'd be AWESOME!!!

CCA does ACA!!! WoooooHooooo!!!

jimmymac wrote: Bring it back to Denver!

Let's see... You've got a truck and camper... ROAD TRIP!!!

C'mon Bro!!! You can do it!!!

well in that case I think I will be attending.... hmmm maybe I should buy that 180g after all
Ray

Atta Boy Ray!!!

now, if I were to buy some fishies from the show.... what would be the best way for a 4 to 5 hr road trip? it will be warm by that time... any suggestions?
Ray

The thing to do is set up tanks in the hotel room. Some people use plastic totes, some use the stackable plastic drawers. You'll have opportunities all weekend to buy fish from other hobbyists and having a place to keep them until you leave on Sunday after the auction is the biggest concern. Depending on how many different types of fish you want to get will determine how many tanks/tubs you'll need set up. Air pumps and sponges or box filters are the way to go. If you keep your room temp in the 70's heaters aren't necessary but I like 68 deg so I use heaters. I usually only take a 20h and a ten gallon or two, there's always a couple fish I keep a lookout for but it's impossible to go to a big show like this and come home empty handed... If you don't bring some tanks, I can assure you that you'll be finding the nearest walmart to pick up some tubs cause you can wear blindfolds all weekend and you'll still find fish you just have to have. There's nothing cooler than having a hotel room full of fish tanks and new fish!!!

For the trip home, I bag mine. I'm a couple hours from DC but I still use bag buddies, 2 & 3 mil bags, double bagged, double rubber bands. They could easily travel that way over night in a cooler with a heat pack. You won't need heat packs but styro coolers are definitely helpful.

If you want more detailed info, have questions, or anything else I can pm you my phone number.

Next year is the bi-annual Catfish Convention which is also a blast, don't let the name fool you, there's plenty of cichlids there also. It's in Fairfax VA I believe. It's an absolute blast also!!!

Im probably going to be there for a day, so I think im going to use a bag/cooler combo, Im going to try to have blinders on... probably wont work, but so far im looking for fishies for my tang tank.... and a few for the malawi... maybe a few more peacocks..... hmmmm maybe a few more fronts..... 4 more black calvus would really look good.... what was I saying???

If your only going to be there 1 day and looking for fish is your main interest, Sundays auction is probably what you'll want to attend. Your going to miss out on so much tho... You'll regret not being there Fri-Sun... Just sayin...

No staggering from room to room looking at all the fish for sale... Errr I mean walking from room to room

No guest speakers...

Much less time for hanging out with all us cichlidiots...

Ohhh the regrets you'll have... I already feel sorry for ya

So what day/time do I need to get there? Thursday morning or Wed night?

Great news!!! I contacted the one and only Discus Hans in Baltimore, he has agreed to open the doors to Discus Hans USA at 1pm on Thursday July 21st (first day of the ACA)!!!

I've only seen pictures and by those pictures I can assure you this will be a treat!!! Thousands of the most beautiful discus known to man!!! Hans will also explain his operation including how he can change thousands of gallons of water by turning a couple valves. His filtration system is also a sight to behold, I was lucky enough to see his presentation last year where all this stuff was covered. To get to see all of this in person is going to be awesome!!! Hans is also one of the friendliest guys you'll meet, very outspoken with an awesome sense of humor.

How can you attend this? Easy, register for the ACA and let me know you'll be there. He's going to provide refreshments so an accurate head count is needed.

Here's a link to his site: http://www.discusfishstore.com/

Unfortunately Hans had to cancel the open house, he has a very good reason for canceling. Basically he had to put down 700 fish because of an unidentified fish illness. He sent some specimens to a university lab to try to figure out what it was. He decided to put them down and take a huge loss rather than try to treat and sell. He said there was no way he could bring himself to sell "patched up" discus to all of his loyal customers and taking the loss himself was the only right way to go about it. To me that tells you what kinda guy he is, I think most would have kept a tight lid on it, tried to treat an unidentified problem and then ship em out rather than taking such a huge loss. He is in the process of "rebuilding" and I wish him the best of luck. We need more guys in the hobby like Hans!!!

Wow, what a shame for him to loose all those fish.
But you are right, very few people would have had the integrity to do what he did,
I hope the mystery is solved, soon.

Well, since my son can't give me a definite time for his leave home, I've decided HE
will have to work around ME, and I just bought my convention package! I don't know if I will be able to get there on Thursday, though, may be Friday before I can fly in.

Awesome news!!!

BETTY!!! Be there or be square!!!

Well, it's done. Convention registration, hotel reservation, and plane tickets
purchased.
I'm all set for a fishy 4 days!

Woohoo! Just found out for sure tonight our dog sitter will be available for the ACA Convention weekend so my wife Becky and I are in.

If I'm understanding things correctly the Standard registration package is basically all we'll need if we don't want to go to the Awards dinner right? Maybe we'll go to the next one once we meet some people and all. Other than that, (and my beer stein) all I need to do is make the hotel reservations right?

Can"t wait for this. I'm planning a new 75 gallon Tanganyikan community tank and plan to stock it at the convention. Can't think of a better place to do it.

It's official, we're registered and have a hotel room reserved. Can't wait to meet and learn from those of you who are going and also can't wait to check out all the great fish. This is going to be great. :0)

If you want to go to the dinner, Mike and I from here will be there, and I've been
invited to sit with the HCCC groups table, so...
you didn't "know" us before, but you will by Saturday....

Awesome news Norm!!! You'll have friends to sit with at the awards banquet, no reason to miss a good meal

That beer stein will definitely come in handy, there will be "hospitality suites" set up and hospitality roughly translates to free beer!!!

LOL. In my world hospitality translates directly to 'free beer'. LOL