Thank you for your support - This event is now fully sold out!
Born from a desire to deliver a UK event to their customers, AAC and Reefdreams present a showcase for the UK aquatic hobby that will both entertain and promote the sustainable aspects of the reefkeeping hobby in the UK.
Hosted by...
A.A.C - Advanced Aquarium Consultancy
Based in Harlow Essex, AAC has become synonymous with high quality marine livestock, equipment, advice, installations and UK farmed coral frags. Opening their new Coral Lab coral farm in 2019 to provide UK grown frags and the foresight to create the Coral Freaks event, to support sustainable reefing.
Reefdreams
Reefdreams are based in Winchester, Hampshire and over the last 12 years have created a destination for marine aquatics. Bringing together fish, corals, inverts and home grown signature corals and the advice to succeed with your reef aquarium. Reefdreams has a passion for the rare and wonderful and is often at the forefront of the reefing scene, bringing many of the hard to come by species to the UK, that are often only seen ‘across the pond’ including zoanthids , mushroom morphs , rainbow chalices , SPS corals etc. They will be showcasing their ‘best of the best’ at the event . Reef Dreams is also the distributor of ‘Pinpoint’ a well trusted brand of digital testing equipment, that will be on show on the day.
Speakers
Jamie Craggs - Horniman Museum, London
Jamie has pioneered the captive breeding of hard coral species at the Horniman museum in London and is now working with teams around the world to develop the techniques to induce coral spawning and and settlement in a captive environment and will be sharing his experiences during his talk.
Brian Schaff - Managing Director @ Tropical Marine Centre
Brian Schaff ( todays current Managing director of Tropical Marine Centre UK ) , started his own Marine Ornamental Aquaculture business at the beginning of the century in Portugal. He managed to crack how to breed many shrimp and fish species on a commercial scale, that would lead to exporting worldwide, offering a sustainable alternative to wild caught species.
TMC has always been very focused in ensuring they work with as short supply chain as possible, and currently works with many captive breeders all over the world.
Brian has been in the marine ornamental industry now for 20 years, but he has also been a passionate hobbyist as well as a researcher, supplier to the industry, collector and wholesaler.
Brian will share his experiences with you, and give an insight into his past and present experiences.
David Saxby - Founder @ D-D The Aquarium Solution
The name David Saxby is synonymous with the reef keeping industry through DD The Aquarium Solution , a well respected international company that started 15 years ago , often the brand leader . David is also known worldwide for having one of the most amazing reef aquariums of all time and to quote Mike Paletta, "it is one of the best three hobbyist tanks in the World". However most don’t know the detail behind this passionate reefer , and the history . For example David first started keeping fish when he was eight years old and from this meagre goldfish aquarium a spark started that would change the industry forever . David will talk us through some of what his seen in those 60 plus years and provide some time for all you ‘Coral Freaks’ to ask questions about his experiences with the hobby , industry and his amazing reef aquarium . A talk not be missed .
Sponsored By...
ITC Aquatics
Ecotech Marine
Tropical Marine Centre
D-D The Aquarium Solution
Exhibitors...
WorldWide Reefing Reef Meet...
Those of you not familiar with social media may not be aware of this amazing Facebook Reefing group . Mick Choppen started the page with an understanding that it should be focused on the subject without classified sales spoiling it . Mick is well known within the hobby for his fantastic photography skills and his contributions to other forums , especially Ultimate Reef . He will be hosting his ‘Reef Meet’ as he has done many times at stores around the UK .
If you wish to join a friendly well moderated Reefing platform - where ‘no question is a stupid question’ filled with eye candy reef aquariums from around the world, search ‘Worldwide Reefing’ on Facebook and join the group of 7000 plus members !
Frag Swap...
There will be a ‘frag swap’ area at the event, for those with a ‘glut’ of grown out corals who wish to exchange, run by a local well known reefer , Mr Leigh France .
Rules will be in place soon and more detail posted into our social media page, soon to be created, linking to Leigh’s Facebook group .
No cash sales are allowed at the event - this is about the sustainable hobby and only those genuine hobbyists looking to exchange will be allowed to participate.
Ticket Information...
Please Note... This event is fully sold out!
Tickets will be free of charge and the costs of the event have been met by the hosts and sponsors.
As a result tickets will be in high demand and will be limited due to fire regulations and for this reason we will release tickets in the following phases.
Tickets will initially only be available in store from AAC (Harlow) and Reefdreams (Winchester) for regular call in customers, please bring along your photo ID and email address for each ticket holder as tickets will be allocated idividually and are not transferable. There will also be a limited number of tickets made available to members on the Ultimate Reef Forum.
Tickets will then be made available to other aquarists in person at either AAC (Harlow) and Reefdreams (Winchester)
Remaining tickets will be made available online, there will be a carriage charge to cover administration costs.
The Raffle!
In order to make this event really special , no ticket charge has been implemented . However we would like all attendees to dig deep into their pockets for a raffle with superb prizes . All proceeds of the raffle will go directly to ‘Project Coral’ run by Jamie Craggs of the Horniman museum helping enable this fantastic work to continue .
Travel and Directions...
Doors Open at 10am until 4pm
The Main Hall (rear of AAC HQ), Latton Bush Centre, Harlow, Essex, CM18 7BL
Refreshments...
The burger twins van will be on site next to the exhibition hall providing the very best hot food and refreshments.