We love aquarium related events. Not only do they present a good opportunity for hobbyists to intermingle and share war stories, but they also serve serve as an avenue for education with various guest speakers doling out their best kept secrets to being successful in their hobby to eager minded aquarium keepers. The latest event that blipped on our radar is the Marine Aquatic Conference of Illinois (MACI), which takes place this very weekend. Hosted by Marine Geek and the Chicago Marine Aquarium Society, this single day event promises a day full of activities that include four well-respected guest speakers, a quarantine few specialized workshop, several activities to keep the kids preoccupied, and a sizable show floor full of more than 40 aquarium vendors from the local scene and abroad. In addition to the vendors, local hobbyists can also rent half tables to sell their own frags.
In terms of guest speakers, the short list is full of well-respected and well-known individuals that includes Julian Sprung of Two Little Fishies, Kevin Kohen of LiveAquaria, George Parsons of Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, and renowned fish breeder Tal Sweet. In addition to those talks, two hour long workshops and one half-hour long workshop are worked in to the schedule. These demonstrations include a coral fragging class, a “Build-a-Reefball” workshop, and a livestock quarantining discussion by Kevin Kohen and Mark Vera.
The MACI 2012 event is a single day show that takes place at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles. The doors open around 10am and the show will draw to a close at 6pm. Tickets are currently $18, but if they are ordered tonight after midnight or purchased at the door, they will be rounded off to $20. So, if you’re in the St. Charles area and want to rub elbows with like-minded folks, head on over to MACI and make a day of it. The event sounds like it has something for everyone.
