COMAS Project --- Demo QT Tank

[captbunzo]

Hey there, folks. One of the things that is going to be a BIG focus over the next year is to find ways for more people to get involved with helping out with the running of COMAS activities, events, etc. In short, we want to see this club be the best it can be. And since so many of you have so much to offer, we think that means getting more of the general membership involved.

I like to think of this as: Ask not what COMAS can do for you, ask what you can do for COMAS!

So here is the first of such opportunities.

COMAS Project --- Demo QT Tank

I am looking for someone to put together the components of a basic quarentine tank. This should run no more then about $50 and should include a 10g tank, a heater, a powerhead, and a simple power or sponge filter. It may also include some basic foods, medications, etc.

And when this is put together, we would like this setup to be regularly brought to COMAS meetings. This can be something that you can handle. Or you can hand this off to other folks from month to month.

The idea is to bring this to a meeting, dump in some tap water, and have a nice simple demo of how a simple QT tank would be setup. Of course in real life, you'd probably fill it with old tank water from a water change of your main tank. But the point is just to have an easy to setup display at meetings.

Another aspect of this project is to do a basic amount of writing. Along with the QT tank display at meetings, it would be nice to have a 1-2 page printout on setting up such a setup. Something that someone can bring home and use as a guide. This information would also be included in a page on the website.

This project is directly an expression of the main goal of COMAS, educating marine aquarists toward more responsible and effective marine aquarium keeping.

This project could also be undertaken by a small team of people...

 

[Matrexz]

I think it'll get broken pretty quickly handing it off month to month like your talking about besides 10 gallons tanke is cheap people could go run to walmart and pick one up themselves if they really want to QT stuff bad enough. As far as the instructions go why not sticky it to the forum page.

 

[papagimp]

Re: COMAS Project --- Demo QT Tank

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8413043#post8413043 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by captbunzo

I like to think of this as: Ask not what COMAS can do for you, ask what you can do for COMAS!

I like this idea captain, get the people involved more. After all, the members of our little club ARE comas.

I do have a small sponge filter I could donate to this project if it gets underway. It's a Dirt Magnet.

 

[pwhitby]

i think instructions for how to set up and maintain a QT tank should be on the web site.

It would be instructional to show what the cost of a qt set up is and how best to do so.

P.

 

[captbunzo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8413948#post8413948 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Matrexz
I think it'll get broken pretty quickly handing it off month to month like your talking about besides 10 gallons tanke is cheap people could go run to walmart and pick one up themselves if they really want to QT stuff bad enough. As far as the instructions go why not sticky it to the forum page.

The concept will get across to a lot more people if it's actually something they see in person. People learn in all sorts of ways.

And upon further discussion with Professor Z (pwhitby), I've decided that rather this might be best brought to a meeting about every 3 months. The thing is that we have new people all the time show up who haven't been exposed to these sorts of ideas.

So, any volunteers?????

 

[Serra]

Although my dear old army dad who said never volunteer will probably turn over in his grave...

I have a 10 gallon tank, heater, flower pot and filter that I use for quarantine. What I can do is bring it along with some print outs to a meeting. I will explain on the print out how I keep some fresh filter media, tiles to be exact, that can be used in an emergency or an impulse buy...heaven forbid!

I can write up an article about needs for, costs, how long, etc. What else needs to be covered?

 

[Serra]

This is very timely since I am setting up a 20 gal quarantine tank for increasing my algae clean up crew. My question on this is what exactly to feed these critters while in quarantine. Will they eat algae wafers?

Any opinions on this? I guess I will keep a log so I can share my experience.

A little off subject, but how long do snails live?

 

[Matrexz]

Honestly I don't think it's worth it. I feel the club could benefit as a whole from other stuff and this just asking for a broken tank. Besides it's not that difficult to figure out from a sticky on here what all would be needed for a QT tank. Heck I could go to walmart right now and put one together for $25.

 

[captbunzo]

You know what, Matrexz, at first I wasn't going to respond to you tonight because I am very angry at your posting here. But then I realized the core of why your responses here bother me...

This thread started with the idea, Ask not what COMAS can do for you, ask what you can do for COMAS!

However, you simply seem to be complaining and criticizing an idea that MAY or MAY NOT help anyone.

It will not, however, take a lot of club effort, money, or time. It WILL benefit us as it will at LEAST result in an article for the website. And I suspect that along the way, some people will probably see the setup at a meeting and realize that they too can quarentine.

That's about all I better say. It's only the second night in a row I have been up late working on COMAS stuff and I need some sleep...

(and to all, I really do apologize for my bad attitude right now or anything that may offend in this post)

 

[Serra]

Let me know if you want me to do the article. Who is in charge of name tags for the members to wear at the meetings? I sure would like to be able to put a face to what I'm reading.

And how long should snails live?

 

[Matrexz]

You can get mad at me all you want but I'm just saying feel the other stuff is of more interest to most people. For instance I heard great things for about the club and the people that did the power head demonstrations. But I've also talked to people about this idea and some people seemed iffy and wondered why since this is the most basic thing to setup. How is dragging around a tank to every other meeting honestly going to help?? Honestly I've been very annoyed lately with all the thread jacking and arguing and everyone's 2 cents on stuff that they don't even necessarily know jack about for instance the ground probe issue that dugg was having. I normally don't say anything but finally I felt like I should say something. You say this concept will get across better if seen in person. For one it's a QT tank, an empty tank with a filter and heater, it's not ROCKET SCIENCE. If you want to publicly jump me for me voicing my opinion because I feel that we could do better for comas than demoing a QT tank then power to ya, but remember I didn't jump you publicly I just merely stated that I thought we could do better and didn't see an actual demo on something as basic as this, just a sticky instructions on the webpage and a handout at the next meeting.

 

[BigScott]

AS a semi reef newbie i think its a good idea...because when i started i need a guide or i would have liked to seen one in person
the dos an donts or setting up a qt tank..if people wanna haul it arround every three months , then thats on them..id like to see better ways i could improve my

 

[BigScott]

qt tank, sorry dog hit button..an if someone else wants to start another thread on smothing else WHATS STOPPIN YA?..REEF CENTRAL has been a huge help to me..an thanks to the people that has helped me inprove my tank, instead of making the same mistakes they did..thats my two cents worth..

BIG SCOTT

 

[mdiddy7s]

How about this idea. We have a website, why don't we use it for posting a picture process of setting up a QT tank, and that with an article to explain the steps. I think that telling/informing people of the website and making it more useful will be as beneficial and less risky as far as broken equipment goes. If the meeting is the only way to go, bring pics rather than the real thing. I think that it is unfair to ask people to invest $50 into the club in the first place. They have already paid their dues. Maybe the club could give someone the cost of the eqipment and then they could be responsible for setting it up. This would make it a donation of time and not $25-$50 bucks. That seems more balanced as far as contribution goes. Out of interest, what is done with the dues? There are quite a few members now. If there were 100 members we are talking about $2500. That seems like alot of money to be asking the members to be donating another $25-$50. Maybe another good idea for the club (treasurer) is to post the balance of money that the club has, where the expenses have been and where the balance is going. I think that an accounting is in order. Maybe I am wrong, and maybe this has been posted somewhere previously and I could just be directed to it. I have visited with some of the old timers and many have voiced this same concern. I believe that it is not fair to ask for more money donations, and particularly of a single person. It does seem appropriate to allow someone to volunteer to do something like this. Put the idea out there, ask for ideas and suggestions, and more than likely you will get your volunteers and more.
just my .02
Mike D

 

[Matrexz]

See what mdiddy7s is what I was saying I think the website idea is the way to go. And because I voiced my opinion first I get publicly flamed for it by its originator because he took it as a personal attack on HIS idea.

 

[Matrexz]

*edit* See what mdiddy7s is saying is what I was saying

 

[pwhitby]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8418678#post8418678 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mdiddy7s
..... Maybe another good idea for the club (treasurer) is to post the balance of money that the club has, where the expenses have been and where the balance is going. I think that an accounting is in order. Maybe I am wrong, and maybe this has been posted somewhere previously and I could just be directed to it. I have visited with some of the old timers and many have voiced this same concern. Mike D

Mike and any others.

The club dues have been utilized for a variety of purposes, these include the purchasing of the saltwater text books that club owns, the DVDs we have. It has also gobne towards the purchase of the 12 sets of glass clamps, the two furniure dollies, the light meter, refractometer we have. It also goes to the purchasing of the gift certificates the club gives out both as door prizes and as the photo of the month prizes. Money is also used on the upkeep of the UCO tank to ensure we have a meeting venue. It was also utilized at the last meeting to purchase mj 1200s as well as the Mj mods. Club funds also pay for the web hosting we have.

Now...........if you and the oldtimers would like more details contact me specifically. Your post sounds like you and others are worried where the money is going. I assure it only going on projects people like to see happening.

As for you comment "i think an accounting is in order" what exactly do you mean by that. I assure you that there has been nothing purchased that was for private use by anyone nor have any funds been misused.

 

[pwhitby]

As for the concept of a demo on a QT tank. You would not believe how many people contact me and ask...what do i need for a qt system. what do i feed. do I medicate, what lights? what about filters? whats hyposalinity. etc.

I belive Paul's intention was to allow a question and answer section and show people that for a little money you can probably have a great deal more success with your purchases. I personally dont think this is something that needs to be bought in time after time, but a simple visual demo and phot session, with uploading to the new website would be ideal.

Paul.

 

[Matrexz]

I wasn't trying to **** anyone off I just feel that if you have a write on the web and bring in pictures to a meeting it wouldn't be bad. People get the general idea of pictures of an empty tank, a filter, a heater, etc. I just felt it would be a risk for someone to haul a round a tank to every meeting or to every couple meetings and I could see the tank breaking fairly easily that was my only comment. I do think it's a good idea and should be well documented and stickied to both websites.

 

[Matrexz]

*edit*feel that if you have it written up on the web and
boy this just isn't my day for typing.