Idea for Maast Funds

[thedude]

Ok so recently my A/C unit went out and man would I have given an arm for a chiller to borrow. Luckily nothing died but everyone may not be that lucky. So MAAST is in the green right now and I have a proposition; Why not buy something along the lines of a 1/2 hp chiller and a decent generator to be used exclusively by charter members in times of emergency? The way I see it would work would be as follows;

One person is in charge of all MAAST property and rents the stuff out (almost like using the maast cart I suppose)

You check it out in times of need, I'm not talking months here, week max let's say unless there are extenuating circumstances. Leave your credit card number with the holder just as a safe hold.

This way, we have a chance to help reefs that might otherwise have crashed and encourage more people to bump up to charter status!

Let me know what you guys think. This could also include a variety of emergency items like heaters, I know Gator needed a bunch the other day quickly.

[Reef69]

IMO..What if multiple people need it?..specially during hot times like these..it would be their right to check it out at any given minute, since they helped pay for it. I personally dont think it would work, too conflicting..

[thedude]

But how many people's ac goes out like that? I'm not talking "it's hot outside and my halides are too hot so I need a chiller," I'm saying catastrophic things that cannot be planned for.

[brewercm]

This was brought up before about getting other things that are for use maybe once every few years by a person. Things like PAR meters and other neet stuff that is just too expensive to buy for a one time use. Not sure what happened or the final decision was. Anyone remember?

[thedude]

There we go I like that idea. A PAR meter would be a cool toy for our reef club to own, and we are swimming in the moolah...

[gjuarez]

Although I probably wouldnt be able to use it because of the distance, I like the idea, but only for times of emergency.

[brewercm]

If a chiller was going to be one item like that it would be best to probably make it a drop in. Either that or have lines already made up and a pump that would work like a canister filters lines that just hang on the side of the tank where it would be easy to hook up.

[thedude]

Either that or have lines already made up and a pump that would work like a canister filters lines that just hang on the side of the tank where it would be easy to hook up

I think that's a great idea! I don't like the idea of drop in because some people may not have a sump.

[scuba_steveo]

See, that's another big problem. Some people need this type, some need this type, some need another type all together, some need this HP while others need this HP. Just too many options. And then who takes care of it all. I can tell you being on the BOD takes a bunch of time as it is. You may not think so but just try it out. Taking something like this on would require a ton of time. Great idea but I think it would be too hard. But that is just IMO.

[Alamo]

I like the idea.

[thedude]

See that's why I like the idea of a chiller set up like an inline almost hang on back. And I think that with a 1/2 hp unit, you could keep most peoples tanks from disaster.

[::pete::]

This is pretty much what we all do here now!! Id be willing to bet if there was a chiller just laying around it would have been brought to you!!

As scubasteveo said there are just too many "ifs" as well as a central location for it to be stored when not in use. There is also the issue that I am sure would come up and that being that "one person" might not have it available to them when needed and to put it simple crab about it!!

Its not a bad idea, but I can see it causing more problems than it might be worth.