/ Register

  1. Do you have an old account but can't access it?


    See Accessing your GIRS Account or Contact Us - We are here to help!

Equipment for your use.

Discussion in 'Des Moines & Ames Region' started by Nik, Feb 24, 2012.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Feb 24, 2012 #1
    Nik Windsor Heights

    Nik Experienced Reefkeeper

    2,397
    Windsor Heights
    Ratings:
    +13 / 0 / -0

    Des Moines area members have to decide what we want the club to buy for the lending library of equipment. Here are some thoughts. Par Meter, Fish Trap, Majano wand. Any other ideas please speak up. Keep in mind that 3 other areas are getting par meters that can rotate to all areas. So if we want a little variety let us know. We have about 5 days to make a decsion.


    Looking forward to hearing from you.
     
  2. Feb 24, 2012 #2
    Dave Des Moines Area

    Dave Experienced Reefkeeper

    1,749
    Des Moines Area
    Ratings:
    +450 / 1 / -0
    I vote for par meter....
     
  3. Feb 24, 2012 #3
    ninjazx777 Des Moines, IA

    ninjazx777 Experienced Reefkeeper

    2,353
    Des Moines, IA
    Ratings:
    +7 / 1 / -0
    I vote fish trap and majano wand
     
  4. Feb 24, 2012 #4
    Marco

    Marco Inactive User

    74
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    I 2nd the fish trap and majano wand, seems we would get more use from them then a par meter.
     
  5. Feb 25, 2012 #5
    beckerj3 West Des Moines, IA

    beckerj3 Expert Reefkeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    4,805
    West Des Moines, IA
    Ratings:
    +615 / 2 / -0
    I vote for par meter
     
  6. Feb 25, 2012 #6
    Bela

    Bela Inactive User

    2,210
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Par meter. Why? It's the most expensive and least likely to be purchased by a hobbyist. The other two can be had for $100 or less; a much more easily justified purchase IMO.
     
  7. Feb 25, 2012 #7
    Marco

    Marco Inactive User

    74
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    But also take into consideration there are already 3 or 4 par meters floating around the club that don't get used much that we can borrow as well. I'm just thinking in terms of variety /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/unsure.gif
     
  8. Feb 26, 2012 #8
    beckerj3 West Des Moines, IA

    beckerj3 Expert Reefkeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    4,805
    West Des Moines, IA
    Ratings:
    +615 / 2 / -0
    I know that a couple other regions are getting the Par meter, and that a couple members have offered to loan their PAR meters.
    Even so, my reasons for voting for the Par meter are because I don't think that we should count on the other regions wanting to loan us their PAR meter for any length of time (plus the costs of shipping it back & forth).  And it should be easy for any member to borrow, which I think will be easier if it was owned by the club, than for a member to need to ask to borrow one from a club member they may not know (even though Matt has so graciously offered to loan his).
     
  9. Feb 26, 2012 #9
    daalbers

    daalbers Well-Known ReefKeeper

    562
    Ratings:
    +24 / 3 / -0
    I vote par meter also
     
  10. Feb 27, 2012 #10
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

    Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

    8,876
    West Des Moines, IA
    Ratings:
    +1,818 / 14 / -0
    John (cowdust9) was extremely happy with the suction cups I loaned him to move Dave's big tank. He said it made it super easy and he told me that Dave was impressed at how easy it was to move the tank using them, having moved it once before without them.

    The ones I loaned him were mine & Matt/ninja's and were the $7/ea Harbor freight ones.

    http://www.amazon.com/FastCap-HOD-DOUBLE-Handle-On-Demand/dp/B001PBQ9K8/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_b

    While they're OK in general, I don't know if I would completely trust them. So I suggest that the club look into investing in a couple of the professional suction cups. I rented a few of these from A to Z Rental for $11/day to lift the Grove & Platt tank, they're about 8" in diameter and have a thumb pump for pumping the air out, and let me tell you, those are some bad boy suction cups.

    http://www.amazon.com/Vacuum-Suction-Lexan-Handle-Granite/dp/B0039W01ZU

    The cheaper double-cup ones say 200 lb capacity, the more expensive ones say only 125 lb so not sure which would be better. I know that i would feel much more comfortable lifting 125 lb with the better one than the cheapo one. When lifting a big tank you generally want 2 handle points but lots of the time just one (or sometimes you might let one go and you want the other to handle the full load) so maybe the cheapo ones would be good enough. After using the more expensive ones though I would say those are much better overall.

    Just a thought...
     
  11. Feb 27, 2012 #11
    Tholton33

    Tholton33 Well-Known ReefKeeper

    537
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    I like the suction cup idea. Anyone try those arm straps for moving large pieces?
     
  12. Feb 27, 2012 #12
    jnjsad

    jnjsad Inactive User

    440
    Ratings:
    +2 / 0 / -0
    I have a quick question on the suction cups, as I like that idea possibly for our region. In the past, I have avoided using the suction cups as I felt that added undue stress on the silicone joins vs. carrying from bottom. When I moved the 300 gallon deep dimension tank in my house that was roughly 400 lbs empty...and I ended up using a guy on each corner....which then posed an issue when we came to the 36" doors. Suction cups would have come in handy but I was concerned it would prematurely weaken the seems??
     
  13. Feb 28, 2012 #13
    Charlie B Waukee

    Charlie B

    102
    Waukee
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    What do we have now as far as lending equipment? Or is this a start to the library?
     
  14. Feb 29, 2012 #14
    mcclandy

    mcclandy

    254
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    i vote par meter.
     
  15. Feb 29, 2012 #15
    Nik Windsor Heights

    Nik Experienced Reefkeeper

    2,397
    Windsor Heights
    Ratings:
    +13 / 0 / -0
    Ok , we have 1 day left and have only heard from 10 people out of over 200. Get your votes in.
     
  16. Feb 29, 2012 #16
    Nik Windsor Heights

    Nik Experienced Reefkeeper

    2,397
    Windsor Heights
    Ratings:
    +13 / 0 / -0


    This is the start to it.
     
  17. Feb 29, 2012 #17
    Nik Windsor Heights

    Nik Experienced Reefkeeper

    2,397
    Windsor Heights
    Ratings:
    +13 / 0 / -0
    So far
    par meters 6  
    wand-trap- cups 5 
      
    We could do the wand, trap and suction cups together and still be under budget.
     
  18. Feb 29, 2012 #18
    iaJim

    iaJim Inactive User

    775
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Par meter.
     
  19. Feb 29, 2012 #19
    danmgray Sioux City, IA

    danmgray Well-Known ReefKeeper

    307
    Sioux City, IA
    Ratings:
    +26 / 0 / -0
    par meter, suction cups, books (I saw books somewhere, must have been a different region. I like the idea though)
     
  20. Mar 1, 2012 #20
    beckerj3 West Des Moines, IA

    beckerj3 Expert Reefkeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    4,805
    West Des Moines, IA
    Ratings:
    +615 / 2 / -0
    Correction - we have @65 people in the Des Moines area/group
     
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Accept Learn More...