Mass Thermos Swap V1.0

[sarduci]

First off, I apologize if this is in the wrong forum, but this swap is for zoanthids only. This is not really just a trade, and in no way is anything being sold. I ask any mods interested in moving this to please contact me first via PM or e-mail at thermos_swap@troyradtke.com.

Mass Thermos Swap

I'm thinking about coordinating a mass thermos trade for zoanthids. I figure I might as well put my project management skills to work and help out some people. The goal is to actually do the trade in about 2 months once the weather warms up all over the country and there shouldn't be any major mailing/shipping issues with snow anymore.

Proposed rules of the game:

Goal of the project:
To have every one person trade two frags of a zoanthid with two other people.

Format of the pairings:
The pairings with be done at random. The first person drawn will be paired with the second. The second person is paired back to the first, and the third name is drawn. The second person is now paired to the first and third, and the third back to the second and to the yet to be drawn fourth name. That will continue until the last name is drawn, which will be paired back to the first name. The drawing process is open to another person supervising if they can make it when it fits into my schedule. (central Wisconsin area)

Container:
Trades are done by Thermos. They are sent by carrier of your choice. If you want then next day, 2 day, weekend or some other special arrangement, then you will need to work out with your trade partner.

Please mark your water parameters on the outside with tape. Also, please mark the type of lighting you have (i.e. PC's, MH, NO) and how much light they normally receive. (i.e. high in the tank, 14 hours a day)

If you'd like your thermos sent back to you, you will need to arrange for that to be done before hand or agree to keep each other's before they are mailed out. Please don't send the one out of your kid's lunch box, I don't want to hear about the pain of not being able to drink out of their G.I. Joe thermos if something happens to it.

Frag:
The frag itself should be no less than 5 polyps, preferably 10 polyps. It can either be loose or mounted. Please send a nice frag that you would be happy getting. If you send something that looks absolutely killer under a specific type of light, please double check with that person as they might not have it. If not, if we can work out some other kind of trade via third party negotiator if need be. (myself as first choice or someone else that can be agreed upon by both parties)

Prepping the frag to be sent:
The thermos should be filled half way with water. Place in frag. Fill to 3/4 full of water. It might be suggested to very lightly glue a frag mounted on a rock to the side to stop it from banging around in shipping inside the thermos. Secure the cap and cover. Please use both, in case the cap leaks not all of the water will escape.

Once the thermos has been taken care of, place the thermos in a shipping box. Stuff the box with newspaper or foam packing material. Please send it as soon as possible. After it has been sent out, confirm with that person how, when and where they should expect it. Exchange any tracking information that may be of use to the person.

Complaints/issues:
If any issues arise with people not sending frags, they will be banned from further participation. I encourage you to send via a carrier with tracking abilities. If you are not happy with what you got, you can post a picture of it to the trade section of the forum and see if anyone would like it. Just because you don't want it may not mean that nobody wants it. Sometimes what you think is common or ugly someone else may think is the best thing in the world.

Other:
At this time this is ONLY for zoanthids. At some later date and time, if I feel so inclined, I may branch it out to other special interest groups. If this format of trade is of interest to someone, I will offer advice on a limited basis when I have free time to help out with other ones. I can be contacted at thermos_swap@troyradtke.com for any interested parties. I would like to make it clear though that I will NOT run one for someone else, nor take over any that have started.

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I am currently open to suggestions for changes in the format and if anyone is interested in doing this. This thread will NOT be used to compile the final list of names. The final thread with rules and guidelines will be posted in a month if this will be done. Names will be compiled in that thread. A new thread will then be posted again with the rules and the list of names from the official thread. Any more people who want to join will then have a week to join. The list of names will be frozen for one week prior to the swap date. Only deletions from the list will be accepted at that time. Depending on how it goes, I will then co-ordinate a swap on the third, sixth, and ninth months of the year. On average, that will allow for six new frags to be introduced into your tank. I take no responsibility for the condition of what you get, nor the lack of quarantine if you choose to not do so. This is also not sponsored in any way by Reef Central. I also am not getting paid in any way, shape or form, and as such will not compensate anyone for any reason for anything. A master list of names will be compiled by me and feedback is welcome about the participants. I will also be available then as a reference if you would like for future trades with outside parties. At any point in time the list can be discontinued and destroyed without notification. Feedback will be compiled as either thumbs up (good) or thumbs down (bad). No comments will be kept with the master list. I also have a job and a wonderful girlfriend, so I may not be available to answer referral requests the same day that they are sent as I do travel on occasion for work. The list of banned people from further trades will be published at the end of project, which will be set for 2 weeks after the "go date" for the trades. I find publishing lists like that tend to keep people honest since this hobby tends to be such a small world. A list of people that go "above and beyond" will also be published at the end to show appreciation to those people who took the extra step to make this the best they could.