Build contest interest ??

Anyone think we have enough regularly active members to do a nano contest build ?


I will supply a prize for the winner = $100 gift cert./card to a vendor of the winners choice, local sponsor, or web. Must be aquarium related.



If so I can put a set of rules up and take a vote on a start date .
would like for the start date to be 4-1-2011, with the fianl entry date of 6-1-2011. contest ending on 12-31-2011

Let me know

would like at least 10 people to make it interesting. This is open to fresh water or salt. dont want to leave anyone out.


gonna go ahead with the rules so you know if you would really want to participate.

THE RULES !!!



THE TANK
2.5 (for donnie) or 5.5 gallon AGA or equal

THE LIGHTING
Your choice

POWERHEADS AND HANG ON BACK FILTERS AND PUMPS
Your choice

STANDS
Any stand may be used. Entrants will not be judged on their stand.

SUMPS/REFUGIUMS
sumps or refugiums are permitted. (no larger than 5.5g)

OTHER RULES INFORMATION
(Answers to common questions)

Can thermometers be used?
Yes, any thermometer may be used.

Can I test my water using test kits (ph, alk, cal, etc) such as Salifert brand?
Yes, all typical fresh or marine aquarium test kits may be used for your tank entry.

Can I plumb my contest tank to my display?
No, it must be a stand-alone system.

Can I rig up some sort of auto top off system?
Yes, auto top off systems are okay.

Can I stock my stock contest entry tank with plants or corals from my display tank?
Yes, you are welcome to use frags from your other display tank. There will be a cutoff when contestants are not allowed to add any more corals, plants or fish to their tanks. This will force contestants to show they are in fact able to maintain and show growth under stock conditions, even if their corals came from a display tank 5 feet away.

Can I dose my tank with nutrients, etc?
You are welcome to dose your tank as you see fit.

What can I put in it?
Anything you want, but let's be reasonable here! No animals that obviously cannot survive happily and be healthy in a pico tank.

HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST
To officially enter this contest you will need to take a photo with something (specified the day the contest begins, i.e. a newspaper) inside your unfilled tank setup. You will post this information in your own entry thread in this forum. This proves that your tank was empty on the date that the contest starts.

ENTRY THREAD INFORMATION
Your entry thread is where all the information, photos, and updates for your contest tank will be posted. When you are ready to enter the contest, please create a new topic in the appropriate area forum. The topic title should be: “Your Username - Contest" or something similar, to identify you and your participation. You must post the dated photo of your empty tank on or after april 1, 2011 to show that you have not started your tank ahead of time!

Updates to the progress of your contest tank must be posted at a minimum of once per month, and include at least 3 photos. Entries with missing months of updates will be disqualified for final voting. At the end of the contest, all entrants will be asked to make a final post summarizing the progress their tank has made.

Remember to keep your entries as clear and organized as possible.

A WORD ABOUT TANK CRASHES!
If your tank crashes (for any reason) you will not be able to restart after contest entry has closed (June 1, 2011).

Reason: If your tank crashes, you would have to set it up again which would be basically be entering a new system after contest entry has ended. The point of this contest is to keep a healthy reef the first time around, not to start and then restart over and over if you continually hose your system.

IMPORTANT DATES
April 1 , 2011 - Contest officially begins
June 1, 2011 - last day to enter contest
August 15, 2011 - Last day to add livestock (livestock includes fish, inverts, corals, macroalgae, plants, etc.)
December 31, 2011 - Last day of contest

PRIZE
First prize will be a $100 gift certificate good for use at the vendor of choice for the winner (local or online) must be aquarium related.

At the end of the contest, all eligible systems will be judged by the community. Besides general bragging rights, a prize will be awarded to the top tank!

Please note that this contest will require you to have a digital camera, or access to a digital camera at least once per month. You will not be able to participate without one.

Any questions? Send a PM to Bryan.

first stipulation should be a price cap on how much you can spend on this. reciepts should be provided.

second, ideally imo, materials sourced should come from this forum ie traded/bought/sold to/from members on this board.

that would make it "fair" to those of use with smaller tanks, and those of us who dont have a 300 gallon reef to pick and choose tidbits from!

Anything between 2.5 and 5.5 gallons? Or that specific 5.5?

I'd make it up to 8 gallons. I might not qualify because I'll likely set mine up later than this but it sounds fun!!

Win wrote:first stipulation should be a price cap on how much you can spend on this. reciepts should be provided.

second, ideally imo, materials sourced should come from this forum ie traded/bought/sold to/from members on this board.

that would make it "fair" to those of use with smaller tanks, and those of us who dont have a 300 gallon reef to pick and choose tidbits from!

We could eliminate the ability transfer stock from existing tank, therefore making everyone buy all new livestock.

what kind of price cap were you thinking ? Keep in mind this is for fresh and reef - could be a huge price difference needed to properly equip each setup.

reciepts are not really necessary, what if someone has equipment they already have and want to use such as lighting, filters, powerheads etc. may not have reciepts for that stuff.

matt_longview wrote:Anything between 2.5 and 5.5 gallons? Or that specific 5.5?

I'd make it up to 8 gallons. I might not qualify because I'll likely set mine up later than this but it sounds fun!!

If we have more requests on a bigger tank size I may consider a broader range of tanks, but for now its the 2 listed above. Both are very easy to obtain from petco / petsmart, and very affordable.

Mine isn't going to apply at all then. Its a modified glass end table. :-)

Dunno if I can wait till April to start stocking my little pico. Thats a whole month and a half of looking at an empty tank. Make the start date next week I will be in it :>)

How about if tank size can be up to 10g , any tank , any brand , or diy


start date of 3-1-2011 final entry 6-1-2011



I really would like to see this work , but we need peoples to participate

It looks like I'm going to push back my 37 gallon setup to do this one. :-)

I'm excited.

so far it looks like we have :

Bryan
Donniep (maybe)
matt_longview

I'll watch and see if it looks like enough interest and contestants I will wait to start but if it looks like a noshow for enough well you know. couple a weeks aint gonna kill me.

spread the word donnie, we need some peeps to beat up on

My start date will be closer to the end... like June 1st! I've got to get things going! lol

All you need is a empty tank pic with the item specified no later than 6-1-11.
you can put water in whenever you wish as long as it is before 8-15-2011



RULES HAVE BEEN UPDATED

We didn't edit tank size in the rules.

We need a new post for official signups anyways.

matt_longview wrote:We didn't edit tank size in the rules.

We need a new post for official signups anyways.

On it.


Contest signup list and official rules will be in the "contest" section

Im in.

I have created a contest category

Awsome Jose, thanks