SPhelps' Intelligent Reef: Tank Up for Grabs, FREE
 

The Intelligent Reef

$395 Budget:

Equipment:
2 24W T5 bulbs and reflectors: $25 (purchased used off Scythanith)
Workhorse 5 Ballast - $21.75 (Used, originally purchased from "Natural Full Spectrum Lighting" for $28.99)
Maxi-Jet 600: $16.47 (used, priced from J&L)
Visitherm Heater (50 Watt) - $16.47 (used, priced from J&L)
Total - $79.69

Livestock:
Large Brain - $20
Small Wellsophyllia - removed
Large Wellsophyllia - $20
2.75" Rainbow Lobo - $17
Small Orange Lobo - $15
Large Green Closed Brain - $20
Small Burgundy Closed Brain - $15
Small Green Moon Brain - Removed
Small, Small Polyp Red & Green Acan - $15
Large Green & Red Open Brain - Removed
Single Acan Polyp - $5
Small Red Monti Cap frag - $10 Deceased
Med Purple Acro Tort Frag - $15 Deceased
4 Small Zoo Frags - $20
Small Squamosa Clam - $20
Very Small Chalice Coral Frag - $5
Small Clove Polyp Frag - $5
Large Bright Green Closed Brain: $20
Small Red Chalice Coral: $15
3 Hermits @ $1 - $3
1 Urchin - $15 Deceased
Red Octopus - $60
Total - $315.00

Free Budget:
Tank - $20
Scrap glass, plastic and building supplies for tank mod - $0
Old Terrarium Canopy used for Light Fixture - $0
Rock - $40
Sand - $0
Mag Float - $15
Acrylic for lighting canopy - $40
Total - $115

SUMMARY:

10 gallon tank:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1379.jpg

Modified:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1398.jpg

October 19th 2008
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...s/DSC_1435.jpg

Theme change November 1st 2008
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1491.jpg

Full View November 9th 2008
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1706.jpg

November 15th 2008 FTS
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1724.jpg

December 15th 2008 FTS (yeah yeah bad pic, I know)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1856.jpg

January 15th 2009 FTS
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...uary09/FTS.jpg

February 15th 2009 FTS
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...9/DSC_2648.jpg

March 15th 2009 FTS
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...9/2357513e.jpg

April 15th 2009 FTS
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...9/DSC_2994.jpg


Random Photos

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...t/d9fa5d1d.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...t/a1c149e8.jpg

Octopus Video: Einstein




------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK, I'm interested in entering this contest, I wanted to setup something for the office and this sounds interesting. I just wanted to clarify a few things:

1) First off can I enter? I guess I'm considered a vendor and sometimes people feel I would have some kind of unfair advantage.

2) The display tank, stand and other building supplies are not part of the budget, correct? So basically the budget covers the lighting and filtration and livestock? What about frags from another tank of yours?

3) Entry fee goes to who? and how?

Not my call to make, but I have no problem with you joining. As long as the prices we all pay are the same for you, which the rules state would be, I see no reason why you can't.

i believe the deadline is the end of the monthe.

The only things you get free are LR, sand, All glass standard 10g tank, stand, canopy(excluding lights), and knick knacks for under 15 ie mag cleaner, nets.
plumbing and food are also free. glass for sumps and such must be deducted.
the only partof a diy project that is free i believe is plubing and egg crate.

If you are going to be fraging corals form a different tank you must deduct a "fair market value".

for registation please contact either michika or jdigital.

So you have to use an "All Glass" 10 gallon? Can't build your own?

Deadline was stated Oct 15

I was thinking of joining as well but i was under the impression that ALL building materials are free. Egg crate, zip ties, LR, plumbing and anything else you plan to use for the construction. Anything costs within the 300 is lighting, pumps if required, and live stock. Is this wrong? Also if you use fans to cool the tank is that a free building cost, or is that deducted from the 300.

Oh and you can pay Cathrine the fee...

sorry for the partial highjack but I thought that this would also be informative to you as well.

Im pretty sure you can build your own as long as its a 10gal Glass aquarium... could be wrong thou

I also agree that you can join. However, I think in all fairness, that if you add something special to your tank (livestock) you should share with the rest of us.:biggrin:

Nope cant build your own as per the main thread... has to start as a standard tank.... that being said im sure you could take it all apart and get glass cut drilled ect to make a custom dimension lol....

i suggest taking it apart and using the glass pieces as covers on a 180 gal. all deducted from the 300 that is....

You must use a STOCK AGA 10G tank... you can not build you own custom tank or use Nanocube, RSM-esque, Bio-cube, etc style tanks. You can mod the Stock one however.

sphelps, You are more than welcome to join, as are all vendors, but you must follow the same rules as the rest of us, and deduct costs for corals/livestock as per the rules. (Failure to follow the rules, does result in DQ, for everyone with no refund of your entry fee!)

Building supplies (wood, scrap acrylic, plumbing (elbows, pipe, T's, ball valves), etc.. if you go crazy and use/buy an OceanMotion Super Squirt/4way/etc, expect this to come out of your budget!! LOL )

Deadline is Oct 15, 2008, Entry fee comes to ME via paypal preferably (Online Interac, Money Order or Cheques are alternatives... Cheques better NOT bounce! ;) )


I will PM you shortly sphelps. :)

I did read the main thread but unless the contest is sponsored by All Glass I think building your own tank should be allowed. You can build your own stand, correct? What's the difference?
In addition, I'm not sure how many of you have actually seen an All Glass 10 gallon but I can't setup that up in my office at work, if I breath too close to it, it might break.

Anyways, no worries, I guess this contest isn't for me. Thanks for the replies.

It's not about giving $10-20 to Aqueon (AGA now).. its about everyone starting on a level playing field. Same tank, same chance.

I'm sorry that's not going to work for you.

Do you think that enough additional interest would be generated by adding another category "Custom Nano up to 10 gal" with the same spending limits?

Come on Steve, don't be a baby lol.

I know you have more than enough supplies laying around to build you own tank, but what's 15-20 bucks for the starter tank? Just buy the tank and take a picture of it and then cannibalize it and change it into what you want. I don't know if it says anywhere in the rules (please correct me if I am wrong) that you can't take the tank apart after you buy it and re-use the material and redesign the tank? If you get into this Steve I'll make one as well.

I have a couple good ideas I'd like to try, but I have to ask Wendy first as she'd be the one taking care of it haahaa.

Let me know if you want to build one anyways. Plus, we still need to have that BBQ before it snows!!

Cheers,

Scott

haha very funny. I actually had an idea in mind for a small tank for my office, I thought it would fit the guidelines of the contest and figured I might as well support the contest and enter. I really don't want to use the standard 10 gallon tank, trust me it's not the money.

I'm down for another contest, perhaps a more open one. Say custom nano, any size under 20 gallons. But with this one I think it would be better if the budget attained to the setup only, that means stand, tank, lighting, and so on up to $300 or whatever. I don't think livestock should be included in the budget.

Probably too late for that though.
Hey Scott, we'll have our own competition and we can even put up a little wager.:mrgreen:
Oh and BBQ for sure but you gotta get off work this time.

I definitely want to do a custom version next time! I think there would be a lot of appeal for a lot of people to DIY it from the very beginning.

Next time we do the contest I will definitely push for a full custom option, whereby all your tank has to meet for standards is proof of its measurements to prove how many gallons it holds.

Definitely next time!

Stupid work.... I left on the 7th for a 5 day well...... I'm still out here. Hey Steve, I got Colby to order me up a Mini BK 180 for my frag tank. Think it's big enough haahaa. Are you still looking for some of the watermelon chalice? Mine needs to be pruned a little. The only problem is I can't take it out of the tank so it's going to be a challenge.

Some of the SPS on the rock you gave me are thriving (pocilopara and an acro) the others rtn'd when I was away for a weekend. I have two nice monti's from Rommel that you and Colby can have a chunk of when they grow out more. One is a sunrise Equiestacea and the other is an incredible hulk monti (nothing too special). But I did get my hands on the chalices I've been wanting for a while! Lineaged Mummy Eye chalice and a Bubblegum Monster chalice. My Bazooka Joe chalice and JPM's watermelon are both growing nicely as well.

I should be home this week, Ill get a hold of Colby and we'll BBQ! We can talk about a little nano contest haahaa. I still think you should consider this one. Take the AGA apart and use the glass as baffles haahaa.

Cheers Steve,

Scott

So finally you're joining the BK club, too bad it's a mini, haha just kidding. Yeap still looking for that watermelon but don't go too far out of your way. Some of those SPS were pretty close, I figured only so many would survive. I got lots more when you're ready. Congrats on the new corals and let me know about the BBQ. I'm pretty sure you'll just break the tank trying to take it apart, the glass is only 3mm thick.

Sheesh, get over yourself....:mrgreen:

OK so if you didn't figure it out already I decided to suck it up and enter, after all it's just for fun.

So since I never like to do things the conventional way you may find my build a little different from others, which I hope will be a good thing and not cause too much controversy :wink:.

So without further delay, my accomplishments this weekend:

Got the tank, not tricks it's a standard 10gal.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1379.jpg

A little deconstruction:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1388.jpg

A little more, broke the bottom pane and couldn't salvage the plastic trim.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1389.jpg

Some scraps!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1387.jpg

A little reconstructive surgery :)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1391.jpg

Cleaning it up with some molding and acrylic panels
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1392.jpg

Painted with an all in one curtain in the back
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1393.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1398.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1397.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1403.jpg

Ok so before anyone jumps the gun, let me explain.
The three viewing sides are the original sides from the standard tank.
The back pane was cut up and used for the bracing, the broken bottom used for the baffles in the back. So all glass was used.
The rules state you can mod the tank as much as you want provided to start with the standard 10 gal tank.
Basically I see this as an all in one 10 gallon with a little more hidden depth.
All material used can either be classified as building material or scrap.
Sorry for not having more pictures but once silicone or paint came out the camera was put away, it's just way too expensive.
The white base is HDPE which will be used to support the rock structure.

lol:biggrin:

So do I get bonus point for being the first with rock? And I'll be filling it tonight, not waisting anytime.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1409.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1410.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1411.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...8/DSC_1412.jpg

Not the best pics and it's hard to see but there are lots of overhangs and caves. Tried to keep the rock a little lower for coral space :razz:

Tank has to stay dry till Oct 15th...

This is killing me aswell. doing no mods as i am not that handy when it comes to glass. i always end up usingmore blood than silicone :wink:

OK good thing I went out last night. She'll stay dry.

I know there are a few people ready, but there are still people who don't have a tank/thread yet even.

It's been discussed in the original thread. :smile:

Thanks Steve. :)

PS: BTW, tank looks good.

Looks great!

Nice tank

Really nice tank!! I don't even want to go into the sweat and tears and time that went into just building the overflow on my nano after seeing you bang that together so quickly.

Beautiful!!


But how can you switch from coke to pepsi?! :lol:

Just trying to keep things fresh!

I'm glad everyone approves, I was a little nervous that I may have pushed the envelope a little too far. Thanks everyone, I've got more surprises planned for this one, so stay tuned!

I really dig the rockwork... looks great.

I love your tank!! I only wish I were that handy.

And that's why Steve needed to be in this competition! Ingenius! Congrats man, I can't wait to see it progress. My tank will be up before the deadline.

Congrats Steve, looking good!

Scott

You were close... sorta.. lol It was "mentioned" briefly in the original thread to be 10G display. But never "added" to the guidelines. lol... Yours isn't 10G anymore.. :wink:

Would it be against the rules to cure the rock in a lit vat or something? I seem to recall the rules stating only the display had to be dry till the 15th. I just figure getting the cycle over with before the 15th would allow a little more time for stocking/growing/maturing.

thats where im at. i am just going to be robbing my display of some lr and sand. so its ready to go. i would like to at least get set up so i can see if this tank is goung to cycle at all as i will be using some dried LS and maybe some dry LR i have that i was ridding of aptasia.

Go ahead, just keep your tank dry until the 15th.

So where's the water... you were so excited to get it in there last week, I would have thought you'd be one of the first! haha.

I know one of the surprises :D

I did get water in the tank but I've been busy trying to get the pump fitted properly and the wave maker working. I will post pictures this weekend.

You know nothing ;)