rough copy for nano contest 2012 thoughts and opinions wanted!!!
 

i posted this in the other thread but in case people dont want to read through 4 pgs here it is in its own thread:P


　
hey guys, we as members decided this year to host our own nano contest for 2012. the contest will be open to all members , staff , and sponsors. there will be no entry fee for the contest, but to keep this as a contest and not to fall apart there will be a few rules and guidelines to follow. the contest duration will be for 6 mths starting oct1 2012. we will have sign up untill sept 25th after that date there will be no new entries.
　
here is a runthrough of what the rules and requirements are and how the contest will work, lets get as many people we can to sign up for the contest, the more cotestants we have the more fun it will be. if we can get enough interest im sure we can even get a prize lined up:P
　
rules/requirements:
　
total water volume- 20 us gallons
this includes sumps,overflows,tubing....basically anything that holds water connected to your system including hob filters and hob reactors.
its simple, fill a 20g bin and thats your total water to use(evaporation or ato water is not to be included, if you wish to fill a tub or resevoir with FRESH water that is fine and will not count as part of your 20g.
tank has to be a complete fresh start:
the build has to be from complete scratch, you dont need to build the tank your self , you dont need to buy new its up to you where the tank comes from or even what you use as a tank but it is expected to be dry prior to oct15th 2012
updating and record keeping:
throughout the contest there will be a few dates where you will have to update your journal and provide a fulltank shot. whenever new livestock is added or anychanges made in your tank(good or bad) should be wrote down, we want to hear all about the good things you buy and any of the bad things that happen. since this will be viewed by members and all sorts of people alike the more detail you put into your journal the more feedback you will get:) pictures are going to play a large part in this contest as well , so if you arnt camera savy(like me and my phone:P) then asking a friend to take pics is another option.there will be certain dates where a fts and some close ups need to be posted, failure to follow the deadlines would result in loss of points.
no budget:
there is no budget for the contest , you just have to stay wihin the rules, so if your giant $3500reactor holds 15g then your only gonna be left with 5g to use so think wisely on the tank sizes you all choose and what equipment you decide to run. conserving water counts here:P
　
no borrowing:
you cannot borrow anything from someone to use for the contest this includes livestock or equipment, you must purchase, already own or diy the things you need for your tank. when ever changes are made to your tank you need to note down the changes on the following update thread. cameras are allowed to be borrowed from whomever.
no changing tank sizes:
once the contest starts you cannot change your tank size, leaks can be repaired but if your tiny tank falls apart thats it your out:P if you are doing a custom tank and it breaks before the fill date from cutting or whatever else you can replace the tank as long as its the same as the one that broke and you can have it filled by the filldate:P

points!!!
the contest will run on a point system where a handfull of anonymous judges will watch the contest and read through the journals and award points per category.
here is how the point system goes:
　
design and planning- 20pts-
judges are going to look at how well you pre planned your nano and how much thought you put into your tank throughout the contest. your tanks layout and stock list are going to be monitored so put some thought into what you want to achive:P
sustainability-20pts-
how well your little ecosytem does will be looked at as a whole, did you lose much livestock, did your plan go as "planned" that sorta stuff. having animals starve to death in your little tank will get you less points then the person who planned the right livestock for their little tanks and had them survive.....no need to kill anything folks:P
　
participation and record keeping-20pts-
did you provide updates on the required dates and did you log all mishaps and adventures, if you spent alot of time on your little build and keep good records points are coming your way:P
diversity-20pts-
how much diversity is in your tank did you create a full ecosytem with many types of critteres that thrive as a whole or did you spaz out for the kenya trees?? points for diversity!!
public poll-10pts-
all the cotestants tanks will be placed in a poll for canreef members and users to vote on as their favorite at the end of the contest. (good time to set up 34 accounts:P)
phtography-10pts-
judges will look at your pictures and fulltank shots and award points on your photog skillz!!
　
　
　
contest timeline:
the contest duration is for 6mths, below is a timeline and scheduling log for updates and requirements:
sept 1rst - sept 25th /2012-
sign up for the contest, after the 25th no more entrys will be taken in:P
october 1rst/2012- official start date for contest:
all contestants names will be logged and contestants must start a journal and call their journal their "username" plus "2012 nano contest entry"
example: "reefwars 2012 nano contest entry"
in your first post explain your ideas and your goals, no pics are needed and smack talk is welcome :P:P
you should add a link to your nano build thread at the bottom of your signature so others can find your build easily:)
　
oct15th /2012- empty tank shots:
on this date some pics of your dry empty tanks and what ever equipment you may have is to be provided. feel free to ask questions and get others opinions on your ideas:)
　
nov1rst/2012- official fill date:
on this date your tank should be filled with water , all plumbing done and be a running system. no livestock or rock is to be in your tank at this time. a pic of the tank running with water and the plumbing are to be provided.
nov15th/2012-rock and design placment:
by this date your little tank needs to have rock in it and sand (if using sand) , no corals fis or inverts are to be in your tank at this time just rock. a fulltank shot of your layout and structure are to be provided.
dec1rst2012-livestock additions-
if you were smart you started adding rock right after the filldate, so thats a month and now you can add livestock if you feel your tank can do so. a record of what livestock you choose needs to be noted .
jan3rd/2013- livestock additions and updates:
an update on the additons you have added, how well things are doing in your little nano. you may provide pics if you like but are not required....but may sway the judges a bit;P
january 15th/2013- first official full tankshots and clos ups:
its the first time you are required to post fulltank shots since youve added your first livestock, things should now be looking good and pics taken along the way.
a recent fulltank shot and some close ups are to be provided on this date:)
feb15th/2013- fulltank shots and livestock updates:
　
its been a month so whats new with your little tank, the contest is winding down so lets get some good pics in. video of your tank would help the judges see it from your eyes;P
a recent fulltank shot and some close ups are to be provided on this date
march15th/2013- final fulltank shot and livestock update
this is it folks your last chance to add pics ,videos, despcriptions or thanks, after this date no more post are required and the judges will be making their decisions:)
　
march 20th/2013 march 25th/2013- public poll
we will have a public poll on the 20th for users to vote on their favorite nanos. the poll will end on the 25th of march
march 15th to april1rst- judges are to look over the threads are decide a winner.
　
good luck all!!



im gonna ask 5 people in different provinces to be judges and follow along the contest. these judges will be randomly picked from the user lists and will not be in participation in any way including posts of any kind.

My only concern is the points for photography. I don't think the ability to take a good picture has much to do with the ability to start and maintain a nano tank.

thats why i only awarded it 10pts im trying to keep it fair, what can we replace the photography part with for 10pts??

as far as categorys for points and judging id love some more ideas we got a week to change anything so its fair to everyone:)

pics are going to play a huge role in the contest though, its more or less the only way members are going to see what we created.

im not the best with cameras either my phone is my only camera but ill prob ask someone to borrow their camera and give it my best shot , thats all anyone has to do:)

Perhaps judges can also consider how informative a photo is.

As a newb I found these contests and their copious documentation/images really helpful. I'd like to see good photography encouraged.

For example, it is challenging to show how plumbing moves water around since you often can't get all the pipe in one shot and you can't see water movement in a photo. Perhaps photos with arrows and annotations that help the user understand should be rewarded.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing all the nanos. I'm a little concerned that the fact that there is no budget and no borrowing makes it seem more like a competition of cash. I am interested in seeing the more expensive setups but it doesn't seem like a level playing field for a competition.

Also I noticed that only a tiny number of points are based on the aesthetics of the tanks. I understand it isn't the only important quality but shouldn't it account for more than 10-20%?

The rules as a whole makes spending thousand pointless if some one wants to spend a thousand dollars on a Skimmer fine but there's only going to be 20g for total water volume. If we create a budget its going to have to be monitored and reciepts logged someones going to have to monitor these things. Its easier to jst have nobudget and other rules in place.

I know my tank is going to be skimmerless and not ran off much
There's more to it then the toys you use, judges are going to look at whether or not what you buy is practical. The person who plans more according up their size will get more points then the person who just boys all the toys they can afford :)

And thy will for sure when it comes to pics they will lol at participation, updates on time, effort and time spent.

Think of it like this one person who posts on time and posts lots of crap pics may get a 10/10 for participation and a 6/10 for pics.....the other may only post one good pic and get 10/10 but get less points for participation.

The points awarded are maxed out at the numbers I posted, rarely will someone get a 10/10 or 20/20:)

Oh, I think I'm going to give this a shot. :)

It will be a "salvage and castoffs" build. I'm going to pull my NC12 out of retirement and try to spend as little as humanly possible!

absolutely just because there is no budget limit doesnt mean you have to spen alot , some of the nicer tanks are going to be basic as it gets.


its not what you use its how well it does your system and how well it fits your plan:)


im super excited i cant wait untill sign up i know a dozen people have messaged me saying they are going to enter:)

this is a contest for fun guys hopefully this is something we can have every year to enjoy !!:):)

got my tank picked out for the contest...display is about 3 cups of water lol :P

Can't enter but I can judge if needed. Looks like fun.

Sustainability might be a bit of an issue in a pico. My Spec 5 was a huge pain in the arse!

best way to do it is to keep it simple, the tanks are going to be small so plan your livestock and bio load accordingly:)

ill be making a diy tiny reactor from a water bottle and maxijet for my phosphates, water changes for nitrates and essential nutrients:)

Lol thanks to Denny I won't be able to start my tank until the 15th lol

bahaha i know but think of all the extra time youll have to plan huh:P


this is going to be a fun contest and with all the amazing brains we have on this site i cant wait to see what everyone comes up with, take off the gloves and come out swinging guys give it your all!!

just a note if you would like to be a judge pls pm me with your request as judges are going to remain anomynous to contestants untill the contest is over and we dont want the judges names to be leaked hehehe:) thanks guys


we are looking for 5 judges from 5 different provinces:)

I've been thinking up a storm today about this. I came up wIth two ideas I like for the build. I'm going to build both. But can u have two different tanks entered?

no only one entry per contestant only fair:P

i forgot to add the rule of no tieing into other systems when i officially start the contest this will be added to the rules/requirements.

just to help level the playing field:P

you could always sign up 2 seperate accounts lol:P

i know a month is a long time to wait untill we get started but i want everyone whos thinking about signing up to have enough time to plan an idea and get the things together they need:)

What is the last date for equipment changes? I don't mean replacing something that is broken with the same item. I mean (let's say) that I were to decide to change the pump or power head to a totally different pump or power head, when is the latest I could do that? Or, if I decided to change to LEDs versus the stock lighting?

that is allowed....... equipment, lights,reactors etc. can be changed or upgraded its the tank only that cannot be changed once the contest starts. so think long and hard about what tank you choose but equipment is something you can upgrade along the way.

i will add though that anytime equipment is changed or livestock is changed/dies it needs to be logged on the following update schedule so our judges will know how well your critters did.

pictures of new livestock should be added to the livestock updates when they come up as well.


in order for our judges to judge accordingly they need to know what goes in your tank and what comes out.

Liverock placement is permenant for the contest?
like tank plus liverock have to remai the same?

livestock(including liverock) can be changed throughout the contest, sometimes coral dont work out and fish do not work out for the better or the way we hope so things inside the tank can be changed as you see fit...its your aquarium to own after all:P

remember though judges are going to be watching your every move so too many changes and the judges may see that as instability. too much swapping of livestock could be looked the same way.

our judges are going to be looking at your approach to the tank, how well the tank does and did you stick to your plan and goal hat you set out in the beginning:)

3 days left then its time for sign up hehehe:P:P:P

Hmm I may actually have to enter, could practice doing a tank with a sump and attempt to do all the plumbing on my own... Wait... If we have never plumbed anything in our life are we allowed to ask for help in some of the building?

ive gotten asked this a few times and ive been asked about teams, so im going to say i cant see why not for the help but as for teams.... im up for debate on the subject so what do you all think??

Where's the signup thread?

im going to start it on the morning of september 1rst , then it will be on-going untill september 25th then sign up is shut down:)

ill also update the sign up thread a few times a day so people see it;)

I kind of like the idea of teams: especially where a novice is being helped along by a more experianced reefer. It might also be a really fun thing for parents and children to work on together on . . . or husbands and wives . . . Or siblings.

I would say no to teams the tanks are small enough to handle on our own I think (unless you would cut off your own hand with power tools in an attempt to plumb a tank....), but how about catagorys?
Newbie reefers (less then a year)
Experienced
Advanced

I know I dont stand a chance against even half the people who are newer then me lol

Two questions:
The 10 pts for photography is only on pics of the full tank shots? Not equipment plumbing etc?
Next, is the contest for the tank only or are stands and how and what the tank sits on also part of the contest?
:mrgreen:

Oh no.... I haven't done wood working since grade 8 :neutral:

is there going to be a prize or anything?

Then Your good to go, I can't remember grade 8:neutral:

the 10 points for photography will be for anything to do with photography including fulltankshots,updates,and just general pics added when ever. it wont come down to who takes the best pics , a person who shows 10 phone pics and gives a bit of detail or just posts random pics may get more points then the person who goes out and buys a $3000 camera for 4 pics and just expects to win .maybe you cant get a pic of that tricky wrasse they all come out blurred...so post 10 blurred shots that shows the judges that you are trying for both participation and phtography:P

stands, light holders whatever little goodies you incorporate will def be looked at, not saying you "have" to post stand pics but being a bit creative might sway the judges for some points ya know;)