Quote:
Originally Posted by sphelps
Yeap but I think the judges of that particular category should have the final say on how points are distributed. It may be more involved, one contenders budget may be lower due to location among other factors.
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I think that the regional difference in price isn't going to matter much in the end. With a point's approach and no limits on the budget, honesty is only "mostly" needed in the list price. Heck, if nobody would want to post costs, they won't have too. Anyone that is a judge would know that you didn't get a 250watt halide setup for $10. And they would award points based on that.
For example, I have a 600 gph pump from my old 90 Gal, that I don't even know who makes it, let alone what it is worth. I can use it, put down a guess at it's value and carry on. Same for the leftover crushed coral, frags that I have etc.
The final budget goes from a challenge to get in budget, and more of a list that says "You could build this tank for $XXX" . With that said, you would list what it would cost someone to obtain or buy new the parts, rather than what you paid for it. This means that stuff that we ALL have laying around doesn't need to be included (screws, pcv solvent, glue, bit of glass or plexi) or stuff that you can salvage for free or would already have normally.
I personally would be more of a -- you could copy my design and I think it would cost you $XXX, and it really cost me $YYY because of freebies, frags or spare parts. And if I lie REALLY BAD, any one here would know better, and probably strike points away for the REALLY BAD LIE!
With points, you get away from any silly technicalities, and rely on the common sense of the judges. Almost no rules, just fun!
As for prizes -- As I already have a tank that drives my wife nuts(210gal), so I *might* do this for the fun of it -- and then offload the tank and such. So most of my tank would be made of frags from my existing tank. so, what about if a few people offered the coral from the tanks (If you are shutting it down) as a prize/entry fee?