Canreef 6 Month Nano Tank Contest....

[JDigital]

I came across a contest on another forum (nano-reef.com) and thought that it was a great idea, however I found the thread after the contest had already started and was unable to join. This prompted me to make this thread and see if you canreefers would be interested in putting together our own little Canadian version.

Let me know guys!

EDIT:

Current contestants are:

5.5G:

scholar:
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45280

Chaloupa:
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45542

10G:

JDigital: ***
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45253

rocketlily: ***
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45294

michika:
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45221

phillybean:
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45222

ElGuappo:***
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45219

Stab_Master_Arson:
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45226

Midknight:

Der_Iron_Chef:
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45343

Scythanith:**

sphelps:
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45285

GreenSpottedPuffer:**
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45560

noirsphynx:
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45566

Ryan_Lap:



I will continue to update this list as new people join.


PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CLOSELY

2008 Nano Contest

2 categories
-5.5g AGA
-10g AGA

Prizes awarded for:
- Best 5.5
- Best 10
- Most innovative


RULES:
Spending limits:
-5.5g AGA= $250 CDN
-10g AGA= $300 CDN

Not covered in budget (i.e. considered "free")
- Contest Display Tank
- Building supplies (eggcrate, stand/canopy materials, plumbing)
- Sand
- Live Rock
- Water and salt
- Food
- Supplements
- Accessories less than $15 (mag floats, tongs, thermometers, etc)

GENERAL GUIDELINES:
-All used equipment utilized in contest will be deducted from your budget at 75% of the lowest advertised price from J&L Aquatics.
For equipment purchased online, only deduct the actual price of the equipment from the budget, don't deduct shipping costs.
-All live stock can come from anywhere, sponsors, LFS, whatever. If you use something from a current tank, you deduct it's fair market value.
If you purchase livestock online, you deduct the actual price paid for the livestock from the budget, but don't count shipping costs.
-Tank can be purchased locally and will not count against budget. (Sump tank will count against your budget, should you choose to incorporate one)
-You can mod all you want as long as you start with a STOCK tank and deduct costs from your budget.
-Budget is done on the honor system since we all know what its all worth.
-There is an entry fee of $20.00, which must be received by 10/15 to lock you into the contest. These fees will be used for the prizes at the end of the contest.
-Contest begins Oct 15, 2008 and ends April 15, 2009.

In short, you've got 6 months to make a sweet tank on a limited budget. Lighting fixtures, filters, skimmers, and livestock all count towards budget, so manage wisely.

Everyone who wants to enter post on here and post a pic of your tank with something in it (teddy bear, soda can, LR, g/f, wife whatever) by Oct 15.
Start a tank thread for your contest tank by Oct 15, so we can see it's progression as it goes along. It wouldn't hurt to put a link to your contest tank thread in your sig, but I don't know that we should require it. You don't have to start your tank thread immediately, as long as you do it by Oct 15.
On the 15th of every month, post a FTS of your tank on your thread.
When we reach the end of the contest, Myself (or Christy) will start a thread showing all of the tanks and their specs, with an attached poll for ALL of Canreef to vote on the winners.
The winners will receive a gift certificate to the Canreef sponsor of their choice, taken from the entry fees.
Basically, we'll take all the $$ contributed for the entry fee and divide it up into 3 equal portions for the winning gift certificates. We're still kinda waiting to see how many people enter to determine the final entry fee.

michika and I will be running the contest, so if you have any questions or concerns that cannot be addressed on this thread, PM one of us.

On a final note, the goal of this contest is to HAVE FUN and just see how many CREATIVE IDEAS we can all come up with and inspire each other with.

Christy has offered to help setup a special subsection for the contest tank journals, but I'm going to have her wait until we get enough people. I'd like a minimum of 15 members (between the 2 categories) for this contest to happen.

I've done the best I can to alter this contest for fit into our forum here on Canreef, but the fact is that not everyone will be happy with the contest rules as they've been established. If you don't think that you can participate under the established guidelines, then your time and $$ is probably best spent on a tank that you truly will enjoy and keep in the long run.
We want to keep this a positive and enjoyable experience for everyone, so...


READY, SET, GO!!!




ADDENDUM A:
Calculating "cost" for livestock that was free, received in trade, or purchased at wholesale prices, etc.
-Items received free-- an amount will be deducted from your budget equivalent to what that livestock would commonly be sold for in Livestock Classified Forum of Canreef.com. Please PM michika a pic, along with common name, and she will give you a "price".
If you don't feel this is satisfactory, you would probably be better off not competing in this contest.
-Items rec'd in trade- Same as above.
-Items purchased at wholesale prices-Same as above.
-Items on which you scored a "good deal"- If you can provide proof of the price you got, cost will be figured at the actual price you paid. If it was a transaction with a private individual, have them hand-write you a receipt, scan it, and post it on your thread.


Addendum A.1

If you purchase something at a steal of a deal from a Canreef.com vendors you do not have to deal with 'fair market value' etc. Example: Sponsor X regularly has 50% off or buy one get one specials that are available to Canreef.com members, so if you pay $10 and get 2 pieces that normally would cost $20, you only pay the $10. This is in hopes that some vendors will want to have specials aimed specifically at this contest.

[michika]

I really think this is cool!

[Chaloupa]

I've been watching the same thread and think that it is such a cool idea! I may be in if we do it!

[michika]

How would you factor in trading? E.g I buy some awesome zoas, then 3 months in trade with someone else for a piece of SPS, etc.

[JDigital]

Originally Posted by michika

How would you factor in trading? E.g I buy some awesome zoas, then 3 months in trade with someone else for a piece of SPS, etc.

Taken from NR. Im sure we could change this around if need be. (I probably haven't been around long enough to know what everything goes for in the B&S area, so would be nice to have a 2nd member with some background knowledge to help out organizing)

ADDENDUM A:
Calculating "cost" for livestock that was free, rec'd in trade, or purchased at wholesale prices, etc.
-Items rec'd free-- an amount will be deducted from your budget equivalent to what that livestock would commonly be sold for in Livestock Classified Forum of NR.com. Please PM me a pic, along with common name, and I will give you a "price". I have sold and bought quite a bit on the NR Classified Forum over the last two years, and I think I have a pretty good feel for what stuff sells for on here.
If you don't feel this is satisfactory, you would probably be better off not competing in this contest.
-Items rec'd in trade- Same as above.
-Items purchased at wholesale prices-Same as above.
-Items on which you scored a good deal- If you can provide proof of the price you got, cost will be figured at the actual price you paid. If it was a transaction w/a private individual, have them hand-write you a receipt, scan it, and post it on your thread.

[michika]

I can help out if it we can get some interest and some mod. support.

[ElGuappo]

ok so this time i am going to tank my time on this post and try to post more than one question.

are things such as these free?
heater
replacement bulbs?
Plastic canopy w/ light? stock.
better bulbs? for stock light? (guessing NO)

can i use an exhisting 10G with LR / LS? (guessing has to be dry first?)

do the tanks have to remain dry until the 15th or can we add rock sand and water heater filters now?

[JDigital]

I hope we can get enough interested people. For anyone interested, perhaps post what tank size you would prefer to do, and that way we can determine if we even need both categories.

[JDigital]

updated the participate list.

let me know if your name should be on it.


Please note***

Looks like Paypal transfer are incurring an $0.88 cent fee for the transaction... where as the people who have done email interac, or mailed me checks, don't incur the $0.88...

On the first page I will add *'s next to the ones who've paid.

** = Paypal $20.00 - 0.88 = $19.12
*** = Check, Email Interac, Money Order = $20.00 - Zero transfer fees = $20.00

You guys will be able to calculate the total "Prize money" after everyone has paid and I update with the final corresponding information.

[JDigital]

The other 5.5F participants have dropped out or switched to 10G... leaving scholar on his own..