Canreef Nano Contest Voting Thread: "Best Tank"

[JDigital]

After 6 months.....

The goals were simple, to make the best reef tank you could on a specific budget using either a standard 5.5g tank or a standard 10g tank.
The tank could be modified any way you wanted, as long as you started out with a 5.5 or a 10g and the budget was adhered to.
The budget for a contest was $395.
Each person who entered the contest had to pay an entry fee, and all of the entry fees are what the final prizes are taken from.
The total prize pot is $264 and there are 2 categories, so the winner of each category will receive a $132 gift certificate to the Canreef Sponsor of their choice.

The tank categories are:
- Best Tank
- Most Innovative Tank (can be any tank in the contest)

We began the contest with several contestants, but only 5 have made it through to the end.
The final contestants are: sphelps, noirsphynx, Chaloupa, Rocketlily, superduperwesman.

The contestants have all done a wonderful job on their tanks.

Now it's time for the Canreef public to cast their vote.
Please look over the following entries and cast your vote for which tank you think claims "Best Tank".

Best Tank is pretty straightforward, just vote for the tank you think is the best one in the contest.

The Most Innovative Category is a little different.
Wikipedia defines innovative/innovation this way:
"The term innovation means a new way of doing something. A distinction is typically made between invention, an idea made manifest, and innovation, ideas applied successfully.
The goal of innovation is positive change, to make someone or something better."
I think that the winner of the "Most Innovative" category should be someone who has found a new and creative way of approaching a particular aspect of reefkeeping. Even more importantly, they need to have applied their idea successfully in their tank.

We have one category in addition to the original 2 categories, "Best Theme".
This category is sponsored by Kevin & Doug @ Red Coral Aquarium.
The winner of this category will receive a $100 gift certificate to Red Coral Aquarium. Red Coral has picked silent judges for this category and is not open to the Canreef Public. The Winner will be announced as soon as I find out.

A lot of work was put into these tanks, so please take the voting seriously!

And the contestants are.......

[JDigital]

Chaloupa's 5.5G Primary Colors Nano

Full Tank Thread Here

Well, after much debate with a 10g we had or finding a 5.5...we ended up going with a 5.5g as in the long run that is soooo much fun!

Picture with Space Alien;


Picture with Nano Reef Survival Kit;


COSTING TO DATE; (updated with each purchase)
FREEBIES per the rules;
Tank; free
Stand; free (but did cost $41.33 for wood just as an FYI)
Mag Float; free
Live sand; free (but did cost me $40.00 as I couldn't steal any from my other tanks....)
Rock; free

ITEMS FOR THE BUDGET
Light; $59.95 from Dragon's Lair Pet Store in town...can produce receipt
Maxijet 1200; $26.95 x .75= $20.21 (I already had it...and that's the J&L price at 75%)
Sump; custom built by Jim (whiteice669) $20.00 as it's all used glass

To date; $100.16

ADDED TO BUDGET OCTOBER 27/08

Zoa frag (bluish); $10.00
Yellow polyp frag; $10.00 (going on the GSP pricing?)
2 red and blue mushrooms; $10.00
1 red leg hermit; $1.45
1 blue leg hermit; $1.29
1 Astrea snail; 1.69
TOTAL FOR THESE; $34.43

Total to date; $100.16 + $34.43 = $134.59

ADDED TO BUDGET NOVEMBER 6/08

Zoa frag (RPE); $5.00
Zoa frag (yellow); $10.00
Blue/Yellow Damsel; $4.95
Blue Porcelain Crab; $9.95
TOTAL FOR THESE; $29.90

Total to date; $134.59 + $29.90 = $164.49

ADDED TO BUDGET NOVEMBER 14/08

Zoa frag (bluish2); $10.00
Zoa frag (blue); $5.00
Zoa frag (redish); $5.00
Zoa frag (blue/yellow); $5.00
added more Yellow polyps; $10.00 (was a small piece that I chopped into 3 tiny ones)
2 Red and Blue Mushrooms; $10.00
1 Red Mushroom; $5.00
1 Blue Cloves (very sparse on disk); $10.00?
TOTAL FOR THESE; $60.00

Total to date; $164.49 + $60.00 + $224.49


Full tank shot November 15, 2008 (budget is up to date for today also!)



ADDED TO BUDGET DECEMBER 1/08

WF Wicked Blue Zoa; $45.00
WF Double Red Zoa; $40.00
WF Aussie Zoa; $35.00
Blue Clove; $10.00
TOTAL FOR THESE; $130.00

Total to date; $224.49 + $130.00 = $354.49

Just an FYI...I have been bumped into the 10g category so have their budget now which originally was $300.00 then with the added on budget of $95.00 my budget total is $395.00...I am cutting it sooooo close. I really wanted to keep it low...but then I saw these few Zoa frags and well...bit the bullet as I had room in budget. Soooo there you have it. My update!

FTS for December 15, 2008 (budget has not changed since last entry)....I think I may have found one of the red and blue shrooms that survived...but not 100% yet...fingers crossed!!!




FTS for January 15/09 No budget change as nothing has been purchased

(I will be replacing this picture...battery was dying, and I just realized the date...OOPS)
I've had several rock falls at the "bridge" area....so tank is a bit sad looking today...but next month will be back to looking good. The red mushrooms have taken off...I have 3 now....2 bigger and 1 small....everything else is growing well.....





FTS for February 15/09 No budget change as nothing has been purchased




FTS for March 15/09 No budget change as nothing has been purchased



March 19/08 WOOOT, turns out I can't add!!!! Thanks to Josh for pointing out I still have $ in my budget to buy something with!!! YAYAYAYAYAY

ADDED TO BUDGET April 6/09

Yellow and Red Gorgonian $15.00
TOTAL FOR THIS; $15.00

Total to date; $354.49 + $15.00 = $369.54 under budget!!!! YAYAYAYAY

FTS for April 15/09 Budget updated for Gorgonian

[JDigital]

superduperwesmans 10G Plate coral Nano

Full Tank Thread Here!

Guess who's in the game... look out people

Oh baby... oh baby it's fun already

Plate Coral Tank with a modern stand concept and a super easy water change system

Water change video on page 26

Budget = $395
Budget Exhausted = $390.00
Budget Remaining = $5.00

Details of Expenditure:

Equipment:
Heater = $24.99 x 0.75 = $18.75 - Used Via Aqua 100 watt - Originally bought at Bayside Corals
Lighting = $75 x 0.75 = $56.25 - Basically 75% of a Sunlight supply 24" New Wave T5 Fixture - Used from Saskreef c/w 4 bulbs (PM me for proof of purchase)
Pump = $52.50 x 0.75 = $39.50 -Used Rio 1400 - Originally Bought at Big Als
Sump = $17.00 - Engineered Aquariums (actually = 1 Lunch)
Total - $131.50

Livestock:
Bumblebee Snails = $2 x 2 = $4.00 - Red Coral
Hermit Crabs = 3 for $10 = $10.00 - Red Coral
Clown Fish = $10.45 - Big Als (Actually Paid $22 ahah I had a GC)
Dragonet Scooter Blenny = $8.45 - JL Price (Actually Paid $19.99 at Ocean City)- Dead
Yellow Box Fish = $25.45 - JL Price (Actually Paid $29.99 at Ocean City)- Dead
Finger Leather = $10.00 - Bayside Corals - Dead
Toadstool = $5.00 - Originally Bought at Bayside Corals
Candy Cane = $2.50 - Actually Free from sphelps but Almost Dead from Sitting in a Sump with No Lights (Almost all skeleton)
Orange Plate Coral = $5.00 - Originally Bought at Bayside Corals but is almost all Skeleton from being in a 2.5 Gallon Pico (hope it makes it) - Dead
Brown Plate Coral = $15.00 - Bayside Corals (Actually Paid $53.00)... hoping it might just be browned out and that it might get pretty
Pink and White Plate Coral = $20.00 - Actually Free from sphelps
Orange Plate Coral = $15.00 - Ocean City (Traded it for a Green Tongue Coral I bought 1 day prior $53.99)
Green Plate Coral = $15.00 - ElGuappo (Actually paid $25.00) - Dead
Green Plate Coral = $15.00 - De Iron Chef (Actually paid $20.00) - Dead
Pink Plate Coral = $20.00 - Ocean City (Actually Paid $45.00) - Dead
Brown Mushroom = Hitch Hiker so Included in Rock Prices = Free
Anthelia Frag = $2.50 - sphelps (Actually Free) - Dead
Crocea Clam 2" Shell = $20.00 - Ocean City (Actually Paid $35.00)
Frogspawn 3" Skeleton = $15.00 - Red Coral (Actually Paid $30.00)
Yellow Clown Goby = $0.25 - ColinD (Actually Free)
Green Plate Coral = $15 - Ocean City (Actually $42.99)
Orange Plate Coral = $15 - Ocean City (Actually $42.99)
Zoa Colony = $10 - Ocean City (Actually $60.00) I fragged it up
Total - $258.50

OK so some stuff died but in my defense I was planning a wedding through out the contest and then I was gone for 2 weeks for the wedding and honeymoon... just for a little back ground... I know I still let stuff die but I couldn't commit my full attention to the tank. That's just life sometimes... as I'm sure most of you know... anyway... I guess that's enough excuses for now


"Free"
Entry Fee = $26.50 - I entered late
Tank = $20.00 - Engineered Aquariums ( Actually = Lunch... same lunch as above )
MDF = $58.50 - Home Depot
Screws/Misc Hardware = $10.00 - Home Depot
Hinges = $10.50 - Home Depot
Wood Filler = $5.00 - Home Depot
Fan Speed Control = $2.50 - Ebay (not wired in yet)
Two 3.5" Fans = $2.00 ea. - Princess Auto
12 Volt Adapter = $5.00 - Princess Auto
3 Cans of Flat/Gloss Black Paint = $5.00 ea. - Canadian Tire? I had them lying around but I know I had to pay for them at some point
Sand = $11.00 - Had around, originally bought at Wai's
5.5 lbs of Live Rock = $40.00 - Ocean City/ Bayside Corals
5ish lbs of Base Rock = $10.00 - Had but, originally bought at Bayside Corals
Tank Shipping = $30.00
Plumbing Parts ~ $65 - Rona / Bayside Corals / Engineered Aquariums
Magnafloat = $13.50 - Ocean City
Eggcrate = $10.00 - Home Depot
Fuge Light = $10.00 - Walmart
Glass Lid = $15.00 - Big Als
Coralife Battery Operated Digital Thermometer = $14.00 - Had around, but originally bought at Big Als (If I had the receipt I'd return it b/c it's out by 3 degrees)
Handful of Cheato = Free - From Jay180reef
Epoxy = $20 - Bayside Corals
"Free" Total - $365.50

Actual Total Spent ~ $1064

**Note: Some prices above have tax included... at first most did but then it got hard

Pictures

Standard 10 gallon



Standard 10 Gallon w/ Overflow and sump



FTS November 15



FTS December 15

With Stand


Front


Left Side


FTS January 15




Front


Front Including Stand


Front Showing Storage


Side Including Stand


FTS March 15



FTS April 15

Front with Stand


Front Close up


Side


More pictures and water change video on page 26

[JDigital]

sphelps' 10G Intelligent Reef

Full Tank Thread Here

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:


Modified:


October 19th 2008


Theme change November 1st 2008


Full View November 9th 2008


November 15th 2008 FTS


December 15th 2008 FTS (yeah yeah bad pic, I know)


January 15th 2009 FTS


February 15th 2009 FTS


March 15th 2009 FTS


April 15th 2009 FTS



Random Photos





Octopus Video: Einstein

[JDigital]

Rocketlilys Damsel in Zoanthidland

Full Tank Thread Here

Budget update:

$300.00 Budget Items
Equipment:
4 Coralife Mini Compact 50/50 lamps 20 watt each @ $15.99 each Total $63.96 (Wiring supplies from shop)
Aqueon 50w Heater $25.99
Aquatech 20-40 HOB filter $ 2.00 ("scored" a good deal - receipt can be provided)
Used Nano Powerhead $26.21

Total Equipment: $ 118.16


Livestock:
3 small zoanthids (under 15 heads) @ $5.00 each $ 15.00 (transferred from 50 gal tank)
9 med zoanthids (15 - 25 heads) @ $10.00 each $ 90.00 (transferred from 50 gal tank)
1 small (7 head) flourescant zoanthid $ 5.00 (purchased from a local reefer)
1 small Blue Clove $ 5.00 (fragged from 50 gal tank)
1 green mushroom rock $ 20.00 (transferred from 50 gal tank)
5 blue mushroom $ 25.00 (transferred from 50 gal tank)
1 Yellowtail Damselfish (Live Aquaria price) $ 4.99 (transferred from 50 gal tank)
1 Stocky Cerith Snail (Big Al's) $ 2.99
2 Narssarius Snails (Big Al's $1.99 each) $ 3.98
1 Cerith Snail (Big Al's) $ 1.99
1 Blue Legged Hermit Crab $ 1.99
1 Red Banded Turbo Crab $ 4.99

Total Livestock: $ 180.93

Total spent on budget items (equipment and livestock): $ 299.09


"Free" Items
10 gal display tank - $0.00 (Had it at home already)
Maple for stand and canopy - $55.86
Sand - Left over from 20 gal - free
Rocks - 2 large cooking in basement - free
Rocks - 2 small $10.00
Thermometer - $1.49
Mag Cleaner - Left over from 20 gal - free

Total spent on free items: $67.35

Empty Tank


October 15-2008


November 15-2008


December 15-2008


Jan 15-09


Fb 15-09


March 15-09


April 15-09


A few favorites:

[JDigital]

noirsphynx's 10G Nano Reef

Full Tank Thread Here!

This tank is going to remain very basic as I'm fairly new to the hobby. This is more about the fun of it. I'm going to try a mushroom themed tank.

Oct 15/08 FTS

Nov. 15/08 FTS

Dec. 15/08 FTS

Jan. 15/09

Feb. 15/09

Mar. 15/09

Apr. 15/09

Budget $395.45
Used $383.73
Remaining $11.72

Free Items:
Tank, 10g
LR
LS
Stand
Themometer

Supplies:
Subcurrent Filter(new) $38.99
Light, Nova Extreme 18" T5(new) $79.99
Elite 50w heater(used) $16.49(75% of Petsmart price, have reciept)
Koralia 1(used) $25.46(75% as per J&L)
Moonlights $7.80

total $168.73

Livestock:
Gumdrop Coral Croucher $31.99
Anenome Shrimp x 2 (one was $7.49 other was $14.54) = $22.03
Nassarius Snails $1.34 x 2 = $2.68(already had so 75% of J&L)
Turbo Snail $1.46 (already had so 75% of J&L)
Feather Duster x2 = $36.84
Orange Spotted Mushroom $5
Green Stripe Mushroom $5
Orange Yuma $5
Pink Yuma $10 Died =(
Blue Mushroom $5
Red Mushroom $10
Red Spotted Mushroom $5
Purple Mushroom $5
Bullseye Mushroom $5
Florida Ricordia 5 x $5ea = $25
Florida Ricordia $10
Orange (argent orange?) zoa's $5
Purple zoa's $5
Green/Blue/Peach (earth, wind & fire?) zoa's $5
Pink w/ green center (candy apple pink?) zoa's $5
Orange (armour of god?) Paly $5
Green Palys $5

total $215

[christyf5]

up

[rocketlily]

[superduperwesman]

"Best Tank" is over rated... even if it does have 10 extra votes ahaha I guess people care more about this category... some people anyway... I obviously don't or I would have built the bestest tank ever... ok maybe I did try to build the bestest tank ever but I'll take my 3 votes and inflate them in my mind I'll just tell people I was in the top 5 outta 12 ahah At least it's the top 50 percentile... they don't need to know that 7 people got dq-ed or quit.. I wont tell them

[sphelps]

haha Wes, it's not over until it over