Contest #2

[michika]

shelphs,

What would you recommend as a budget then? Just hardware budget and an unlimited budget for livestock?

A dissenting opinion shouldn't be such a cause for alarm or outcry. I for one am pleased to hear to feedback and suggestions, regardless of what it is. If you want to participate or not because someone else, that is your choice, and your opinion.

[Myka]

Oh I like the idea to set a date where you can't add/remove stuff!! Good idea!!

I like the unlimited budget, at least for livestock because it reduces disputes, and because I want to see some stellar nanos with AAA corals in them in the end!!! I don't mind a hardware budget though...that's kinda fun to stick to a budget.

I also like Ron 99's suggestion of categories:

1. Stock tanks with a budget
2. Stock tanks with unlimited budget
3. Custom tanks with a budget
2. Custom tanks with unlimited budget

Of course I still think all categories should be limited to 20 gallon display which seems to be the general consenus on here anyway.

Take my opinion with a grain of salt (har har) as I'm not sure if I will have the space (in the house) to participate.

[sphelps]

Yes a budget on hardware works, introduces a challenge and is easily monitored and controlled. If I thought a livestock budget would actually work I would be all for it, problem is there are too many variables and to me it just seems more fair and easier to simply eliminate it. The worst case is someone will spend a ridiculous amount of money on super rare livestock but the majority of people don't like or notice the rare stuff anyway so I see no advantage. You'll also see much more variety in livestock as much more freedom will be available.

My recommendations are:

• Hardware - limited budget
• Livestock - unlimited budget
• Total system volume - limited to 20 gallons or whatever most would prefer
• 1 month preparation build time
• 3-6 months additional contest time, again whatever most prefer
• People wanting extra build time can use addition contest time (no restriction on when tank has to be wet)
• Absolutely no changes within last month (proves sustainability)

We also didn't get too many people in the last contest so multiple categories, which although would be nice, probably won't really work. The more people actually competing against each other the better.

[michika]

That makes lots of sense, and I'm all for that. Thank you for the recommendations.

Start dates? I'm thinking May 1st, or June 1st?

[Ron99]

Lot's of good suggestions and discussion. After considering all the input I think the following would be good:

1. Two Categories; stock tanks and custom tanks
2. Hardware - limited budget of maybe $300 to $400
3. Livestock - unlimited budget (hey if somebody wants to blow $2000 on livestock more power to them. I think the contest should be based more on the whole package rather than what fancy corals or rare fish somebody has)
4. Display limited to 20 gallons with a max 20 gallon sump
5. Total of 6 months contest time with no set wet deadline (to give people as much time as they need for the build) and no changes in the last month (other than water changes of course).

As for start date maybe June 1st. I know my schedule is pretty full and life seems to be busy for many people so that gives a bit more time to plan for those wanting to do a custom build.

YMMV but I think the above maybe incorporates many of the opinions and suggestions made so far.

[sphelps]

Any thoughts on monthly FTSs and updates? I think expecting people to post on certain day every month is a little far fetched since some of us aren't always around. Also with summer coming this becomes even more difficult. Some ideas:

• No actual picture requirements however people obviously realize this is a contest and to win they have to show something. Could also add a prize for best documentation/build thread.
• Monthly FTS required but not date specific, just sometime every month or even with in the first two weeks.
• FTS required whenever something is added or updated.

[JDigital]

Originally Posted by sphelps

Any thoughts on monthly FTSs and updates? I think expecting people to post on certain day every month is a little far fetched since some of us aren't always around. Also with summer coming this becomes even more difficult. Some ideas:

• No actual picture requirements however people obviously realize this is a contest and to win they have to show something. Could also add a prize for best documentation/build thread.
• Monthly FTS required but not date specific, just sometime every month or even with in the first two weeks.
• FTS required whenever something is added or updated.

I won't be in this contest, but this is something I agree with. This caused a huge headache in the first contest, and should be considered.

[michika]

Originally Posted by sphelps

• No actual picture requirements however people obviously realize this is a contest and to win they have to show something. Could also add a prize for best documentation/build thread.
• Monthly FTS required but not date specific, just sometime every month or even with in the first two weeks.
• FTS required whenever something is added or updated.

I agree with this too.

[rocketlily]

Just for clarification, is the 20 gal sump mentioned above
20 gal total volume or
20 gal water circulating through the sump

[rstar]

I just wanted to throw an idea out there. Why not assign a points value to things like budget. You can spend however much you want. Just assign a point value to types of corals. Ideally the goal would be to have the lesser point value in the coral category, which will net the most points (if that makes ANY sense). So it doesnt matter what you paid for the coral or how big it is. Everyone will be competing based on points and not the actual corals. You can assign point values to all categories. creativity, complexity, volume, anything. You just have the judges awards points for those aspects. Give a percentage of point towoards a public vote at the end and the person with the most points in the end wins.

EDIT: Explain what i mean further.

Have categories be out of 10
Complexity you could have a max of 10 point
Budget a max of say 30 points (in this category species of coral will have their own value like sps 5 softied 2 lps 3) Tally the point out and give a score out of 30 so the tank with the lowest and nicest score has a higher mark out of 30 versus a tank full to the brim with all the most expensive corals having the lower score. People will then compete for a modest but REALLY nice tank)
Creativity out of say 30

Make the total allowable score out of one hundred. I think this would b a fair way of doing it.