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

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by sphelps

I'll say you can't have teams if you have a rule stating no borrowing. Those two don't mix as you can borrow anything you want if you add team members....

Honestly I think you have too many rules and dates. I don't see why you can't allow borrowing and if people want to work together then let them. And what's will all the dates? Why can't people add rock/livestock from the start? You can't even add rock until 45 days after the contest starts... And then another 15 days after that before livestock is added... Seems to me the first two months are going to be pretty lame, interest will likely drop, I know mine has already Remember it's a nano tank, most people set these things up over a weekend if that. Sure if people want to go slow that's good too but forcing everyone to follow the same timeline doesn't usually work for everyone.

If people are looking for a prize I can contribute.

They way I read the date regarding the rock was that it had to be in by that date: you could put it in much earlier (the day after you filled the tank, for example).

I may be wrong, though.

I'm confused about adding sand. I would normally do that before I filled the tank, but it looks like that can't be done until after the tank is filled. So, I'd have to fill, then drain, add sand, and refill to prevent a crazy sandstorm.

I suspect I would become part of an "unofficial team" the second I grabbed hubby's drill or sawzall. (Of which I will require both . . . But, what's his is mine anyway )

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Borderjumper

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:

Your off on the dates..you say no rock can be added until nov 15, but then for dec 1 you say if you were smart you added rock right after the fill date ( nov1) which is clearly against da rulz. So on Dec 1, the rock has been in 2 weeks, not 30 daze.

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.


on this day you must provide pics of your tank filled with water, no liverock or livestock is to be in your tank at this time.

if you wish to add rock right after the fill date simply post the appropriate pics on the date required

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.

by this date your tank needs to have rock in it, if you are further ahead then this , post the appropriate pics on the dates required.

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 .


im not going to peoples houses to check on everyones tanks so if your fast and want to get going take lots of pics and document, when the time comes make the posts needed. its 6mths for everyone anyway you want to time it, the dates are for judging purposes to see your tanks at different stages.

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Enigma

They way I read the date regarding the rock was that it had to be in by that date: you could put it in much earlier (the day after you filled the tank, for example).

I may be wrong, though.

I'm confused about adding sand. I would normally do that before I filled the tank, but it looks like that can't be done until after the tank is filled. So, I'd have to fill, then drain, add sand, and refill to prevent a crazy sandstorm.

I suspect I would become part of an "unofficial team" the second I grabbed hubby's drill or sawzall. (Of which I will require both . . . But, what's his is mine anyway )

your reading it right, as for sand if you wish to do it prior i cant see a problem with that unless anyone else does , when i write the official rules and reg's ill note that for sure

[Borderjumper]

Originally Posted by sphelps

I like the idea of month updates, maybe semi-monthly would work as well if people are willing. Realistically the more updates the better and judges can use that to gauge planning. If people want to spend two months planning a 10 gallon, that's awesome but I think most will need less than a few days to plan it out.

IMO Dates:

Start date: - Build thread has to be started by this day displaying empty tank or a tank in the process of being built, basically something showing the tank isn't full of water yet.

Threads must be updated at least twice monthly with pictures added at least once a month.

End Date: Tanks are judged accordingly

That's all you need, but that's just how I see it.

I see your point, but that's really not fair for the contestants who are literally starting from scratch. I'm not going to enter, but for example I have enough tanks, enough live rock and more than enough corals to have a pretty wicked little tank up running and cycled in about an hour.. Which isn't the scope of this contest. Setting time frames equals up a lot of things.

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Borderjumper

I see your point, but that's really not fair for the contestants who are literally starting from scratch. I'm not going to enter, but for example I have enough tanks, enough live rock and more than enough corals to have a pretty wicked little tank up running and cycled in about an hour.. Which isn't the scope of this contest. Setting time frames equals up a lot of things.

thats the way i seen it too , i have fragtanks filled with coral, bins full of liverock i can whip together a killer small tank in minutes, then its just a pic contest

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Borderjumper

I see your point, but that's really not fair for the contestants who are literally starting from scratch. I'm not going to enter, but for example I have enough tanks, enough live rock and more than enough corals to have a pretty wicked little tank up running and cycled in about an hour.. Which isn't the scope of this contest. Setting time frames equals up a lot of things.

That's why we have judges... If someone wants to wait 5 moths then get around to filling up his nano with livestock, so what, obviously he won't win as it's judged based on panning, updates and sustainability. Same goes for someone who want to set it up over a weekend. The point is at the end of the day someone setup a nano tank the way they wanted to and people are going to see more tanks and more methods/approaches to setting them up.

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by reefwars

thats the way i seen it too , i have fragtanks filled with coral, bins full of liverock i can whip together a killer small tank in minutes, then its just a pic contest

Nothing stopping someone from doing this anyway, why not set it up over a weekend and take 1000 pictures in the process then take it down. Post pictures according to schedule. People will do what they want anyway so I just think you'll have a better contest if you just let them.

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by sphelps

I like the idea of month updates, maybe semi-monthly would work as well if people are willing. Realistically the more updates the better and judges can use that to gauge planning. If people want to spend two months planning a 10 gallon, that's awesome but I think most will need less than a few days to plan it out.

IMO Dates:

Start date: - Build thread has to be started by this day displaying empty tank or a tank in the process of being built, basically something showing the tank isn't full of water yet.

Threads must be updated at least twice monthly with pictures added at least once a month.

End Date: Tanks are judged accordingly

That's all you need, but that's just how I see it.

hummm, i could tinker with it a bit tonight when i get home and make it as a month to month guideline.

something rough like:

oct-contest start:

provide empty tank shots
provide equipment shots

nov - show off your creations-

livestock additions
rock


dec- pictures month-

show some pics
make a video
phot shop




etc etc etc, i can work with it a bit tonight if everyone thinks thats a bit easier:P

[reefwars]

im aware people are going to set these up as fast as they like, people are going to replace dead livestock things like that.

theres just no way to stop it from happening, but the judges arnt going to know most of us personally, so if they feel your tank is rushed they may judge it that way , if they feel you didnt follow along they may judge that too, im in no way going to enforce the judges , they are gong to be left to come up with their own conclusions.

no matter how we look at it the judges are going to decide the winner, they WILL follow along and watch our builds, the small details may not matter to one judge and the next may be all about it, i have no say in what they determine

[reefwars]

if a judge thinks someone replaced a fish its up to him to make a call on points, he has the final call ,judges arnt allowed to post or contact contestants so there will be no debate, just the judges call on whether or not he thinks your livestock made it or not