TRT Nano buildoff

gregt · 09-26-2005, 06:30 PM

Here are my proposed rules. If anyone has any issues, please raise them now and we can discuss them. If I missed anything anybody suggested, please don't be insulted, just point it out, there was a lot of info to go through.

Purpose:
The main purpose of this contest is to encourage each other to share building techniques for nano tanks and to post construction threads.

Size limitations:
In order to maximize participation, size will not be limited but the total volume and display volume sizes will be taken into account during judging. The smaller the system the better the system will when judged. Clearly, a 500 galllon tank will score poorly in a nano reef competition.

Also, the ability of the tank to sustain life long term is also a critical scoring point, so please, no dixie cup tanks.

Time limitations:

The contest will being on Oct 1, 2005 and end on Mar 31, 2006 (This means that initial entry, and therefore your initial update post MUST be posted by Oct 31, 2005)
Each contestant must post at least one update per month. The update must include descriptions and pictures of progress made. The more documentation of the tank's progress the better the system will score.

Other limitations and rules:

Must be a new setup, cant be an already established tank up and running now.
Any type of reef tank can be entered. Scoring will not be based on the type of coral kept. Only the health of the coral and the ability of the system to support that type of coral will count.
Surge tanks WILL count in the total water volume. Auto top off tanks will NOT count in the total water volume.
There will be no monetary limitations although creative solutions will be scored higher than expensive solutions.

Judging:

Winners will be chosen by a combination of three elements. 1) 40% from voting of participants (no, you can't vote for your own tank ) 2) 20% from voting of general membership 3) 40% from voting of TRT staff.
There will be multiple prizes and categories for prizes. This will be fleshed out after the rules are finalized.
Online forms will be created for the voting which will ask for scores in the key areas and remind people of the important things to be looking for.

Awestralian · 09-26-2005, 06:49 PM

Sounds good so far

VWD · 09-26-2005, 07:01 PM

Sounds Great Greg, I can live with it.

yardboy · 09-26-2005, 07:11 PM

Sounds fine to me, any excuse to build a tank! I better get cracking though, if it's to start this Saturday!

gregt · 09-26-2005, 07:13 PM

You have until the 31 of next month to enter.

VWD · 09-26-2005, 07:20 PM

So we have til the 31 OCT. Good deal

tims · 09-26-2005, 07:25 PM

Sweet Greg Good job in getting this all togeather!

think any of the sponors might do a nano build off discount?

reef_noob · 09-26-2005, 08:54 PM

That's awesome. I'm psyched

Awestralian · 09-26-2005, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yardboy

Sounds fine to me, any excuse to build a tank! I better get cracking though, if it's to start this Saturday!

Lol hey dont worry too much, the tank im using still has a few freshwater fish in it at the moment!!
And i still have to go out and purchase a new dremel...

wharyat · 09-26-2005, 10:03 PM

Sounds great!

Check out ebay for diamond holesaws (if anyone needs some). I ordered some a little earlier.

Awestralian · 09-26-2005, 10:59 PM

Yeah they are another good option on ebay here too.

But i need the dremel for other stuff as well, so ill go the dremel route.

milhouse74 · 09-27-2005, 08:57 AM

I am in.

milhouse74 · 09-27-2005, 09:07 AM

I have just one question (I hope it is okay to put questions in here). Wouldn't it be better to have say maybe an 8 month or 1 year contest. Especially seeing as there are certain things you really shouldn't keep until a tank gets more mature? It would also give much more time to see how corals are actually growing in the tanks as opposed to just surviving for a short period.

Just a thought.

David

gregt · 09-27-2005, 09:55 AM

I'm open to longer terms. How about 9 months?

milhouse74 · 09-27-2005, 10:42 AM

Not to make this any more painful to get started, but maybe we should pick like 3 different term lengths and have apoll maybe? 9 months is great, however I think a year would be PERFECT. I say this having a few nano tanks, and seeing how they have matured over time. It also helps with building a nano in true nano fashion and using frags that grow out a bit.

David