I am tentatively in.
As long as when the rules are decided I am allowed to use equipment I already own. I cannot afford to buy anything for a contest at this point in my life, but would have a very fun time putting together a small tank with the limited stuff I have to work with.
As long as when the rules are decided I am allowed to use equipment I already own. I cannot afford to buy anything for a contest at this point in my life, but would have a very fun time putting together a small tank with the limited stuff I have to work with.
okay... here is where i am.
i excahnged pm with Len and he said he has prizes lined up for this and that whatever we decide on is splendido.... one contest or more, he will support either.
so at this point i will just push us along and make some decisions for a group.
we have debated some topics and through my review i have decided the following description will be our best intererst in keeping participation at a maximum and the verbal deliberation at a minimum.
originally i had decided that no cash cap was the best idea and that was what i continued to strive for in our discussion.
after reading the responses it seems evident to me that most people wish to build something unique as opposed to everyone using a 10gal std tank.
also it seems many wish to use different odd sizes that are in between the ten and twenty gallon sizes.
so, at present i will state that the build off is going to be twenty gallon and under.
this is only because that is the desire i see reflected within the member's posts regarding this subject.
this build off will be like the ones you see on discovery channel.
there will be no cash limit or labor limit.
you are free to build whatever you like so long as it fits the description of a 'nano tank' and falls into the build specifications that we agree upon.
a step back and a few words.... i know we all aren't in the same tax bracket, but i don't see many competitive games of any sort that try to even the odds for all incomes.
not only this, but i don't see a way to apply a spending limit without thirty pages of aquarist litigation... so. i suppose i am a reefing capatilist.
if anyone wants to construct another group that has build-off cash caps, livestock limitations, etc.... then by all means speak up. there are certainly enough of you to do the different class or whatever.
now back to the contest.... i have given this some thought and i think we can define our nanos with the following terms and conditions....
article 1
each aquarium in it's entirity will be no larger than twenty US gallons.
this is decided by total volume and does not take into account water that has been displaced by sand or rock.
baffles and overflows also will not be accounted for.
all aquariums that meet this simple volume constraint will be considered regulation sized. this is true of both manufactured and DIYed aquariums.
article 2
there will be no external piping.
acceptable piping would include (though not limited to) internal return pipes or the "spray bar" type.
pipes can be dry they simply cannot be external.
external piping will include all piping that deviates from the footprint of the regulation sized tank (with exception to HOT equipment) and will be limited in rise to an elevation that is no greater than the lighting.
article 3
there will be no large refugia.
acceptable refugia will be limited to what either can be kept inside the confines of the aquarium with a water surface elevation no higher than that of the upper rim of the regulation sized aquaria, or it will fit the description explained in article 4
article 4
professionally manufactured HOB/ HOT (hang on back/ hang on tank) skimmers and refugia can be utilized.
HOB/ HOT equipment that has been DIYed must contain no more than 2 liters of fluid and must fit the common description for HOT/HOB.
so...... there is the ground work.
i think i will see how this flies over before going into detail on the competition proceedings of which i have a question for everybody interested in participating.
would you feel more comfortable with assorted judges or with the general membership voting?
i excahnged pm with Len and he said he has prizes lined up for this and that whatever we decide on is splendido.... one contest or more, he will support either.
so at this point i will just push us along and make some decisions for a group.
we have debated some topics and through my review i have decided the following description will be our best intererst in keeping participation at a maximum and the verbal deliberation at a minimum.
originally i had decided that no cash cap was the best idea and that was what i continued to strive for in our discussion.
after reading the responses it seems evident to me that most people wish to build something unique as opposed to everyone using a 10gal std tank.
also it seems many wish to use different odd sizes that are in between the ten and twenty gallon sizes.
so, at present i will state that the build off is going to be twenty gallon and under.
this is only because that is the desire i see reflected within the member's posts regarding this subject.
this build off will be like the ones you see on discovery channel.
there will be no cash limit or labor limit.
you are free to build whatever you like so long as it fits the description of a 'nano tank' and falls into the build specifications that we agree upon.
a step back and a few words.... i know we all aren't in the same tax bracket, but i don't see many competitive games of any sort that try to even the odds for all incomes.
not only this, but i don't see a way to apply a spending limit without thirty pages of aquarist litigation... so. i suppose i am a reefing capatilist.
if anyone wants to construct another group that has build-off cash caps, livestock limitations, etc.... then by all means speak up. there are certainly enough of you to do the different class or whatever.
now back to the contest.... i have given this some thought and i think we can define our nanos with the following terms and conditions....
article 1
each aquarium in it's entirity will be no larger than twenty US gallons.
this is decided by total volume and does not take into account water that has been displaced by sand or rock.
baffles and overflows also will not be accounted for.
all aquariums that meet this simple volume constraint will be considered regulation sized. this is true of both manufactured and DIYed aquariums.
article 2
there will be no external piping.
acceptable piping would include (though not limited to) internal return pipes or the "spray bar" type.
pipes can be dry they simply cannot be external.
external piping will include all piping that deviates from the footprint of the regulation sized tank (with exception to HOT equipment) and will be limited in rise to an elevation that is no greater than the lighting.
article 3
there will be no large refugia.
acceptable refugia will be limited to what either can be kept inside the confines of the aquarium with a water surface elevation no higher than that of the upper rim of the regulation sized aquaria, or it will fit the description explained in article 4
article 4
professionally manufactured HOB/ HOT (hang on back/ hang on tank) skimmers and refugia can be utilized.
HOB/ HOT equipment that has been DIYed must contain no more than 2 liters of fluid and must fit the common description for HOT/HOB.
so...... there is the ground work.
i think i will see how this flies over before going into detail on the competition proceedings of which i have a question for everybody interested in participating.
would you feel more comfortable with assorted judges or with the general membership voting?
A couple of questions
Could you please explain this one. You start by stating no external piping. You end by limiting it to an elevation no greater then the lighting.
For an example could you do a closed loop system if the piping does not go above the lighting? Even if it goes beyond the footprint of the tank?
When do you think it will begin? And what is the starting point for the tank? Are you proposing 6 months starting with an empty tank?
Everything else sounds good.
For the judging, I think it should be much like the photo contests. Have a panel of judges pick the finalist, then the general community pick the winner.
Could you please explain this one. You start by stating no external piping. You end by limiting it to an elevation no greater then the lighting.
For an example could you do a closed loop system if the piping does not go above the lighting? Even if it goes beyond the footprint of the tank?
When do you think it will begin? And what is the starting point for the tank? Are you proposing 6 months starting with an empty tank?
Everything else sounds good.
For the judging, I think it should be much like the photo contests. Have a panel of judges pick the finalist, then the general community pick the winner.
yesJDM":5bq0pjpi said:
with the way i have outlined the finished product you could not use a closed loop in the way you are thinking unless it were above the tank and below the lighting.
were you wanting to use one?
i thought a nano would be so small that a closed loop would be overkill.
i have no personal beef with you using one, the whole 'article 2' was created to simply eliminate multiple issues like seperate systems, sumps, etc.
i want to start real soon but it seems easier to agree on these defining characterisitics before we muck the up discussion with all the other specifics.
this is mostly for my benefit as i can't focus well when the discussion is going in many directions because the definitions haven't been agreed upon. it confuses me :lol:
hopefully we can all agree on what i have outlined, and if there is something i have overlooked i hope we can simply add a word here or there to ammend it in a concise manner.
i don't really know how long i should wait to allow everyone to see this but it won't be long because i am ready to get started.
and yes, i plan on starting with empty tanks.
In that vein, shouldn't we be allowed to create a loop that penetrates from underneath the tank as long as it is only say 6-8" underneath and not down to the floor from a desk? ie- 2 bulkheads thru the bottom witha pump mounted just beaneath the resting surface of the stand?
(Your vote yes or no should settle it, up to you mr. rulemaker)
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