Tigah: Put your rainbow acan in the stock 6, and you're in the winner circle. Put in your red yuma as well, and it's game over

Looking forward to supernip's xenia jungle too!

haha. i just took down my 6g and sold it like 2 weeks ago. seems silly to buy another one now.

who said i was going to do a xenia jungle. good guess though. Its a great idea though. I remembered one user who had a gorgeous jungle, very simple and elegant.

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/showthread...highlight=xenia

Xenia does have it's place, just not in my aquaria. I'd rather have aiptasia, LOL.

JK!

Man, I was going to bring this contest to another level. Maybe I shouldn't say, since I *might* still enter (the stock catagory in case anyone wants to know). Muhahaha... I am the rock stacking champion of the world!

if the contest starts on june 1st. does that mean you cant start to cycle your tank now?

yes. no water until 6/1. watch tuesday for the full rules.

So who will be the judges?
Or will everyone get to vote?

artarmon, tigah, shinolin, etc, all the good nanocubers should be judges. so it makes competition easier for the rest of us !HEHEH

Please bear with me in the next few posts. At long last, the official rules are on the way. First, though, a few personal notes and thank-yous.

Thank you to Chris for thinking a forum about nano reefs was a good thing when other kids his age were delinquents hanging out in malls.

Thank you to our sponsors without whom NR and this contest wouldn't exist.

Thank you to our judges who are supremely capable individuals. We have the utmost faith in you and gratitude towards you.

Thanks to adin, gil and chris - ilu guys

And finally, these rules will be moving within the week to the official contest forum. It just doesn't exist yet. Keep an eye out for it, and we're all looking forward to see what everyone comes up with!

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES

1. PARTICIPATION - Any member of NR is welcome to participate. If for any reason, a contestant is banned during the contest period, he/she will be disqualified.

2. CONTEST DATES - The start date is June 1. This means that nothing can be added to the tank prior to that date, including water, sand, live rock, etc. The tank may (and in fact should) be leak-tested prior to this date. The end date of the contest is November 30. All entries must be submitted no later than midnight eastern time on December 10.

Starting date picture: On May 29, we will release the name of an item. You must take a picture of your empty tank with this item. This picture must be submitted with your final entry in order to qualify. See #5 below.

3. CATEGORIES AND PRIZES

STOCK: The tank to be used is a JBJ NanoCube 6 in its original form. This means no light upgrades, no cutting, or sawing. The only additional "in-tank" equipment that can be used are heaters. There is no restriction on sandbeds, liverock, or species of livestock used, but entrants are strongly urged to consider what is appropriate for six gallons of water under 18w compact fluorescent lighting (if you are unsure of the requirements for a particular organism, please use the the new nanocube forum to ask!).

OPEN: The tank to be used is a JBJ NanoCube 6. This category is open to allow entrants to excercise their imagination with modifications. Feel free to hack, drill, melt the stock nanocube to your heart's desire. Any external plumbing must not bring the entire system volume over 12 gallons, and the tank must be identifiable as a JBJ NanoCube 6.

Open Grand Prize: Seacrop $150 gift certificate

Stock Grand Prize: NanoCustoms Larnie Edition 12g NanoCube (est. retail value $369.00)

For full descriptions of what is and isn't permitted in each category, see # 6, judging criteria.

4. JUDGING - Each tank will be evaluated by a panel of judges. Judges were selected based on their extensive knowledge of marine aquaria and nanocube systems. All tanks will be given a number score based on the criteria in item # 6. The winner in each category will be the entrant with the highest score. In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by a popular vote by the membership of Nano-Reef.com. Voting will take place over a one-week period to be announced at the end of the judging period. Only the tanks involved in the tie will be voted on.

5. PREPARING YOUR ENTRY - A forum will be created at the completion of the contest specifically for contest entries. More details on this will be available as the end of the contest nears.

Each entry must be accompanied by a starting date picture (see item #2, contest dates) demonstrating that it was not set up prior to the contest start date. This is in addition to the 10 or 20 images mentioned below.

STOCK CATEGORY - Entrants will be allowed to submit up to 10 digital images of their tank. These images should show the tank's progression over the six months. Each image must be dated and may be accompanied by a description of not more than 20 words. In addition, each entry should include a description of the progression of the tank over the contest period of not more than 500 words. Please include your initial plan for the tank and how it evolved over the six month period.

OPEN CATEGORY - Entrants will be allowed to submit up to 20 digital images of their tank. These images should show the modifications made and the tank's progression over the six months. Each image must be dated and may be accompanied by a description of not more than 20 words. In addition, each entry should include a description of the progression of your tank over the contest period of not more than 500 words. Please include a description of all modifications and your initial plan for the tank and how it evolved over the six month period.

6. JUDGING CRITERIA

STOCK

Judges will award points on the following criteria. Final score is an average of scores from all judges. Maximum score is 100.

1. Does the tank follow all of the restrictions to qualify it as a stock tank? (10 pts, entrant will get either 0 or 10 points in this category.)

a. Stock may not be cut, drilled, or otherwise modified.
b. An additional heater may be added.
c. The stock pump may be replaced in the event of a failure or by the entrant's choosing with one of equal output (106gph).
d. In the event that the stock 18w bulb needs to be replaced during the 6 months that the contest is running, the entrant may do so with the bulb of his choosing. Only 18w pc bulbs are acceptable.
e. Unscrewing the clear splash guard is necessary to replace a bulb. This is acceptable.
f. There is no restriction on ambient light entering the tank through the sides of the tank, but stock lighting/hood must be used.
g. if you choose, you can remove any of the included filtration. The included filter media cannot be replaced with anything other than live rock/sand.

2. Does the livestock appear healthy? (10 pts)

3. Has the entrant demonstrated he has maintained a healthy system under the stock conditions? (30 pts)

4. Are all of the inhabitants of the tank appropriate under the conditions provided by the stock conditions? (10 pts)

(The tank is approximately 9"x11"x10, uses a 106gph powerhead, and is lit by 18w pc lighting. Some examples of inappropriate livestock includes most anemone species, large fish, stinging corals etc.)

5. Is the overall layout creative and pleasing to your eye? Is the aquascape original and creative? (30 pts)

6. Up to 10 additional points may be awarded solely at the judges' discretion with one exception: zero additional points will be awarded if the tank does not meet the "stock" criteria specified in item 1.


OPEN

Judges will award points on the following criteria. Final score is an average of scores from all judges. Maximum score is 100.

1. Has the entrant utilized safe & effective modifications to allow him to expand the stock nanocube? Does the tank follow all of the restrictions to qualify it as a modified tank? (10 pts)

a. Are the modifications necessary for the health/appearance of the tank and its inhabitants?
b. Are the modifications safe?
c. Are the modifications reproducible?
d. The tank with modifications must not contain more than 12 gallons of water. If total volume is greater than 12 gallons, zero points will be awarded.

2. Does the livestock appear healthy? (10 pts)

3. Has the entrant demonstrated he has maintained a healthy system? (30 pts)

4. Are all of the inhabitants of the tank appropriate under the conditions provided in the modified tank? (10 pts)

5. Is the layout creative and pleasing to your eye? (30 pts)

a. Do the modifications detract from the overall appearance of the system? Does the final setup retain the original streamline look of the nanocube?
b. Is the aquascape creative and original?

6. Up to 10 additional points may be awarded solely at the judges' discretion with one exception: if total volume is greater than 12 gallons (see item 1), zero additional points will be awarded.

7. CONTEST ADMINISTRATION - This contest is being run and administered by the administrator and moderators of Nano-Reef.com. In the event of a question or dispute, the decision of the contest administrators is final. The administrators WILL NOT interfere with the judging of the contest except in intstances where the judging criteria is clearly being ignored or misrepresented.


Finally, thank you to everyone who made this contest possible, especially our sponsors:

Sea Crop
[img]http://www.nano-reef.com/sponsors/adview.php?clientid=24&target=_blank&n=a7386e6a[/img]

NanoCustoms
[img]http://www.nano-reef.com/sponsors/adview.php?clientid=55&target=_blank&n=ac1340b2[/img]

Open contest rules

3. Has the entrant demonstrated he has maintained a healthy system deleted a few words? (30 pts)

?????? Im assuming that was a comment to an previous edit?

fixed, thanks.

So who are the judges?
Or will that be kept secret to protect the "innocent"

does rule 6g eliminate the use of carbon or phosphate removers?

also my question regarding the use of precured lr has not been addressed. is it acceptable to use cured lr from another tank/bucket?

can you re-write the tax laws while you're at it? i frickin' hate dealing with income tax returns. tyia

etoh: chemical filtration such as carbon and phosphate removers are fine. No other biological filtration is what the rule is getting at. And precured live rock is fine. People will be getting rock anywhere from online to their lfs to a friend's tank to their own tank. It's not reasonable to try to regulate where it comes from.

Tiny: That's what I felt like I was doing. Cept I think if I wrote the tax laws, they'd be less complicated than this.

how can one leak-test a tank when you're not allowed to put any water into it

The original statement is correct.

"Water" in that sentence refers to saltwater.

Leak testing involves filling a tank with tap water and then removing it. It is a temporary situation.

So basically the person with the best camera has the better shot of winning...because the exact same tank taken with 2 different quality of cameras will look very different....and therefore the pic taken with the lower quality camera doesnt compare to a tank pic taken with a higher quality camera...correct?

Nowhere in the rules does it say this is a photography contest.

Different cameras and photo techniques do give different results. We all know that one particular species or morph has the potential to look very different under different conditions. One exceptional photo of a frag will not receive nearly as many points as a series of growth shots that demonstrate the maturity of the entrant's tank over the 6 month period.

In a way, you're asking a similar question to EtOH's LR concern. The only absolute "fairest" way to solve either "problem" (as you see it) would be to provide everyone with rock to use and a the same camera to take their pictures. I think you'll agree with me on how unreasonable that would be.

Again, please make note on how the judging points are distributed. The tank that demonstrates best, the creativity and skill of the aquarist will be awarded the most number of points, regardless of photography skill, outrageous modifications, rare species, etc.


If you're having trouble with your photographs (digital or not), Gilman (of www.oc-creative.com/reef & winner of countless photography awards on various reef forums) is in the chat most evenings to help you out.

I must point out one thing... If someone sets one up now, it is going to be too young by the time of judging to show they have successfully kept the tank well. People will just buy a nanocube, throw in stuff from their 300g tank, arrange it real pretty and snap a picture. Are the judges going to pay close enough attention to the tanks to notice if this has been done?

I know the AGA Aquascaping contest pays close attention to this... they will deduct points if they notice that some species of plant was growing in a manner it wouldn't have and must have just been put in there the day of the pic. I think this is harder to do for corals.

hence the progression pictures. it will clearly be obvious if a piece was just put in or has grown there. i think the rules are pretty self explanitory and easy to follow. if iw asnt graduationg from school in a couple weeks id be in for sure. ohwell next go around

thanks slo. put perfectly. sorry you can't join us this time, but we're hoping to have a successful contest and do more in the future!

Sorry, I missed that part

June 1st seems oh so far away. this is gonna be fun to watch!

I may have missed it, but would adding a gravity fed water top-off be against the rules for a stock tank. What if no mods are made to the tank itself?

If I were to get a tank, say july 14th (my B-day) May we still enter? I can only have a disadvantage by starting later right?

And yeah, wondering about the autotop-off also.

id imagine a topoff would be fine as long as nothing on the cube is cut which could be done since youa re going to be topping off your tank anyway.

Mr. Slo gets it right again. In setting up your gravity fed auto top-off, don't cut or drill any part of the tank and you should be fine. Topping off is a maintenence--automating it with a gravity feed is not a modification nor will it give anyone an advantage over others who do it manually.

What about if I get a tank late, in July, can I still enter?

I have one question about the stock contest. The moonlight on the 6g nano does not have it's own power cord so there is no way to use a timer on the main light and keep the moonlight on over night. This is a fairly big flaw in the design of the tank IMO but it is a flaw that is easily fixed. I wondered if we can wire the moonlight to its own power supply and still compete in the stock contest since it really does not change the performance of the tank or lights just makes it easier to use.

No rewiring. Your tank would have to be entered under the Open category.

i think you should leave it at that. even the auto topoff is pushing it

maxvan, yes you can start in july.

Good to know you can start late Leaving for Vietnam June 19th, looks like I'm gonna have a month to cycle

The top off would have to have its feed through the front fip-up opening to avoid cutting, which wouldn't look good at all. The ATO for stock tanks is a very hesitant "okay."

I am on board for the stock portion of the contest.

I just hope my 175w mh desklamp is considered ambient

yeh my thoughts exactly. I can see all of MH lamps surrounding the sides of the tanks now. Hey they aren't attached to the tank! Tank isn't modified...
Just kidding...Sounds interesting. Good luck to all as I watch from the sidelines. Want big tank so little fish can swim.
Is a Tang in the 6 gallon grounds for automatic disqualification?
gosh...!

New prize on the main page, Coral Dynamics $50 gift cert.

good eye. it'll be updated everywhere by tomorrow.

lol, i just noticed that your a MOODerator

What if I wanted to do a temperate tank, if I add only an IceProbe, can I still be in the open category? A heater is legal, is a chiller?

I think the rules should include only what you can do and use for the stock category. People are asking too many "What if's"...if it ain't in the rules for the stock then it's the open category right?

You cannot possibly use an Iceprobe without modifying the tank. So... no.


It should be that simple. I guess a lot of people are afraid of modifications similar to the ones you've been working on so they want to sneak into the stock competition.

Prospective entrants: If you'd like to enter a stock tank but the guidelines for that category are too complicated, enter your tank as open. Or, simply run the tank as-is, out-of-box, no-extra-equipment, and you should be okay.

yes you can. Just don't enter it into the stock competition.
As a side note, I strongly urge everyone to stop scheming about a way to bend the rules when it comes to the stock competition. Focus more on just using what's provided. Otherwise, just enter the open category and keep nano-reef.com an honest community. K thanks

Sorry if I offended anyone.

I totally agree with you nip, this contest is all in good fun. If you can't run the NC6 with just adding a heater as hardware, then go into the open competition.

I'm scared as hell of losing in the open competition to people like Nip and Oogie, but hey it's just a contest. If I lose the worst thing that could happen is I end up with a pimped out NC6

great comment supernip. it seems so many are trying to find ways to cheat in the stock competition. its suppose to be fun. not a "cat" fight i just set up nc 6, so im hesitant to buy another tank, and if for some miracle i win another cube, thats 2 more cubes, with a total of 5 ncs ill have to keep running. so.........heh

but it will be altesat fun to see others in this competition.

Word

One question.

Can I start modifying the tank before june 1st?

I won't add water or anything, just start ripping the hood apart?



Are you kidding? I am just about the person with least chance to win. I am a reef-tard you know? You can worry about nips but don't worry about me!