TOTM, why not Bi monthly, or weekly?...

Although the catagories are a good idea I feel that a few of them wouldnt have to many competitors...Maybe another Idea would to have $$$ catagories (the amount you have put into your tank...itegrity would be key lol)....so people that have put alot of DIY time/growing time into their tanks ect would have a chance at winning something other than the guy thats been in the hobby 2 months but spend 50k for some guy named pablo to set up his tank

 

Whoa- sizzling statement! Touche'

 

So true.. I think most of us are self maintainers here but agree it should not be about who has the most expensive toys or largest system. Other factors should be involved as in person is

1) active contributor to 3reef (not saying a paying contributor..even though I am )
2) Is detailed in their threads (so you know they created their environment)
3) has put in time and effort to create their reef or fowler world
4) The environment has a real life look to it (almost like you plucked a corner of the ocean out) aesthetically pleasing
5) Coral of the month could also be a topic but again should not be based on he can afford a $1000.00 piece and take a pic of the new hottest stuff with his high end expensive camera but more of husbandry of the coral (how long they have had it, it's growth, and natural beauty)

Just my 2 cents that I like to stick in there some times

 

Now I like this, this is sort of what I was saying,
like a nano could easily get an award, etc.

And Chris, like that cartoon cat (forgot his name) would say:
'Hey, I resemble those remarks'

 

Exactly and really a Nano can take alot more work to keep stable than a large system (or is that a myth)... Ha Ha I swear I always have had to work much harder to keep things stable in smaller tanks. They certainly are not as forgiving

 

This.

 

How about categories? Entries for best point and shoot, and entries for more advanced skills.

 

Picking the right catagories is definitely the trick. I do think there is a lot to be gained from having some catagories however and the ones you folks are suggesting are great ideas.

Consider this, would we ever see a TOTM style showcased seahorse tank if we didn't catagorize a bit? Maybe aim broader - rather than very specific catagories, heres an idea list to be butchered and modified as people like.

1. Reef Tanks
2. Fresh Water
3. Nano
4. DIY
5. Tank on a budget (we set an $X per gallon).
6. Tales of the Unusual (seahorses, seagrass, whatever).

Thats 6. We could do 2 a year of each. Those would be 12 cool and interesting tanks. Maybe folks think we could catagorize differently? Lets hear it.

 

ha ha very difficult topic here. What is pleasing to some is not pleasing to others.

A tank with a bunch of frags hanging all over the place and sitting all over the bottom has zero eye appeal to me and basically just a frag tank that we see at our LFS (IMO) not a hater to those who like the tank that way.

It is easy to see where things can get out of control with this topic and really needs to be well thought out.

If your tank is beautiful to you that is all that really matters in the end and personally it is not the camera that makes the tank beautiful. It will still be beautiful even with the worst of cameras (just need to get the lighting right). If everything is blue how the heck can I tell what your tank looks like (sorry had to say it)

 

I couldn't disagree more. Technique matters far more than the camera. There is a guy down here in SoCal who has a Canon 5D Mark III with the 100mm f2.8 macro lens ($3500 - $4500 system) who frequently takes pictures of his tank. My 6 year old daughter could take better pics with her Ipad.