April 2008 Tank of the Month Winner : Skillful Abbot

[Reefscape]

The winner of the April 2008 Tank of the Month is

Skillful Abbot

Specifics of the photograph and tank

First of all I'd like to say thank you to all who voted and those who support me throughout on the forums. And a big thank you to AquariaCentral all together because without this forum I wouldn't not have come this far in the hobby at all.

About the picture and my setup.
Well, to be honest, I sent in the wrong picture! I change my layout 4 times a year during a setsubun (changing of the season). The layouts however do not reflect the season. Anyway, before I break down my tanks I take a 'final' snapshot for my personal photograph journal. This happened to be that shot. It is way over grown with riccia and rotala as you can see.

The Setup
The tank is a 60cm Nisso Clear Stingray. I have an Eheim 2213 or 2215 on it (I forget which now). There is a 150watt Nisso heater as well. I have a Nisso Real Converter lamp which has 3 20watt tubes in it (standard stuff). I use a cheap bubble counter attached to a 2.1kg bombe of CO2, I leave it on 24hrs and lasts a good 3 months before I have to take it to be refilled. I have interesting external mixer for the CO2 I picked up at my LFS. It connects inline to the intake of my eheim. (stay tuned for pics)

The Plants and Soil
The Soil is ADA Amozonia. Using Japanese naming conventions the plants, from my memory, are: J.blyxa, microsorium, microsorium windelov, amazon chidome (pennywort), some kind of rotala, anubias nana 'puchi', Some sort of wispy grass like plant that I truly love (multiplies by producing children from its tips), pigmy tenellus, riccia, and I think I had some crypts in there as well.

Animals
I have rasboras x3, s. algae eaterx2, neons, green neonsx3. Serpaex3, mini bushy nose plec2, Yamato shrimps x?, and otocinx4. I think there are 12 to 15 animals in the tank excluding the Yamato shrimp.

The Maintenance
I change the water twice a week, religiously. Water only. I don't touch the soil. I don't use a thermometer, but touch the water and glass at different areas from time to time to make sure its not too hot or cold (my water is like being married - after a while you know what your spouse likes, does, and says and more importantly when something is wrong or off)

I dose my own concotion of ferts that I buy from the hydroponics section at my local garden center in Japan. They are all liquids. I bought a pump from the 100yen shop and give this tank about 4 'pumps' 3 or 4 times a week.

My mix consists of a half teaspoon of, katen Shower Katsuryokuseibutsu (trace) Hyponex 'blooming' for roses 0-6-6 (maybe Nitrates), and then one teaspoon of Menedel (iron). I then add 500ml of water, and shake.

My final words
I had my share of the same algae woes as everyone else, but I kept to a rigid schedule and then one day I couldn't find the stuff.

Also when I set up my first tiny 10L tank I had cloudy water for days. I was going nuts. But gradually I learned two very important things:

1) patience. Sometimes you just have to sit back, and relax, and wait. It might take 2 days or 2 months.

2) Create a plan. Stick to the plan. Say, 'I'm going to do this on Wednesdays and Fridays' and then do it. After it has become routine and you know your tank, then you can take liberties.

Thank you again, everyone.

[Reefscape]

An absolutly stunning tank, congratulations on winning April 2008 Tank of the Month competition.

[Rbishop]

Congrats!

[skillful abbot]

Thank you.

[rich311k]

Congrats, wonderful tank!

[cweg71]

Very nice layout and design. Thanks for the detailed information on equipment and ferts.
It looks like your patience and hard work have paid well. Congratulations.

[zanytomato]

Congrats, and well done!

[Dangerdoll]

WOOHOO!! Congrats, skilll!~~

[Hooked Newbie]

Stunning tank Abbot, congrats!

[ajbry]

As the runner-up by 2 votes, I have to say the people made the correct choice. Tank looks fantastic and it's very obvious your meticulous care has paid off. Congrats.