The tank is actually on it’s second layout. The additional pics above are from the initial installation of the first layout. In 2004, there were a series of pretty big earthquakes near Niigata that caused a fair amount of damage to the aquascape (wood fell over, etc.). So he did a new, but similar layout, using the same hardscape materials.The 2005 catalog, which many now have, has a big spread with the new layout just shortly after completion. There’s an excellent page spread with the new layout really at a peak moment in the 2006 catalog. I have a small version of it (see below), but the print version is a lot nicer; very crisp and sharp. There’s also a detailed article (in English!) about the tank and accompanying systems. I will be anxious to get the 2006 catalog out there en masse as soon as they arrive. It’s about the coolest publication available for our hobby. (Comment by jsenske)

Source : Aquatic Plant Central

World Ranking 1
Chen De Quen, Taiwan
W120xD50xH45(cm)

World Ranking 2
Fumio Shiga, Japan
W150xD45xH60(cm)

World Ranking 3
Kazunori Mitsuda, Japan
W90xD45xH45(cm)

World Ranking 4
Sham Kai Man, Wayne, Hong Kong
W90xD45xH45(cm)

World Ranking 5
Vladimir Uzhik, Ukraine
W123xD39xH43(cm)

World Ranking 6
Ryu Huei Yang, Korea
W130xD60xH45(cm)

World Ranking 7
Chen Huang Ren, Taiwan
W120xD55xH45(cm)

World Ranking 8
Koji Nakamura, Japan
W180xD80xH60(cm)

World Ranking 9
Takehiko Hounoki, Japan
W90xD45xH45(cm)

World Ranking 10
Oliver Knott, Germany
W450xD120xH100(cm)

Source : ADA Thailand, Akwarium.org

World Ranking 11
Madha Halutaitawon, Thailand
W184xD61xH51(cm)

World Ranking 12
Hong Zhi Ling, Taiwan
W60xD30xH36(cm)

World Ranking 13
Yuji Yoshinaga, Japan
W90xD45xH45(cm)

World Ranking 14
Masashi Ono, Japan
W114xD52xH52(cm)

World Ranking 15
Hideo Muku, Japan
W90xD45xH45(cm)

World Ranking 16
Lee Jong Ki, Korea
W120xD45xH45(cm)

World Ranking 17
Olga Baranovskaya, Ukrain
W90xD36xH43(cm)

World Ranking 18
Akira Yamagishi, Japan
W90xD45xH50(cm)

World Ranking 19
Minoru Yamagishi, Japan
W90xD60xH60(cm)

World Ranking 20
Setsuko Yamagishi, Japan
W90xD45xH45(cm)

Source : Akwarium.org

Water Parameters at DAY 2

Tank Dimensions: W120xD45xH45 cm
Lighting: 4×54W T5 (7000K)
Illumination Time: 10 hours a day
Filtration: Atman CF-1000 external filter, ceramic rings, activated carbon, filter wool and small amount of coral chips
Substrate: ADA Aquasoil Amazonia + Powersand Special (contains Bacter 100 + Clear Super)
Fertilizers: Potassium Sulphate + trace elements mix every 2 days.
CO2: Pressurized system with external reactor, 4 bubbles per second.
O2: 10 hours every night with air pump.
Temperature: 26 deg.C
pH: 6.3
kH: 2

Project Log

ADA Powersand Special (containing Bacter 100 and Clear Super) on the bottommost layer.

ADA Lily Pipe knock-off from AquaticMagic, recommend by tcampbell of AquaticQuotient.com.

IIITools, including a long tweezer, bent long scissors and a sand flattener, also from AquaticMagic.

Atmn CF-1000 Canister Filter (with hose-adapters to fit the Lily Pipes) and 5L CO2 setup.

ISTA Max Mix CO2 Reactor with glass bubble-counter and MUJI push-rack on castors with my equipment.

1st layer of ADA Aquasoil Amazonia.

All 4 9L bags of ADA Aquasoil Amazonia are in and creating a slope.

Planning the layout.

Iwagumi (Rock Arrangement) Planning.

From paper to tank. Shortage of rocks to really fill the tank. Left some gaps for later addition of rocks.

Spent 2 hours untangling, separating and planting the Hairgrass in about 4cm intervals.

Flo Lily Pipes in action.

Fan to cool the tank water to 26 deg.C.

UPDATES: 02 Aug, 07

The hair/staghorn algae has died down. I added Yamato Shrimps too early, 10 of the 30 perished probably from CO2 and Ammonia overdose. The remaining ones are doing well and cleaning the tank well.

Otocinclus all survived, even though I added them within 1 week of cycling. I guess Activated carbon didn’t absorb enough Ammonia and it was still too much for the other shrimps.

No signs of algae except for Green Dust growing on the white parts of my rocks. Looks good so I don’t plan to remove them. Had the same kind of green algae in the past. CO2 is kept high.

I’m testing the water every other day closely monitoring NO3 and PO4 levels. The Redfield Ratio is kept around 10. pH has stabilized a little at average 6.4 in the day. kH at 2 (some coral chips in the filter) or 4 baking soda.

Hairgrass putting out runners and new leaves. Immersed leaves almost half melted. Didn’t cut away as I want the some PO4 from the decaying matter.

Today is 2nd water change, water becoming clearer. White water reduced.

A very low plant mass tank but somehow I don’t see any signs of algae. Let’s hope it continues to be algae free after I add fishes.

UPDATES: 03 Aug, 07

Tested for Nitrates today. Dosed to 10ppm the previous morning and this morning it dropped to 0. Could it be my plant growth is accelerating and it’s taking in more?

It has been about 10+ days of cycling. I saw some Celestial Pearl Danios in my LFS and I couldn’t resist the temptation and bought all of them (about 46, 1 for $1). 1 was out of water for a few minutes during catching, didn’t noticed it jumped out. It didn’t survived and died after a few hours in the tank.

I will take some photos when the Galaxies have settled and showing their colors.

Source : Aquatic Plant Central