Tank of the month: January 2019

ANGELO CURRAO

We open 2019 of this monthly feature with the beautiful tank of a passionate Sicilian friend of ours. In his tank SPS hard corals and soft corals, like a beautiful Sarcophyton, live together in perfect harmony. This takes a real knack for dosing nutrients in a balanced way, and we must recognise the owner's great skill!
Now let's give the floor to our friend:
"Hello everyone, let me introduce myself: my name is Angelo Currao, I am 29 and I live in Adrano, in the province of Catania.
I am proud and honoured that my aquarium was chosen as January's tank of the month, opening 2019 for this legendary group.
I have been passionate about fishkeeping for more than 20 years; my adventure began at the age of 9, when my father bought me my first aquarium. That is where my absolute love for fishkeeping was born. About 6 years later, with my savings, I bought a 200-litre Poseidon in which I kept discus and real plants: but I have always been in love with the marine world.
My adventure with marine fishkeeping began 4 years ago, at the same time as my wedding, when I decided to set up a 200-litre aquarium. After doing a bit of research I got started. But the tank did not run well, partly because of a shopkeeper who was clever in his own way, and partly because of my ignorance and naivety. Unfortunately I had to dismantle everything and reluctantly abandon the project. But my passion was strong and I wanted to start again: so I went to my trusted glazier and ordered my current tank. It measures 125 x 60 x 60, with 1.2 cm glass, and the two sides and the front are extra-clear. I then built with my own hands an iron cabinet clad in plasterboard with sliding doors, which houses an 80x50x50 sump. Having a good knowledge of electronics, I also tried my hand at building the light: 460 watts of LED light!
I also built the auto top-off myself. Once the skimmer arrived, a Bubble Magus 155 Pro, I started the tank, which I set up with a nice 12 cm DSB and 50 kg of already mature rock bought from private sellers.
Full photoperiod from day one and loads of bacteria: I let everything mature for two months.
After cycling I began adding the first livestock: I want to point out that all the corals in the tank started as small frags.
Besides the various corals, I also have several fish in the tank: a Zebrasoma xanthurum, a Zebrasoma flavescens, 10 Chromis, 3 Ocellaris, 2 Lysmata shrimps, 3 Synchiropus marmoratus, a nice shoal and then the latest arrival, a small Hepatus.
As for feeding the fish, I give granules every day; nori seaweed twice a week, and only on Sundays I alternate frozen Artemia and Chironomus.
For the corals I use only phyto produced by my dear friend Salvatore Riccardo: 100 ml every day in the evening when the lights go off, plus amino acids twice a week.
Going back to the equipment, in the tank I have two Jebao RW15 flow pumps and a calcium reactor, which however I will soon replace with a dosing pump to switch to the Balling method. I thank all the members of the BallingMania staff, first of all Mr Ciro for his beautiful posts and his kindness; but special thanks go to Salvatore Riccardo for everything he has taught me and keeps teaching me every day.
If I may, I would like to give my opinion on what makes an aquarium successful: lots of patience, lots of love for the animals, and not throwing rubbish into the tank at random. Thank you all so much......"
Congratulating Angelo, let's look through the photos of his beautiful tank.