Achintya wrote:but we should keep in mind few things to judge this type of tank:
1.overstock issue
2.compatible issue
3.natural/artificial looking
I agree with Toomanyfish and Achintya.
We should have a category where ANY kind of tank can be entered. In light of Kaushikda's suggestion, let us include even a marine tank (if someone has a marine tank and feels it is worth entering in the contest).
In this category, we should consider a tank on basis of criteria mentioned by Achintya
1. Correct stocking (marked down if overstocked)
2. Compatibility of stock (marked down if species are dangerous to each other)
3. Should not be fake or artificial looking
a few additional points from me:
4. The tank should show originality in some way. For instance Oliviera made a tree on AGA and the idea was so good, it spread fast and everyone had aquatic tress in aquascapes that very year in other contests. Oliviera became famous but now no judge even blinks when he sees another tree.
5. Tanks that are also low maintenance or low light, or show us the way to spending less money, and yet being equally artistic or ingenious: such tanks should be marked higher, and encouraged in this category. This is because tanks that use less energy are better for the environment, they make us more aware of the need to work to help save Mother Nature from over-exploitation destruction. Secondly, cheaper tanks mean that even poor or modest people can enjoy our hobby, and less people are scared away by the fear that aquariums are always expensive to keep.