NeilW
Member
Hello everyone 
Thought I would create a new journal for my newly purchased ADA Mini 'S' although it is still in the planning stages its always nice to have some advice and input.
My reasoning behind starting a new 'scape (as if you ever need one) was wanting to provide a more suitable fish-free setup for my Crystal Red Shrimp. Nervous shrimp = lack of shrimpy 'fun times'. Getting another tank also means I could easily separate higher and lower grades as another plus.
The Blank Canvas
Gotta say this tank is perfection. Theres almost no silicon at all! The quality is truly amazing, nice bevelled edges at the top, glass completely flush on the corners and of course opti-white. I would like to say a big thank you to TGM for their excellent customer service and time they put into carefully packing it so it arrived in one piece. I think I'll cry if I scratch it
detail of the silicon (or lack of it!)
On to my scape ideas...
This will be another Iwagumi but more inspired from the Shinto 'Karesansui' dry rock garden (so basically more sand in the composition and exclusive use of shorter carpeting plants in comparison to my other Iwagumi). However I am going to use hairgrass as an accent plant to get a less manicured look so it will hopefully be less 'zen-monk-raking-gravel-into-lines' cheesy and more 'Nature Aquarium'.
heres a list of some of my inspiration;
http://learn.bowdoin.edu/japanesegardens/elements/islands/Island.Crane/Island.Crane.etc.jpg
http://landscaping.savvy-cafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/rock-garden.jpg
http://ic2.pbase.com/o6/11/259611/1/115464777.9co6pHa1.RicciaDwarf.jpg
http://www.adana-th.com/limagegal/page/adatank18.htm
http://www.naacademy.pl/_uploads/thumb/13-Pawel Krasowiak green pool_jpg_820_100_forcewidth.jpg
I was thinking that maybe I could make up the 'islands' from small wabi kusa balls? Or I can work out some barrier system or just go with growing everything in sand?
Spec:
Tank
13 litre ADA Mini 'S' (31 x 18 x 24cm)
Filtration
Eheim Liberty 2040 HOB (380 lph)
Lighting
11watt fluorescent compact
Fertilisation
std dosage EasyCarbo and TPN+ daily
So far the filter is on order but still need to collect the plants, hardscape and substrate. I went for the Eheim Liberty HOB as the tank will be sat on my desk and they're meant to be good build quality units. Means I won't have to buy glassware too! It was a steal at £14.90 brand new. As my current house is fairly warm all year I won't need to use a heater. As a carbon source I'm hoping that EasyCarbo at standard dosage will be sufficient to grow HC in addition to an 11watt lamp. This time I'm not going for massive rocks that will block the flow though! Thinking of going for another dry-start to give the plants a good chance from the beginning.
Do you think its worth using a base mat for such a small tank on a thick oak desk?
possible plantlist
'mini' spiky moss
HC
dwarf hairgrass
coral pellia
The plants are all chosen to be very small and make up a mix of textures when used on the 'islands' surrounding the stones. I found before that hairgrass is versatile for transitions between different species as well as being a nice plant by itself. Maybe some Elatine hydropiper could work? Im not sure of its requirements though. Any other suggestions are welcome. Is anywhere still selling the 1-2-GROW plants still?
Heres a book published around 1900 I bought the other day from an Antique Bookstore in Winchester. I thought you guys may find it interesting;
Anyone else still go for the galvanised bucket water change? (note the shallow tray style tank that we all thought was a new idea!)
Sorry for the long post, I thought I had to make it up with pictures somehow! Any recommendations/suggestions are welcome
Cheers for looking,
Neil
Thought I would create a new journal for my newly purchased ADA Mini 'S' although it is still in the planning stages its always nice to have some advice and input.
My reasoning behind starting a new 'scape (as if you ever need one) was wanting to provide a more suitable fish-free setup for my Crystal Red Shrimp. Nervous shrimp = lack of shrimpy 'fun times'. Getting another tank also means I could easily separate higher and lower grades as another plus.
The Blank Canvas
Gotta say this tank is perfection. Theres almost no silicon at all! The quality is truly amazing, nice bevelled edges at the top, glass completely flush on the corners and of course opti-white. I would like to say a big thank you to TGM for their excellent customer service and time they put into carefully packing it so it arrived in one piece. I think I'll cry if I scratch it
detail of the silicon (or lack of it!)
On to my scape ideas...
This will be another Iwagumi but more inspired from the Shinto 'Karesansui' dry rock garden (so basically more sand in the composition and exclusive use of shorter carpeting plants in comparison to my other Iwagumi). However I am going to use hairgrass as an accent plant to get a less manicured look so it will hopefully be less 'zen-monk-raking-gravel-into-lines' cheesy and more 'Nature Aquarium'.
heres a list of some of my inspiration;
http://learn.bowdoin.edu/japanesegardens/elements/islands/Island.Crane/Island.Crane.etc.jpg
http://landscaping.savvy-cafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/rock-garden.jpg
http://ic2.pbase.com/o6/11/259611/1/115464777.9co6pHa1.RicciaDwarf.jpg
http://www.adana-th.com/limagegal/page/adatank18.htm
http://www.naacademy.pl/_uploads/thumb/13-Pawel Krasowiak green pool_jpg_820_100_forcewidth.jpg
I was thinking that maybe I could make up the 'islands' from small wabi kusa balls? Or I can work out some barrier system or just go with growing everything in sand?
Spec:
Tank
13 litre ADA Mini 'S' (31 x 18 x 24cm)
Filtration
Eheim Liberty 2040 HOB (380 lph)
Lighting
11watt fluorescent compact
Fertilisation
std dosage EasyCarbo and TPN+ daily
So far the filter is on order but still need to collect the plants, hardscape and substrate. I went for the Eheim Liberty HOB as the tank will be sat on my desk and they're meant to be good build quality units. Means I won't have to buy glassware too! It was a steal at £14.90 brand new. As my current house is fairly warm all year I won't need to use a heater. As a carbon source I'm hoping that EasyCarbo at standard dosage will be sufficient to grow HC in addition to an 11watt lamp. This time I'm not going for massive rocks that will block the flow though! Thinking of going for another dry-start to give the plants a good chance from the beginning.
Do you think its worth using a base mat for such a small tank on a thick oak desk?
possible plantlist
'mini' spiky moss
HC
dwarf hairgrass
coral pellia
The plants are all chosen to be very small and make up a mix of textures when used on the 'islands' surrounding the stones. I found before that hairgrass is versatile for transitions between different species as well as being a nice plant by itself. Maybe some Elatine hydropiper could work? Im not sure of its requirements though. Any other suggestions are welcome. Is anywhere still selling the 1-2-GROW plants still?
Heres a book published around 1900 I bought the other day from an Antique Bookstore in Winchester. I thought you guys may find it interesting;
Anyone else still go for the galvanised bucket water change?
(note the shallow tray style tank that we all thought was a new idea!)
Sorry for the long post, I thought I had to make it up with pictures somehow! Any recommendations/suggestions are welcome
Cheers for looking,
Neil
