ADA Mini-L: Elements

[chase127]

dude im in love with this tank. i love jungles and this looks like something straight out of south america. if only i knew how to scape like you

[Craigthor]

Originally Posted by Francis Xavier

excel melts mini pellia too!

Nah I dose super heavy on excel in my tank and have seen nothign bad with Excel and my Mini Pellia

Originally Posted by Ugly Genius

I think this tank'll bounce back.

Smoking tank!

Craig

[Ugly Genius]

Thanks, chris and Craig. (Craig, welcome back, hommie. Glad you're going to stay!)

I'm off to work in a bit, so I can't snap photos right now, but I can say that much of my algae problem was probably the result of a dirty filter as previously speculated. Yesterday, my order of replacement pads for the 2213 finally came in -- you can't get them anywhere in the City -- and I replaced the old ones last night. This morning, already, the tank has cleared considerably of hair algae and BGA. Staghorn is still there, but it appears to be on the way out.
It's a good feeling and given the spooky nature of this layout, when I saw it this morning, slowly recovering and finding it's legs, I felt like the Emperor in Revenge of the Sith when he rescues Anakin, puts him in the Vader suit for the first time, and says, "Rise!"

[Tex Gal]

UG only you could make algae look good! LOL It looks like a movie stage for a horror flick. It's very cool.

[fastfreddie]

Originally Posted by Ugly Genius

I felt like the Emperor in Revenge of the Sith when he rescues Anakin, puts him in the Vader suit for the first time, and says, "Rise!"

Yes! This tank is about to kick some a%#!

[JadeIceGreen]

One encouragement I can give you is that since you have created a masterpiece in smaller tanks than the Mini L, this will be easy. Just stick with it and on days that it gets you down, think of when it will all be well (in time) and you can show it off!

For my Mini M with glosso, I struggled with hair algae and GSA for the first FOUR months of the tank's life. Every day, without fail, I would change 30% water and suck away all the hair algae and scrub the tank walls and it took 30 mins.

It was only until I realized how much of a big eater glosso was that I solved algae once and for all. Now I pump 5ml of Step 2, 2ml of Brightly K and 2ml of Excel daily with 1bps CO2. Spotless clean tank all week round, like those in the ADA Gallery.

To cut the long story short, (I should have done that earlier... hmmm) don't give up! Once you find the tank's balance, it will be sweet from there on.

*Cheering for you!*

[Ugly Genius]

Thanks, Tex, fast, and Jade.

Slowly, very slowly, Elements is coming around.

I'll be removing the Crypt in the middle. I'm not digging it at all.

[Ugly Genius]

Went to AFA today to pick up some potassium. Also got eighteen Amanos. The total number of Amanos in Elements is completely unknown to me.
I'd estimate it somewhere around: a lot.

[vtkid]

it looks mystical... a lush, rainforest..ugh mountain or something.

[Orlando]

Nice UG

-O

[hyphination]

Pretty sweet layout!! you have amazing skills.

[JadeIceGreen]

The entire layout is so sweet. I love the powerful hardscape and the lawn is very nice.
Your photo taking skills are fantastic too! Keep it coming with this tank..

How I wish ADA made a Mini Solar for their Mini L.

[Ugly Genius]

Thanks, vtkid, Orlando, hyph, and Jade.

Japanese Hairgrass...
I'm not sure I'm liking this carpet plant.
On paper, it's got everything I love in a carpet: short, thin, delicate, and verdant. (Apart from the verdant part, a lot like Natalie Portman.)
In reality, however, these attributes don't add up to a plant I like all that much.
I can't tell you why, exactly. I can say that I don't like the way it bends downward and gives the carpet a sloppy look. It looks like bedhead to me.
I'm not giving up on the plant, but if it does not impress me in the next three weeks, once Source is filled, this tank will be drained and started with a new carpet plant. (I'll keep the hardscape as is, I just want a different carpet. I'm considering a carpet of Mini Pellia! Imagine how fresh that would be!)

We'll see.

[Ugly Genius]

In another post, I suggested a Beethoven for the creative side of this hobby.

Here's a song for those moments when a tank is kicking you in the ass and you want to quit. And you shouldn't.

'Cause it gets better.

Very slowly, I'm bringing this one back.

"So this is like a full blown attack I’m launching at them"

("Them" being algae.)

[Outlawboss]

Originally Posted by Ugly Genius

In that picture right there, the only thing I see is 100% awesomeness. Absolutely fantastic picture, UG. Slowly coming around is a good thing. It presents more of an ongoing challenge which, while it may be more frustrating in the moment, is far more rewarding in the long run.