Philip's ADA Mini-M - Help me choose fish!

[AzFishKid]

Completely re-did this tank last night. I also moved it off of the oversized stand and onto my desk.

I've never really tried an iwagumi-style aquascape before, so i figured this would be a good tank to experiment with because of it's small size. I'm pretty pleased with how this turned out-- just need for the HC to fill in, and it should be golden!

I thought about putting some dwarf hair grass in the back left, but i think i'm going to try the full HC carpet first, and if i don't like it, i can always add some grass or stems to the back. I've always been a huge fan of minimalistic aquascapes, so i hope that it will look fine with just the HC.

I plan on adding a group of ruby tetras (Axelrodia riesei) to this tank once it is fully cycled and grown in.

And yes, i know the electrical outlet and black trim make for a HORRIBLE background, but i plan on purchasing a frost-like transparent material to allow for light to shine in and through the back glass, but also to hide the stuff on the wall.

[freph]

Stems would be preferred over taller hairgrass as it tends to be invasive...unless you use a plastic divider or something. Either way, it'd look amazing as a backdrop if you choose to do so. Loving the restart and I think it has some great potential. That CO2 atomizer is really going to make your HC carpet take off....I know my in line is working miracles in my 20g. Keep up with water changes and trimming and you'll be golden.

[orchidman]

Awesome. I would've added more slope though.

[AzFishKid]

Thank you both for the comments/suggestions.

I tried increasing the slope when i was messing around with the scape, but i just didn't like it as much. Maybe i'm just partial to "flat" substrates, lol. It seems like i can never get an aquascape with slopes to look the way that i want it to be. Happens every time.

[orchidman]

gotcha, haha. you might want to even it out though, the left side is lower then the right side. sent ya a fb message, by the way

[AzFishKid]

Originally Posted by orchidman

gotcha, haha. you might want to even it out though, the left side is lower then the right side. sent ya a fb message, by the way

MAN, you are picky!
Fixed it anyway, per your request.

[orchidman]

Originally Posted by AzFishKid

MAN, you are picky!
Fixed it anyway, per your request.

[AzFishKid]

Time for an update!

HC needs to be trimmed and i need to get some more fish. I currently have 4 pygmy cories, 2 amano shrimp, and 1 otocinclus in the tank. I'm thinking about getting 15 chili rasboras.
Plants are Anubias 'petite', Rotala 'colorata', and HC.

Let me know what you think!

[Green_Flash]

The mist background does look good and the anubias is growing in those crevices between the rocks looks cool

[orchidman]

the substrate line looks nice and even

[beedee]

Nice looking scape man, it is filling in really well!

I know Chili's are small, but 15 seems to be a bit much for a tank of that size imho.

[jkan0228]

I think you should up your pygmies to around 6 and then add the 15 chilis. You have a 2211 so I wouldn't worry much about overstocking and bioload

I like the anubias nana petite between the rocks, gave me some ideas I might use in my Mini S

I also like how you got rid of the outlet background

[AzFishKid]

Originally Posted by Green_Flash

The mist background does look good and the anubias is growing in those crevices between the rocks looks cool

Thanks! The background is actually just a piece of white poster board attacked to the wall behind the tank.

Originally Posted by orchidman

the substrate line looks nice and even

Glad i finally got your stamp of approval.

Originally Posted by beedee

Nice looking scape man, it is filling in really well!

I know Chili's are small, but 15 seems to be a bit much for a tank of that size imho.

Thank you! 15 seems like a lot to me as well, but in Frank's mini-M, it looks like he has 17 (don't know if they're chili's, but they're definitely a Boraras sp.) and it doesn't look too crowded. See here: http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...71907383_n.jpg

Originally Posted by jkan0228

I think you should up your pygmies to around 6 and then add the 15 chilis. You have a 2211 so I wouldn't worry much about overstocking and bioload

I like the anubias nana petite between the rocks, gave me some ideas I might use in my Mini S

I also like how you got rid of the outlet background

Thanks man! Yeah i think i should probably get a couple more of the pygmy cories. They're so much fun to watch, and very active for the most part.

[freph]

I'm jealous....gorgeous setup.

[Crispino Labayen Ramos]

The white poster board is a good idea.

Addendum - Now, I know where to get some HC.