ADA Mini S: Mark IV v2 - The Wild Coast

[Francis Xavier]

Iwagumi Mark IV Version II - 10/10/2010 - Current. "The Wild Coast" Houston, Tx

Iwagumi Mark IV Setup - 08/15/2010 - 10/10/2010 "The Black Coast" Houston, Tx

ADA Wabi-Kusa plant 'scape' 06/20/2010 - Current (transferred to Do!Aqua Plant Glass Vase)

Last Iwagumi / up to date equipment list, 12/2009 - 04/28/2010; "Mark III" Seattle, Wa

Iwagumi Mark II Setup 05/2009, San Marcos Tx


I got my shipment of stuff today!

Here's the hardware so far:

Lighting: Solar Mini S
CO2: ADA CO2 Advanced System
Tank: ADA Mini S
Filter: Eheim 2213 Classic; Cal Aqua Lily Pipes
Substrate: Power Sand Special S; Amazonia II
Stones: Seiryu

Although, as with all of my tanks this one seems to have an ambiguous start, right off the bat none of my plant shipments have come in, one's two weeks late right now (the carpet plants) and probably DOA. So for now I'm going to occupy myself making the hardscape. Any plant suggestions are welcome, I'm thinking of a glosso or HC carpet as of right now. The front panel of the ADA also has some small hairline 'cracks' in them, I did the water test and had no leak, and with water they weren't readily apparent, so thank god at least they're not readily visible, that would've irritated me forever.

Here are the photos I shot earlier!

[chase127]

very nice thats some shiny ADA goodness.

but, theres cracks in the tank??

[Francis Xavier]

They're almost unnoticeable, not not actual cracks - looks like something scrapped the glass. They might be really weird "air" bubbles or deformities in the glass, but I don't know enough about them to say for sure. I just know that they don't leak, and when filled with water they're not really noticeable, they're that small. Just irritates me they're on the front panel, it's like buying a new LCD monitor or TV and discovering you have a blown pixel in the middle of the screen.

[ch3fb0yrdee]

OH goodie! Another MINI M. I cant wait till I get to join the club. The Mini M is like the perfect size nano tank!

[CL]

Look at that nice equipment and nice stone! I can't wait to follow this journal!

[Francis Xavier]

ch3fb0yrdee, I never thought I'd get into small tanks, since I've always gone with bigger size tanks (20 gallon +), but the Mini M won me over into the nano world. The clean ADA design definitely had a lot to do with it though.

clwatkins10, So far, the equipment has been worth the extra cost. I'm still having that syndrome of "whoa, this is actually my tank." At least for me, it inspires me to keep my room cleaner, since appearances have to be maintained, which horribly collides with my normal laziness routine.

The rocks have actually given me a bit of a headache, though not so much as a headache as the stones for Ukiyo; the major difference here for me is the adjustment between the big and the small, scale is so much different. Small stones are suddenly worth a lot more than bigger ones. I did manage to get some big stones that'll go well in UKiyo, and probably bring that design together, but by and large, I'm having trouble balancing the real-estate to rock layout in the way I want it; since the rocks seem like they can only really fit into the tank one way. An interesting challenge. I think i'll post some sample layouts later.

[Ugly Genius]

And so it begins.

Have fun!

[Francis Xavier]

Some random hardscapes, haven't been happy with one yet:

[Fishwood]

I really like your last hardscape. May I ask how much the Mini M was, light included? And what's the wattage on that fixture?

[Francis Xavier]

The Tank was $60 and the Light was $195.

I tried some weird things with having elevated soil levels to cover most of this rock in these setups:

[Hail]

I really like the texture of the front-left rock. This has the makings of an epic nano!

[Ugly Genius]

I agree with Hail. That rock's great.

[Camper]

Nice tank!!!! holy I never knew the light cost that much. You baller hahaha

[amphirion]

I really REALLY like the first arrangement in your second set. very dramatic and there's a really cool overhang effect going on. Although what I would probably do is shift each (arrangement) further to it's respective side or to the further back corner, so that there's more space in the center.

[CL]

I'd go with the last arrangement in the first set. It was the best IMO. Is the sticker on that tank crooked?