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For those not aware, tomorrow is Waterbox Aquariums annual Blue Friday event. Their week long sales will go live (usually 15% off all tanks) and they give away mucho $$$$ in gift certificates during each of their live stream sessions throughout the day and have a $5000 gift certificate raffle at the end of the day. I'm not quite the fan I used to be as I've been a bit frustrated by the long shipping delays on some of their tanks and I think a few others here have dealt with the same, but the deals are still good and who doesn't like a chance to win free stuff?

Waterbox Aquariums Blue Friday

Inspired by @gnatster 's Black Friday thread HERE. I'm curious what's on everyone's list this year. I need to come up with a list for the significant other aquarium or not. Not sure of much I want. I do want a small rectangle little tank to do a succulent garden and light like HERE, but I'm not sure which one to get. What are you asking for?

Santa came early this year with a new 75g tank. I've never owned a 4' tank ever been stuck on the normal 30" wide 29g and 20g's forever. I wanted the uns 90u 36x22x22 but 750.00 is nuts to me I don't have that much in all tanks and equip I own so went cheap route.
Saw the 75g at PetSmart the imagitarium brand for 150 on sale. Those cheapos have bad reviews on leaking and I believe it as I actually picked up a free leaky 75g imagitarium at petco last week and sold it for snake terrarium for 40.00. Went to petco they also have the 50% off sale on marineland and aqueon. The tank was 159.00 out the door. Got lucky the manager said take this set of new glass tops for free, were a return they cant sell it.I assume the made in USA marineland is a better tank than the other cheapos and I actually don't mind the black silicone.

Went to Lowes today for some wood 4- 2x4x8 and 2- 2x4x10 and sheet if 1/2 osb for top and bottom shelf and for extra strength. When I get done I'm sure it would hold a 300g tank. Will wrap the tank in either bead board wood paneling or 1/4" plywood with some nice moulding on corners. Def gotta make a lip to hide the bottom plastic rim as well so its not so ugly. probably build a hood to why not hide some rims! Just gotta build or find a pair of doors on something else I can steal and use for this stand. I don't plan on getting it setup for few weeks but want stand base 1/2 done now so I can try some diff dry scapes with wood and rocks in it. This will be replacing my 20long I was scaping in other journal its now a plant farm full of ludwigia and plants for sale.
Still not sure on the name on this tank, Whipple landing is where I took some pics I want to copy for the tank. Its feed by the great pee dee river here so name may change later.

Since these are starting, here's a thread.

Starbond, the makers of Cyanocrylate Adhesives, has a few items on sale. Black Friday Starts Early 2026 | Starbond. I'm a fan of their Clog Prevention Stoppers. There are some sanding discs on sale for the woodworkers in the crowd too.

With our basement finally completed, I’m looking forward to moving my Waterbox Clear Mini 25 downstairs and, importantly, away from direct sunlight. That tank has gone through several iterations of algae, and I feel the direct sunlight has been a significant contributor.

With the Waterbox moving downstairs, I’ll now have an empty spot in the first floor that receives plenty of natural sunlight and is a tall space

Enter the Pondscape.

My inspiration is MJ's recent pondscape in his Big Shallow. His setup relies entirely on natural light, with no dedicated aquarium light. I’m planning something along the same lines, although I will be adding a light, for some control and for viewing the tank when there isn’t much natural light.

As with one of my previous journals, this is going to be an “as I build” journal rather than presenting a finished setup. I’d love to get everyone’s input as I make decisions and inevitably change my mind along the way.

My current thoughts​

Tank:
ADA 60F — 60 × 30 × 25 cm

I considered the FZONE shallow (60 × 36 × 18 cm), but ultimately decided on the ADA. MJ’s Big Shallow is 120 × 40 × 25 cm, and I liked retaining that 25 cm height while still having a relatively shallow tank. This would allow good amount of space for fish/underwater plants.

Stand options:

Archaea Modern-Nature Aquarium Cabinet
Fluval 60P stand — walnut​

Lighting Options:

Netlea - 6S- 635Z - 35Watts - Backet light
Fzone Axone 72W
Since i would have a open space on one side, i will likely just need the light on one side. Need something tall to support emersed growth.

Filter
Oase biomaster II 250
will likely use smaller lily pipes to allow gentle flow

Hardscape:
Still undecided.

I’m leaning toward a wood-dominant pond-bank/root structure, with some of the wood breaking the water surface. I’d like a substantial amount of negative space/open substrate rather than filling the entire 60F with hardscape and plants. Likely a triangular layout. Lava rocks as well.

Substrate:
Current thought is aqua soil in mesh bags capped with cosmetic sand. Rationale is so that there is no mess created if i decide to replant.
I see lot of pondscapes with base layer of compose or clay such as the one from Dennerle which we don't have in the US. Curious what others would suggest. Main goal is to have long term nutrition for plants but also allow replanting without causing a mess on the cosmetic sand cap.

Inhabitants:
A betta fish
Some corys
Amanos
Cherry shrimp
Snails

Plants:
This is probably where I have the most questions. Emersed growth selection need to take the low humidity into consideration (lot of cool options such as the P.decannensis flowering, Bolbitis, Java ferns emersed seem to go out the window)

The general idea is predominantly green, relatively low-tech plants with a transition from submerged → marginal → emersed growth.

Current plant list
Submerged -
Cryptocoryne, Blyxa, Anubias, Buce, trident Java fern, Bolbitis mini.

Submerged and Emersed (Marginal)
Hydrocotyle verticalatta
Maybe some Amazon swords - smaller variants
Initially thought of C.Helferi but reading @Naturescapes_Rocco post on this, seems like quite a difficult plant

Emersed
Still researching, not sure if this is needed and could just use the marginal plants.

Lots still to figure out. Suggestions, especially from anyone who has maintained a similar pondscape in a dry house are very welcome.

Assuming many here have seen UNS' Limited Edition tank line which is distinguished by having the back panel glass infused with a frosted blue color. Wondering if anyone had purchased one, seen one in person or just generally, what thoughts are from seeing them online? I'm still rethinking some of my earlier tank purchases both new and used, and considering selling a few of those for some different footprint tanks and have been intrigued by these but haven't seen one in person. Black Friday is getting close after all.

UNS Limited Edition Aquarium

These plants have been sitting in this container in the dark for 9 days. They are still wet, but the container isn't 100% air tight.
Plants look great. They are crispy and green. I removed them from the tank on Oct 11. It's Oct 20.
I haven't had a chance to do hardly any tank maintenance since my trip, but I needed to get some stuff out to make room for some tc plants I ordered.
I thought someone might want some of this, so I put it in this container, and was going to offer it all up if I thought I'd have time to ship. (Too late now)
I can't believe how long they've lasted.
So if you need a way to store some plants for a few days. This might be an option.
Note: Both things were pulled up roots and all. If I had cut stems, they might not have lasted?

Ive reorganized the order of my tanks so I can better keep track of them ie. Tank 2 moss tank is now tank 3. This helps in any confusion I had when tracking tanks they are in a sort of order now. Rather than taking time editing my old journal id rather create a new thread. Pics will be current (for the most part) as they are posted. I am not aquascaping. I am just farming.

This thread is for the general discussion of the classified ad Oase Biomaster Thermo 250. Please add to the discussion here.

Welcome to ScapeCrunch, @fordohio!
We would love to get to know you. Please tell us about yourself. What tank do you have?