Journal A New Beginning: 90 P High Energy Tank

[TRyan]

Planted 12/17/25

Goals and Past History:

This tank has been running since July 2024 and was originally inspired by George Farmer's home display tank.

I stocked mine mainly with swords and crypts along with Hyphessobrycon wadai (blueberry tetra), H. pulchripianis (lemon tetra), corydoras pygmaeus and Amano shrimp. These are all still in the tank today, sans a few jumpers I lost. Here's what it looked like before I changed goals to a high energy stem plant tank.



Things were humming along well with this tank until March 2025 when the tank suffered a major planaria outbreak. I wanted those vile critters gone, so I dosed to full cycles of No Planaria. This product worked on the planaria, but also severely damaged the beneficial bacteria colony. Instant algae fest which I battled with for the next 6 months.

Things cleared up in September 2025 and were going well. I hadn't been on Scapecrunch for many months, so I decided to get back into the forum and see how everyone's tanks were looking. I perused many a tank journal and after seeing everyone's gorgeous tanks, I decided I wanted some color and a change! I decided to give a high energy stem plant tank a go, so here we go!

This is my first journal and first real attempt at creating a tank that's full of different colors, contrasts and textures.

Equipment, specs, plants and ferts coming soon....

 

[Kwyet]

It looks great so far!

 

[TRyan]

Thanks, Kwyet!

 

[Unexpected]

Very nice! Following along.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Looks great, excited for more updates

 

[TRyan]

Tank:

Landen 90 P
90mm x 45mm x 45mm
44 gallon
Black Diamond blasting sand, course grit

Filtration:

I run two Oase filters in this tank.
Oase Biomaster 600-
Oase Biomaster 350-
Seachem Matrix filter media in all trays except top trays, which has original orange foam.
Pre filters have 60 ppi foam.
I use UNS quick disconnects on all hoses and throttle outflow on both filters to a nice and gentle flow.
The 600 runs my self made Yugang reactor .
The 350 is in the other corner.


Light:

Week Aqua P900 Pro
Hanging suspended 13" above tank
Red 60%
Green 70%
Blue 42%
UV 32%
This is 78% power max.
I run it at 90% (80 PAR at the substrate) with a 3 hour blast at 100% (100 PAR at sub)
Lights on 11:00 am with a slow ramp up and down, off at 8:00pm.


CO2:

CO2 Art Pro SE regulator
Self made Yugang reactor
10lb. cylinder sitting outside of cabinet
Dwyer flow meter
On at 9:00, about 3 hours before good light
1.3 pH drop, measured with Pinpoint probe


Fertilizer:

I use a large garbage can to front load my tap water before water changes. I full with 30 gallons of water, dose for 30 gallons of water, and remove 30 gallons from tank every week. This equates to a 70 % weekly water change. I dose a follows...

Micros:

I use BurrAqua micro mix at recommended dosage. Double dose on WC day and remaining split between 6 days. Dose daily.

Macros: 30/10/40 ppm dosed to 30 gallon
WC volume weekly


KNO3 30 PPM
KH2PO4 10 PPM
KCL 40 PPM

CaS04.2H2O 20 PPM
MgS04.7H2O 5 PPM

PLANTS:

Bacopa colorata
Bacopa salzmannii 'Purple SG'
Blyxa japonica
Didiplis diandra
Hygrophila siamensis 53B
Limnophila barteri Vietnam
Penthorum sedoides
Ludwigia palustris super red
Myaca fluviatillus
Proserpinaca palustris
Eriocaulon Vietnam
Isoetes lacustris
Lisimachia parviflora
Anubis nana petite
A buce or two
Cryptocoryne nurrii Rosen maiden






In a couple weeks I expect to see some good growth and tank filling in more.

 

[TRyan]

Very nice! Following along.

Thanks @Unexpected and @Naturescapes_Rocco

 

[techman81]

Why 2 Biomasters?

 

[TRyan]

I know it's overkill, but when I was running the tank after 30 day dark start with just the 600 through the reactor, the water was kinda cloudy and I had persistent algae issues for a while. I had the 350 already cycled and sitting around, so I decided to run it as well. Water cleared up, algae went away, life was good. I just left it running. I've thought about removing it to see how it does with just the 600, but haven't yet. Maybe after things fill in. It would be nice to be rid of the extra equipment... Ain't gonna lie!

Were those issues were due to lack of filtration or due to tank immaturity? I'd wager on the later, but it's been working great the way it is.

 

[Kwyet]

Those are Diamond Tetras, right? How do you like them? How do they school? I’m considering getting some.,

Edit: Oh, I see you said Lemon Tetras. Oops!

 

[techman81]

I use just a 600 on my 90x50x45. I do add a layer of polishing floss in the next to last tray (on top of matrix) and a bag of purigen (early on) in the last tray. I think the floss really helps to get the crystal clear water. I also replace the foam on the input to the 30ppi though to help with flow.