Journal Experiment Tank || 90x50x36cm, 39gal, Horizontal Reactor High-energy Aquascape Journal

[rzn7z7]

Dosing info is pretty much the same as last time. Raising the pH of the tank via NaHCO3 seems to have had a REALLY positive effect on overall plant health. Super interesting!

Why'd you decide to use NaHCO3 to raise pH vs K2CO3 or KHCO3? Is it for the Na?

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

The problem I'm now running into is, what goes in front of the blyxa?

Smaller brown crypt would contrast really well there. Maybe Crypt Wendtii 'Brown'

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Smaller brown crypt would contrast really well there. Maybe Crypt Wendtii 'Brown'

Damn, I just got rid of a bunch of healthy ones !

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Why'd you decide to use NaHCO3 to raise pH vs K2CO3 or KHCO3? Is it for the Na?

I use KHCO3, too, to raise my pH -- but for my target KH/pH, I'd be adding way too much K if I used KHCO3 only, so I "cut" it with NaHCO3.

So I keep my Na levels low, and my K levels appropriate. Best of both worlds!

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

I was just putting a thought in your head. Also think that if you used a smaller lily there and remove the tiger lily altogether due to the size they get.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Probably one of the last updates on this tank, ever!​

The last few months have been dedicated to buying the new house, fixing up the old, and even building a new 120Lx50Hx60D aquarium stand. The new 120cm tank is sort of my "dream" tank, larger than this 90cm experimental tank, but smaller than the massive 150p tank previously.

The new house only has room for one aquarium, so the 120 will be the new focus of my aquarium life. That and the low-tech bowl will probably be the only tanks I can keep anymore, and I'm pretty excited about it! One dream high tech tank, one simple low-tech round orb of light. Perfect.

Anyway, I have been so busy that I haven't been able to keep up with this tank's needs. Super overgrown, but I've learned a lot about fertilizing and plants and dosing regardless!

Heteranthera zosterifolia (star grass) is a great plant, but too lanky and fast growing for me. Harder to shape into a green bush than, say, rotala green. If I was more on top of trimming maybe I'd like it more, but I think I'll switch to rotala green or even pearlweed for a quick growing, green bushy stem plant.


The Nymphea lotus is massive and totally out of control. I'm super curious what happens if I trim off ALL leaves at the same time -- will it regrow much smaller and more compact like most plants? It's such a hardy and fast growing plant, but I might have to go back to AR Mini for the midground large leaf red plant if the lotus doesn't take well to trimming.



This is also the second time I've successfully carpeted mini dwarf hairgrass in pure inert sand. Who needs aquasoil anymore? (kidding!)

Thanks for reading! Hopefully I'll have more updates in the next few months, but things have been super busy. Excited to show you all my "ultimate" dream tank build -- custom stand, custom tank size, likely inert sand substrate again:


Coming soon!

 

[gjcarew]

What are you doing for feet on that tank?

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

What are you doing for feet on that tank?

Nothing adjustable this time, just needed a few feet to act as "risers" for when I inevitably flood the tank or spill water.

I'm gonna have 12-15 of these feet spread out on the bottom to just raise it a half inch with waterproof feet. It'll also be low enough that if the tank it still off-level, I can just shim under the stand with black shims.

 

[JayP]

I can't enlarge the photo to see more detail, but why does it appear your penthorum sedoides doesn't have aerial roots all over it like mine does? I would think with water column dosing only, it would be even more pronounced.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I can't enlarge the photo to see more detail, but why does it appear your penthorum sedoides doesn't have aerial roots all over it like mine does? I would think with water column dosing only, it would be even more pronounced.

My experience has been the opposite -- lean dosing systems create lots of aerial roots as the plants have to use the rich substrate to grow, so they send more roots to get there. 99% of aquatic plants can absorb nutrients through all parts of their biomass (leaves, stems, roots, even flowers). The penthorum does have some aerial roots, but the way I trim them (45-degree slope) helps to cover what roots are visible!

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

No more photos of this tank, it's over! Unfortunately it's been a rough time. Not only was I trying to sell the house and move into a new one, I had a major injury!

Two months ago, I was slide tackled while on a breakaway in my soccer league (instant red card ejection for him). Guess he really didn't want me to score! As he went cleats-up through my ankle, he shattered it in 4 places. Full Tri-malleolar fracture (with an extra fracture on the rear heel underneath the achilles). Full syndesmosis tear and a ruptured deltoid ligament. Had to stay in the hospital for 4 days and got ORIF (Open Reduction Internal Fixation) on 6/17/26; installed a metal tibial plate with seven screws and a FIBULINK Syndesmosis repair screw into the fibula. I'll set off metal detectors for the rest of my life!

Did I mention that it turns out none of this was covered by my insurance, so I have to pay for it all out of pocket?



Recovery has been crazy difficult, and this tank received less than zero attention for about 2 months. 60 days after the surgery, I'm finally taking a few tentative limping steps unassisted, but I've been told it will take a full year or more before I'm able to run/jog again. There was just no way to do large aquarium maintenance. The no-tech bowl, however, has been totally fine and easy to maintain!

Part of why I've been on ScapeCrunch so much lately is that I've basically been forced to sit in a chair and wait for my body to stitch itself back together again. Rather than spend that time on infinite-scroll feeds or ad-filled garbage, Scape Crunch has been a little haven for me during this recovery. Thank you guys for being an awesome community!

This 90cm tank is in my new garage, waiting to be sold to some keen buyer. I've got a new 120x50x60cm tank that I'm really excited to share with you guys, and I can finally limp around with enough balance to perform weekly water changes. If I can do weekly water changes with one leg, you can keep up with your water changes, too!

 

[Capraquaria]

If I can do weekly water changes with one leg, you can keep up with your water changes, too!

Well, that's a heck of a way to get out of tank maintenance, and certainly leaves no excuses for the rest of us! Seriously, though, that's a doozy of an injury, with a nice fixation repair, but glad to hear you are at least slowly on the mend. I have had my fair share of surgical setbacks in the past, and can attest to the fact that there is nothing worse than being mandated to sit and do absolutely nothing while you heal. Sitting still is not something I excel at. I will stick to aquascaping, though, it's clearly much safer than soccer. Hope the rest of your healing and recovery continues smoothly! I'm guessing the other guy just got up and walked away, unscathed?

 

[Noahspapa]

Wow! That’s incredible Rocco. So sorry you’ve had to go through all this. And as always major thanks for all your help on scapecrunch!

 

[PeerUnk]

ouch! That must have hurt a lot!

Fingers crossed for you being able to recover to 100%

 

[Kwyet]

Wow, that stinks all the way around, except I’m glad that you’re recovering and in good spirits!

 

[BenB]

If anyone can come up with a one legged water changer, it will be you.
Get well soon!

 

[JayP]

OK, I'm going to have to question who kicked who after seeing the American player end up with a fractured tibia even though he kicked the Belgian player in the world cup.

I do recall a period you seemed a bit quiet on the forum. Must've been the anesthesia and painkillers. Get well soon and don't let that algae sneak up on you.

 

[MrJG]

Godspeed in your recovery and rehab, hopefully back on the pitch in no time!

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Horrible on all accounts. Hope you are on the mend. Out of curiosity, what made your insurance deny the injury claim? Did they claim the soccer league was a “risk” outside of their coverage?