The Zen Stream Junction: Moss Canopy Edition

OtherIntermediate

The Zen Stream Junction: Moss Canopy Edition

"Experience the tranquility of a miniature forest floor with the 'Zen Stream Junction.' The vibrant orange-red of the Flame Dwarf Gourami serves as a stunning centerpiece, patrolling a canopy of weeping Christmas Moss. Below, a dedicated team of Dwarf Corydoras and Cherry Shrimp busily maintain a shimmering golden sand path that cuts through dramatic black volcanic stone. This design proves that with a thoughtful selection of hardy epiphytes and a specialized cleaning crew, you can achieve a world-class, high-impact aesthetic in a stable, low-maintenance environment."

Minimum Tank Size

UNS 60p (23.6x14.1x14.1 inches)

Volume

17 gal

Water Parameters

75°F-77°F

6.5-6.8 pH

Substrate

Active AquaSoilGolden Sand

Hardscape Components

Black Lava RockTwo large tiered clusters creating a central canyon for the path

Manzanita DriftwoodMain trunk on the right side with branches reaching left to support the moss canopy

Fauna Inventory

Green Neon Tetra

Schooling Fish

15x

Middle water column

Cherry Shrimp

Invertebrate

12x

Substrate and hardscape dweller

Flame Dwarf Gourami

Centerpiece Fish

Upper water column and surface

Otocinclus Catfish

Algae Eater

Plant leaves and glass

Dwarf Corydoras (C. habrosus)

Substrate Cleaner

Substrate / Sand Path

Nerite Snail

Algae Eater

Glass and Hardscape

Flora Inventory

Christmas Moss

Moss

2 large cups

Attached to Manzanita branches for canopy and tucked into rock crevices

Staurogyne Repens

Carpeting

5 pots

Foreground flanking the golden sand path

Ludwigia Natans Super Red

Stem

4 bunches

Background left corner

Cryptocoryne Wendtii Brown

Rosette

3 pots

Midground behind the lava rock clusters

Anubias Nana Golden

Epiphyte

2 small tissue culture cups

Transition points where rocks meet the sand path

Anubias Nana Petite

Epiphyte

3 pots

Lower crevices of the lava rock and shaded wood forks

Bucephalandra Green Godzilla

Epiphyte

1 large plant and 1 mini clump

Mid-level rock crevices and wood branches

The Zen Stream Junction: Moss Canopy Edition

Other Aquascape Plan

aquascaping.ai

January 15, 2026

TankUNS 60p (23.6x14.1x14.1 inches) (17 gal)

Parameters75-77°F • pH 6.5-6.8

DifficultyIntermediate

Fauna

15x Green Neon Tetra
12x Cherry Shrimp
1x Flame Dwarf Gourami
3x Otocinclus Catfish
6x Dwarf Corydoras (C. habrosus)
2x Nerite Snail

Flora

2 large cups Christmas Moss
5 pots Staurogyne Repens
4 bunches Ludwigia Natans Super Red
3 pots Cryptocoryne Wendtii Brown
2 small tissue culture cups Anubias Nana Golden
3 pots Anubias Nana Petite
1 large plant and 1 mini clump Bucephalandra Green Godzilla

Shopping List

Tank & Supplies

Item	Qty	Est. Cost
UNS 60p Rimless Aquarium (17 Gallon)- Ultra-clear rimless glass for modern aesthetic.	1	$160.00
Oase FiltoSmart Thermo 100- Canister filter with integrated heater for a clean look.	1	$145.00
WRGB LED Lighting System- Essential for plant health; run at 40-50% for low-tech setup.	1	$120.00
Active AquaSoil- Buffers pH and provides nutrients for root feeders like Crypts.	9L	$45.00
Golden Sand Substrate- Used for the central canyon path; sifting area for Corydoras.	2kg	$15.00
AutoAqua Smart ATO Lite- Recommended for rimless tanks to manage rapid evaporation.	1	$75.00
Curved Aquascaping Scissors- Required for shaping the Christmas Moss tree canopy.	1	$20.00
Fine Tipped Aquascaping Tweezers- Essential for planting stems like Ludwigia and S. Repens.	1	$15.00
Gorilla Super Glue Gel (Cyanoacrylate)- Used for attaching moss, Anubias, and Buce to hardscape.	1 bottle	$6.00
Tap Water Conditioner- Crucial for removing chlorine/chloramines during water changes.	1 bottle	$10.00

Hardscape

	Item	Qty	Est. Cost
	Black Lava Rock- Forms the canyon walls; highly porous for beneficial bacteria.	5-10kg	$40.00
	Manzanita Driftwood- Main focal point; supports the moss canopy.	1 large piece	$35.00

Flora

Item	Qty	Est. Cost
Christmas Moss- Used for the 'tree top' canopy; requires regular trimming.	2 large cups	$24.00
Staurogyne Repens- Foreground carpet flanking the sand path.	5 pots	$40.00
Ludwigia Natans Super Red- Background plant for red color; will lean orange in low-tech.	4 bunches	$28.00
Cryptocoryne Wendtii Brown- Stable midground plant; dark foliage contrasts with sand.	3 pots	$27.00
Anubias Nana Golden- Lime-green transition plants between rock and sand.	2 small tissue culture cups	$24.00
Anubias Nana Petite- Small-leaf epiphyte for rock crevices; shade-loving.	3 pots	$36.00
Bucephalandra Green Godzilla- Slow-growing epiphyte; keep rhizome exposed.	1 plant and 1 mini clump	$25.00

Fauna

Item	Qty	Est. Cost
Green Neon Tetra- Primary schooler; wait for pH to stabilize before adding.	15	$60.00
Cherry Shrimp- Bright red contrast for black rocks; will breed in moss.	12	$48.00
Flame Dwarf Gourami- Vibrant centerpiece fish for the upper water column.	1	$12.00
Otocinclus Catfish- Critical for keeping broad leaves free of diatoms.	3	$15.00
Dwarf Corydoras (C. habrosus)- Keeps the golden sand path turned over and clean.	6	$24.00
Nerite Snail- Best algae eaters for hardscape and glass; no breeding.	2	$8.00

Setup Guide

Hardscape Foundation & Substrate

Day 1

Clean the UNS 60p with water and place it on a level aquarium mat.
Arrange the Black Lava Rock into two distinct mounds, leaving a wide gap in the middle for the 'stream'.
Pour the Active AquaSoil behind and around the rock mounds, creating a slope towards the back for depth.
Carefully pour the Golden Sand into the central canyon, using a brush to create a natural, winding path.
Position the Manzanita wood on the right side, securing the base between rocks so the branches reach over the sand path.

Tip: Place small pieces of lava rock at the boundary of the sand and soil to prevent the substrates from mixing over time.

Creating the Moss Canopy & Planting

Day 1

Mist the hardscape with water to keep it damp.
Apply small dots of cyanoacrylate gel to the Manzanita tips and press marble-sized clumps of Christmas Moss onto them.
Wedge Anubias Nana Petite and Bucephalandra Green Godzilla into the lava rock crevices, ensuring the rhizomes are exposed.
Use tweezers to plant Staurogyne Repens into the soil flanking the sand path and Cryptocoryne Wendtii Brown in the midground.
Plant the Ludwigia Natans Super Red bunches in the back-left corner soil area.

Tip: Keep a spray bottle handy and mist the plants every few minutes while planting to prevent the leaves from drying out under the room lights.

Water, Filtration & Biological Start

Weeks 1-4

Place a plastic bag or colander over the sand path and fill the tank slowly with dechlorinated water.
Prime and start the Oase FiltoSmart Thermo 100, setting the integrated heater to 76°F.
Set the WRGB LED light to 40% intensity for a 7-hour daily photoperiod to prevent algae blooms during the low-tech start.
Perform 50% water changes every 2 days for the first week, then twice a week for the remainder of the month.
Test water parameters daily for Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate.

Tip: In a low-tech setup without CO2, keeping light intensity low during the first month is the best way to prevent hair algae from taking over your moss.

Introducing the Inhabitants

Month 1-2

Once Ammonia and Nitrite levels stay at 0ppm, introduce the 12 Cherry Shrimp and 3 Otocinclus Catfish.
One week later, add the school of 15 Green Neon Tetras.
Wait another week to ensure stability before adding the Flame Dwarf Gourami centerpiece.
Perform the first trim of the Christmas Moss canopy using curved scissors to encourage 'weeping' growth.
Begin a lean liquid fertilizer dosing schedule (half-dose) once a week.

Tip: When the Flame Dwarf Gourami is introduced, monitor it for a few days to ensure it isn't being too aggressive toward the Cherry Shrimp.

Maintenance Schedule

Daily

Feeding and Observation

Feed the Green Neon Tetras and Flame Dwarf Gourami a high-quality flake or micro-pellet. Check that the Cherry Shrimp are active on the lava rocks and that the Otocinclus have full bellies.

Liquid Carbon Dosing

Dose a liquid carbon supplement at the recommended dosage. In this low-tech setup, this is crucial for preventing hair algae in the Christmas Moss canopy and BBA on the Anubias.

Weekly

Water Change and Sand Path Cleaning

Perform a 30% water change. Use a small siphon to gently hover over the Golden Sand path to remove any detritus or AquaSoil granules that have rolled onto it.

Glass Maintenance and Algae Scrape

Wipe the internal glass of the UNS 60p using a soft sponge. Pay close attention to the corners and the waterline to maintain the high-clarity rimless look.

Stem Plant Pruning

Trim the Ludwigia Natans Super Red in the background. In a low-tech tank, keeping these trimmed prevents the bottom of the stems from rotting due to lack of light.

Bi-Weekly

Moss Canopy Sculpting

Use curved scissors to trim the Christmas Moss canopy. Thin out the layers to ensure the 'weeping' fronds don't become too heavy and pull away from the Manzanita wood.

Low-Tech Fertilization

Add an all-in-one liquid fertilizer at half the standard dosage. Since you are not using CO2, the plants need fewer nutrients; over-fertilizing will lead to algae.

Monthly

Filter Maintenance

Rinse the pre-filter sponge of the Oase FiltoSmart 100 in old tank water. This ensures optimal flow for the Green Neon Tetras and prevents detritus buildup.

Epiphyte Health Check

Inspect the Anubias Nana Petite and Bucephalandra for Green Spot Algae. If present, further reduce light intensity or duration to compensate for the lack of CO2.

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