Shallow stream of Kalu River,Bulathsinhala,Sri Lanka

_st place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2022

Volume of aquarium: 120 litres

Dimensions of aquarium: 60x50x40cm

List of fishes: Garra ceylonsis
Devario malabaricus
Schistura notostigma
Paludomas loricatus

List of plants: No Plants

Description of Decorations and Substrate: Natural river stones,pebbles,sand &gravel collected from river basins have been added to represent the true natural underwater environment including the leaf litter and decomposing plant matter.

Description of Equipment: External Filter 230 litres per hour
Light system 3000k 12 watt
6500k 12 watt

Water Parameters: Temperature 25 Celcius
pH 6.5
TDS 160

Additional Info: 25% weekly water changes are performed

Aquarium video:

Description of the Area Surrounding the Biotope: Kalu river is the second largest river basin in Sri lanka covering 2766km2 which is originated from Adam’s Peak and it reaches sea at kaluthara after traversing 129 km.Most of it’s catchment is located in highest rainfall areas including Sinharaja Rain Forest. Bulathsinhala is in the Western province of kaluthara district which has a terrestial environmental heritage depend on the function of Kalu River.The Fertile Valleys, Wild Animals,Rivers and Streams makes this land pleasant. Rocky shallow streams in this area are tributaries of Kuda Ganga which is one of the main branches of Kalu River.Shallow streams of less than 1 meter deep consists of clear water containing leaf litter from surrounding trees and root systems are occasionally seen in stream banks.

Description of the Underwater Landscape of the Biotope: Rocky streams consist of yellowish sand and gravels,pebbles and stones also consisting of leaves of surrounding trees including leaf litter& decomposing plant matter and root systems of trees are occasionally found in stream banks.

Description of the Habitat Parameters: Water is transparent
pH 6.5 to 7.5
TDS 160 to 220
Temperature 22 to 28 Celcius

List of Fishes and Invertebrates Occurring in the Nature Biotope: Garra ceylonsis
Devario malabaricum
Shistura notostigma
Paludomas loricatus

List of Plants Found in the Nature Biotope: N/A

Threats to the Ecology of the Biotope: The aquarium was set up to bring attention of the public about slow to moderate flowing streams which are the natural breeding grounds of Garra ceylonsis,Shistura notostigma and Devario malabaricum which are endemic freshwater fish species and to highlight the imporatance of conservation of such habitat.

Sources of Information:
1.Development of a Flood Forcasting Model for Kalu River and Kelani River Basins in Sri lanka using radial basis function neural networks. Supervisor Prof A.W.Jayawardena http://www.icharm.pwri.go.jp/training/master/pubilication/pdf/2010/sugeeswara.pdf

2.https://youtu.be/YwgwekQ1t7Q