Kan-kou River Estuary, Pingtung County, Taiwan

29th place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2017

taiwan Taiwan. Newt Jhuang

Volume: 162 L
Dimensions: 60x60x45 cm
List of fishes: Hypseleotris cyprinoides, Microphis brachyurus, Caridina gracilipes, Mugilogobius cavifrons, Macrobrachium austral, Palaemon concinnus
List of plants: Pennisetum alopecuroides, Miscanthus sinensis
Description of decorations: Sand, twigs, stones, plant roots
Description of equipment: canister filter 19W, 1240L/H、LED lamps 35.7W, 3717Lm
Water parameters: Temperature is 26℃, pH is 8.0

Description of the area surrounding the biotope: Kan–kou River, the biggest river located in Southern Taiwan’s Kenting National Park, has a length of 31.18 km, and covers an area of 101.6 square kilometer. This river see its water cut off during withered water periods. With the mixing of fresh water and salt water, Kan–kou River has an abundant of migrating species, including terrestrial crab, anadromous Goby and caridean shrimp. During winter Kan–kou River often gets clogged by sand, making river’s outflow impossible.

Description of the underwater landscape of the biotope: Kan–kou River is made of mostly sand, and due to mixing of fresh and salt water, its saltiness varies greatly. The river does not have much water plants and sees mostly Thalassia hemprichii, macrophytic algae. Poaceae and Mangrove are often seen grown next to Kan–kou River

Description of the parameters of the habitat: Temperature is 26℃, pH is 8.1, gH is 12.9 mg/L, EC is 3880μmho/cm, DO is 8.7 mg/L

List of fishes: Sicyopterus japonicus, Candidia pingtungensis, Hypseleotris cyprinoides, Microphis brachyurus, Caridina gracilipes, Caridina gracilirostris, Caridina parvirostris, Caridina serratirostris, Terapon jarbua, Kuhlia rupestris, Mugilogobius cavifrons, Eleotris fusca, Giuris margaritacea, Bostrychus sinensis, Butis melanostigma, Ophiocara porocephala, Rhinogobius henchuenensis, Rhinogobius giurinus, Stenogobius ophthalmoporus, Ambassis, Macrobrachium austral, Palaemon concinnus et al.

List of plants: Thalassia hemprichii, Pennisetum alopecuroides, Miscanthus sinensis, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Kandelia obovata, Avicennia marina et al.

Sources of information:

Comments of the members of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2017

It is another perfect example of how an imitation of a river bank should look like. I don’t know if all the grass was really grown inside the tank, but it certainly looks as if it was.

Piotr Kierzkowski (Poland)

Here is a truly charming impression of an estuary biotope, with some very unique and fascinating inhabitants. The concept of a shoreline grass bank is perfectly executed here. Although the decoration is minimal – just river sand and, a few stones, the overhanging grass, and a bit of debris – this correct for the biotope. The shrimp are highly active, digging around in the sand and defending their territorial boundaries while gobies dart to and fro, and the pipefish hover about searching for tiny prey, all harmoniously. It’s an excellent cutaway view of a normally overlooked biotope.

Michael Salter (Canada)

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