Papaloapán River basin, Mexico
126th place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2018
India. Sundar Rajan
Volume: 250 L
Dimensions: 100x50x50 cm
List of fishes: Thorichthys maculipinnis
List of plants: Myriophyllum pinnatum
Description of decorations: Tank is scaped with river sand, rocks and small pebbles with drift wood and branches and leaves from Zapota tree.
Description of equipment: Filters used, A. Bio doing and HMF, Lights used T5 LEDs light 22w.
Water parameters: pH 7.5, TDs 80.
INFORMATION ABOUT BIOTOPE
Description of the area surrounding the biotope: The Papaloapan river or Rio de las Mariposas (river of the butterflies) flows down to the east from the volcanic highlands of the Mexican plateau, originating from cold water springs in these mountains. At first a rapid mountain stream, further downstream the river becomes wider and flows peacefully across a landscape characterized by tropical lowland vegetation, eventually emptying into the Gulf of México at the city of Alvarado, between extremely beautiful salt lagoons. The drainage of the Papaloapan and its smaller tributaries is bordered to the north by a volcano belt 60 kilometres north of Veracruz, the state capital. This belt is the remains of a large volcanic chain which once extended from the central part of the country to the Gulf of México, and meets the sea at Punta del Morro, just south of the 20th parallel north. This mountain chain acts as an effective geographical barrier to the spread of the freshwater fishes.
Description of the underwater landscape of the biotope: Tank was created to replicate the natural habitat of Thorichthys maculipinnis. The aquarium was based on Papaloapán River basin, Mexico. i used driftwoods and branches and leaves from Zapota tree as decor. All the rocks,small pebbles are all collected from local river to make the Scape look as natural as possible.
Description of the parameters of the habitat: Water is transparent. pH 7.5 and TDs 80.
List of fishes and invertebrates occurring in the nature biotope: Thorichthys maculipinnis.
List of plants found in the nature biotope: Myriophyllum Pinnatum.
Sources of information: https://www.cichlidae.com/