Backwater of a small forest river on the island of New Guinea

The 40th place in the qualifying stage of the Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2013

russian_federation Russia. Vladimir Shvedov

Volume: 170 L
List of fishes: Cherax quadricarinatus (femella), Melanotaenia boesemani, Glossolepis multisquamatus
List of plants: Microsorum pteropus, Vallisneria, Ceratophyllum
Biotope description: This aquarium was set up based on a bakwater biotope of a small forest river on the island of New Guinea. Because of the large number of snags and leaves at the bottom of the river, the water is dark in color. The flow is very slow, so here there are species of microscopic algae that do not need a lot of sunlight. They also help to moderate the growth of algae on the bottom driftwood. This river does not surprisу with diversity of plant species. In the backwater such species as Vallisneria and Ceratophyllum feel great. There is also short Java fern here. As inhabitantas only two big Melanotaenias and red claw crayfish should be mentioned. On the bottom there are fine gravel and sand.

The same points of all judges. You did a very nice job of decorating, but you mixed species that never live in nature together: M. boesemani lives on the western end of the second largest Island on Earth, and M. multisquamatus on the other side. On my website you could have seen it. M. boesemani live ONLY with Pseudomugil reticulatus.

Heiko Bleher (Italy)

Very nice effort, this aquarium looks natural, off course M. boesmani and G. multisquamatus live in different habitats on PNG.

Dimitris Ioannou (Greece)