Blackwater setup at Sedili Johor, Malaysia

104th place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2017

 Malaysia. Mohammad Norhakimi Bin Mohd Nan

Volume: 108 L
Dimensions: 60x60x30 cm
List of fishes: Desmopuntius hexazona, Sepat Ronggeng (Gourami), Betta Pugnax, Bamboo Shrimp
List of plants: Tiger Lotus
Description of decorations: The driftwood are originally from the habitat.
Description of equipment: Sum tank overflow box, Flow pump, Odyssea T5HO
Water parameters: Temperature is 28 – 30 °C, pH is 5

Description of the area surrounding the biotope: The peat swamp forest locality is in Pontian, 1°27’59.2″N, 103°26’07.7″E, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia.

Description of the underwater landscape of the biotope: The underwater from the peat swamp forests and associated blackwater streams. It’s unaltered habitats with very little light penetrates makes the water is typically stained darkly with humic acids and other chemicals released by decaying organic materials, the dissolved mineral content generally negligible and pH as low as 3.0 or 4.0.

Description of the parameters of the habitat: Temperature: 22 – 28 °C, pH: 3.0 – 6.5, Hardness: 18 – 72 ppm

List of fishes: Gouramies, Paros, Betta

List of plants: Cabomba, Tiger Lotus, Red Lotus

Threats to the ecology: It now survives only in remnants of heavily-modified peat swamps such as irrigation ditches and roadside canals, and it’s considered in gave danger of extinction. The type locality, for example, consisted of a semi-degraded stream containing tea-coloured water with a pH of 4.0.

Sources of information: http://www.tfhmagazine.com/freshwater/feature-articles/collecting-in-the-swamps-of-peninsular-malaysia.htm, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/125045327127406635/