Forest stream with slow flow in the river Jelai-Bila

The 33th place in the qualifying stage of the Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2013

belarus Belarus. Yuriy Shamkalovich

Volume: 40 L
List of fishes: Parosphromenus opallios, Sundadanio sp.
List of plants: Cryptocoryne ciliata, Cryptocoryne cordata, Cryptocoryne griffithii, Microsorum pteropus, Ophiopogon sp.
Biotope description: The aquarium was set up based on a forest stream biotope of the river Jelai-Bila, Sukamara, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. The stream slowly flows through the wetland and goes around the tree roots. Its bottom is covered with fallen leaves. Sunlight barely penetrates through the leaves and branches. Water is typically dark colored with humic acids and other organic products, with low minerals and pH 3.0 or 4.0.

Nice biotope and Yuriy tried to do his best I believe, but in that river lives no C. cilliata (could never survive in such low pH – which is at its lowest pH 4, or 4.5 and not 3), nor both of the other Cryptos together and also no Ophipogon. Also the fish variety is poor for Kalimantan Tengah.

Heiko Bleher (Italy)

This one is very good, I think very similar to natural habitat of Parosphromenus fish. Too bad the water is so cloudy – in a tank which is 1 month old it should be already nice and clear, stained brown with tannins.

Piotr Kierzkowski (Poland)