Igarapé do Daracua, the small forest stream of Rio Negro river, near Barcelos, Brazil
52th place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2019
China. Lu Xiaolong
Volume: 100 L
Dimensions: 100x45x30 cm
List of fishes: Hemigrammus Bleheri,Prionobrama Filigera,Paracheirodon Axelrodi
List of plants: –
Description of decorations: The background is made of stone, and then the peat soil is pasted on the stone. The bottom is made of peat soil, tree fruit, fruit shell and fine river sand. A lot of branches and leaves are used as decorations.
Description of equipment: Oase Filto Thermo300, 1000L/H,EHEIM classic350,620L/H, ZETLIGHT ZE8300,96W, Simulated sunrise and sunset, FLUVAL Aquasky 14555, 30W,3000~25000K.
Water parameters: Temperature is 25°C, ph is 6, kh is 2.
Additional info: –
INFORMATION ABOUT BIOTOPE
Description of the area surrounding the biotope: Rio Negro is the second largest river in South America with many river tributaries that eventually end up with smaller forest streams. One of these forest streams is Igarapé do Daracua in Brazil and is named after the village of Daracua, which is located near Barcelos.
Description of the underwater landscape of the biotope: During the rainy season the water level rises and is poured into the surrounding forest. This is a time of abundance, because the fish migrate into the submerged forest where abundant food sources are found and the breeding begins. Forests represent a major source of plankton and other natural foods necessary for young fish, as well as for adult ones. Other than providing natural food for fish, forests provide them with the shelter from predators and create the shadow above water, thereby preventing overheating and even excessive drying during the dry season. The bottom is fine sand, scattered with a lot of branches, leaves.Water carries a large amount of detritus. Detritus contains decomposing organic matter, including animal remains, plant residues, waste products, and bacteria and other microorganisms associated with them.
Description of the parameters of the habitat: During the rainy season，the water temperature is about 23 °C, water pH is about 6ph. During the dry season, the water level is reduced and warmer, the temperature of water is around 28-30 °C. Due to the low water level and the large amount of leaves and branches, the water contains a large concentration of tannins, which adds a dark color like “Tea color” and the water pH is low and is about 3.5-4ph.
List of fishes and invertebrates occurring in the nature biotope: Crenuchus spilurus, Nanostomus eques, Poecilocharax weitzmani, Liosomadoras oncinus, Dicrossus filamentosus, Crenicichla notophthalmus, Mesonauta festivus, Acarichthys heckelii, Crenicichla marmorata, Heros notatus.
List of plants found in the nature biotope: At the location of the biotope I have described there are no water plants, except the forest flooded plants. The water plants that can be found in the nearby area are Echinodorus horizontalis, Echinodorus tenellus, Eleocharis sp.
Threats to the ecology: The logging of the Amazon rainforest presents a serious threat to the natural habitat of this biotope. The Amazon rainforest, besides having a great impact on the biotope , which I mentioned above, also has an impact on the overall climate of the Earth, which is why the Amazon is called the “Lungs of the World”.
Sources of information:
http://www.tfhmagazine.com/details/articles/fishing-with-the-piabeiros-of-brazils-rio-negro-full-article.htm
http://www.reef2rainforest.com/2017/01/09/biotope-video-blackwater-shallows-in-the-middle-rio-negro/
http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/apistogramma-mendezi/
https://weatherspark.com/y/28529/Average-Weather-in-Barcelos-Brazil-Year-Round