Mbé River, a quiet backwater in northwestern Gabon

120th place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2019

Russia. Ruslan Kharkov

Volume: 40 L
Dimensions: 33х33х37 cm
List of fishes: Aphyosemion striatum (GEBLCG 07/61)
List of plants: Bolbitis heudelotii, Anubias barteri var. nana, Moss sp. Cameroon.
Description of decorations: Brown lava and crumbs, reddish sand and driftwood
Description of equipment: External filter Tetra EX400, Lamp Aquael leddy smart plant 6w, 8000K, Mini-cooler ISTA (removed for the photo), no heater.
Water parameters: Temperature 22-24, pH – 7.5 / gH – 4
Additional info: Water change 2 times a week for 10%, when the weather is hot I turn on the mini-cooler Ista, Timer for the light 8 hours a day. Interesting facts: The aquarium was launched in November 2018, these Striatums have been living here since February 2019, I took one pair from the breeder killy, and now they swim with their fry. I did not get out the fry because their parents do not eat them and generally do not show aggression towards them. About moss Cameroon there are many different versions on the Internet about living in nature. But at the Biotope Conference this year, I asked directly the lecturer S. Torgashev, who went on expeditions to Africa, and he said that moss is often found there.

INFORMATION ABOUT BIOTOPE

Description of the area surrounding the biotope: Mbé is a river in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Its length is 230 kilometers. The pool area exceeds 5,000 km². Mbé is the third largest river in Gabon. The right tributary of the Como River. The origins of Mbe are in Equatorial Guinea in the southwestern part of the Volu-Ntem plateau. However, most of the watershed is located in Gabon. In the lower reaches of the river are many waterfalls. One of the cascades exceeds 110 meters.

Description of the underwater landscape of the biotope: In a quiet backwater of the river there are volcanic lava and reddish sand and tree branches brought by the current. On which there are anubias and ferns.

Description of the parameters of the habitat: Water with a yellowish hue, average temperature 18-25 degrees. PH – 6-7.5, GH 2-5

List of fishes and invertebrates occurring in the nature biotope: Aphyosemion striatum

List of plants found in the nature biotope: Bolbitis heudelotii, Anubias barteri var. nana, Moss sp. Cameroon., Pistia.

Threats to the ecology: Species is widespread

Sources of information:
http://www.wak.aka.org/Ref_Library/Aphyosemion/A.striatum.htm
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphyosemion_striatum
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B1%D0%B5

Comments of the members of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2019