Rio Jutaí, Amazonas, Brazil

_th place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2020

Volume: 720
Dimensions: 200X60X60
List of fishes: Symphysodon aequifasciatus,Pterophyllum Scalare,biotodoma cubido, Paracheirodon axelrodi, Hemigrammus bleheri,nannostomus sp, Rineloricaria sp.
List of plants: –
Description of decorations: The substrate I use is fine white sand.Driftwood and branches forming a layout close to the nature, Catappa,oak and almond leaves, give the result we encounter in the natural environment.
Description of equipment: Sump filter 180litres with both mechanical and biological materials, pump jebao 9000 with smart controller, titanium aquamedic heater with temperature controller, led lights,reverse osmosis system
Water parameters: Temperature 30°C, pH 6.0, GH 1, KH 0, conduct. 10μS
Additional info: Water changes 250 litres every two days with R/O water plus seachem discus trace

INFORMATION ABOUT BIOTOPE:

Description of the area surrounding the biotope: The river flows through the Juruá-Purus moist forests ecoregion. The Jutaí river runs northeast before reaching its mouth on the southern bank of the Amazon River (Solimões section). It is west of the Juruá River, and is roughly parallel to the lower Juruá.
The 2,450,380 hectares (6,055,000 acres) Cujubim Sustainable Development Reserve, established in 2003, lies on either side of the river in the municipality of Jutaí. It is the largest conservation unit in Amazonas and the largest sustainable development reserve in the world. Further downstream the river forms the boundary between the 275,533 hectares (680,860 acres) Rio Jutaí Extractive Reserve, created in 2002, to the southeast and the Jutaí-Solimões Ecological Station to the northwest.
Description of the underwater landscape of the biotope: Dead arm of the Rio Jutaí, full of leaves and fallen-in trees, driftwood over a sandy bottom and biotope with overhanging trees. The slow water was light tea coloured with no aquatic vegetation.
Description of the parameters of the habitat: Blackish water with visibility of 1m-2m/3.3-6.6’; pH from 4.8-5.8, never above 6 but averaging 5.2; conductivity from 8-15 µS/cm and rarely higher or lower — although the average is always above 10 µS/cm. Oxygen concentration is often just above 2.0 mg/l.
List of fishes and invertebrates occurring in the nature biotope: Symphysodon aequifasciatus ,Pterophyllum scalare,Biotodoma cubido, Apistogramma, Crenicara, Aequidens, Laetacara, dwarf Crenicichla, Mesonauta, different smaller characins like Nannostomus, Copella, Hemigrammus bleheri, Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma, Phyrrhulina and Carnegiella.
List of plants found in the nature biotope: Pistia stratiotes, Salvinia spp. and Azolla spp. float above, but rarely Eichhornia spp
Threats to the ecology: the aquarium set up is representing a micro – underwater clima of rio Jutai amazonas which is in danger because of the agrocalture and the political benefits.
Sources of information:

Bleher’s Discus – Volume 1
Bleher’s Discus – Volume 2
Bleher’s Biotopes
https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/features/heiko-bleher-discovers-south-american-surprises/
https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/features/definitive-guide-to-discus-part-one/

Comments of the members of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2020