Shallow water channel in the “Boloto Ozernoye” reserve, Leningrad region, Russia

76th place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2018

russia Russia. Vasily Stolyarov

Volume: 20 L
Dimensions: 25x25x30 cm
List of fishes: Dytiscus marginalis, Odonata sp.
List of plants: Ceratophyllum demersum
Description of decorations: Light fine sand, mangrove driftwood, sunken branches, leaf litter.
Description of equipment: Filter AQUAEL ASAP 300, lighting AQUAEL LEDDY SMART 2.
Water parameters: The temperature is 22°С, рН is 6.5, КН is 3, GH is 5.

INFORMATION ABOUT BIOTOPE

Description of the area surrounding the biotope: Reserve “Boloto Ozernoye” (“Lake Swamp”) is located in the central part of the Karelian Isthmus, where sandy plains, swamps and lakes predominate. Its main part is occupied by a marsh massif. The reserve also includes several lakes: Chernoye, Shchukino, and others, remaining from the lake that emerged and existed during the postglacial time, transformed as a result of overgrowing into a marsh. The fauna of the reserve is very rich due to the diversity of forest and wetland habitats. The channel starts in a swamp, stretches along a dirt road and ends in a small pond 2×2 m. Fir trees (Picea abies), birch trees (Betula sp.) and willow bushes (Salix viminalis) grow along its banks. The depth of the channel is from 25 cm to 0.6 m (depth of the pond).

Description of the underwater landscape of the biotope: The substrate, consisting of fine yellow and white sand, is covered with a layer of leaf litter.

Description of the parameters of the habitat: The water is clear. The average temperature for the year is 7.8°C, for the summer it is 17°C, in winter the reservoir freezes through. pH is 5-6, KH is 0-2, GH is 4.

List of fishes and invertebrates occurring in the nature biotope: Dytiscus marginalis, Odonata sp., Hydrometra stagnorum, Asellus aquaticus, Nepa cinerea.

List of plants found in the nature biotope: Ceratophyllum demersum, Lemna minor.

Sources of information:
Description: https://ooptlo.ru/boloto-ozernoe.html ;
Book: Н.Ф. Золотницкий, “Аквариум Любителя”, М.:ТЕРРА, 1993;
Article: https://www.zin.ru/animalia/coleoptera/rus/incody.htm

Comments of the members of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2018