Small current of the Condoto River, the tributary of the San Juan River, Colombia

90th place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2017

 Russia. Ivan Shutov

Volume: 50 L
Dimensions: 37x37x42 cm
List of fishes: Nematobrycon palmeri
List of plants: Pistia sp., Cryptocoryne parva,  Echinodorus tenellus, Eleocharis vivipara, Cabomba caroliniana
Description of decorations: UDeco River Amber, fraction: 0.4-0.8 mm,
UDeco Desert Driftwood to simulate the descending roots of coastal vegetation.
Description of equipment: JBL CristalProfi i60 internal filter, Aquael LEDDY TUBE DECOLIGHT SUNNY 6 W
Water parameters: Temperature 24°С, GH 6° dH, рН 6.5.

Description of the area surrounding the biotope: The Condoto River is one of the many tributaries of the San Juan River, and carries its cloudy waters from the surrounding forests, along the way, saturated with rainfall. In the middle reaches there is a settlement of the same name, whose inhabitants, mainly, are engaged in the extraction of non-ferrous and precious metals, such as gold and platinum, which is the reason for the turbidity of the water. The neighborhoods are densely covered with forests, thickets approach the water, forming whole labyrinths in the roots, and shading the mirror of water with their crowns.

Description of the underwater landscape of the biotope: The Condoto River passes through forest tracts, feeding from rain and marsh, that is why the river bed is covered with fine sand and small particles of plants. The root system of the coastal vegetation gives shelter to many species of fish, and floating aquatic vegetation provides shelter to their fry.

Description of the parameters of the habitat: The water is unclear in the middle course because of the intentional broadening of its bed, in a small current it is fast and more transparent. Water temperature is 22-24°С.

List of fishes: Priapichthys nigroventralis, P. chocoensis, Cichlasoma atromaculatum, Andinoacara latifrons, A. biseriatus, Geophagus pellegrini, Lebiasina chocoensis, and other characids, some Gymnotidae.

List of plants: Cabomba caroliniana, Echinodorus brevipedicellutus, Echinodorus tenellus

Threats to the ecology: The main source of wealth of the municipality of Condoto is the exploitation of precious metals (gold and platinum). The gold mined in these areas has an excellent reputation for its high purity. However, as a result of unlawful work on gold mining there are deforestated areas and other changes in the landscape, leading to the formation of ponds, which are the ideal habitat for the mosquito Anopheles, which is the carrier of malaria.

Sources of information: Water plants atlas by K. Kasselman; http://aquavitro.org/2017/04/05/korolevskaya-tetra-palmeri/; https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condoto; expedition to Columbia: http://banallex.livejournal.com/1173207.html