South American Blackwater Stream
65th place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2016
India. Stephen Dsouza
Aquarium Volume: 60 L
Fish and invertebrates: Apistogramma agassizi, Paracheirodon innesi
Plants list: None
Biotope description: South American Blackwater streams include slow moving water with fine sandy substrate and decaying leaf litter, mainly the tributaries of the Amazon river in Brazil and Bolivia. The water is transparent, however ‘tea-coloured’ due to the acids leeching from the decaying leaves, roots and branches. The pH oh the water is very acidic ranging from 4.5-6.5, dH 0-4 and water temperature between 27-30 C. The biotope is devoid of any aquatic plants, although some areas may have some floating aquatic plants. Dwarf Cichlids (mainly Apistogramma Sp.) inhabit in the leaf litter and fallen roots, searching for food while sifting through the sandy substrate.
Fish and invertebrates: Apistogramma agassizi, Paracheirodon innesi
Plants list: None
Biotope description: South American Blackwater streams include slow moving water with fine sandy substrate and decaying leaf litter, mainly the tributaries of the Amazon river in Brazil and Bolivia. The water is transparent, however ‘tea-coloured’ due to the acids leeching from the decaying leaves, roots and branches. The pH oh the water is very acidic ranging from 4.5-6.5, dH 0-4 and water temperature between 27-30 C. The biotope is devoid of any aquatic plants, although some areas may have some floating aquatic plants. Dwarf Cichlids (mainly Apistogramma Sp.) inhabit in the leaf litter and fallen roots, searching for food while sifting through the sandy substrate.
Photo Gallery
Comments of the members of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2016
This biotope aquarium teaches us that less is sometimes more. The simplicity of this setup makes it great. A mixture of low light, small fish that can live together peacefully makes it a very viable biotope aquarium. Once the dwarf cichlids spawn, it will really increment its beauty. The downside was the title which was as broad as a continent.