South American Blackwater Stream

The 49th place in the qualifying stage of the Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2015

 Argentina. Ivan Sergio Martinez

Volume: 96 L
List of fishes: Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi, Paracheirodon innesi, Panaque bathyphilus L90, Corydoras aeneus, Ancistrus triradiatus LDA72, Apistogramma cacatuoides
List of plants: Lemna minor, Salvinia minima, Spirodela intermedia, Limnobium laevigatum
Biotope description: Blackwater ponds, creeks, and rivers originate in the rain-forest. In the slow-moving waters, acids are leached from decaying vegetation creating very transparent, tea-colored water. These waters have almost no measurable water hardness and an acidic pH. There are not too many freshwater plants. Flooded trees are perfect place for many species of fish to live. Because of the small amount of light there is a very small amount of underwater plants. A large percentage are waterside and floating plants. The substrate in blackwater habitats is typically leaf litter over a base of fine clay or sand. Decaying wood and plant matter is common especially in flooded igapo forest.