The coastal zone of the Orinoco River
135th place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2018
Russia. Mark Martynov
Volume: 46 L
Dimensions: 50x26x35 cm
List of fishes: Pterophyllum scalare
List of plants: Glossostigma elatinoides, Anubias barteri, Ricca fluitans, Eleocharis acicularis
Description of decorations: All decorations are from the river: sand, a tree, a real creek.
Description of equipment: Comfortzone AQn 50, lighting 10W LED 8000K.
Water parameters: Water temperature is 26°C, hardness is 25 dH and pH is 7.5.
INFORMATION ABOUT BIOTOPE
Description of the area surrounding the biotope: Orinoco is a river in South America, flows mainly through Venezuela and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Its length is 2736 kilometers. The Orinoco River is formed by the confluence of Venezuela River and Ugeto River, which begin from Delgado-Chalbaud Mount in the southwestern part of the Guiana Plateau, on the border with Brazil. From Orinoco you can get to Amazon, as there is a natural connection between the two water basins. Connection is carried out through the Casiquiare River (its length is 326 km). Casiquiare is a branch of Orinoco in its upper section, flows to the south and into the Rio Negro. This affluent is a tributary of the Amazon.
Description of the underwater landscape of the biotope: The Orinoco River deposits also contain extensive tar sands in the Orinoco oil belt, which may be a source of future oil production. The Orinoco River is characterized by an unusually interesting colour of water. This feature can be explained completely logically: the colour of the water depends on the features of the coastal plants and the composition of the bottom soil. Therefore, the water in the tributaries of the river can be light yellow, white, dark coffee, ink-black, and can also vary in this range.
Description of the parameters of the habitat: The temperature is 26°C, pH is 6,5.
List of fishes and invertebrates occurring in the nature biotope: Osteoglossum bicirrhosum, Colossoma macropomum, Dasyatis.
List of plants found in the nature biotope: Glossostigma elatinoides, Anubias barteri, Riccia fluitans, Eleocharis acicularis, Vandellia cirrhosa.
Sources of information:
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%ADo_Orinoco#Fauna
Comments of the members of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2018
It is always good to be interested in participating in important events such as the BADC. Participation is appreciated. And it is not a negative comment, but quite the contrary. I would like your skills to grow, so I invite you to prepare for the next edition taking into account all the concepts that together define a biotope aquarium. And in the same way if you have doubts, please contact one of the organizers and other members of the BADC, who can support you, I am sure. Good luck and thanks for participating!
Sorry to be rude, but it really not OK to house these fish in your tank. The volume of the tank is even too low for most other commercially available fishes. Besides that you should have a look to natural forms of scalares if you want to take part of this competition. Plants are not biotope correct either. I think you did not get what biotoping is about. Look at the good tanks in this contest and be inspired. Read, study, look and breathe biotoping. And next time you will definitely have a better tank!