The Summertime in a shallow North European pond
The 10th place in the qualifying stage of the Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2013
Latvia. Zanda Sejane
Volume: 243 L
List of fishes: Carassius carassius, Lymnaea stagnalis, Bithynia tentaculata, Planorbis carinatus, Radix sp., Asellus aquaticus and other invertebrates
List of plants: Nuphar lutea, Callitriche cophocarpa, Sparganium emersum, Potamogeton natans, Hottonia palustris, Utricularia vulgaris, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Lemna trisulca, Elodea canadensis, Ceratophyllum demersum
Biotope description: North European ponds in the summertime are teeming with life. This rich fauna and flora inspired me to reproduce a shallow stagnant aquatic habitat in the aquarium. All animals, plants, and decorations, including Elodea canadensis and Ceratophyllum demersum, have been collected from the Beberlini sand-pit in Latvia (coordinates: 56°33’52” N 21°1’10” E). Canadian Waterweed and Hornwort are invasive species in Latvia, but at present they are common in ponds, ditches, and lakes. I have, therefore, decided to use them in my tank.
For me this was the 4th best of the Eurasia biotopes, because it is a beautiful, almost authentic biotope of a north European pond without any doubt. Congratulations Zanda, very nice work and only fractions of points away from the others.
In short – amazing, amazing, amazing. And I have no idea why it ranked 7th place, instead of the 1st place. This is absolutely my favourite tank, which shows that coldwater biotopes can also be very attractive (I guess this is how Central European lakes looked like when there was no agricultural pollution).