Wugoushui Stream. Sub-basin of the Donggang River, Pingtung, Taiwan
3rd place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2016
Taiwan. Wei-Cheng Jhuang
Aquarium Volume: 180 L
Fish and invertebrates: Barbodes semifasciolatus, Rhinogobius rubromaculatus, Cobitis sinensis, Macrobrachium nipponense, Neocaridina denticulate
Plants list: Hydrolea zeylanica, Hydrocotyle leucocephala, Ceratopteris thalictroides, Limnophila trichophylla, Eragrostis amabilis, Hemigraphis primulifolia, Fissidens sp., Alocasia odora
Biotope description: The aquarium is set up based on the beautiful biotope of Wugoushui Stream, the upper and middle reaches of Donggang River, whose source comes from natural spring in Beidawu mountain. Wugoushui Stream has a unique ecological landscape, with abundant and diverse vegetation. Except for luxuriant gramineous vegetation by both sides(mainly Pennisetum alopecuroides and Eragrostis amabilis), Wugoushui Stream possesses of many rare aquatic plants(such as Hydrolea zeylanica and Limnophila trichophylla). In addition, some widely distributed species of Taiwan, Alocasia odora, Ceratopteris thalictroides, Hemigraphis primulifolia, Fissidens sp. and Ipomoea aquatica, can also been seen here. As for wildlife are following native fish: Barbodes semifasciolatus, Candidia barbata, Rhinogobius rubromaculatus, Acrossocheilus paradoxus and Cobitis sinensis. However, with environmental destruction and the invasion of Oreochromis sp., Systomus rubripinnis, Trichopodus trichopterus, Channa striata and Myriophyllum aquaticum, their existences are now seriously threaten. Numerous species of aquatic insects live in Wugoushui Stream as well as other invertibrates(Neocaridina denticulate, Macrobrachium nipponense and Corbicula fluminea formosa). Wugoushui Stream is a treasure of Mother nature with abundant biological diversity. Recently, with rise of awareness of ecological conservation, volunteers pay great effort in recovering its environment. Therefore, this aquarium is designed to arouse attention of residents to Wugoushui Stream.
Fish and invertebrates: Barbodes semifasciolatus, Rhinogobius rubromaculatus, Cobitis sinensis, Macrobrachium nipponense, Neocaridina denticulate
Plants list: Hydrolea zeylanica, Hydrocotyle leucocephala, Ceratopteris thalictroides, Limnophila trichophylla, Eragrostis amabilis, Hemigraphis primulifolia, Fissidens sp., Alocasia odora
Biotope description: The aquarium is set up based on the beautiful biotope of Wugoushui Stream, the upper and middle reaches of Donggang River, whose source comes from natural spring in Beidawu mountain. Wugoushui Stream has a unique ecological landscape, with abundant and diverse vegetation. Except for luxuriant gramineous vegetation by both sides(mainly Pennisetum alopecuroides and Eragrostis amabilis), Wugoushui Stream possesses of many rare aquatic plants(such as Hydrolea zeylanica and Limnophila trichophylla). In addition, some widely distributed species of Taiwan, Alocasia odora, Ceratopteris thalictroides, Hemigraphis primulifolia, Fissidens sp. and Ipomoea aquatica, can also been seen here. As for wildlife are following native fish: Barbodes semifasciolatus, Candidia barbata, Rhinogobius rubromaculatus, Acrossocheilus paradoxus and Cobitis sinensis. However, with environmental destruction and the invasion of Oreochromis sp., Systomus rubripinnis, Trichopodus trichopterus, Channa striata and Myriophyllum aquaticum, their existences are now seriously threaten. Numerous species of aquatic insects live in Wugoushui Stream as well as other invertibrates(Neocaridina denticulate, Macrobrachium nipponense and Corbicula fluminea formosa). Wugoushui Stream is a treasure of Mother nature with abundant biological diversity. Recently, with rise of awareness of ecological conservation, volunteers pay great effort in recovering its environment. Therefore, this aquarium is designed to arouse attention of residents to Wugoushui Stream.
Photo Gallery
Comments of the members of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2016
Remove background glass from the picture and it looks like you have little stream in your house. Overall, it was very natural composidtion, but remember, only underwater part was judged.
It is impressive. One of the habitats is in my immediate plans for the future. Absolutely correct material for this natural aquascape and perfect selection of inhabitants. Really I was glad that I saw this wonderful aquarium.
Even without the surface vegetation this is a very natural and compelling interpretation of a shallow stream in nature. From the bankside planting to the stone selection, for me this small stream section includes one important thing – shallow water. In nature small fish inhabit shallow water. It protects them from large fish and it is where they feed and breed. Add to that the combination of shrimp, barbs, loaches and gobies and there is lots for the Fishkeeper or breeder to be doing. Taiwanese biotopes are represented so this scored highly for me.
In my opinion it has the best bottom in this year’s edition of BADC contest – amazing combination of gravel and various sizes of pebbles. This is exactly how it looks in the wild (or at least – where I have been 🙂 ). Also the land part is very good – I always appreciate healthy plants growing over the water surface. In most exhibitions where I saw biotope aquariums plants on the land part were not adapted for living over water – they soon became dry, or were even burned by the illumination. Here – it is clearly not the case 🙂 (too bad the land part can not be judged…).
Amazing work. The Natural atmosphere is perfect. For me is the same that if i was swimming in Taiwanese river. Perfect choice of fauna and flora. I liked so much.
This biotope aquarium was so great that only being judged for ¼ of the content, it still got noticed by many of us. This setup has a magnificent simplicity and it is so different from the rest that it makes it stand out. Shallow biotope aquariums induce the curiosity effect on me. I always want to see what is in there. I hope to see more from this contestant in the future and see what he can do when he fills up the aquarium with a bit more water.
Strikingly simple yet elegant, this Taiwanese biotope brings a shallow riverbank ro life. The description is thoughtful and detailed, with an inspiring message of ecological restoration. The shore-hugging arrangement of the flora looks as though it has grown there naturally, and the very shallow water adds to the realism. How the inhabitants behave reveals much about how authentic this biotope is. Barbs school tightly, alert for danger yet continually searching for prey; gobies form a loose group and display to one another, scooting from stone-top to stone-top; a loach probes crevices for food with its specialised snout; a Machrobrachuim guards its den under the fringe of vegetation. Even within such a small space, each occupies its own specific niche, instincts triggered by the biotope-correct conditions around it.