Nirmal Lake, Nirmal, Nalasopara – palghar district maharashtra

_st place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2022

Volume of aquarium: 68.4 L

Dimensions of aquarium: 2ft x 1 ft x 15

List of fishes: Aplocheilus panchaxblue , panchax or whit spot

List of plants: Pistia stratiotes – Water lettuce
Echinodorus grisebachii – Amazon sword plant
Anubias barteri var. nana

Description of Decorations and Substrate: biotope consist of drift wood , Indian almond leaves , soil consist of silt small stones and silt collected from the area this biotope is inspired by . biotope also includes small drift wood and twigs collected from the area to give it a natural touch
it also includes Floating plants Lemnoideae , Pistia stratiotes .

Description of Equipment: rs 3000 hangon filter , flow rate – 500 L/H , lights ,RS E – 300 , Surface filter – RS F 200 .

Water Parameters: Temperature : 27°
PH – 7.5

Additional Info: water change cycle : every week 30% water change , cleaning of class from Algae formation , add liquid fertilizers for floating plants
adding black solution formed my Indian almond leaves , cleaning of filter media in case of slow water flow .

Aquarium video:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IWPsxIf4aqw0JVbKHH6JnZzdZDMLAGOs?usp=sharing

Description of the Area Surrounding the Biotope: Nirmal lake is at Nalasopara West, palghar district of Maharashtra this lake is naturally formed there are villages around this lake who use lake water for there drinking local fisherman catch local fish from this lake , lake is surrounded by lots of coconut trees and green zoon and water from lake is used for banana cultivation in the area , lake has lots of freshwater fish specimens this lake is is very good
for some quality indigenous fish found in district of palghar – maharashtra .

Description of the Underwater Landscape of the Biotope: the lake has red tan in water because of coconut trees and palm trees around the lake it also has lots of driftwood soaked in water the substrate of the lake consist of red soil with balance mix of sand and silt some good quality stones are also available in the lake lake also has wild aquatic plants growing around including floating plants the lake is deep professional swimmers would be required to carry fishing n netting in the lake .

Description of the Habitat Parameters: transparent water with red tan to it because of drift wood and coconut and palm tree submerged
PH – 7.5
Warm: 28° Celsius
Cool: 16° Celsius

List of Fishes and Invertebrates Occurring in the Nature Biotope: Blue panchax – Aplocheilus panchax .

List of Plants Found in the Nature Biotope: Floating plants Lemnoideae , Pistia stratiotes , Anubias barteri var. nana , Echinodorus grisebachii

Threats to the Ecology of the Biotope: this aquarium was set to bring to peoples consideration threats caused to eco system caused by people living around the lake there are multiple factors that are damaging eco system 1: washing of cloths in the lake is adding harmful chemicals in the lake that is spoiling the water parameters for life in lake . 2: dumping of household waste into the lake including plastic bottles that float on the surface fish get trapped in plastic bags n bottles . 3: illegal culture of non native specimens of fish ( Tilapia ) , ( Magur – catfish ) that are causing damage to eco system non native specimens are taking over entire lake to depletion of native indigenous fish .

Sources of Information:
Wikipedia
google for location and proper address data search .
team visit to the location and data collection of fish and plant information
water sample collection done my us .