The bank of Bai River, Huairou, Beijing, China

_st place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2022


Volume of your aquarium: 243L

Dimensions of your aquarium: 90x60x45cm

List of fishes: Zacco platypus, Rhynchocypris lagowskii, Rhodeus ocellatus

List of plants: Phragmites australis

Description of Decorations and Substrate: All the materials used in my aquarium come from nature. To restore wild habitat in the most realistic way, I use stones and gravel from habitat, which is critical to achieving water quality parameters that match the original habitat. I simulated the riverbank effect on the left side of the aquarium with a large stone and planted Phragmites australis on it. With the growth of reeds, their roots and leaves fall in the water, forming a beautiful scenery.

Description of Equipment: Sun geometric RGB LED light 75w (2)
Eheim 600 Classic External Filter, Flow 1000 L/H
Innovative CF1200 external filter with flow 1550L/H
Old fisherman ring-shaped wave pump 15w

Water Parameters: Aquarium water looks clear. The aquarium is kept at room temperature at about 25°C and is placed indoors. The parameters for water are 7.2 pH and GH 8. Water quality parameters (e.g. pH and GH) are met due to the use of the same base bed as the original habitat.

Aquarium video:

Description of the Area Surrounding the Biotope: The White River tributary I recorded is located in the natural scenic area of Huairou White River Bay in Beijing, about 100 kilometers from the Beijing urban area. The Scenic area has a green vegetation coverage rate of more than 90% with lush trees, fresh air, clean water quality and little pollution. The climate is pleasant, with a high day and night temperature difference. The average annual temperature in the area is between 7-13 degrees Celsius, with the rainy season from June to September and the dry season from October to January. The White River is where the Black River and the Liuli River merge and is following all year round. The water surface is nearly 50 meters wide.

Description of the Underwater Landscape of the Biotope: This section of Bai River is about 30-50 meters wide and 20cm-2m deep. The center of the river is filled with varying sizes of pebbles covered with algae. The bottom bed is sandy. The central area of the river has a rapid flow of water, which is clear and oxygen-rich. The flow of water in the shallow water area of the edge of the river is relatively slow, and the river bed there collected a thick layer of soil, which provides a growing environment for plants such as Nymphaea tetragona and Phragmites australis

Description of the Habitat Parameters: Water body data (measured in 2021.6.6): water temperature is about 25 degrees Celsius and water depth is 20cm-2m, with 7.1 pH and 8 GH.

List of Fishes and Invertebrates Occurring in the Nature Biotope: Cobitis sp
Barbatula nuda
Abbottina rivularis
Zacco platypus
Opsariichthys bidens
Rhodeus ocellatus
Sarcocheilichthys nigripinnis
Pelteobagrus fulvidraco
Rhynchocypris lagowskii

List of Plants Found in the Nature Biotope: Potamogeton pectinatus
Potamogeton perfoliatus
Potamogeton wrightii
Phragmites australis

Threats to the Ecology of the Biotope: Beijing as the capital of China has a bustling city center. During the weekends, I prefer to go to the suburbs of Beijing for a chance to wind down and to observe the beauty of nature. Huairou White River Bay Scenic Area is always my first choice, since there exists a wealth of fish and aquatic living resources. The habitat there is so beautiful that the moment the water laps over the camera, I can glimpse the mystery of another world. The increase in tourists has brought a lot of man-made waste to the natural waters, which has a negative impact on the water quality. The harsh changes in water quality pose a major challenge to the creatures that have lived here for thousands of years. In order to capture the beauty of this habitat and to raise awareness for people to protect it, I created the habitat’s biome aquarium.

Sources of Information:
[1] Baidu Baike- New World Encyclopedia White River Bay Scenic Area
[2] List of fish species distributing in natural and semi-natural waters in Beijing and adjacent area