Birch Hill island, Lake Winnipesaukee, USA

24th place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2019

Poland. Bartłomiej Paśnik

Volume: 375 L
Dimensions: 150x50x50 cm
List of fishes: Lepomis gibbosus, Orconectes limosus
List of plants: Ceratophyllum, Myriophyllum
Description of decorations: Stones, wood (oak, birch, pine) used to build an aquarium occur in a natural biotope. Substrates made of sand and stones of various sizes, as well as twigs, a shell of acorns and pine cones perfectly reflect the coastal zone of the lake.
Description of equipment: Filtration: Aquael Unimax 700 1700l/h, Lighting: Daylight simulation based on LED modules 350W (max power 350W, min. power 50W.)
Water parameters: The temperature in summer is 25C, in winter 17. GH 20, pH 7.5
Additional info: Water change 20% ones a week. The fish are wintered in early spring. The aquarium is specially arranged to limit fish aggression (break line of sight).

INFORMATION ABOUT BIOTOPE

Description of the area surrounding the biotope: Winnipesaukee is a largest lake in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, It is approximately 21 miles (34 km) long (northwest-southeast) and from 1 to 9 miles (1.6 to 14.5 km) wide (northeast-southwest), covering 69 square miles (179 km2)—71 square miles (184 km2). The lake contains at least 264 islands. Winnipesaukee is the third-largest lake in New England after Lake Champlain and Moosehead Lake. It is 504 feet (154 m) above sea level. Winnipesaukee is a glacial lake but an unusual one, since the last glaciation actually reversed the flow of its waters. Draining the central portion of New Hampshire, it once flowed southeast, leaving via what is now Alton Bay toward the Atlantic Ocean. When glacial debris blocked this path, flow was redirected westward through Paugus Bay into the Winnipesaukee River. The latter flows west from the lake and joins the Pemigewasset River in Franklin to form the Merrimack River, which flows south to Massachusetts and into the Atlantic. The lake consists of a wide, relatively open central region known as the Broads, surrounded by several large bays, as well as many smaller inlets. The coastline of the discussed biotope is overgrown by mixed forests. The most common species are: Acer pensylvanicum, Acer rubrum, Betula papyrifera, Pinus strobus, Pinus resinosa, Qercus rubra, Tsuga canadensis.

Description of the underwater landscape of the biotope: Underwater landscape picture mostly covers rubble of stones, overgrown with lush vegetation and dead wood. This creates ideal conditions for the life of fish and other species. The bottom is covered with sand or sludge and plant debris.

Description of the parameters of the habitat: Water is transparent. temperature typically reaches the upper around 25 °C in late July and cools into the around 18 °C in September. Several days of hot, humid weather at the height of summer can bring the water temperature well above 26 °C. It normally freezes during the last week of December. Ice thickness during a typical winter can be in excess of 460 mm in many parts of the lake. pH 7-7,5.

List of fishes and invertebrates occurring in the nature biotope: Micropterus salmoides, Ictalurus punctatus, Ameiurus melas, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Lepomis macrochirus, Lepomis cyanellus, Lepomis gibbosus, Orconectes limosus, Lepomis mgalotis, Cyprinella lutrensis

List of plants found in the nature biotope: Ceratophyllum, Myriophyllum spp., Cabomba caroliniana, Vallisneria americana, Najas, Utricularia spp.

Threats to the ecology: N/A

Sources of information:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/23314672?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3Af799287b8d820a3d8f7e62021b810ead&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
https://www.jstor.org/stable/42003364?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3A18367a61b683ac742775d9dc0b604949&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
http://winnipesaukee.uslakes.info/FishingChart.asp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Winnipesaukee
https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/publications/wd/documents/wd-05-30.pdf
https://wildlife.state.nh.us/maps/bathymetry/winnipesaukee_gilford.pdf
https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/vrap/winnipesaukee/documents/lwwa_data10.pdf
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Winnipesaukee/@43.718162,-71.365436,814m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x4cb33a6565e1f667:0x8161db12805c2a18!8m2!3d43.6093667!4d-71.3219147



Comments of the members of the jury of Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2019