Lake Tanganyika. Tropheus duboisi at Cape Kabogo
100th place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2018
Lithuania. Mantvydas Strikauskis
Volume: 820 L
Dimensions: 195x70x60 cm
List of fishes: Tropheus duboisi, Eretmodus cyanostictus “Kigoma Orange”, Julidochromis transcriptus
List of plants: N/A
Description of decorations: Silica sand 0.8-1.2mm and about 250kg of granite rocks.
Description of equipment: Glass: 12mm, front is Optiwhite (low iron glass). Lid: Custom made from Alubond plastic/aluminium composite. Stand: 20x40x3 tube frame covered with white glossy acrylic MDF panels. Light: 3x24W Nicrew LED. Filtration: Fluval FX5 (second one coming soon), 2000 l/h Atman power head, Heating: Eheim 500W heater. Food: Fish fed exclusively NorthFin Veggie formula.
Water parameters: Temperature 27C, pH, 7.9, GH 14.
INFORMATION ABOUT BIOTOPE
Description of the area surrounding the biotope: Lake Tanganyika is situated within the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift, and is confined by the mountainous walls of the valley. It is the largest rift lake in Africa and the second largest lake by volume in the world. It is the deepest lake in Africa and holds the greatest volume of fresh water, accounting for 16% of the world’s available fresh water. It extends for 676 km (420 mi) in a general north-south direction and averages 50 km (31 mi) in width. The lake covers 32,900 km2 (12,700 sq mi), with a shoreline of 1,828 km (1,136 mi), a mean depth of 570 m (1,870 ft) and a maximum depth of 1,470 m (4,820 ft) (in the northern basin). It holds an estimated 18,900 cubic kilometres (4,500 cu mi).
Description of the underwater landscape of the biotope: The bottom of shallow waters at Cape Kabogo are fully covered by rocks and washed by waves, but just under the waves there is a large selection of native Tanganyika fish species and the jewel itself – Tropheus Duboisi Maswa, which is a rare sighting in the wild since they have been endangered.
Description of the parameters of the habitat: Tanganyika Lake water parameters are approximately. PH: 8.5-9.4. GH: 12-18. KH: 12-16.
List of fishes and invertebrates occurring in the nature biotope: Tropheus, Julidochromis, Eredmodus, Neolamprologus.
List of plants found in the nature biotope: N/A
Threats to the ecology: Tropheus Duboisi is classified as vulnerable due to their small estimated population size (a few thousand) and restricted distribution. It is heavily in demand in the aquarium trade, and likely impacted to some degree by increases in sedimeation in its natural habitat. The ones that I chose are bred responsibly by local breeders with no incest (males were removed and new ones from a different group were added).
Sources of information: Video of Lithuanian diver Tautvydas Pangonis