Silent ponds in Guangxi, China

110th place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2019

China. Su Yu Qing

Volume: 250 L
Dimensions: 100x50x50 cm
List of fishes: Macropodus opercularis, Oryzias pectoralis, Neocaridina denticulata
List of plants: Vallisneria natans, Phragmites australis, Nymphoides hydrophylla
Description of decorations: muddy soil
a big Branch(from garden,I’m not sure what kind it is.)
many leaves
many deferent kinds algae
Description of equipment: EHEIM filter 350×1
CRAZY STONE LED 50W ×2
Water parameters: temperature:28℃
ph:7.5
gh:16
Additional info: The water change frequency:about fifth of a week.
Don’t have any refrigeration equipment, because the habitat is very hot in summer.
There are many plants in the tank, I think my fish will like this environment and plants can absorb some hamful substances in the water.

INFORMATION ABOUT BIOTOPE

Description of the area surrounding the biotope: Southern China is rainy and hot in summer, ponds are often seen near woods and grasslands. The pond is surrounded by dense vegetatio.

Description of the underwater landscape of the biotope: Because it’s a separate pond, the water hardly flows, and only when it’s windy can there be ripples on the surface. Leaves and branchs of nearby plants plants fall into the water, giving it a pale yellow color. The bottom is almost entirely composed of mud, in which some aquatic plant grow, small fish in groups shuttle between water and grass, occasionally slightly larger fish swim, snails and shrimps lie on the bottom of water and grass

Description of the parameters of the habitat: the water is a little yellow, but transparent. Water temperature varies greatly from season to season, in summer some pond can approximately 30℃, but in winter, temperature below 20 degree. Water is close to neutral and has high hardness.

List of fishes and invertebrates occurring in the nature biotope: Macropodus opercularis
Oryzias pectoralis
Neocaridina denticulate
panties semifasciolatus
Rasbora steineri
Physa acuta

List of plants found in the nature biotope: Vallisneria natans
Phragmites australis
Nymphoides hydrophylla
Hydrocharis dubia
Hydrilla verticillata
Wolffia globosa

Threats to the ecology: As a developing country, China’s environment is not as good as that of developed countries. The pond environment in southern China is threatened by various factors. The first is pollution. Waste water from factories and chemical reagents used by some farmers have a great impact on the water quality of ponds. Next is the problem of species invasion. Many alien species, such as Trachemys scripta elegans,Oreochroms mossambcus, Gambusia affinis, Pomacea canaliculata and so on, do not have many natural enemies locally and are very competitive, which makes the local species in the same ecological niche great pressure. Some species carry diseases that are destructive to the local species. Moreover, local people have gradually increased the exploitation and utilization of the wild environment, and many fish habitats have been destroyed.

Sources of information:

article:https://m.book118.com/html/2018/0315/157370756.shtm
https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%8F%89%E5%B0%BE%E6%96%97%E9%B1%BC
http://baike.sm.cn/item/e1c9ab31b84cd06451a7e336647332b3.html
https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E8%8B%A6%E8%8D%89/748069
http://baike.sm.cn/item/ae5838227ee908e001cc86f6d6d19d76.html
https://fishbase.in/search.php
book:《中国原生鱼》,《中国南方淡水鱼类原色图鉴》

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