Small creek/peat swamp Upper Kapuas river basin

81st place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2017

 United Kingdom. Neil Whitley

Volume: 110 L
Dimensions: 80x35x40 cm
List of fishes: 8x Sphaerichthys vaillanti, 4x Trigonopoma pauciperforatum, 20x Brevibora dorsiocellata
List of plants: Microsorum sp.
Description of decorations: Black  sand to simulate a dark muddy/decayed leaves substrate. Sumatra drift wood for tree roots,and Prunus spinosa to represent fallen branches. Palm fronds,leaves and other botanicals.
Description of equipment: JBL E700 filter.700lph, 2x Ikea Tertial  lamps with Philips LED R80 Reflector Bulbs – 3.7W. Lumens: 360 lm
Water parameters: Temperature 26C, pH 6, GH 4, KH 2, TDS 60

Description of the area surrounding the biotope: The river originates near the center of Borneo, south from the Indonesian-Malaysian border, in the joint between the western slope of the Müller Mountain Range, which runs through the island center, and the southern slope of the Upper Kapuas Range (Indonesian: Kapuas Hulu), which is located more to the west. For about 165 km (103 mi) it flows through a mountainous terrain and then descends to a marshy plain.
The discharge peaks during the rainy seasons in April and November, during which the water level may rise by 10–12 m (33–39 ft) overnight, overflowing river banks and flooding the nearby areas. The climate is warm and very humid, with the average annual precipitation ranging from year to year between 2,863 to 5,517 mm (112.7–217.2 in), and the number of rainy days between 120 and 309; the largest precipitation was observed in 1976 (120 rainy days) and the wettest in 1988, with only 184 rainy days.The temperature is rather stable with a typical minimum of 24 °C (75 °F) and maximum of 32 °C (90 °F) through the whole year.

Description of the underwater landscape of the biotope: The water passes through peat swamps and leaf litter strewn creeks and streams, tree roots and fallen branches,staining the water with tannins.

Description of the parameters of the habitat: The water is tannin stained due to the peat and leaf litter.pH 5.3, conductivity 20 µS/cm and water temperature 85.1°C/29.5°C.

List of fishes: There’s over 200 other fish species occurring in the Upper Kapuas river basin.

List of plants: Mainly terrestial.

Threats to the ecology: As with a lot of Borneo,there is a threat of illegal logging and gold mining,and increasing palm oil plantations.

Sources of information: http://junglemikey.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/