Early morning at an unnamed swamp in Conghua, Guangdong, China
_st place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2022
Volume of aquarium: 243 L
Dimensions of aquarium: 90x60x45 cm
List of fishes: Oryzias pectoralis, Tanichthys albonubes, Barbodes semifasciolatus, Aphyocypris normalis
List of plants: Phragmites australis, Eleocharis yokoscensis, Nephrolepis sp.
Description of Decorations and Substrate: All the materials used in my aquarium, including branches, dry leaves, etc., come from the wild nature. In order to restore wild habitat of Tanichthys albonubes in the most authentic way, I use the natural pond mud taking from the origin in Guangdong Province, which is vital in achieving the same water quality parameters as in the original habitat.
Description of Equipment: Kessil Tuna Sun 360x 90w LED (2), Spectrum 6,000K to 9,000K, EHEIM professional 4 350 filter 1050L/H, EHEIM 600 classic external filter 1000L/H
Water Parameters: Aquarium water looks clear. The aquarium is kept at room temperature at about 25°C at this time of year. The parameters of the water are 6.4 pH and 35 TDS. These pH and TDS values are reached thanks to the use of the same substrate of the aquatic system.
Aquarium video:
Description of the Area Surrounding the Biotope: Conghua District (113.558247, 23.617745) is located in the northeast of Guangzhou city, Guangdong province, with an area of 1974.5 square kilometers. Conghua is located in low latitude zone, subtropical monsoon climate, mild climate, abundant rainfall. The annual average temperature is 22.0℃, the annual average rainfall is 1953 mm, and the annual sunshine hours are 1590 hours. During the rainy season from April to September, the water level rises significantly. Soil, branches and leaves along the river banks are washed into the river. October to March is the dry season, the water level decreases, the amount of organic matter in the water decreases, and the water becomes clear. During the dry season, the typical pH is 6.3 and TDS is 32.
Description of the Underwater Landscape of the Biotope: The swamp I describe is rich in vegetation, with a large distribution of Nephrolepis sp. The swamp is littered with branches, providing plenty of shelter for fish. The substrate of the swamp is muddy, which is very suitable for the growth of Phragmites australis in it. In some areas of the swamp there is a distribution of Eleocharis yokoscensis.
Description of the Habitat Parameters: The annual average temperature is 22.0℃. During the rainy season from April to September, the water level rises significantly. Soil, branches and leaves along the river banks are washed into the river. October to March is the dry season, the water level decreases, the amount of organic matter in the water decreases, and the water becomes clear. During the dry season, the typical pH is 6.3 and TDS is 32.
List of Fishes and Invertebrates Occurring in the Nature Biotope: Oryzias pectoralis, Tanichthys albonubes, Barbodes semifasciolatus, Aphyocypris normalis
List of Plants Found in the Nature Biotope: Phragmites australis, Eleocharis yokoscensis, Nephrolepis sp.
Threats to the Ecology of the Biotope: Tanichthys albonubes is one of the most beautiful native fishes in China. Unfortunately, with the continuous expansion of human activities, the habitat is constantly being destroyed, and the wild population disappears a lot. In recent years, under the conservation of native guardians, the wild community is gradually recovering. The natural environment and underwater landscape of the habitat of Tanichthys albonubes are also very beautiful. In order to make people know about their life and protect them, I made this biome aquarium of Tanichthys albonubes. Since Tanichthys albonubes are protected fish in China, Tanichthys albonubes in my aquarium are artificial bred.
Sources of Information:
1. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/rWwfCAt3QAc2drgeYICreQ
2. The freshwater fishes of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Science and Technology Press, P77, P138
3. A New Record Species of Ricefishes in China: Oryzias pectoralis, Wu Wei-ming, Li Jian-Zhong
4. Threatened fishes of the world: Tanichthys albonubes Lin 1932 (Cyprinidae), Xu-Fang Liang, Guo-Zhu Chen, Xiang-Lin Chen
5. https://www.bilibili.com/video/av61823406/