Obnova river in the south of Leningrad region, Russia

_st place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2022

Volume of aquarium: 297 L

Dimensions of aquarium: 120х45х55

List of fishes: Salmo Trutta fario

List of plants: Vallisnéria sp.

Description of Decorations and Substrate: As a soil, river sand from a natural biotope mixed with DECOTOP Tanga sand was used. Rounded granite stones, various branches and snags from the biotope, pine and alder cones, pieces of bark are presented as decorations in the aquarium.

Description of Equipment: Tetra Tetronic LED ProLine 980 LED lamp, eheim 2217 external filter, Tetra 400 compressor, HAILEA HC-1000А refrigerator, Aquael Reef Circulator 2500 flow pump

Water Parameters: Temperature – 16 ° C, рН 7.0, NO3 2, КН 6, GH 10

Additional Info: In the absence of the opportunity to get the burrhead in winter, wallisneria was planted in the aquarium, as a plant visually similar to it.

Aquarium video:

Description of the Area Surrounding the Biotope: The Obnova River flows in the south of the Leningrad Region and is a tributary of the larger Luga River. The length of the river is about 15 km. The Obnova River itself originates in the forest bolts and springs of the Leningrad Region, and flows in forest canyons. In turn, such springs are surrounded by predominantly coniferous and often mixed forests. The soils in which the river flows are outcrops of Middle Devonian rocks, represented by reddish sandstone with admixtures of various types of clay.

Description of the Underwater Landscape of the Biotope: The course of the river is quite rough, but the water remains quite clear. The soil covering the bottom of the river is fine-grained Devonian sand mixed with silt and a large number of pieces of red clay. On the bottom surface, one can find granite boulders, completely uncharacteristic of the rocks of the Devonian period, rare aquatic plants, as well as a large number of drowned trees. The average depth of the river is about 50 centimeters, but in some places the depth reaches about 1 meter.

Description of the Habitat Parameters: Temperature 13-16° C, PH 8, KH 8, NO2 0-2, NO3 0-2, GH 3, PO4 0, NH2/NH4 0-1

List of Fishes and Invertebrates Occurring in the Nature Biotope: Thymallus thymallus, Osmerus eperlanus, Salmo salar, Perca fluviatilis, Gobio gobio, Lampetra planeri, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, Salmo trutta fario, Salmo trutta

List of Plants Found in the Nature Biotope: Sparganium sp., Fontinalis

Threats to the Ecology of the Biotope:At the moment, the main environmental problems threatening the biotope are deforestation, as well as environmental pollution.

Sources of Information:
https://vk.com/wall-85203328_2204