Dimensions 122 × 46 × 51 cm

Title Heart of Darkness

Volume 284L

Background self-adhesive black background

Lighting four 48 inch 6500K T12s

Filtration Fluval 404 with their surface skimmer intake attachment

Plants Anubias barteri v. Nana, Anubias barteri v. angustifolia, Bolbitus heudelotii

Animals 6 Phenacogrammus interruptus (Congo Tetras), 2 Ctenopoma acutirostre (Spotted Bushfish), 1 Xenomystus nigri (African Knifefish), 1 Pantodon buchholzi (African Butterfly Fish), 1 Synodontis brichardi (Brichardi Catfish)

Materials I used lots of driftwood for decoration and pure peat moss for the substrate.

Additional Information This entry is a Congo River biotope tank. In creating it, I had to modify the output end of the filter by attaching it to a pipe drilled full of holes in order to more evenly disperse the water flow. Otherwise, I was blowing peat moss around in the tank. Also, I have found that some of my fish became far less shy and more active in the aquarium when lots of hiding places and the peat substrate were added. I do not fertilize nor add CO2 to the tank. I do a 20 gallon water change once a week, and I have to add baking soda to the new water in order to keep the pH up at 6.0.