#55: 340L Biotope Aquascape In a Brazil Stream

Richard E Mason Cape Town, South Africa

Comments

I believe this is the first time I've seen P. leopoldi in our competition. The combination of vertical wood and tall swords looks to be keeping your fish very happy. I doubt one would find the assortment of plants in the same location but the arrangement gives a nice natural impression.
— Phil Edwards
Attractive but typically angelfish live in areas with more wood and less plants.
— Karen Randall
Although this is a great environment for your angelfish I have almost never seen them in the types of plants you have chosen especially the combination of the Vallisneria and Echinodorus.
— Bailin Shaw

Aquascape Details

Dimensions 70 × 70 × 70 cm
Title In a Brazil Stream
Volume 340L
Background 250 micron black plastic sheeting
Lighting 5x T5’s grouped 2-2-1 and switched on at staggered 30 minute timed intervals to simulate sunrise, and off again to simulate sunset. The lights are all on together for 6hrs only.
Filtration Canister Filter (700L/hr) is used mainly to provide slight water movement. The plants do the main filtering.
Plants Echinororis parviflorus ; Echinororis bleheri ; Echinororis bolivianus; vallisneria
Animals Pterophyllum leopoldi, (Leopoldi angels - wild caught) x7 ;
Hemigrammus rhodostomus, (Rummy nose tetra) x23 ;
Dianema urostriatum, (Flagtail catfish) x1 ;
Corydora similis x5 ; Corydora schwartzi x5 ;
Otocinclus Affinis x5 ; Pomacea canaliculata (Apple snail) x1 ; Helisoma nigricans (Red Ramshorn snails)
Materials Smooth washed river stones
Vine roots
Substrate consists of a mix of 50% local rose and shrub mix with 50% river soil, which has is topped with 20mm course river sand.
Additional Information Research for this low-tech biotope (set up in November 2008) was done on the internet.
Maintenance is minimal. I only change 20% water once every 3 months and add a liquid plant food made by a local biochemistry professor. I rinse the filter sponges every 12 months and only trim plants when they block my view, or the light.
No CO2 is added.

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