#510: 284L Biotope Aquascape Tuquan meets Susquehanna

Geoffrey Gallo Lancaster, United States

Awards and Comments

First Place
BEAUTIFUL representation of this habitat!!!
— Karen Randall
Now THAT's what I call a biotope tank. While I don't know the aquarist I live somewhat near Lancaster County and am also off the Susquehanna. This looks JUST like what I've seen in local streams.
— Phil Edwards

Aquascape Details

Dimensions 48 × 18 × 21 cm
Title Tuquan meets Susquehanna
Volume 284L
Background Black paper
Lighting 2x 40w T8 florescent lighting on tank, 6x 40w T8 florescent lighting on sump/bio-filtration
Filtration 54g sump w/ 650gph pump. 2x Tetra Whisper 60 power filters. DIY Algae scrubber. Approx 3 gallons of Elodea nuttallii in sump as biofilter. 5g refugium for baitfish keeping.
Plants Elodea nuttallii (Nuttall's Waterweed)
Animals 4x Orconectes virilis (Northern Crayfish)
1x Lepomis cyanellus (Green sunfish)
1x Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill sunfish)
1x Ictalurus punctatus (Channel catfish)

Materials Substrate is composed of various sizes of local rocks, sand and silt. Driftwood is from dredging projects near local oak-lined river banks. Rocks are Quartz Schist, abundant and predominant in only a small area of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Additional Information The objective of the tank was to recreate the environment found along the banks of the Susquehanna river, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Specifically, my favorite fishing hole, where Tuquan creek enters the Susquehanna. Everything in the tank is native and was gathered on family/friend's properties in the area. The fish were caught hook and line, except the crayfish who were handfished.

The rocks are Quartz schist and their overwhelming predominance is a local phenomena. Lovely stones that glisten with their fine bits of crystal, dotting the riverways and brightening the banks. Their placement in the tank is representative of this place where stony stream meets massive river.

I apologize for my modest picture quality and hope you have enjoyed my tank as much as I have enjoyed keeping it.


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