Dimensions 90 × 50 × 50 cm
Title Floresta de Igapó
Volume 225L
Background Black Vinyl
Lighting Custom led setup combining 3000-6000k 37w + 24w 6500k Aquazonic LED Fixture
Filtration Custom made - HOB filter, 1 pump for internal circulation and one for HOB
Plants Limnobium Laevigatum, Aquatic grasses(a few sprigs here and there), Aquatic palm(roots of this can be submerged)
Animals paracheirodon axelrodi 20, Pristella maxillaris 12, Hyphessobrycon sweglesi 8, nannostomus eques 6, carnegiella marthae 6, Otocinclus vittatus, Rineloricaria sp., mesonauta festivus 3(for a brief while)
Materials Bogwood, Driftwood, palm twigs, pods of various trees and catappa leaf(crushed mostly)
Additional Information Inspired by the flooded blackwater forests of Rio Caurés, aka the 'igapo' - Portuguese word for swamp forests that are seasonally inundated with freshwater. They create unique habitats for a diversity of small fish seeking shelter within these slow moving waters where debris and organic matter doesn't wash away with current.
This aquascape seeks to replicate such a habitat with the appropriate decor arranged in a way that defines the ecosystem. A layer of potting soil added at the base of left corner of the tank where the water palm was rooted, topped with a mix of gravelly substrate to hold the steep slopes at certain areas and also to avoid anaerobic conditions within substrate, this was topped with a mix of fine grade mixture of lighter colored sand mixed with crushed leaf debris. The giant piece of wood that is about 70lbs in weight(quite challenging to place in this tank) acts as a pivotal point where an interesting variation of substrate slopes and depths plays around it. The arch within the wood forms a narrow cave that opens right at the far left corner. Its quite interesting to see fishes shoaling in and disappearing down into the arch and emerging out from far left much higher than the point they were getting in.
This is probably the longest time I had a biotope scape, started in november of 2018 and was taken apart a couple of months ago as I was moving my home. I had no intent to use it as a contest tank, but later as I was going through my gallery I could see a potential for this. The characins remained constant throughout the tanks lifecycle, but I had added a trio of festivums which later had to be moved out as they were about to outgrow this setup.
Though the light was far from sufficient for photography, but the effect of sharp beams of light passing through the vegetation was something that mesmerized the viewers and the pictures cant justify the effect.
20-25% of water was changed twice a week.
pH: ~6, TDS:~200PPM, Temp: 25-28degC
P.S. Actual tank volume with hardscape is 160liter.
Overall the display is a good representation of a flooded forest except that in areas without current there would be a lot more leaf litter. Significantly more... probably several cm deep.
Accuracy of Plants and Animals for the Biotope:
Of the species listed there are two mistakes. H. sweglesi is a Rio Orinoco basin species and M. festivus is not found in the the Rio Negro basin... it is found in southern tributaries of the Amazon.
Accuracy of Hardscape:
The materials look accurate through there is a need for more leaf litter.
Condition:
Overall the aquarium and its inhabitants appear healthy and thriving.