Dimensions 80 × 50 × 30 cm

Title Bar Lake - big lake on Riv river, Vinnytsia region, Ukraine

Volume 120L

Background light blue paper behind

Lighting 2 Led lamps (6500 K) x20 Wt, daytime period - 13 hours (11:00-24:00)

Filtration internal filter SunSun CHJ- 502, filtration materials – sponge and sintepon

Plants Ceratophyllum demersum, Nuphar lutea, Sparganium natans, Potamogeton lucens, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Elodea canadensis, Najas major, Stratiotes aloides, Spongilla lacustris, Lemna minor, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae

Animals Gymnocephalus cernua (2), Leucaspius delineatus (1), Rhodeus amarus (4), Pungitius pungitius (8), Cobitis taenia (4), Unio pictorum, Physa fontinalis, Planorbarius corneus, Viviparus viviparus, Pisidium amnicum

Materials oak and willow roots, silt mixed with sand, willow leaves, twigs

Additional Information This biotope system is unique.
Why?
The aquarium was filled with water on August, 01, 2020 and grew, developed and matured on its own, with only minor human interference till this photographing and filming act on Sept, 12, 2021. My job consisted only of basic routine: internal filter cleaning, water changing (as little as possible, mostly just keeping the level, top off evaporated water); feed fish and switch on/off the light and filters (this job is done by smart plug)).
No interference in the way the plants grow, no aquascaping attempts, no adding new inhabitants, no fertilizing (no Amano system). Every living creature you see in the photo (except of small bur-reed plants, added in May), has spent 13 months here (including winter season!).

About expediency of adding big plants, such as pondweed (Potamogeton) and yellow water-lily (Nuphar) in this biotope. Physical dimensions of the tank are too tiny to host these monsters. - Yes and no. I can hardly remember any water plant species in my area (Europe as well) that perfectly suits our aquariums. But, luckily, most of these plants can easily adopt themselves to the size of aquarium, grow natural and feel happy in it. There are still some other factors influencing their state much more (like supplying proper nutrition and light, that is crucially important for most of European temperate water plants).

My source of inspiration:
Bar lake is located southwest of town Bar; it is an ornithological reserve.
The lake is shallow with slow current, overgrown with extremely rich flora and fauna, also representing many species already extinct from most other local rivers (weatherfish, spined loach, water soldiers and others). Lake bottom consists of mixture of sand and silt.
Water is clear, its chemical parameters are stable during the summer:
pH: 7.6-7.8 kH: 9-11 gH: 13-15
Different species of willow, alder, oak and other trees, growing on banks, provide the lake with fallen leaves and driftwood.