bam Demanding level

Musa River bends’ edges, PNG

Sponsored by
The Aquarium Company

Papua New Guinea, Northern Province, Ijivitari

This is a reproduction of a natural biotope in the Safia Valley of Papua Nuova Guinea.

In a marginal, shallow part of one of the Musa river bends, the slow, steady current smooths and gathers the rocks and driftwood, which pile up with each other. In the ravines that are thus formed, Tateurdina ocellicauda and Pseudomugil furcatus hide, finding thier ideal habitat among the lush and dense aquatic vegetation that develops in the area.

Submitted by
Alessandro Crudo
Approved by
Greg Martin & Peter Unmack
GPS
-9.6349087, 148.6232910
Geographical region
Oceania
Drainage Basin
River catchment
Water body type
Stream
Water body name
Nameless affluent
Water body part
Water body course
Lower course
Water body: tributary of
River
Tributary name
Safia

Videos above and below water

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type
Fresh water
Water color
Clear water
Water transparency
High
Concentration of sediments
No
Water temperature
27 °C
Water flow/curent
Slow

Chemical parameters

pH
7.2
Conductivity
130
GH
3 mg/l
KH
1 mg/l
Dissolved Oxygen

Aquarium information

Aquarium description

Set-up date
April 2021
Aquarium decoration

Sandy bottom: inert, for building purposes and consisting mainly of phyllite silicates, gneiss, crystalline schists, of a geological composition similar to that of the region, in order to simulate the erosion of the upper rocks and the slow accumulation of insoluble sediments.

Rocks: commonly used by aquarists, small and medium-sized granitic rocks chosen in various light and dark colors with a prevalence of beige colors.

Woods and roots of common aquarium use.

Aquarium equipment

Two high-capacity air filters and a 150W heater.

Fish care

Weekly 20% water changes with osmosis and regular maintenance.

Abundant feeding with live food (Daphnia magna, Chironomus larvae, and tubifex) along with dry food.

Fish:

  • Tateurndina ocellicauda
  • Pseudomugil furcatus

Aquatic plants:

  • Leptochilus pteropus
  • Vallisneria sp.
  • Ceratophyllum demersum.
Plant care

Daily and weekly doses of iquid fertilizers.

Water care

Bottom syphoning and varied maintenance.

Dimensions

Length
80 cm
Depth
35 cm
High
40 cm
Volume
90 L

Substrate in aquarium

Sand
Grey
Pebble/Gravel
Mixed
Stone
Beige
Stone form
Roundish
Silt/Mud
None
Leaves
no
Driftwood
Many
Submerged terrestrial vegetation
no

Bibliography

  • Freshwater biodiversity of new Guinea special publication of: June 2007 ANGFA (Australia New Guinea Fishes Association Queenslad inc. by ANGFA Australia New Guinea Fishes Association Queenslad inc.

Sitography

→ GAS Gruppo Acquariofilo Salentino
→ https://www.treccani.it
→ BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Project
→ BIOTOPE AQUARIUM Project
→ https://www.mondodiscus.com

Comment by the expert

Greg Martin: Limited footage of the natural biotope – points deducted. Hornwart does not occur in this location – points deducted.

Peter Unmack: All of the BIN data were from a previous submission. The plants didn’t seem to be a particularly close match, especially given the habitat video showed almost no vegetation in the stream. The aquarium looked quite nice, but it was unclear that it matched the wild environment.