Papeno’o River, Tahiti, French Polynesia

Aquarium information

Aquarium description

Set-up date

April, 2023

Aquarium decoration

Setting up this aquarium begins with a layer of cloth to avoid scratching the glass with boulders. Boulders of dark colors similar to those of the natural biotope were collected in local streams. The layout has been created so that it appears to rise above the background. I succeeded by kicking up a layer of rough sand. When the boulders resumed their place, I laid out some small volcanic pebbles.

The final layer was a mixture of river sand, brown substrate sand and volcanic sand to achieve the required color of the bottom. Small dark pebbles have been sprinkled and carried by the flow of water to achieve a natural look. The same method was used for small driftwood branches. After they sank, they were carried away by the water flow and stuck under boulders.

The aquarium cycled for about a month and a half. Slowly the necessary algae covered the boulders after a long and regular light.

Aquarium equipment

Filtration and waterflow:

• Exleco Wavemaker Jvp-130 (4000l/h) and AquaEl Skimmer SAS 500 (reduced to 350l/h).

Lighting:

• Dynamic Power 18W Aquarium Blue White LED with MagicHome light dimmer (9-21 time period with sunrise and sunset).

Fish care

The aquarium provides all the food Stiphodon needs. Different types of algae and microorganisms in the aquarium are produced naturally without disturbing the environment. The only diversification in food is for Macrobrachium shrimps, frozen bloodworms and Hikari (Crab Cuisine) sticks.

The interesting fact is that the fish have learned the lighting period and an hour before the light goes down all the fish disappear. They usually find hiding behind or under boulders in caves they have dug in the pale sand.

To keep the fish in the aquarium there must be a cover. I use a thin plastic cover with a small feed hole. The reason for keeping these fish sheltered is that they are really good climbers thanks to their pelvic fins, which transform into sucking discs to keep them in place in fast flowing waters. Shrimps are also excellent climbers.

Fishes:

•  Stiphodon semoni (Oxudercidae) –  8

Crustaceans:

• Macrobrachium sp. (Palaemonidae) – 4

Molluscs:

• Clithon corona (Neritidae) – 2

Plant care

None.

Water care

The water in the aquarium is changed every week, about 20L per water change. During the maintainance the glass and filter element in surface skimmer are cleaned.

Dimensions

Length

85 cm

Depth

28 cm

High

25 cm

Volume

59.5 L