bam Very demanding level

Small Rio Negro tributary near Manaus, Brazil

Brazil, Amazonas, Manaus

In this 144-liter aquarium, there are a lot of roots, branches, dead leaves and humus underwater. Here the left and right banks form the intersection of this small tributary. Small fish roam freely in the reserve, and the gentle water flow fills the water with oxygen.

Submitted by: Wang Qiliang
Approved by: Roberto E. Reis & Flávio Lima

GPS: -3.1220734, -60.0293579

Geographical region: South America
Drainage Basin: Rio Amazonas
River catchment: Rio Negro
Water body type: Wetland
Water body name: Rio Negro
Water body part: River mouth
Water body course: Lower course
Water body: tributary of: Rio
Tributary name: Negro

Videos above and below water

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type: Fresh water
Water color: Mixed water
Water transparency: Medium
Concentration of sediments: High
Water temperature: 27 °C
Water flow/curent: None

Chemical parameters

pH: 5.0
Conductivity: 40
GH
KH
Dissolved Oxygen: 40 %

Aquarium information

Aquarium description

Set-up date

April, 2022

Aquarium decoration

I used a lot of absorbent stones to build the river bank, and stuck a lot of pond mud on the absorbent stones. The bottom bed was set with pond mud about 3cm high to simulate the underwater bed in nature.

The underwater roots and branches are collected in the wild, and they are used after disinfection, which ensures the safety of fish. The bed contains a lot of dead leaves, which are imported from Brazil, ensuring the reduction degree.

Humus and algae attached to plants are naturally generated through time. In order to ensure the rationality, my idea was that the direction of water flow is from the right back to the left front, simulating the intersection of the tributary. So the river bank is also built on the left side, so that the water flow can form a circulation in the aquarium. When the water hits the left bank, it will automatically flow to the right and front.

In the aquarium, I also created a large number of slow-flow areas to facilitate fish to rest.

Aquarium equipment

Filtration：EHEIM600 1000L/H
Lamp：Wushuang WRGB 80W

Fish care

Every day fish feed on the algae and detritus in the aquarium. Every week, I feed some small insects to ensure the balanced nutrition of fish. During the day, fish swim freely in the current chasing each other, sometimes resting in the slow-flow area at night.

Water entering the aquarium produces a large number of bubbles, which also improves the dissolved oxygen of the water, and ensures that the fish will not lack oxygen.

Fishes:

Hemigrammus rubrostriatus
Hemigrammus sp.
Hyphessorbrycon sp.

Plant care

No aquatic plants in the tank.

Water care

The water in the aquarium is changed by 30% every week. I check the condition of the filter every two months, and remove the excess dirt. The organisms in the filter remain intact. The water is properly oxygenated to simulate the average water flow at the outlet of the filter.

Dimensions

Length: 80 cm
Depth: 60 cm
High: 30 cm
Volume: 144 L

Substrate in aquarium

Sand: Beige
Pebble/Gravel: None
Stone: None
Stone form: Irregular
Silt/Mud: Beige
Leaves: Many
Driftwood: Many
Submerged terrestrial vegetation: No

Sitography

→ Wikipedia.orf

Comment by the expert

Roberto E. Reis: Beautiful tank, with no plants but many roots and leaves. Only one or maybe two fish species, not identified.

Flavio Lima: It is a very well executed biotope, although the lack of a video from the original biotope precludes a full assessment. Although the fishes species seem to be correct for the area reproduced in the aquarium, the identifications are not – Hemigrammus rubrostriatus does not occur at the lower rio Negro, only at the upper rio Negro.