bam Easy level

Tan Shan River, New Territories, Hong Kong

Sponsored by
Educated by Nature

Hong Kong, New Territories in Eastern-Asia, Hong Kong

This biotope aquarium is based around my love for Rhinogobius duospilus, the first fish i ever kept, which introduced me into this hobby. The biotope was set up to resemble the natural biotope as close as possible without hurting it’s natural environment. (or any natural environment).

Submitted by
Xavier Bourdet
Approved by
Fan Li & Zhou Hang
Geographical region
Eastern Asia
Drainage Basin
River catchment
Ng Tung River
Water body type
River
Water body name
Tan Shan River
Water body part
Water body course
Water body: tributary of
River
Tributary name
Ng Tung River

Videos above and below water

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type
Fresh water
Water color
Clear water
Water transparency
High
Concentration of sediments
Low
Water temperature
18 - 24 °C
Water flow/curent
Slow

Chemical parameters

pH
7.5
Conductivity
GH
10 mg/l
KH
Dissolved Oxygen

Aquarium information

Aquarium description

Set-up date
September 2019
Aquarium decoration

The decoration of this aquarium was acquired to resemble the natural biotope as close as possible without hurting it’s natural environment (or any natural environment). The bottom layer of the aquarium consists of river sand with a grain size of 0.8mm, artificial river stones protrude from the sand. The appearance of the sand is affected by the water current and the fish burrowing, leaving a build up of sand around the stones giving it a natural feel.

Aquarium equipment

The aquarium is equipped with a large canister filter; the JBL CristalProfi e1501 greenline (1400l/h), and a streaming pump; the EHEIM streamON+ 3500 (with a maximum capacity of 3500l/h). The lighting is a EHEIM classic LED daylight (up to 6500K), powered by a EHEIM Dimmer Day & Night, the extendable mounting brackets on the lighting make it possible to place the lighting at angles which allows creating natural lighting effects.

Fish care

I keep my fish healthy and active by keeping them in the correct environment. Feeding happens with red musquito larvae, water changes also affect the fish as described in water care.

Fish:

  • Rhinogobius Duospilus
Plant care
Water care

Water changes are done every 14 days which consists of changing 25% water, the water comes straight from the tap resulting in small temperature drops, highly appreciated by the fish.

Dimensions

Length
100 cm
Depth
40 cm
High
40 cm
Volume
160 L

Substrate in aquarium

Sand
White
Pebble/Gravel
no
Stone
Beige
Stone form
Roundish
Silt/Mud
no
Leaves
No
Driftwood
no
Submerged terrestrial vegetation
No

Bibliography

  • Hong Kong University Press - Hills and Streams: An Ecology of Hong Kong by David Dudgeon and Richard Corlett

Sitography

→ EcoDMS
→ Environmental Protection Department
→ Scalyscientist
→ Faculty of Social Sciences The University of Hong Kong
→ Drainage Services Department
→ Faculty of Social Sciences The University of Hong Kong
→ Faculty of Social Sciences The University of Hong Kong
→ Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
→ Wikipedia
→ Wikipedia
→ fishbase

Comment by the expert

Fan Li: Both biotic and abiotic elements used in this aquarium were too simple.

Zhou Hang: The substrate is unnatural. The stones used also belong to more upstream of the river, where Rhinogobius duospilus is also found. So maybe change the sand to small stones would enhance the set up.