Urubaxi River, Rio Negro tributary, Amazonas, Brazil

Aquarium information

Aquarium description

Set-up date

February, 2022

Aquarium decoration

Substrate composed of 8 kg of light beige river sand, fine granulometry, in addition to many botanical elements such as buriti seeds and bark, a typical tree from the Amazon region, a small dry coconut husk, coconut husk fiber and many tree leaves, dried fruit, simulating what we see on the underwater images of the Amazonian streams. All this organic matter releases a lot of tannin, leaving the water naturally dark, in addition to lowering the PH, keeping it around 6.0.

The rear background is molded in expandable foam, all covered with dry coconut fibers and with several tree roots, so it looks like we’re looking at the river bank, providing a different perspective. I also added some moss and filamentous algae, making the environment more welcoming for the fish, constantly swimming through the roots. At the top, I planted some ferns, which are rising to the surface and putting their roots into the water.

Composing the aquatic habitat, a large trunk as if it were one of the numerous trees that spend part of the year partially submerged, during the period of the Amazon rains and floating plants typical of the Amazonian rivers, Pistia stratiotes and Salvinia auriculata.

Aquarium equipment

The lighting consists of three spots of Stella LED lamps, par 20, opening angle 25º, directional, cold white 6500K, with 5.5W each, totaling 1,650 lumens and luminous intensity of 4,050cd.

The filtration system is made by a Jebo brand canister with a capacity of 900 l/h with two liters of Oceantech ceramic media and mechanical filtering blanket.

Fish care

Maintenance is carried out periodically, with TPAs ​​of 20% and monthly cleaning of the canister, as the large amount of tannins present in the water heavily soils the mechanical filtering element.

Parameters are measured and adjusted weekly if necessary. The same care is given to the replacement water from evaporation and TPAs, already being kept with some leaves so that it has physicochemical characteristics as close to the water of the aquarium.

The animals are fed once a day, preferably with flocked food specific for tetras, sometimes with garlic or spirulina-based food.

Fishes:

• Paracheirodon axelrodi
• Petitella bleheri

Plant care

The plants are not very demanding, only a control is made in the growth so that they do not occupy a very large area of ​​the surface, since they have a very accelerated reproduction rate.

The filamentous algae present in the roots also have to be controlled to prevent them from spreading uncontrollably.

Floating plants:

• Pistia stratiotes
• Salvinia auriculata

Wetland plant:

• Nephrolepis exaltata (Lomariopsidaceae)

Water care

As already mentioned I make monthly partial exchanges of 20%. The make-up water is treated with antichlorine and kept stored with some dry almond leaves, providing a good addition of tannins and acidifying it. To balance the PH and keep it stable I use a buffer. As the aquarium is located outside the house and the climate is hot and with little thermal amplitude, it is not necessary to use heaters or coolers, with the water temperature remaining around 28º C.

Dimensions

Length

80 cm

Depth

30 cm

High

40 cm

Volume

96 L