Wetland near Hopong, Shan State, Myanmar

Aquarium information

Aquarium description

Set-up date

July, 2024

Aquarium decoration

With my aquarium, I aimed to recreate a shallow watland area which heavily overgrown with vegetation. To achieve this, I used beige-colored sand and gravel as the substrate, which provides a suitable medium for plant root development.

I covered this with a layer made of leaves, reeds, and peat, the color and texture of which closely resemble the natural sediment found in such habitats. The substrate is slightly sloped to simulate the natural shaping effect of rainwater accumulation. Since rocks, driftwood, and branches are not typical of the area, I chose not to include them in the setup.

The main decorative elements are the reed stems, among which I planted the live vegetation. Hygrophila polysperma and Hygroryza aristata have grown to the water’s surface, and shading the aquarium.

Their aerial roots offer excellent hiding places for these tiny fish. Petruichthys sp. “rosy” especially benefits from the abundance of cover, as they are easily startled by the slightest movement but in this maintance they can quickly find hiding places.

Aquarium equipment

Filtration: Sicce Whale 500, 18Watt, 1300l/h
Lighting: Led reflectors – 2×20Watt, 6500K

Fish list:

• Danio margaritatus (Cyprinidae)
• Petruichthys sp. rosy (Nemacheilidae)

Aquatic plant list:

• Hygrophila polysperma (Acanthaceae)
• Blyxa japonica (Hydrocharitaceae)
• Cyperus helferi (Cyperaceae)
• Salvinia cucullata (Salviniaceae)
• Hygroryza aristata (Poaceae)

Fish care

Both fish species I’ve chosen are relatively easy to care for, but feeding them may pose a challenge for some. Since both Danio margaritatus and Petruichthys sp. “rosy” are very small, it’s important to pay attention to the size of the food.

I feed them only with live food like bloodworms, Enchytraeus buchholzi, brine shrimp and tubifex to keep them healthy and energetic. But Petruichthys sp. “rosy” is a shy, bottom-feeding species, so it’s essential to ensure that it gets enough food even in the presence of the much braver and gluttonous Danio margaritatus.

In addition to feeding, the other key aspect of their care is providing an aquarium with plenty of hiding places. I rarely trim the plants, which has allowed them to grow thickly and fill out the intended space. As a result, the fish are noticeably more confident and often swim up to the front glass. Another indicator of their well-being is that they spawn continuously, and thanks to the dense vegetation, some of the eggs and fry survive regularly.

I don’t use a heater in the aquarium, as the room where it is located maintains a temperature between 23–26°C. The natural temperature fluctuations mimic the day-night, and summer-winter cycle found in the wild, which helps boost the fish’s activity levels and strengthens their immune system.

Plant care

The aquatic plants found in this aquarium do not need any special care. I rarely trim the Hygrophila polysperma and Hygroryza aristata, as they provide suitable hiding places for the fish. Sometimes I need to thin the Salvinia cucullata when it is cover the water surface too much.

The lighting imitates natural light, which promotes photosynthesis and plant growth and to help this I use liquid plant nutrient every 3-4 days.

Water care

I usually change 20% of the water every 2-3 weeks, in addition I only replace the evaporated water. I only clean the filter when its power has decreased too much. If the leaves in the aquarium are rotten, I replace them with new ones.

Dimensions

Length

90 cm

Depth

35 cm

High

35 cm

Volume

110 L