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Swamp
an
experimental project
The
best thing having an aquarium shop, is the possibility to work with
everything you like in aquariophily without spending a lot of money.
From
the opening day, one thing was clear to me: it was a job for me, but
also a study-field. I always wanted to understand how nature works
and in this world, where business seems to justify even dirty jokes,
I decided to follow my principles, to respect nature and to follow
its rules.
I
was wandering if it could be possible to create a self-sufficient
aquarium. As you know, in the tank it is possible to reproduce
nature, but there is at least one thing human beings have to do:
change part of the water, because you can't have anaerobic bacteria
in the aquarium without using a special equipment. But, I asked
myself, is it really true? How does nature deal with this problem?
I
started with the examination of a natural habitat: underwater
biological environment was deeply connected with the surface
environment, so I started projecting a swamp biotype. On the bottom
of the tank, I created few sand-pockets to let the specific
anaerobic bacteria that eliminate nitrates grow naturally and I used
peat and thin gravel to cover the bottom with, at least 5-6 cm.. I
didn't want to use too many mechanical parts, so I added just a
compact filter, filled with small porous ceramic cylinders to lodge
bacteria. Then I started to built a mangrove wood framework, I add
surface plants and some Anubias underwater. Then I lighted the
tank with two 20 watt neon, I filled 1/3 of the tank with RO water
and I left the aquarium working for two month without touching
anything.
Well,
after 2 years, you can see the result in the pictures... During that
time, I added some choreographic effects, as a small mechanism that
creates the mist, an underwater light and some "lianas"
made with glued moss... And pay attention: I never had to change
water and I don't need to feed fish ! I really reached the
self-sufficient aquarium !
Data:
Tank
: cm. 155 X 85 X 60
Temperature : 26° C.
Lights : 2 HQI suspended lamp 150 Watt
Mechanical parts: Biological filter of 100 lt., 3 pump
1000 lt/h, 6 heater 300 Watt.
Plants: Anubias spec., Microsorium spec., Nymphaea var.
Panama Pacific
Animals : 2 Astronotus Ocellatus, 2 Hipostomus plecustomus
Chemistry : KH= 3, pH= 6.8, GH= 6, NO2=
0, NO3= 0-10.0
Water change: every 3 weeks, 1/3 of the total.
Continued
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