#1383 Shadows of the Sumatran Peat
Batang Gansal River Basin (Peat Swamp Forest Streams), Bukit Tiga Puluh Buffer Zone
About This Aquascape
Sadly I have not been able to find any Boraras maculatus locally in quite some time which is what the tank was supposed to house. The tank is currently fishless, but is stocked with a variety of microfauna that provide a unique display aspect not seen often in the hobby.
- Filter
- Filter floss
- CO2 System
- N/A
- Lighting
- 2 x kessil a80 Tuna sun
- Substrate
- Caribsea sunset gold sand with trace amounts of sifted Chalily gold pond soil topped with coarse peat moss, Thai cutch bark. Cinnamon bark chunks, and shredded leaves to mimic a natural DUFF layer found in the peat swamps
- Hardscape Materials
- Main root tangle: Bogwood and Melastoma roots Accent branches: Bush honeysuckle Botanicals: Swamp climbing fern
- Background
- N/A
Species
Mesocyclops sp. Ostracod sp. Hyalella azteca Hydra Dero Lumbriculus variegatus
Plant species
N/A
Fertilization
N/A
Biotope Information
This Sumatran micro-habitat is a slow-moving, shallow primary stream slicing through deep, un-drained peat beds of the Batang Gansal River Basin, Bukit Tiga Puluh Buffer Zone. The water depth fluctuates between 10 cm and 30 cm in the marginal pools where Boraras maculatus form dense shoals to shelter and spawn. The aquatic environment is defined by its extreme lack of light and massive accumulation of organic matter. Sunlight is almost entirely choked out by an overhead canopy of towering trees, palms, and sprawling bankside vegetation. The stream bed lacks structural rocks or stones. Instead, it is composed of a fine alluvial clay-sand base entirely smothered under a deep, interlocking matrix of: • Decomposing forest leaf litter • Saturated tree branches and fallen logs • Fibrous, decaying peat moss mats The water is chemically extreme: clear but stained a very dark, tea-like hue ranging from deep amber to near-opaque black due to saturated humic and fulvic acids. Because it is a rainwater-fed system isolated from mineralized groundwater, the water contains virtually zero dissolved salts, rendering it exceptionally soft. https://www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/sumatran-peat-swamp-forests/ https://parosphromenus-project.org/article-blog-english/the-conservation-effort-for-blackwater-fish-by-pcba-2/ https://www.fishbase.se/summary/boraras-maculatus.html https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/boraras-maculatus
Quick Stats
- Style
- Biotope
- Size
- 90x38x33 cm
- Volume
- 112 L (29.6 gal.)
- Plant Species
- 1
- Fish Species
- 6
Judges' Comments
An exceptional and convincing recreation of a Sumatran peat habitat. The organic composition feels genuinely natural, with careful attention to ecological detail and a habitat that appears highly suitable for its fish. This is one of the strongest and most authentic entries in the category.
— Tai Strietman
I believe you have done an excellent job recreating a blackwater peat swamp habitat. I particularly appreciate the maturity of the aquascape and the natural development of biofilms, which add to its authenticity and ecological character. My only recommendation would have been to either wait until you were able to acquire the intended fish species or select alternative species native to this habitat. I think having fish that accurately represent the ecosystem would have further strengthened an already impressive scape.
— Kapil Mandrekar
A beautiful and incredibly natural-looking composition! The intricate network of roots, branches and leaf litter captures the atmosphere of a Sumatran peat swamp wonderfully. I love the generous aquarium size, especially considering the intention to keep tiny fish like Boraras maculatus. The focus on smaller invertebrates is also an interesting and refreshing choice, although Hyalella azteca is not native to Sumatra as far as I am aware. At the moment, however, the aquarium feels somewhat incomplete in terms of its aquatic community. Even Boraras alone wouldn't fully represent the remarkable diversity of these habitats. Nevertheless, a wonderfully atmospheric and thoughtfully executed recreation with enormous potential!
— Rodrigo Silva
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