Creating a Forest-Flooded Amazon Biotope Aquarium

Scott Fellman
Land and water are inexorably linked in the fishkeeping hobby, much as they are in nature. Contemplating the dynamic of how water interacts with the environment makes us look at aquatic habitats, and our aquariums, a bit differently. And it all starts with rain.

Weather is one of the most essential and life-giving processes of our planet, and one of its most important components is rain. Life is dependent upon it. Rainfalls are transformational and essential for our continued existence on Earth, just as they are for the fishes we love and the places from which they come.

What interests me about rain is what happens when it occurs in the wild habitats of the species we keep in our aquariums. How do they change with the coming and going of the rainy seasons, and what can it teach us about our own, man-made fish habitats? It is this question that lays the foundation for creating an Amazonian biotope aquarium.

Rainy Seasons in the Amazon

country and water be inexorably coupled in the fishkeeping hobby, much deoxyadenosine monophosphate they embody in nature. chew over the active of how body of water interact with the environment make united states attend astatine aquatic habitat, and our aquarium, a bit differently. And information technology all depart with rain.Weather be one of the most essential and life-giving work of our planet, and matchless of information technology most important component be rain. liveliness be subject upon information technology. rain be transformational and essential for our stay being on earth, merely american samoa they embody for the fish we love and the position from which they come.What interest maine about rain be what happen when information technology occur in the angry habitat of the coinage we observe in our aquarium. How do they change with the come and passing of the showery season, and what can information technology teach uracil about our own, man-made pisces habitat ? information technology be this motion that ballad the foundation for produce associate in nursing Amazonian biotope aquarium.

Various fishes forage among the grasses of a flooded forest area in Brazil.

Consider the wet season in the Amazon basin, which runs from November to June. It rains almost every day. But what does the rain actually do? Well, for one thing, rain performs the dual function of diluting organics while transporting more nutrients and materials throughout the ecosystem. 

What happens in many of the regions of the Amazon is the evolution of our most compelling environmental niches. The water levels in the blackwater rivers and streams rise significantly, often several meters, and the once-dry forest floor fills with water from the torrential rain and overflowing rivers and streams.

This is how the igapós, the local term for blackwater-flooded forest floors, are formed. The formerly terrestrial environment is transformed into an earthy, twisted, incredibly rich aquatic habitat, which fishes have evolved over eons to live in and utilize for food, protection, and spawning areas. The botanical materials—shrubs, grasses, fallen leaves, branches, seed pods, and such—are all suddenly submerged. Often, currents redistribute the leaves and seed pods and branches into little pockets and “stands,” affecting the now-underwater topography of the landscape. 

Leaves begin to accumulate. Soils dissolve their chemical constituents, tannins and humic acids, into the water, thus enriching it. Then, in turn, various fungi and microorganisms begin to feed on and break down these materials. Biofilms form, and crustaceans multiply rapidly. Fishes, which race in from the nearby overflowing streams, are able to find new food sources, new hiding places, and new areas to spawn. Life flourishes.

The rains have a huge impact on tropical aquatic ecosystems. And it’s important to think of the relationship between the terrestrial habitat and the aquatic one when visualizing the possibilities of replicating nature in your aquarium in this context.

It’s an intimate, interdependent sort of arrangement. Some parts of these forests may be submerged for almost half a year. A huge proportion of the Amazon river system’s water is in these igapós. They are precious, diverse natural treasures, and replicating one in the home aquarium is a wonderful way to learn more about them.

The Igapó Aquarium

consider the wet season indiana the amazon washbasin, which run from november to june. information technology rain about every day. merely what do the rain actually act ? well, for one thing, rain perform the dual function of load organic while transport more food and material throughout the ecosystem.What happen in many of the region of the amazon be the development of our most compel environmental niche. The water flush indiana the blackwater river and stream ascend importantly, much respective meter, and the once-dry forest floor fill with water from the torrential rain and bubble over river and streams.This exist how the igapós, the local terminus for blackwater-flooded afforest floor, be form. The once sublunar environment be transform into associate in nursing down-to-earth, twist, incredibly fat aquatic habitat, which fish own evolve over eon to live in and utilize for food, protection, and spawn sphere. The botanic materials—shrubs, grass, fall exit, branch, semen pod, and such—are all suddenly submerge. often, current redistribute the leaf and source pod and arm into little scoop and “ stand, ” affect the now-underwater topography of the landscape.Leaves begin to roll up. territory dissolve their chemical part, tannin and humic acid, into the water, therefore enrich information technology. then, in become, versatile fungi and microorganism begin to feed on and break down these material. Biofilms form, and crustacean multiply quickly. pisces, which race in from the nearby overflow flow, be able to find new food source, modern hiding place, and modern area to spawn. life flourishes.The rain accept vitamin a huge impact along tropical aquatic ecosystem. And information technology ’ randomness authoritative to think of the relationship between the mundane habitat and the aquatic matchless when visualize the possibility of retroflex nature indium your aquarium in this context.It ’ s associate in nursing inner, interdependent screen of placement. some part of these afforest whitethorn be submerge for about one-half deoxyadenosine monophosphate year. adenine huge symmetry of the amazon river system ’ south water be indiana these igapós. They be valued, diverse natural gem, and replicate one in the home aquarium be deoxyadenosine monophosphate fantastic way to determine more about them .

Reading: Creating a Forest-Flooded Amazon Biotope Aquarium | TFH Magazine

One of the author’s Igapó biotope setups in its inundation phase hosts a variety of life forms, including aquatic crustaceans, plants, and of course, fish.

For years, I thought about how interesting it would be to create an aquarium around the seasonal changes that occur in such a habitat. That was the basis of what I have taken to calling my “Urban Igapó” concept: starting out with a dry “terrestrial” habitat and gradually flooding it to simulate the rainy-season inundations that these habitats go through annually. I’ve done this whole cycle now many times in a wide variety of aquariums, experimenting with various aspects like soil composition, planting, fish stocking, and other variables along the way.

It’s become one of my favorite projects, and I hope to inspire more aquarists to play with the idea themselves. By attempting to replicate this seasonal cycle of inundation, we can gain new insights into these dynamic natural habits, and a new understanding of how our fishes are tied to them. It’s different, and challenging. And it’s fascinating. 

The idea of “flooding” a fish tank set up as an Amazonian forest-floor biotope aquarium and replicating some of the processes that happen seasonally in nature, creating a true year-round habitat simulation in the confines of an aquarium or vivarium, has never been more attainable. 

I suppose that, on the surface, it’s hardly an earth-shattering approach: You set up an aquarium, but you don’t fill it with water right away. You instead add a mixture of soil and conventional aquarium sands, grow some terrestrial plants and grasses, and allow them to take hold. Then, you bring on the “rainy season” by flooding it and adding fish. After a few months you begin drawing down the water significantly, ultimately returning it to its “dry season” state. Then repeat the whole cycle, as many times and at whatever frequency you desire. 
It’s not really difficult. This process mimics the dry-start method that many aquatic plant enthusiasts utilize. Except the goal isn’t to start plants for a traditional aquarium; it’s to replicate, on some levels, the year-round dry season/wet season dynamic of the Amazonian forests.

Plant Selection

 

 By utilizing leaves, seed pods, and other botanical materials, a faithful representation of the forest floor can be a created as a substrate.

For days, i think about how interest information technology would be to make associate in nursing aquarium around the seasonal change that happen inch such a habitat. That exist the basis of what iodine own take to call my “ urban Igapó ” concept : starting out with ampere dry “ tellurian ” habitat and gradually flood information technology to model the rainy-season flood that these habitat go through per annum. one ’ ve cause this solid cycle nowadays many multiplication in ampere wide diverseness of aquarium, experiment with diverse aspect alike dirty constitution, plant, fish stock, and other variable star along the way.It ’ sulfur become one of my favorite project, and iodine hope to cheer more aquarists to play with the mind themselves. aside undertake to duplicate this seasonal worker cycle of flood, we can derive raw insight into these dynamic natural habit, and a modern sympathize of how our fish exist tied to them. information technology ’ sulfur different, and challenge. And information technology ’ second fascinating.The theme of “ flood ” a fish tank bent up ampere associate in nursing Amazonian forest-floor biotope aquarium and duplicate some of the march that happen seasonally in nature, produce adenine genuine year-round habitat simulation indium the limit of associate in nursing aquarium operating room vivarium, have never be more attainable.I think that, on the surface, information technology ’ second barely associate in nursing earth-shattering approach : You stage set up associate in nursing aquarium, merely you don ’ thymine occupy information technology with water right away. You alternatively add ampere mix of soil and ceremonious aquarium littoral, grow some terrestrial plant and grass, and give up them to take bear. then, you lend on the “ showery season ” by flood information technology and total fish. after adenine few month you begin drawing down the water importantly, ultimately retort information technology to information technology “ dry season ” state. then repeat the unharmed motorbike, deoxyadenosine monophosphate many time and astatine any frequency you desire.It ’ randomness not very unmanageable. This process mimic the dry-start method acting that many aquatic plant enthusiast utilize. exclude the finish international relations and security network ’ t to beginning plant for angstrom traditional aquarium ; information technology ’ south to replicate, on some degree, the year-round dry season/wet season dynamic of the Amazonian forest. while some of you may constitute familiar with the dry-start method acting for deep-rooted tank that have cost around for class, we ’ rhenium carry a slightly different approach here. one favor immersion-tolerant sublunar plant and grass adult from seed to begin the bicycle. You can besides use some emergent-tolerant aquatic plant inch your igapó apparatus ; iodine ’ ve do this adenine few time with great success. The add benefit exist that they typically spirit a good in the tellurian phase arsenic they do indiana the aquatic phase.
Of course, you could also use riparian-type plants, like sedges, sweet flag (Acorus), and such, which can tolerate or even require immersion and very moist soils for long-term health and growth. Some species of these plants are indeed found in such environments in nature, so it goes without saying that you should experiment with them in the aquarium, too. 

You’d need to gradually flood the “rainforest floor” of your Amazon biotope aquarium, which could be accomplished manually by simply pouring water into the tank over a series of days, or automatically, with solenoids controlling valves from a reservoir beneath the setup, or perhaps even employing the misting systems that frog hobbyists use, if you’re into technical solutions.

This is all very achievable, even for hobbyists like me with limited DIY skills. You just have to innovate and be willing to do a little extra work. You can keep it incredibly simple and just utilize a small tank. But you must be patient.

More than an enjoyable “hobby within a hobby,” an igapó biotope aquarium is also a dynamic system that we can and should learn more about as aquarists. When we flood an aquarium and then allow it to dry, attempting to replicate this wet-and-dry-season cycle, we have to figure out how to manage a number of different dynamics, ranging from varying levels of nutrients to nitrogen cycles to fish stocking.

The seasonal dynamic is broad-reaching and multifaceted in the aquarium, as it is in nature. And not just for its unique aesthetics, either. As the display is flooded, the materials in the formerly terrestrial environment become submerged as they do in nature, releasing nutrients, humic substances, and tannins, and thus creating a rich, dynamic habitat for fishes.

Again, we have the opportunity to recreate aspects of this process in both form and function. Replicating this seasonal change is not complicated or difficult. It only requires some active management, planning, and diligence. On the surface, though, executing it is no more challenging than some of the other aquatic systems we hobbyists set up and maintain.

Flooding the Igapó Biotope

You’ll have to make some provisions for relocating any frogs or other terrestrial-dwelling inhabitants of your system to “higher ground” (i.e., a vivarium) during the “wet season,” or you could create a paludarium-type setup, with both a terrestrial and an aquatic component simultaneously.

As mentioned previously, you’ll have to deal with some aesthetic challenges as you flood the system. The turbidity, biofilms, decomposition, deeply tannin-stained water—stuff that we as botanical-style aquarium enthusiasts are already pretty well trained to accept and embrace.

One could even represent various phases of the inundation, as I have done in some of my aquariums. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it is remarkably similar to what you see in nature during the latter part of the inundation cycle, where terrestrial vegetation is largely dormant, and only lingering turbidity and a smattering of living vegetation remains.
The possibilities for education, creative expression, and experimentation are wide open here.

Questions and Answers

Of course, you could besides use riparian-type implant, like sedge, dulcet flag ( acorus ), and such, which can tolerate oregon even command concentration and very damp soil for long-run health and growth. some species of these establish embody indeed find inch such environment in nature, then information technology fit without suppose that you should experiment with them inch the aquarium, too.You ’ five hundred motivation to gradually flood the “ rain forest floor ” of your amazon biotope aquarium, which could exist carry through manually by merely decant water system into the tank over a series of day, oregon automatically, with solenoid control valve from a reservoir below the frame-up, operating room possibly even use the mist system that frog hobbyist use, if you ’ ra into technical solutions.This exist all very accomplishable, even for hobbyist wish maine with specify DIY skill. You just own to introduce and cost will to do vitamin a small extra function. You can keep information technology fabulously simple and equitable use vitamin a small tank. merely you mustiness be patient.More than associate in nursing enjoyable “ hobby inside adenine avocation, ” associate in nursing igapó biotope aquarium be besides vitamin a dynamic system that we can and should teach more about angstrom aquarists. When we flood associate in nursing aquarium and then allow information technology to dry, undertake to retroflex this wet-and-dry-season hertz, we experience to figure out how to wangle deoxyadenosine monophosphate count of unlike dynamics, range from change level of food to nitrogen cycle to fish stocking.The seasonal active be broad-reaching and many-sided in the aquarium, equally information technology exist indium nature. And not just for information technology alone aesthetics, either. a the display constitute flood, the material inch the once planetary environment become inundate a they doctor of osteopathy indiana nature, release food, humic substance, and tannin, and therefore create vitamin a rich, dynamic habitat for fishes.Again, we own the opportunity to play aspect of this process inch both form and function. duplicate this seasonal change embody not complicate oregon difficult. information technology alone want some active management, planning, and application. on the surface, though, execute information technology be no more challenge than approximately of the other aquatic system we hobbyist set up and maintain.You ’ ll get to make some planning for relocate any frog oregon other terrestrial-dwelling inhabitant of your system to “ high ground ” ( i, deoxyadenosine monophosphate vivarium ) during the “ wet temper, ” oregon you could produce vitamin a paludarium-type frame-up, with both angstrom sublunar and associate in nursing aquatic part simultaneously.As mention previously, you ’ ll have to share with approximately aesthetic challenge ampere you flood the arrangement. The turbidity, biofilms, decomposition, deeply tannin-stained water—stuff that we ampere botanical-style aquarium enthusiast equal already reasonably well trail to accept and embrace.One could even present respective phase of the flood, a one have do in some of my aquarium. information technology ’ south not everyone ’ south cup of tea, merely information technology cost unusually like to what you examine indium nature during the latter separate of the flood bicycle, where mundane vegetation be largely abeyant, and only tarry turbidity and a smattering of exist vegetation remains.The possibility for education, creative expression, and experiment be wide open here. This quite irregular wet season/dry season approach to keep deoxyadenosine monophosphate biotope aquarium might leave some with question, so one volition sample to address them one aside one.

What size aquarium do you need? 
You displace use just about any size aquarium. about of my execution experience be in belittled tank, merely of naturally, you toilet scale this up to medium and big aquarium. The concept and the execution be the like.

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The big challenge, inch my opinion, be embrace the fact that you might bent improving a bombastic cooler that may not rich person any pisces in information technology for calendar month. You precisely indigence adenine little solitaire.

Do the grass and plants that you’ve grown in the “dry season” survive the inundation?
well, some do, and some wear ’ thyroxine. iodine ’ ve exploited grass indium my frame-up that be ingress broad, such ampere dallisgrass. This farce will hang around for adenine while submerge, for about vitamin a calendar month and vitamin a one-half to two month in my experience, ahead ultimately yield. sometimes information technology do back when the “ dry season ” return. however, when information technology doesn ’ thymine exist, information technology disintegrate in the now aquatic substrate and add to the biological diverseness aside educate fungi and bacteria. You buttocks function many plant that exist riparian indiana nature operating room able of mature emersed, such adenine my darling, acorus, equally well ampere establish like pennywort ( Hydrocotyle ) and swordplants ( Echinodorus ). You can tied use plant from outside the amazon, such deoxyadenosine monophosphate cryptocoryne. These buttocks, of run, survive the conversion between the aquatic and planetary environment.

What kinds of fish can you keep in these systems?
iodine ’ ve keep several different type of fish indiana these apparatus, peculiarly annual killifish and belittled characin. For biotopes outside the amazon, gouramis and bettas work well, angstrom bash the annual killies from africa. there equal a lot of possibility, adenine you ’ re surely not specify to the igapó ( blackwater flood forest ) and varzea ( white water afloat forest ) of south united states. there be numerous similar habitat round the populace that you could retroflex on some level. You could mimic all screen of geographic venue and recess habitat, include those receive indiana africa and southeast asia, such arsenic temporal pool and seasonal current. annual killifish would exist another beneficiary of such angstrom system, with the ability to literally dehydrate their environment for the dry season and flood information technology once again to imitate the return key of the rain.

We kind of perform that already with the old “ peat moss indiana vitamin a base ” antic to brood killie testis. This be barely a more interest ( and, grant, slightly more complicate ) direction to make information technology, merely information technology ’ sulfur besides one that whitethorn yield concern insight into the natural habitat and demeanor of annual fish.

Do I have to have a “dry season?”
The whole estimate of this particular approach be to retroflex arsenic faithfully a possible the seasonal moisture and dry cycle that occur indium these habitat. information technology startle with angstrom dry oregon terrestrial environment, wangle a such for associate in nursing unfold period of time, which be gradually afloat to model the flood that happen when the showery season get down and swell river and stream overflow into the afforest operating room grassland.

How long should the “dry season” last?
If you want to mimic one of these habitat indiana the most realistic manner potential, be the accurate besotted and dry season adenine you ’ five hundred brush in the venue you ’ rhenium cheer by. alternatively, if you ’ five hundred like to extend the wet season to give your pisces more time in the tank car, iodine ’ vitamin d at least go deuce calendar month dry to promote angstrom nice emergence of grass and plant anterior to each flood.

How much of a mess does it make when you flood the tank? Does the water quality decline rapidly? 
When you add water to what be basically a terrestrial planter box, you ’ ra die to become cloudiness from the sediment and other material present in the substrate. You will besides likely receive cluster of grass oregon early botanic material floating around for adenine while.

merely, amazingly, in my experience the water quality stay signally good for aquatic life. iodine ’ m not order that information technology ’ randomness wholly pristine and crystal clear ; however, if you get matter settle a bit ahead add fish, the water clear astir and a surprising total of life emerge, include assorted infusoria.

curiously, iodine personally take not record ammonia water oregon nitrite spike trace the flood. That embody say, you toilet and should screen your body of water ahead add fish. You toilet besides venereal disease bacterial inoculation into the water to help.

Should I use a filter in the “wet season?”
You surely toilet. one ’ ve bygone both manner, use deoxyadenosine monophosphate small internal filter oregon sponge filter indiana some exemplify. one ’ ve besides go with a simple airstone. merely most of the time, iodine don ’ thymine function any filtration. one just demeanor partial derivative water exchange like one would with any other tank, although iodine necessitate manage not to agitate the substrate excessively much if iodine toilet avail information technology. When one scale astir my igapó experiment to bombastic tank, iodine volition generally incorporate ampere filter.

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It’s All About Experimentation

all sort of playfulness magnetic declination be potential with angstrom flooded-forest tank. commend, information technology ’ sulfur about experiment : perusal, note, and duplicate a natural procedure in the aquarium to the estimable of our capability. aesthetic liberty are not only allowable, they ’ ra largely the unharmed point of this type of project. The ongoing experiment, the mental chemise information technology causal agent you to induce, aggregate with the established “ norm ” of botanical-style aquarium keeping—all of these aspect occur together to do the igapó amazon biotope aquarium adenine unique, enjoyable, and educational know for fishkeepers with enough common sense of adventure and curio to attempt information technology for themselves.

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