In this penultimate article on biotope aquariums, we are focusing on the ecoregion of the East African Mangrove Swamp and how to create a biotope aquarium that resembles this thickly wooded, brackish coastal swamp.
Mangroves are described as “the most critically threatened ecosystem in the world” and this is mainly due to their clearance and conversion to aquaculture, salt pans, and farmland.
An increasing threat to mangroves across the world is from rising sea levels caused by climate change and this could result in the loss of coastal habitats due to flooding and erosion.
The Rufiji Delta in the East African Mangroves ecoregion, the largest continuous block of estuarine mangrove forests in Africa, is just one of the areas which are at risk from sea-level rise.
We thoroughly believe that the best way to preserve this muddy region is to create our own, and in this article, we’re going to be showing you exactly how to do it!
Planning The Tank
Many of the possible inhabitants of this aquarium will become quite big as they mature, and certain species will require a greater depth of water.
The possible ratios of land to water, the size of the inhabitants, and of course the demands created by your own aquascaping, or even landscaping, must all be considered when deciding upon the size of your tank.
The temperature of the water should be maintained at 24 – 29°C, with a pH level of around 8.
You need to keep a close eye on the water quality, making sure that the pH and hardness remain quite stable, and that the levels of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates present in the water do not become too great.
The level of lighting for this aquarium should be standard.
A power filter is the most suitable form of filtration, although if an under-gravel filter is used, organic matter will decompose and release toxins that may create dead areas.
Essential Tools
- To recreate a mangrove swamp in this style, the tank should not be filled with more than 45 litres of water.
- The dimensions of this tank could be around 91 x 46 x 38 cm to carry the desired ratio of water and fish.
- Tap water is generally suitable for this tank, although it should be combined with suitable marine salt mixes.
- As there is relatively little water in the tank, it may be heated by one 150-watt heater/thermostat only and lit by a fluorescent tube.
- The power filter should be a small model, as there is no need for a strong flow through this tank.
Ingredients
Small Branch – Slender, twisted twigs, or larger pieces of curio wood, help to suggest the dense and varied overgrowth of the mangrove forest.
Silver Sand – Fine silver sand can be shaped to create banks, gentle slopes, and an irregular substrate.
Dead Coral – Finely textured dead corals, if placed as if washed onto the beach, provide interesting highlights.
Large Rocks – Large rocks help to bolster the sandy banks common to this type of environment.
Small Stone – Small stones can be used both for decoration, and to secure the plants and twigs
Bogwood – Large pieces of antique wood can be used to support the structure of the bank.
Suitable Plants Include:
Mangrove – also called Bruguiera spp
Large-leafed mangrove is normally a single-stemmed tree with short buttresses and characteristic “knee roots”. It tends to be of shorter stature and more conical in shape on the seaward edge of stands or in areas of high salinity. The bark is pale brown to grey, around 2 cm, thick, hard, and rough. The plant has solitary flower buds that are reddish to almost scarlet, occasionally pale yellow, white, or green.
Java Fern – also called Microsorum pteropus
The Java Fern is a traditional green aquarium plant that is made up of two main components: rhizome and leaves. The rhizomes act as an anchor and are dark brown hair-like strings that attach themselves to many different surfaces. The leaves are very hardy and have a leathery texture in a range of unique shapes, and the plant comes in a variety of greens, from medium to dark green.
Suitable Fishes Include:
- Description – This fish has a silver body that is decorated with black bands and a yellow tail.
Length – 8 cm.
Ease of keeping – Fairly difficult to keep as it requires salinity approaching that of seawater. This fish is also a generally nervous and solitary fish that needs constant hiding places, such as rocks.
Food – Enjoys an assortment of live foods but may sometimes prefer flake.
Breeding – This fish is an egg depositor and guards its eggs. Although, possible breeding is unknown in the aquarium.
Swimming level – These fishes can be found swimming in the midwater levels of the aquarium.
- Description – This fish is covered in a silver-grey body.
Length – The adults are too large for the aquarium, however, a fry of around 8 to 10 cm is ideal.
Ease of keeping – Fairly easy to keep, although they require plenty of swimming room and the water temperature must be maintained at above 10°C.
Food – Enjoys an assortment of live foods, especially earthworms, pieces of fish, and cooked mussels.
Breeding – This fish is an egg scatterer, although possible breeding is unknown in the aquarium.
Swimming level – These fish can be found swimming in all levels of the aquarium.
- Description – This fish is covered in a silver body and each scale has a gold centre.
Length – Mature fishes grow to 75 cm, so only smaller specimens are suitable for the aquarium.
Ease of keeping – Fairly easy to keep, although the temperature must be maintained below 10°C.
Food – Enjoys an assortment of live foods, especially snails.
Breeding – This fish is an egg scatterer, although possible breeding is unknown in the aquarium.
Swimming level – These fishes can be found swimming in all levels of the aquarium.
- Description – This fish has a yellow-grey back with silvery sides, and the fins are occasionally a spotted white colour.
Length – Only the fishes smaller than 15 cm are suitable for the aquarium.
Ease of keeping – Fairly easy to keep, although the temperature must be maintained below 10°C.
Food – Enjoys an assortment of live foods, especially brine shrimp, and chopped fish or prawns.
Breeding – This fish is an egg scatterer, although possible breeding is unknown in the aquarium.
Swimming level – These fish can be found swimming in all levels of the aquarium.
- Description – This fish generally had a greenback with black spots, with a white or grey underside. The body is also covered with many relatively small spines.
Length – 18 cm.
Ease of keeping – Relatively easy to keep.
Food – Enjoys having chopped meat, although they may sometimes prefer flake.
Breeding – This fish is an egg depositor.
Swimming level – These fishes can be found swimming in the midwater levels of the aquarium.
Building The Tank
This can be done in three easy steps:
Lay a base of sand at least 4 cm deep, then place the mangrove shoot pots and the feature rocks in position. When deciding on the location of the mangrove pots, remember that you will have to provide suitable cover with which to hide them.
Build up the bank around blocks of bogwood and the mangrove pots. Fill the gaps between the pieces of wood with pebbles, all the time checking that you are creating as stable a structure as possible. The pots should be thoroughly concealed.
Add the water, patting any sand that falls from the bank into position. The pieces of curio wood and the twigs can now be added. Try not to use them solely as ornaments as you may be able to incorporate them within the structure of the bank.
The Finished Tank
A mangrove swamp presents a fascinating creative challenge for the aquarist. An interesting way to present this habitat is to build an aquarium in which a substantial part of the substrate is above the water level, with the tank no more than half full of water. Of course, you will have to make sure that any submerged area is also well supported.
This tank is based on a bank of sand that rises gradually out of the shallow water, bearing a dense jungle of mangrove, wood, and twigs. A large amount of sand in the tank means that the substrate is liable to shift occasionally, and so the bank should be solidly bolstered by wood and rocks.
This is a quiet, slow-moving, and quite unique aquarium, that displays as much life out of the water as in it. The sandy or muddy bed of the mangrove swamp constantly shifts with the tides, so plants that do not have roots that are as deep and substantial as those of mangroves have very little chance of becoming established. Keep this in mind when layering your tank.
If you’re deciding on getting some well-known crab species for your tank, be careful not to choose carnivorous crabs, and depending on the size of your aquarium, do not allow any of the crabs to grow too large. The swamp waters are often strongly brackish, with positive levels of oxygen and this effect also needs to be maintained in your aquarium.
Our online marketplace has pretty much everything you will need to build your perfect biotope aquarium. Feel free to get in touch with us about all your questions, needs, and frustrations.
And stay tuned for our final article on biotope aquariums and the next sensational region that will take your biotope aquarium to new heights!
