Son River Stream, Phong Nha-Ke Bang NP, by Magdalena Szubska (Poland)

Assessed by: Greg Martin (ANGFA) and Peter Unmack (ANGFA)

Magdalena says: “This aquarium shows a fragment of the Son River bank near the Son Doong Cave in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam. The mysterious and unique atmosphere of this area inspired me to create a biotope for Macropodus opercularis, which inhabits this area. It is the first exotic aquarium fish (after the goldfish) that reached Europe in 1869. The species that complements it here is Barbodes semifasciolatus.

“The riverbank, modeled on nature, shows numerous roots and branches. A small stream of water positioned small stones on the sandy bottom of the reservoir between the larger rocks. At the bottom of the aquarium, there are a lot of dry leaves and dried fruit, many organic materials that provide tannins and humic compounds. Delicate lighting, sufficient for the plants found here, creates a unique atmosphere and emphasises the mystery of the recreated biotope.”