Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 32/1. (2012)

Zoology

Aquascaping as advanced environmental enrichment tool

Fig. 16: The day-night dynamic of ORP (mV) after 7 months from the tanks start-up.

An optimum level of redox potential has a positive effect on fish respiration and osmoregulation, immunity and general health status. The recorded high values of water ORP from the experimental tanks indicate a low organic matter loading as result of proper mechanical filtration and high rate of mineralization reactions.

Conclusions

• No morphological changes in plants were observed due to mineral deficiency (leaves discoloration).

• Algae development at the beginning of the experimental period was immediately inhibited by competition induced with the adaptive response of fast-growing plants species Heteranthera zosteripholia, Limnophila sessiliflora, Bacopa caroliniana, Ceratopteris pteriodes.

• There is a complex of limiting ecological factors with strong interrelationships that influences adaptation and survival of plants and animals. As this factors system tends to ecological pessimum point, the strength of living organisms decreases.

• fhere are various combinations of analyzed ecological factors that can produce similar effects due to their ability to substitute each other. Therefore it is difficult to find an unitary pattern of ecological factors acting on vegetal association from the tanks and growing difficulties of plant species such as Alternanthera reineckii or Rotala macrandra (high demanding species) still remain under study.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Kasselmann, C., 2003, Aquarium plants, Krieger Publ. Comp., USA.

2. Stugren, B., 1982, Bazele Ecologiei Generale, Edit. st. si encicloped., Bucuresti: 24-31.

3. Walstad, D., 1999, Ecology of planted aquarium, Echinodorus Publish., 193 pp.

4. Wurts, W. A., Durborow, R. M., 1992, Interactions of pH, Carbon Dioxide, Alkalinity and Hardness in Fish Ponds Southern, SRAC publications: 464.

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