Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 32/1. (2012)
Zoology
Aquascaping as advanced environmental enrichment tool Fig. 9: Experimental aquarium with under gravel heater. • Using of an undergravel heater integrates the substrate into the aquarium matter and energy flow by the way of convection (vertical) waves induction through it, similarly to mechanisms from natural aquatic ecosystems that allow a constant rate of nutrients supplying to root system, a solubilization of nutrients that are more accessible for plants. A constant and optimum temperature through the substrate is conducive to biochemical reactions that also supply nutrients avoiding the organic and toxic gases storages that could affect the aquarium balance. The inducing of convection waves is also conducive to substrate leaching by the inhibitory allelochemicals. Fig. 10: Roots of two aquarium species (Bacopa caroliniana, left and Limnophila aromatic, right) with a healthy growing through the well aerated substrate. So, importance of substrate as artificial ecosystem ecological factor was not neglected while a daily supplying with liquid macro- and micronutrients was applied in order to stimulate plants growing as a main way of inhibition and control of algae spreading. Trace elements: iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, molybdenum are weekly added in aquarium in favorable combination and plant-available form (chelated form, oxidizing protected and easily assimilated by plants). The micronutrients as non-chelated form are daily added in aquarium and quickly take up by plants otherwise they are unstable and its transform in unavailable plant-compound. Macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are daily supplied as KN03 and KH2P04 solutions (lppm nitrate/day and 0.1 ppm phosphate/day respectively). We weekly measured the nitrate, iron and phosphate levels in order to maintain the target concentrations. Tab. 4: Target macronutrients and iron concentrations during start-up and maturation of artificial ecosystem (ppm) Nutrient__________________NO,'(ppm) PO/(ppm)__________Fe (ppm)___________ Target initial______________5_____________0T_________________0Л_________________ Target intermediär 10 0,1 0,2 Target final 15 1,5 0,20 - 0,5 It was not noticed morphological modifications of plants duo to ions deficiencies. 125
