Bonsai aquarium

The bonsai aquarium is a plant aquarium that was first presented in 1999 by the Japanese company Nisso at the Japanese zoo trade fair . In contrast to a paludarium , in which amphibians and reptiles are also kept on the land part, the underwater part of the bonsai aquarium is significantly larger and animals are not kept in the land part. The landscape is a kind of miniature water garden in the style of Japanese garden art , in which bonsais , small solitary plants and mosses are used.

The land part is formed with mangrove or bog roots . The aquarium technology is hidden behind it , such as heating, filters and, above all, the irrigation. Hoses are attached to several places on the roots, which ensure a constant supply of water through centrifugal pumps, so that waterfalls also arise. The roots and recesses for water-loving plants with Javamoos ( Vesicularia dubyana ) and pond liverwort ( Riccia ) clad , which act as a moisturizer.

Shadow-loving, small-growing plants can be integrated in the water section. The plants of the Cryptocoryne family are very suitable because they also grow slowly. Catfish , tetra or dwarf cichlids are mostly used on fish .

Basins are used as aquariums that are bevelled towards the front and therefore only have a front pane half the height. But normal pools are also suitable, which restrict the good view of the land plants somewhat, but allow less splashing water and fish cannot jump out of the pool as easily. Since the aquarium is open at the top, hanging lights are suitable.

literature

• Mitsuru Hirose & Yasushi Nakamura: Guide to Bonsai Aquariums , Bede Verlag 2000, ISBN 3-933-646-69-3