Which aquarium biotope is the best one?

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When I got my first aquarium, I didn’t know anything about aquarium biotopes, good water conditions, fish species, plants, heating, etc. I didn’t know which aquatic plants I can buy in order to reach good looking tank. You can easily imagine how it was...

As time went by, I found some sources on the internet and I started to plan changes. Like other people, I want to own nice aquarium too. Various plants can make your tank very attractive especially when you use them wisely. Many people consider using high aquatic plants in the background of their tanks and small plants in the foreground. It isn’t bad idea, because it gives some kind of „depth“ to the aquarium.

Anyway, I decided to try something else. My aquarium has 81 litres with its measurements 90x30x30 cm. Everyone can understand, that it doesn’t give large space to experiment with aquatic plants or fishes. But it creates very good basis for some creek based biotope. Stream is very important factor in creek biotope. Let’s talk about creeks now...

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Creek aquarium biotope

This biotope can be divided into „sub-biotopes“ by speed of water stream. When there is very fast stream, you will need to consider about fishes who like these conditions. In common, don’t buy slow fishes when you have strong filtration (fishes like betta splendens, some tetra, discus, etc.). They won’t feel good and will be hiding somewhere behind rocks or large plants. But not every creek has strong water stream.

Second option could be „plant factor“. Aquarium plants are the best way how to improve water quality! No matter what you buy in shops, no matter what do you read in many books. Many plants means many places to hide, good „natural filtration“, etc.

Aquarium biotopes with plenty of plants:

1) Southern African Swamp
2) South American Blackwater Stream
3) Southern Thailand Forest Creek
4) South American Clearwater Stream
5) Indian/Burmese River

When you use strong filtration, no matter if your tank is overplanted with plants. Fish would like these conditions, because it will bring a lot of oxygen without strong water stream.

Anyway, there are fishes who will love strong filtration! These fishes live mostly in Africa. The water in this habitat is highly oxygenated due to the turbulence created by the rapids. Short list of aquarium biotopes based on creeks with strong filtration:

1) African River Rapids
2) Northern Australia Rainforest Creek

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Lake aquarium biotope

Lakes are very nice inspiration for aquarium. Unfortunately, it is harder to copy this biotope, because of its specific conditions. I wasn’t trying to build this biotope on my own, so I won’t give you any recommendation. Just take a look at links below.

1) Lake Tanganyika
2) Lake Malawi
3) Central American Rocky Lake

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Back to the biotope in my aquarium

When I saw all of the biotopes above, I decided to change my tank into some „mix“ of them. I think it doesn’t make any evil to my fishes and plants. You can see what I have done on the picture above



This photo was taken two months ago and Vallisneria is now everywhere. I love Vallisneria, because of its nice green color and it’s propagation. You will need to find suitable plants for your aquarium when you want it to look perfectly. Vallisneria was the first reason why I wanted „mix“ of biotopes in my tank. The Second one was fishes. You can combine all peaceful fishes together and it still looks good. Why? Simple answer: Your fishes like good conditions, not specific plant of another fish. Whatever you do to your aquarium, don’t forget about conditions in nature and goodness of all fishes in your tank.

Which aquarium biotope to choose?

has been viewed times since June 30, 2009.