| What is a biotope?
"Biotope", which comes from Greek, is a synthetic word derived
from "bios" (life) and "topos" (place). Meaning, "The
place inhabited by living things". A biotope represents a combination
of physico-chemical elements, plants and animals from a specific geographical
area, recreated in an aquarium.
To create a real "biotope aquarium", you need a great volume
of water, soil, rocks, quality water and specific plants, all for 1 or
2 fish species. In the Amazon for exemple, a biotope would be needed for
almost every body of water : at least one endemic species (an organism
confined to a particular region) can be found in every river. In most
cases, the environment is harder to find than the fish themselves!
For that reason, we will use a different definition of a biotope by creating
a stable habitat favorable to the maintenance of each fish or plant species.
To help you create a particular biotope in your aquarium, we have prepared
some examples to guide you. We tried to keep as many elements found in
the source area with articles available in our store as possible.
16,5 gallons (60 litres) Biotope: Asia
Fish:
6 Harlequin
Rasobra or Espe’s
Rasbora
6 Cherry
Barbs
2 Kuhli
Loaches
4 Amano
Shrimps
Plants: (quantity
may vary depending on your rocks and wood decorations)
2 Water
Wisterias
Choice of 4 Cryptocorynes
6 Vallisneria
Spiralis
Decoration:
Rocks and Mopani wood that can be used as a sanctuary by the Kuhli Loaches.
Schedule:
Day 1: aquarium start-up
Install filtration device and plug in water heater for a water temperature
of 25°C.
Following day (if temperature is stable at 25°C)
Incorporate plants and decorations.
Introduce the Rasboras and Kuhli Loaches
Add 7 ml of Cycle (to start the biological cycle needed to regulate ammonia
and nitrates levels, deadly for your fish)
Week 2
Introduce the Cherry Barbs.
Add 7 ml of Cycle.
Week 4
Introduce the Amano Shrimps.
Add 7 ml of Cycle.
African Killies Biotope, 10 gallons
Killies are small fish (4 to 7 cm) part of the oviparous
cyprinodontidae family. Mostly present in Africa, America and Asia, they
live in very particular conditions. They can be found in pits and temporary
pools with low currents and low natural lighting due to crowns, branches
above and organic matters in the water. Hot seasons can dry up their habitat,
but the survival of the species is maintained because the eggs can survive
several weeks in the mud and continue their evolution in the next rainfall.
Useful Tips:
Killies are good "jumpers". Some species are able to survive
several hours out of the water, but a lid is a must if you don’t
want to find your fish on the floor!
They reproduce easily in poorly mineralized water (old, rain or de-mineralized
water).
3 gallons are enough for 1 male and 2 females.
Water heater is not necessary if the aquarium is in a well heated room
(21°C). Killies prefer a water temperature of 20 to 24°C. Most
species will have a shorter life span if water temperature is 25°C
or more.
Material:
Aquarium with glass or plastic lid (5 to 10 gallons, 20 to 38 litres).
Low filltration and lighting. Eventually, air pump filtration and ambient
light are preferable, mainly because killies dislike strong light.
Peat filtration to help maintain an acid pH.
Plants:
Java
Moss
Anubias
Microsorium
pteropus
Floating plants, if your aquarium has a lighting system: riccia
fluitans, egeria
najas, lagorasiphon, lemna,
cabomba,
etc.)
Decoration:
Small wooden roots
Cobbles
1/8 gravel
Population Example:
1 aphyosemion
mirabile couple
1 aphyosemion
australe trio (1 male, 2 females)
Central America Viviparous Biotope, 16,5 gallons
Central America Viviparous include fish such as Platies,
Mollies, Guppies and Swordtails. They can be found in lakes and rivers
of Mexico’s and Guatemala’s coastal regions. In some regions,
water is relatively hard and pH is near 7. In others, water flowing on
rocky and pedocal soils becomes hard and alkaline, its pH varying between
7,5 and 8,2. Vegetation is dense, providing sanctuary for the fry and
food for the adults who like to eat tender plant leaves.
Useful Tips:
Viviparous reproduce easily. 3 females are recommended for every male
to avoid male exhaustion due to continuous chasing of the females.
A well planted aquarium is recommended to maintain the fry: they will
find sanctuary and food.
Platies love green algae, thus limiting its proliferation.
Material:
A 16.5 gallons aquarium (62 litres).
Filtration 2 to 3 times the volume of the aquarium.
A lighting system for the plants.
A water-heater: temperature has to be between 24 and 28°C (75 to 82°F).
Plants:
Sagittaria
subulata
Ludwigia
repens
Vallisneria
spiralis
Echinodorus
osiris
Riccia
fluitans
Decoration:
Rocks or cobbles
Coral gravel (to raise pH)
Population Example:
4 Platies
4 Mollies
4 Guppies
South America Viviparous Biotope, 25 gallons
The amber-colored water appears after a certain
time.
This picture represents a freshly started aquarium.
The numerous South American rivers are the habitat of a
great variety of fish found in pet stores. The stream system is so great
that the biotope and variety of fish is different in almost every river.
Some South American basins and rivers are known to have "black water":
this coloration is due to roots and decomposing vegetation, resulting
in a very acid, soft, and tea colored water. Sandy soil makes it easy
for the vegetation to root and proliferate.
Useful Tips:
Peat is essential to obtain amber-colored water. It tints
the water but also has the advantage of lowering pH. It is also a natural
plant fertilizer.
Material:
A 25 gallons (95 litres) aquarium.
Filtration 2 to 4 times the volume of the aquarium.
Lighting system for the plants.
A water heater: temperature has to be between 26 and 30°C (78 to 86°F).
Peat in filtration to maintain a pH between 6 and 6,5.
Plants:
Cabomba
Vallisneria
Amazon
Sword Plant
Riccia
fluitans
Fat
Duckweed
Decoration:
Rocks or cobbles
Wooden roots
Natural 1/8 gravel
Population Example:
1 couple or trio of American Dwarf Cichlids or Angelfish
4 corydoras
1 Bushy
Nose Pleco ou 2 farlowellas
6 tetras
(Rummy
Nose, Silver-Tipped,
neon,
Phantom, etc.)
5 Hatchetfish
African Cichlids Biotope: Tanganyika Lake , 32 gallons
Located in the Great African Lakes region, lake Tanganyika
is possibly one of the oldest and deepest lakes (up to 1 470 meters) on
the planet. More than 300 species, among which 200 cichlids, can be found
from the surface to depths of 200 meters. Coastal regions are sandy, others
are rocky. Water is very hard and alkaline and few plants have flourished.
The diversity of Cichlids offers a great variety of shapes, colors and
sizes.
Useful Tips:
When decorating your aquarium, try to use as many rocks
as possible so your fish can make a territory. Since some Cichlids dig
soil to make their sanctuary, it is better to place rocks prior to gravel:
stable rocks could help you avoid a catastrophe!
Material:
A 32 gallons (120 litres) aquarium.
Filtration 4 times the volume of the aquarium.
A standard lighting system.
A water heater: temperature must be between 26 and 28°C (78 to 82°F).
Eventually: Seachem TANGANYIKA BUFFER salt and Seachem CICHLID LAKE SALT
to harden water and bring essential minerals.
Plants:
Vallisneria
Decoration:
Rocks or large cobbles (at least 20 pounds).
Fine gravel, sand, or coral gravel.
Eventually : snail shells.
Population Example:
4 Neolamprologus
Brichardis
2 Julidochromis
1 Lamprologus
Calvus
2 Cyprichromis
Leptosomas
1 Synodontis
Waterhome 21, "Takashi Amano" Style Biotope
Takashi Amano is a photographer who immortalises aquarium
scenes. His subjects are densely planted aquariums, which he decorates
himself. These short-lived scenes, sometimes only the time of a picture,
can be maintained in your aquarium if you take as much care of your plants
as you do for your fish. Lighting and nutrients for the plants are the
most important things for this type of aquarium setup.
Useful Tips:
A substrate soil has the advantage of brigning essential minerals directly
to the roots.
Lighting system must be on between 10 and 12 hours a day.
Even though Riccia is a floating plant, it can be maintained on the ground,
on wood or a rock with fishing thread and by covering it with a hair net
or large mesh plastic screen (the kind used for fruits or vegetables).
This will give it the aspect of a shrub. The same applies to Java Moss,
that can be attached to a natural support. After a couple of weeks, the
plant will have grown roots and the thread can be removed.
Material:
Waterhome 21 (double neon).
Hagen Nutrafin CO² Kit.
NPK Fertilizer or Seachem Flourish.
Seachem Flourish Iron supplement.
Seachem Flourite substrate (alone or mixed to gravel).
Plants:
Riccia
fluitans
Java
Moss
Dwarf
Ambulia or Hygrophila
Rotala
ormayaca
Decoration:
Wooden roots
Small rocks
Population Example:
4 Amano,
Cherry
or Tiger Shrimps
4 Kuhli
Loaches
8 Harlequin
Rasobras
6 Tanichthys
5 Danios
2 Spotted
Borneos
Watherhome 32, New Guinea (Rainbow Fish)
Papua New Guinea is located North of Australia. The region
recreated here is a lake formed in an ancient volcano. The shores are
rocky and shadowed by dense vegetation. The rest, large sandy areas, is
very bright. This region is the Rainbow fish’s natural habitat.
Useful Tips:
Rainbow fish need free space to swim, the front of the
aquarium is the best place for it. Place rocks in the form of an arc near
the sides and at the bottom and add substrate at the end for more stability.
Plants and rocks must be placed in a way that the fish can use them as
hiding places.
Material:
Waterhome 32 (double neon).
Plants:
Potamogeton
Vallisneria
Nymphaea
Decoration:
Volcanic rocks
Fine gravel and/or sand
Population Example:
4 Red
Rainbows
4 Boeseman
Rainbows
4 Neon
Dwarf Rainbows
48 x 18 x 24: Malawi Lake
Located in the African Great Lakes region, Lake Malawi possesses
a great variety of endemic fish. Two large groups can be found : the haplochromis
and the M’Bumas (stone hitter). Their colour, social behaviour,
territorial authority, reproduction and upbringing make them very interesting
to observe. It is important to take younger fish and introduce them in
slightly large numbers to lessen their agressivity.
Material:
A 48 x 18 x 24 inches aquarium (120 x 45 x 60 cm, 87 gallons, 329 litres).
2 x 40 watts lighting system.
External filter with additional powerhead recommended.
Plants:
Many M’bunas are good algae and plant eaters. Thick leaved plants
such as Anubias or Microsorium Pteropus could be considered, but may still
be eaten. Synthetic plants are a very good alternative.
Decoration:
Rocks
Gravel or small cobbles
Population Example:
3 Pseudotropheus Elongatus
3 Pseudotropheus
Saulosi
2 Labidochromis
Caeruleus
2 Melanochromis
Auratus or Johanii
3 Labeotropheus
Trewavasae
2 Pseudotropheus
Zebras
72 x 18 x 24 Central America Cichlids
The maintenance of many species of large American Cichlids
requires a vast space both in ground surface and water volume. Cichlids
are very territorial fish and every couple or species group needs around
30 gallons of water to thrive. When they reach adult size, they can be
predators to smaller species.
Material:
A 72 x 18 x 24 inches aquarium (180 x 45 x 60 cm, 130 gallons, 490 litres).
Double
or quadruple lighting system
External
filter with additional powerhead recommended to create a small current.
Plants:
Chosing plants for this type of fish can be tricky since large Cichlids
are known to dig into the soil and they could detach the plants’
roots and send them to the surface. You must protect your plants by installing
rocks and wooden stumps nearby to prevent the fish from unearthing them.
Certain plants are found in pots and possesses strong “mother roots”
which can easily be attached to rocks. Artificial plants are a good alternative,
they can help you avoid inconveniences.
Echinodorus
Bleheri
Ludwigia
Repens
Bacopa
Caroliniana
Decoration:
Since large Cichlids have a tendency to dig into the soil, it is recommended
to install the rocks and/or large wooden pieces before the laying of gravel.
This helps avoid possible collapses. Also try to avoid piling many rocks
on top of each other.
1/4 ou 1/8 gravel.
River rocks or cobbles
Wooden roots
Population Example:
2 Cichlasoma
Octofasciatum
3 Cichlasoma
Nicaraguense
3 Mesonauta
Festivum or 2 Gymnogeophagus
Balzanii
2 Heros
Severus
2 Bushy
Nose Pleco or 1 Hypostomus
Plecostomus or 1 Glyptoperichthys
Gibbiceps
2 Pimelodus
Pictus or 2 Arius
Seemani
36 x 18 x 24 Planted Aquarium: Various Regions
Many things are required when installing many plants in
an aquarium : The first is to be sensitive to the plants’ needs
by using a fertile soil (clay, peat), essential minerals (fertilizer)
and light (ideally, 2 to 4 watts per gallon of water). It is then crucial
to take care of the plants by trimming them and removing all dead leaves
regularly. Finally, the setup. You can inspire yourself with the "Dutch
Aquarium" by prioritizing variety, colours, shapes and plant placement.
Or the styles of "Takashi Amano" who is a veritable master in
the art of aquatic landscaping.
Material:
36 x 18 x 24 inches aquarium (90 x 45 x 60 cm, 65 gallons, 246 litres).
Quadruple lighting system.
Carbo plus CO² Kit.
NPK fertilizer or Seachem Flourish.
Seachem Flourish Iron supplement.
Seachem Flourite substrate (alone or mixed to gravel).
Plants:
Ground:
Cryptocoryne
sp.
Glossostigma
Elatinoides or Riccia
Fluitans
Echinodorus
Tenellus
On wood:
Microsorium
pteropus or bolbitis
heudelotii
Anubias
Bottom and sides
Crinum
Calamistratum
Echinodorus
Vallisneria
And / or any other type of plants you may prefer. We only need to make
sure the shorter plants are placed up front, the medium sized ones in
the middle, and the larger plants in the back and on the sides to create
a certain depth and perspective.
Decoration:
Wooden roots
Rocks
It is possible to attach certain species upon wood or rock. Anubias, Bolbitis
and Microsorium can be bound with fishing wire. Riccia Fluitans and Java
Moss can be held down with a hairnet and create a kind of vegetable carpet
at the bottom of the aquarium.
Population Example:
10 Amano
Shrimps (or neocaridina
sp. cherry, Tiger, Bee)
8 Otocinclus
2 or 3 groups of 10 to 20 gregarious fish (Tetras,
Rasboras,
Danios,
Tanichthys,
Hatchetfish,
Glass
Catfish, etc.)
|
MAKE A CHOICE
