Biotope tanks and Species tanks

[lljdma06]

I've been reading a lot lately. I should really stop that since I'm already a total but it's fun to read and I learn a lot.

One of the things that intrigues me is that I read a lot of threads about community tanks and trying to find out who goes together. For example I just read a detailed thread about tiger barbs and the community aquarium, and it was interesting, but the person ultimately opted not to get them. I understand that people enjoy keeping community aquariums, I still do, but I'm much more interested in either biotope or tanks that showcase maybe 1-3 species at the most. What would be wrong with say a 29g or 30g with just tiger barbs? I think that would be an amazing tank, very active and really rather elegant IMO. That is just an example, or a whole tank of cardinals or even harlequin rasboras?

What do you think about spieces thank and biotope aquariums? What would you love to set up if you had a tank of appropriate size, and it doesn't have to be huge? If you are lucky to have set one up, what was your experiences with it? I'm just curious about this topic and would like to read some opinions from other members of the board.

Thank you

 

[cyprinut]

I prefer tanks like that. Just seems right IMO to keep fish together that are naturally found together, or at least come from the same region. SA fish together, Asian fish together, etc. The tiger barb tank would be great, especially if you mixed green and 'common" ones together. Live plants from the same region, too. Just my opinion though, your results may vary.

 

[Griz]

Here is how I approached my community tank, a 33gal just about a year ago. I had been out of fishkeeping for many years but was fortunate to have a friend give me the tank, hood, filter etc. . I began the search for a species that was both interesting and beautiful as my centrepiece fish. I also wanted something a bit challenging that I had not kept before. I decided on a trio of Cockatoo cichlids. I decided that live plants and a sand substrate would suit them best. I then began looking at compatable tankmates. It made sense to look at fish from the same area and that would therefore enjoy the same conditions as my cockatoos. I could have selected fish from other parts of the world but by this time I was really beginning to think about trying my best to create a little slice of the Amazon in my home. I ended up with corydoras, one-lined pencilfish, firehead tetras and neons. I would have preferred Cardinal tetras but the were unavailable near me and I admit to being impatient and ended up with the neans althought they are from the Amazon. From there, I tried to have plants that came from the same region and that I could grow in my tank but this proved difficult and I ended up making csome compromises there. I didn't want to increase my lighting since that is not a natural environment for my fish. Later on I decided to use peat in my filter since all of my fish like a blackwater environment and I really like the look of it. One bad decision was to introduce otos early on. I eventually lost them all over a period of several months but will be trying them again now that I know more about them.

I really didn't start out with the idea of creating a biotope, it just sort of evolved. In fact I had not heard the term biotope until later. It all began with the desire to create a comfortable environment for my Cockatoos. I have been rewarded by seeing all sorts of very natural behaviour including territorial issues, mating rituals, breeding and the rearing of fry.

 

[dwarfgourami]

A tiger barb tank would look great.

 

[freddyk]

Well, I think it would also depend on the fish. A tank of nothing but cardinals is a pretty lame tank since they don't do much and it's also pointless because they are peaceful and there are many fish that can be added that would not interfere with the cardinals in any way, so why not a bit of variety? On the other hand, some fish have enough character or aggression issues that a species tank is absolutely the best way to go. Sometimes less is more, sometimes not.

I generally go into my community tanks the way Griz does, and I'm not concerned so much about biotope as compatibility - their exact location in the wild has little bearing on my own aquarium, it's more about thinking things through and going about it sensibly and logically. The fact is that fish from the same region can be very incompatible - predator and prey are always found in the sam region and are never compatible in the same tank.

For my latest community tank, the centerpiece was chosen for me when a pair of beautiful Nicaragua cichlids fell into my lap. Now, I could have just start adding fish and see what happens, but instead I do some research on them. Ok, they are monogomous, territorial bottom-cave dwellers, so I know to avoid other bottom dwellers. I know that any additional cichlids added would be be seen as hostile, so I do not add them since I don't want unnecessary stress and aggression in the tank. Instead I go with a shoal Serpae tetra's that I know will keep to themselves in the open mid level areas, and Rasbora's that I know will keep to the open upper levels. I know these are both shoaling fish and am sure to get plenty of each of them. I know that a shoaling fish in higher numbers is also a much more attractive display then having just one or two of all different species. I also choose a Royal Pleco because it doesn't interfere with any of the fish involved and adds a different element.

The result is a tank with an eclectic assortment of fish ranging from 1" to 8", that have the entire tank to enjoy because I've made certain that while they have lots of tankmates, none have any competition or threats.

 

[UBigBobby]

I'm currently planning on converting my 10G into a small Orinoco River bio-tope. The orinoco is home to the Blue Ram, Rummynose Tetra, and Green Neon Tetra. I have the rummynoses already, and will be getting the Blue Rams eventually. It will be planed with plants from the region and I'll try to make it "Orinoco" as possible.

 

[kimbowee]

OK, well I am kind of a newb at this. I just started keeping fish at the beginning of this year.

I am currently in the process of stocking my 30 gal with:
Dwarf Gourami's 2 male and 3 female
Common Hatchetfish 6
Upside-down cat 3

I am adding the fish over a couple week period & had to special order the female gourami as my LFS does not usually stock these. Currently it holds 3 hatchetfish, 3 male gourami (1 is going to be moved to the 20 gal) and 1 UDC.

Plenty of plants and caves. Since I am not a very good plant keeper and these fish prefer dimmer lighting the plants are fake.

Once I steal my 55 gal back from the turtle my 8 year old rescued I plan on bugging freddy for some chiclid advice.

I think its a great idea for species only or groupings of compatible species. Instead of the mix and match theory that is behind alot of tanks.

 

[The-Wolf]

i have a blackwater bio-tope (well almost)
I have tried to mimic the water that is found in the Rio Negro (Amazons largest tributary).
I can say that it is relativly easy to do, with the exception of the plants.
very hard to find plants that are native to the R.Negro.

if you are really interested in bio-topes then this is proberbly the best referance point for you. mongobay

 

[lljdma06]

i have a blackwater bio-tope (well almost)
I have tried to mimic the water that is found in the Rio Negro (Amazons largest tributary).
I can say that it is relativly easy to do, with the exception of the plants.
very hard to find plants that are native to the R.Negro.

if you are really interested in bio-topes then this is proberbly the best referance point for you. mongobay

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Beat ya to it! I've been there already, and have had correspondence with Rhett already. That site rocks and it's been the inspiration for the African themed tank I'm doing when I return to FL.

Explain your biotope, what do you keep in it? That sounds fabulous.

 

[The-Wolf]

there are a few fish in there that are not from the rio negro so it is not a "proper" bio-tope.

The tank is peat filtered and I add a blackwater extract to it, because of this the pH runs at around 6.5. temp is 29C/84F. the tanks built in filters run at around 9x volume per hour, in addition to that I have a fluval 4+.

the stock is listed in my profile, but to save you a clicky it's listed below
all names are the scientific names to be accurate.

62 gall heavily planted tank
6x Hemigrammus rodwayi, 7x rasbora vaterifloris, 1x Barbus titteya, 2x Barbus tetrazona, 3x Pterophyllum scalare, 4x Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae, 7x Hemigrammus caudovittatus, 7x Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi, 6x Hemigrammus bleheri, 3x Petitella georgiae, 22x Hemigrammus erythrozonus, 8x Paracheirodon axelrodi, 19x Paracheirodon innesi (9 Lutino, 4 gold, 2 diamond), 1x Corydoras melini, 4x Corydoras aeneus(3 albino), 2x Corydoras adolfoi, 2x Brochis splendens, 5x Boehlkea fredcochui, 6x Kryptopterus bicirrhis, 5x otocinclus affinis, 1 x L002.
non-fish 2x Atyopsis moluccensis, 1x Macrobrachium pilimanus.

Note for all
the two Tiger barbs Barbus tetrazona are what is left from a school of 14, they do not bother any other fish, so please don't go shouting that I need more of them.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi lljdma06

I used to keep a general community tank but, since I've become so interested in Corydoras, most of my tanks are now species tanks. I still have some gouramis and a few other fish scattered around in various tanks though.

Corys are truly mix & match fish and, especially in the evenings, a cory community is a joy to behold! With nearly 300 recognized species, there is a great variety of colors and patterns represented and all of them are small.

These great little fish are active schoolers. In a mixed species community they will intermingle with each other much of the time, but from time to time they will break off and the various species will swim and play by themselves. There is no aggressive behavior among them ever!

While they are primarily bottom dwellers they also spend much time playing up and down through the other levels of the tank. Their fondness for caves and plants make a tank that is decorated in a natural looking way very attractive.

 

[lljdma06]

Note for all
the two Tiger barbs Barbus tetrazona are what is left from a school of 14, they do not bother any other fish, so please don't go shouting that I need more of them.

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I won't shout at you at all. I actually enjoy Tiger barbs, the males can look incredible when well-conditioned, the red gets really bright.