Tank Concepts/Ideas

[SammyTargo]

Hello All!

Starting this thread due to a mix of curiosity and boredom.

I am going to drop some of my tank concepts below, some of which may materialise into actual projects in the near/far future.

Concept #1) Rio Escondido Igapó
Tank Specs:
Filtration - OASE Biomaster; featuring a built-in heater
Tank - 175 USg (specific tank unsure)

Stock:

• 8-10x Discus (Symphysodon Spp.)
• 24x Black Phantom Tetra [BPT] (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus)
• 24x Diamond Tetra (Moenkhausia pittieri)
• 8x Venezuelan Orange Cory (Corydoras venezuelanus)
• 12x Otocinclus (Otocinclus Spp.)

Layout:

• Wide, open midwater corridor for Discus schooling
• Asymmetrical driftwood mass (heavier on one side), roots arching outward and upward
• Secondary, lighter wood cluster opposite side to balance
• Layered depth; foreground open > midground scattered roots > dense, shadowed background
• Overhanging branches to create shaded pockets and broken sightlines for BPT
• Gentle “U-shape” composition guiding flow toward center

Plants:

• Sparse, as in true igapó
• Background - scattered Amazon Sword (not dense, individually spaced)
• Midground accents - small groups of Cryptocoryne wendtii tucked near wood bases
• Epiphytes - Anubias barteri and Java Fern attached to submerged branches
• Floating canopy - Salvinia minima to diffuse light
• Large open sand zones preserved for Corys

Substrate:

• Fine, pale sand base (soft, uniform grain)
• Irregular leaf litter layer (almond leaves, twigs) concentrated under wood
• Subtle dark patches beneath hardscape to mimic the detritus buildup found in the rivers
• Gentle slope from front (low) to back (higher, root-entangled)
• Natural scatter of seed pods and decomposing botanicals for realism

I'll surely drop more later, but now it's your turn! I want to see your ideas.

 

[GaryE]

I like the idea of biotope tanks, and that would be a good one. The only worry is temperature for the smaller species. Discus raise problems.

I'm working on one now, on the principle that a real scape takes time. It's a western African stream bed.

I have a 75 gallon. About a third of the tank is filled with roots and shadows from a giant (to me) peace lily that has been in there for some time, with the leaves and flowers above water. It represents the stream bank, where the roots of terrestrial plants go into the water and provide safe habitats.
The other 2/3 of the tank is fairly open. My intention was to have Anubias barteri and Bolbitis heudelotti in the place of what in nature would be a plantless bottom. I have weakened and snuck in a few Asian Cryptocorynes as well, for the colour. They were spreading well in other tanks, and while they aren't natural to the biotope idea, neither is any other plant.

The fish are representative, although they wouldn't occur together in the same stream. They like the same habitat but not in the same regions of western Africa. I have a big group of Enteromius fasciatus (Angola barbs), some bought, most bred here. There's a smaller group of Enteromius cf jae from Gabon, a micro fish. Higher up in the tank, I have a growing out group of Aphyosemion ottogartneri. They've surprised me by being very visible and confident. They went in as young juveniles and the males are just now getting the vivid colours that define them.

The dark, root filled section is the domain of a pair of Parananochromis ornatus dwarf Cichlids. All fish but the Angola barbs are from Gabon.

I filter with an old mid-sized fluval canister, and an equally old Aquaclear 110, the largest size they made. I keep the heat at 22 to 24c. The water is soft and slightly acidic. I use tannin additives. I have 2 4 foot LED lights on top, and no heater. The room stays warm year round, fluctuating between 21 and 25 with the seasons.

I like to watch that tank because I know I'm watching something like a real stream - tiny fish, a light population, and all the fish from the same sort of habitat. They're busy little creatures.

 

[SammyTargo]

About a third of the tank is filled with roots and shadows from a giant (to me) peace lily that has been in there for some time, with the leaves and flowers above water. It represents the stream bank, where the roots of terrestrial plants go into the water and provide safe habitats.
The other 2/3 of the tank is fairly open. My intention was to have Anubias barteri and Bolbitis heudelotti in the place of what in nature would be a plantless bottom.

Nice, epiphytes are a good way to fill up what is supposed to be a plantless bottom. It is smart, and sometimes there is struggle when a "biotope" aquarium isn't supposed to have heavy planting.

I like the idea of biotope tanks, and that would be a good one. The only worry is temperature for the smaller species. Discus raise problems.

The discus need temparatures from 27-31
The tetras need it to be 23-28
The otos are flexible, and the cories are pretty flexible too but like a range up to 26.

Stress could occur if I drop it too low for the discus / make it too high for the corys and the otos however I have seen them thrive in 27+