Tank Decor

[kniesh]

Hi guys, I am about to start cycling my 90gal which will be inhabited by largish New World Cichlids. I have got the origins of most of my wishlist even though I am not totally decided on my final list yet. I just want to try an recreate (as close as I can as I know some will be different) the natural environment for these fish. Does anyone know of a website I can go to to check what should be there, with pics etc.. Or anyone want to post pics hee to give me an idea. So far I am going to buy one of those huge fake root systems you casn buy and some rocks but thats all I have come up with so far so any help much welcome. Thx in advance.

 

[annka5]

Most will come from an environment that you're unlikely to want to recreate exactly - silty muddy substrate, and far less happening than you'd be likely to want in a display tank.
IMO you're better going for the kind of biotope tank that isn't particularly true to life, instead one that is a more minitiarised idealised version. Sort of representative of the environment rather than trying to replicate it.
So rather than silty mud, I'd go for fine silver sand /play sand.
Bogwood to represent fallen branches or tangled roots would be good.
And the type of plants which would be local to the area - maybe stick to no more than 2 or 3 different types planted in groups of 5 or 3 as that would be more natural.
Which fish / which area are you looking at?

 

[kniesh]

Probably Amazon. Most of the fish I am going to get are from South American regions and I dont think plants would do well at all as some eat them or just dig. THis is why I was struggling I am aweful at decorating tanks

 

[Kazuya73]

Iv'e lost the site now but if u type Amazonian Biotope into google you may find what you are looking for