With the term Biotope is meant an area of limited size such as a pond or river, where live plant and animal organisms of the same or different species, which together form a biocenosis. Biotope and biocenosis form a functional unit called ecosystem. In Aquascaping therefore, or in the setup phase of a Biotope you will have to know many factors composed of specific features that are not easily reproducible. In such cases, the biotope can be of particular importance because it can represent the only place where native species live. Understanding this, if you want to make a biotope you must strictly respect all the details of the area you want to reproduce:
Fish and invertebrates species and the food chain of that place.
Type and disposition of hardscape, consisting of any type of wood, rock, soil and biological elements present in that area.
Reproduction of water values PH, GH, KH, Nirites, Nitrates present in that place and in that time of the year.
Reproduction of water temperature and, if possible, air humidity on the surface.
Reproduction of luminous irradiation, Lumen, IRC RA color rendering index, Color temperature ° Kelvin and Photoperiod of that zone in that time of the year and the day.
Proper nutrition for the animal necessity of that place.
Proper fertilization for plants in the area.
Examples
Below we show you some examples in which the principle of aquascaping meets other varieties of aquaristics. The aesthetics of aquascaping are skillfully merged with the requirements of special biotope aquariums.
TANK
Tank dimensions will depend on the species of fish you would want to keep. Unless you are keeping particularly large fish, shallower tanks have better surface to volume ratio and are easier to light. Shallower tanks are better for maintaining good gaseous exchange. Good oxygen levels are important especially if using dirt and other decomposing organics; active decomposition can consume quite a bit of oxygen.
LIGHT
This depends on the type of habitat being mimicked. Fixtures that are programmable with dawn/dusk settings and dimmer functions can be useful to stimulate fish behavior that coincides with sunrise/sunset. Point source lighting (Metal halides, LED spotlights) can create particularly dramatic effect shimmering visual effect as the light shafts filters through wood branches or floating plants.
SUBSTRATE
Choose planted aquarium substrate according to the habitat being mimicked. A mixed substrate often appear more naturalistic than a monotone, evenly grained substrate. Making use of a mix of larger and small sized, fine grain rocks allows a more natural transition.
CO2
If you are introducing easier growing aquatic plants, CO2 injection is not necessary. Many biotopes are more focused on fish and may be sparsely planted.
FILTER
Depending on whether you are mimicking a turbulent stream or still pond, choose different types of filter and flow patterns accordingly. Tanks with low bio-load and substantial substrate depth/and plants which acts as a bio-filter may forego filters entirely and just make use of small pumps for circulation.
Challenges with Biotope Aquascapes
The aspect of the biotope design that makes it enjoyable is it’s challenging. Creating a biotope aquarium requires significant knowledge and maintenance to sustain a healthy environment. A deep understanding of the ecosystem is required to make a biotope that can live harmoniously and sustain life. On top of these facts, the equipment required can also be unique and expensive. However, this does depend on the environment the biotope is meant to recreate, considering a swamp or stagnant biotope will not require as much supplemental filtration as other tanks.
Beyond the challenges found in maintenance and deep understanding of the recreated ecosystem, the biotope style also provides significant benefit in the preservation of these ecosystems. A true biotope will be able to recreate the ecosystem and could also provide a refuge to sustain endangered species, as a result this style of aquascaping serves more than just aesthetic purposes. The clear challenges of this style of aquascaping require significant knowledge and skill, but the reward in making such a biotope will be an accurate representation of the aquascaper’s skill and commitment.
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