| Aquariums are divided into two main groups:
- temperate aquariums, often mistakenly called cold water aquariums, where the water temperature can range from 5 to 25°C; - tropical aquariums, with either fresh or sea water. These cover the areas lying roughly between the tropic of Cancer, to the north of the equator, and the tropic of Capricorn, to the south, where the water temperature varies by only a few degrees throughout the whole year. TROPICAL AQUARIUMS The community aquarium Here fish and plants not native to the same region are found side by side, creating an environment that does not exist in nature. The results may be charming and ingenios, but this type of aquarium is often disparaged by purists. A community aquarium is often a popular choice with beginners creating or "mounting",in aquarists' jargon - their first tank, although this is not a general rule. The specialist aquarium In this case, the hobbyist concentrates on a particular species, type, family, or group of fish with common characteristics. The choice of this kind of aquarium can be dictated by several factors: interest in reproduction, the attainment of varieties not found in nature (sometimes for competition), or quite simply a fascination which is difficult to explain. As in the previous section, the fish and plants do not have to come from the same region, and the latter are sometimes merely secondary elements. The Dutch aquarium In this type of aquarium fish serve as a foil to the plants, which play the leading role, although the former do also contribute to the equilibrium of the setting, which is not easy to maintain. The plants and fish can come from different geographical areas. The results can be ravishing, sometimes amounting to a veritable aquatic garden, with the aquarist becoming a horticulturist in order to maintain it. As its name suggests, this type of aquarium is highly prized in the Netherlands,and in Germany too, although it is little(too little?) seen in the rest of the world. |
| Regional aquariums
Here the trick is to reconstruct as faithfully as possible a natural biotope in which everything harmonizes: the water, the soil, the rocks, the plants, and the fish. The density of living beings is higher than that of a natural setting, however. Mounting an aquarium of this type requires a certain knowledge of the geographical area concerned,to ensure the compatibility of the various elements. • Central American aquariums There are two possible options. The first isthe recreation of a habitat suitable for livebearers from the Poeciliid family: hard water with a temperature of 26°C or more,and plants playing an important role. The second is the assembly of a tank for Cichlids:rocky decor, a few hardy plants, with the water fairly soft, well-filtered, and oxygenated. • South American aquariums Mainly devoted to the Amazon, these can be divided into two main categories. The tanks with limpid colorless water, neutral or slightly acid, are inhabited by small Characins that are somewhat difficult for amateurs to keep. The aquariums with brown, but still transparent water, recreate an Amazon-style river under the forest roof. Its acidity and its color (sometimes even black) are the result of acids derived from humus. These tanks house other species of Characins, or Cichlids, particularly the famous angelfish and discus. The water is very soft in both these types of aquarium. |
| • African aquariums
A biotope of a West African river can be reconstructed in an aquarium.The water, which must be well-filtered, is neutral and quite soft. The fish will include the Congolese tetra, one of the rare Characins found on this continent, and certain Cichlids. The typical plants in this environment are Anubias. West Africa is lined with rivers and streams with an acid pH, and temperatures of up to 27°C. The swampy areas disappear in the dry season, but the fish which frequent them have devised various strategies to overcome this difficulty: some species, such as the killies, lay eggs which are able to resist drought. East Africa is characterized by the presence of large lakes, veritable inland seas, only with unsalted water. The most important of these are, from north to south, Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Malawi. They are mainly inhabited by fish from the Cichlid family, three quarters of which are only found in this region. • Asiatic aquariums Running water Cyprinids can be kept in a tank with clear water which is well-filtered,slightly acid, and soft, at a temperature of 25-26°C. Barbs and danios are the usual occupants of this type of aquarium, some species being particularly recommended for beginners to fish keeping. Marshes can be reconstructed with profusely planted aquariums (or aquaterrariums).It is advisable to use genuinely aquatic plants. The water is slightly acid and barely mineralized, to suit barbs,labeos, or fish from the Anabantoid family.Always avoid a mixture of active and placid fishes. SOUTH-EAST ASIA The water in the rivers and streams is acid,sometimes colored, with temperatures often exceeding 25°C. The swamp and marsh areas are shallow, allowing the sun to exert a greater influence, and their water temperature can be higher than 28°C. Natural sites collect rain and floodwater, while the artificial sites consist of rice fields. The exuberant plant life is either completely aquatic (totally submerged) or paludal (partially underwater; in very wet environments, the base of the plants is often submerged). MANGROVES The borders between the sea and the land provide muddy, swampy areas,in which certain trees - mangroves - plunge their roots. Mangroves is also the collective name for these tropical regions in Africa, Asia,and Australia. The water reaches very high temperatures, of 30°C or more, and the sea water exerts a very strong influence. The salinity is therefore variable, leading to the presence of fauna specific to these areas. The best-known occupant of mangroves is the periophthalmus, an amphibious fish which can develop out of water on account of the form of its pectoral fins. The brackish water aquarium This is characterized by water with less salt than the sea, pH values of between 7.7 and 8, and fairly high temperatures, 26-27°C. The decor consists of branches and roots, but never rocks. Few plants survive in this type of water, and only a few species of fish can tolerate it. Tropical seawater aquariums The water must be of a very high quality: clear, therefore well-filtered and oxygenated.It can be natural or reconstituted, or a combination of the two. Marine plants are not common, but algae can appear spontaneously and cover the decor of rocks or dead corals - although their growth is imperceptible to the naked eye, it is fairly rapid. They are introduced to the aquarium in various ways. The soil is very grainy, as the sand is made up of shells and corals. Under bright light, a marine aquarium often forms a colorful environment in which fish develop among inert or living decorative elements, which they can share with invertebrates, including certain shrimps. Novice aquarists are often advised not to plunge into keeping a marine aquarium without first finding their water wings in a freshwater tank which is easier to tackle. The same ecological rules govern the two types of setting,however, the main difference obviously being the salinity of the water.Let us just say that it is more sensible to start with fresh water, as the plants and fish are more robust and their price is often more accessible. To be realistic, problems with sea water, involving the accidental loss of expensive fish, would discourage many beginners. Nevertheless,apart from the price of marine fish - and there are some cheaper species - it should be pointed out that marine aquariums are not much more expensive to run. |
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