So, as general aquarist’s, I think the average, is only able to replicate the temperature’s… most people can more closely replicate lake fish habitats, if your tank is big enough, however, probably the majority of commonly traded aquarium fish are river species, and my biggest group of tanks I drink my morning caffeine watching are all river fish, from 3 continents… how I make them feel at home…
Water flow… it’s impossible to replicate the flow of a river, but each tank has 2 filters ( I mostly use hang on back ), that are each rated for bigger tanks, than they are on, X 2, so a lot of flow… in addition, they all have at least 1, the 55 gallon tanks each have 2 - 10 inch air stones, I call bubble waterfalls… so lots of water movement…
Water conditions, and light…
the African tank… has a lot of driftwood, making the water dark… it’s been challenging, with the flow, but that tank varies between 1/2, and 3/4 covered with floating plants, and has 2 full length dawn to dusk LED lights… 2 is a lot of light, but the tank is 24 inches deep, and with the dark water, 2 lights, are needed for visibility, and the floating plants also help control algae growth…
The South American tetra tank… is not as dark stained, while still having some driftwood, but that one has some monster Pothos vines growing out of it, as well as 6 peace lilies… these heavily shade the tank, as the full length dawn to dusk LED’s are mounted about 18 inches above the tank ( these tanks are built in, so there is wall, above the tank from the viewing side, so none of the lights are visible from the front, only through the tanks ) with all the plants between the tank, and the light, on the tetra tank, it’s heavily shaded, like a thick jungle stream…
The Hillstream tank… I keep the water as clear as possible, with only one wood stick, that I apply Repashi, Soilient Green to, this replicates natural bio film, I also try to encourage algae growth in this tank, as that’s what the Hillstream’s eat, and I supplement the tank bio film with Bacter AE, which does a good job of coating most surfaces… I also have a sidewall covered with emergent lucky bamboo, about 2 inches from the glass, to block the light, into the tank, and so the fish can get behind it… on this sidewall, I have 2 - 18 inch LED plant lights, up against the glass, to encourage algae growth on that glass… the Pothos vines from the tank next to it have grown across this tank, and dropped roots into this tank, I trim the leaves on this section of vine pretty heavily, again to not block the light, and encourage algae growth… the 2 - 10 inch bubble waterfalls are back to back, making it 20 long, and run along the back of the tank… the Hillstream’s particularly like this feature, and often hang out in the waterfalls…
The South American Cichlid tank… is one of my newer set up tanks, and will be shaded like the tetra tank, once those Pothos vines grow out…
My new air pump has the horsepower to give me more flow, out of the 2 bubble waterfalls, that are in 24 inch deep tanks, my old linear piston pump, could get me bubbles that deep, but not as vigorously as I would have liked…
Anyone else want to explain how you’re making your particular fish feel at home, beyond heated water???
Water flow… it’s impossible to replicate the flow of a river, but each tank has 2 filters ( I mostly use hang on back ), that are each rated for bigger tanks, than they are on, X 2, so a lot of flow… in addition, they all have at least 1, the 55 gallon tanks each have 2 - 10 inch air stones, I call bubble waterfalls… so lots of water movement…
Water conditions, and light…
the African tank… has a lot of driftwood, making the water dark… it’s been challenging, with the flow, but that tank varies between 1/2, and 3/4 covered with floating plants, and has 2 full length dawn to dusk LED lights… 2 is a lot of light, but the tank is 24 inches deep, and with the dark water, 2 lights, are needed for visibility, and the floating plants also help control algae growth…
The South American tetra tank… is not as dark stained, while still having some driftwood, but that one has some monster Pothos vines growing out of it, as well as 6 peace lilies… these heavily shade the tank, as the full length dawn to dusk LED’s are mounted about 18 inches above the tank ( these tanks are built in, so there is wall, above the tank from the viewing side, so none of the lights are visible from the front, only through the tanks ) with all the plants between the tank, and the light, on the tetra tank, it’s heavily shaded, like a thick jungle stream…
The Hillstream tank… I keep the water as clear as possible, with only one wood stick, that I apply Repashi, Soilient Green to, this replicates natural bio film, I also try to encourage algae growth in this tank, as that’s what the Hillstream’s eat, and I supplement the tank bio film with Bacter AE, which does a good job of coating most surfaces… I also have a sidewall covered with emergent lucky bamboo, about 2 inches from the glass, to block the light, into the tank, and so the fish can get behind it… on this sidewall, I have 2 - 18 inch LED plant lights, up against the glass, to encourage algae growth on that glass… the Pothos vines from the tank next to it have grown across this tank, and dropped roots into this tank, I trim the leaves on this section of vine pretty heavily, again to not block the light, and encourage algae growth… the 2 - 10 inch bubble waterfalls are back to back, making it 20 long, and run along the back of the tank… the Hillstream’s particularly like this feature, and often hang out in the waterfalls…
The South American Cichlid tank… is one of my newer set up tanks, and will be shaded like the tetra tank, once those Pothos vines grow out…
My new air pump has the horsepower to give me more flow, out of the 2 bubble waterfalls, that are in 24 inch deep tanks, my old linear piston pump, could get me bubbles that deep, but not as vigorously as I would have liked…
Anyone else want to explain how you’re making your particular fish feel at home, beyond heated water???
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