What are some hard to recreate biotope types in the aquarium hobby?

[WhistlingBadger]

@Koglin Interesting articles! Thanks! I never thought about using stonerollers instead of mountain suckers for an "algae eater." Their "states" page says it's illegal to keep native fish in Wyoming, but that isn't true. After talking to several game wardens and fish biologists, I finally figured out that all one has to do is get a minnow trapping/seining permit. Then one can keep any nongame fish in a aquarium. It is illegal to release them back into the wild, though. Using them as bait is fine, but releasing them is a no-no.

I love that picture of the Colorado pickminnow (formerly squawfish). I've read accounts from around a hundred years ago that they used to pull those out of the Green River down in SW Wyoming "the size of a junior high kid," and they were so plentiful there was a commercial fishery to feed mine workers. Such a cool fish. I hope they'll make a comeback now that they're being managed a bit better. Same goes for all the unique Colorado river species: the razorback sucker, the humpback chub, boneytail, and the rest.

 

[Gypsum]

It can't be hard to create a Forth and Clyde Canal biotope. Still, darkened water with plenty of aquatic plants, Tennant's cans, and shopping carts. Apparently perch, bream, pike, trout, some eels, and a few other species (astoundingly) live in it.

 

[The Lumpfish Guy]

It can't be hard to create a Forth and Clyde Canal biotope. Still, darkened water with plenty of aquatic plants, Tennant's cans, and shopping carts. Apparently perch, bream, pike, trout, some eels, and a few other species (astoundingly) live in it.

there is a surprising amount of life around the maryhill section

 

[Gypsum]

there is a surprising amount of life around the maryhill section

In every way imaginable. I've lived in Maryhill.

For increased authenticity, you would need some needles, crisp packets, vodka bottles, Mad Dog, and drunk person's urine.

I've kayaked from Bishopbriggs to Kirkintilloch (lockdown... where else were you going to go?) and saw quite a lot of fish, to be fair. My flat is across the road from the canal, near Drumchapel, but there's too many locks in this bit for faff (and portage)-free kayaking. Plenty of Tennant's cans and shopping trollies, though!

 

[The Lumpfish Guy]

In every way imaginable. I've lived in Maryhill.

For increased authenticity, you would need some needles, crisp packets, and drunk person's urine.

I've kayaked from Bishopbriggs to Kirkintilloch (lockdown... where else were you going to go?) and saw quite a lot of fish, to be fair. My flat is across the road from the canal, near Drumchapel, but there's too many locks in this bit for faff (and portage)-free kayaking. Plenty of Tennant's cans and shopping trollies, though!

Yeah, never mind the high quantity of drugs dissolving in the water.
I would join either by the kelvin, or by Partick thistle grounds and walk at least as far as the Garscube estate

 

[Gypsum]

My old flat wasn't far from Partick Thistle grounds, and I'm not far from Garscube now. Often used the tow path to cycle to the West End (back when pubs were a thing), and when I lived in Maryhill, cycled along the canal into Strathclyde Uni.

The Kelvin would be an interesting biotope. Similar to the canal with Tennant's cans, shopping trollies, drugs, and urine, but more rheophilic. Just add some powerheads and a few rocks.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I wonder if you could do a Scots Lowland River From Before Everything Got Trashed biotope. You could call it the SLRF BEGT Biotope, which is actually sort of fun to say. I bet it's even more fun with a Scottish accent.