Biotopes

One river, one set of numbers, one list of species that actually meet each other in the wild. Harder than it sounds and much harder to keep honest.

Five we build.

Rio NegroBrazil

pH 4.5–5.5

Blackwater, leaf litter, branch wood. Cardinal Tetras, Apistogramma, Corydoras.

Lake TanganyikaTanzania

pH 8.6–9.2

Rock terraces, sand, no plants. Julidochromis, Neolamprologus, shell dwellers.

Mekong tributaryThailand

pH 6.5–7.2

Sand, driftwood, sparse Cryptocoryne. Rasboras, Kuhli loaches, Betta.

Lake MalawiMalawi

pH 7.8–8.6

Piled rock, open sand channels. Mbuna, algae grazing, high turnover.

SulawesiIndonesia

pH 7.8–8.4

Hard water, bare rock, high temperature. Cardinal shrimp only.

The rule we do not bend.

If a species would never share water with another in the wild, it does not go in a biotope tank — however well they would get along in practice.

That means no Cardinal Tetras in a Malawi setup, no Amano shrimp in the Rio Negro, and no plastic plants pretending to be Cryptocoryne. If you want the mix, we will happily build you a community tank instead and call it what it is.