The Asian Lowland Still water Biotope

This is a biotope for slow moving species like the small barbs, danios and catfish. You
would need a standard 40-50 gallon aquarium for this one. This biotope is richly planted.
Hydrilla, Water lilies, Java Moss, Water Lettuce and Nitelia are some of the native plants.
Use a dark substrate and spread this to a depth of 2-2.5 inches. Laterite is a good addition
to the substrate. With so many plants in the aquarium, lighting has to be bright. Two
fluorescent full spectrum lights left on for about 12 hours a day should suffice. The pH of
the water should be around 6.5 and the temperature should be in the low eighties. The
best fish to go into this biotope are a school of Danios, 2-3 pairs of Gouramis and some
Catfish.
These are just two of the easier biotopes that a beginner can try out at first. Since they
make use of easily available plants and fish, and need conditions that can easily be set up
and maintained, they should put you well on your way to your first biotope. There are
many more complicated design structures that simulate biotopes such as the Zaire River
Rapids, the Congo Basin, the Lowland Swamps of Africa etcetera