The Indo-Pacific coral reef biotope is the ultimate splash of colour and bio-diversity including most ornamental saltwater fish and invertebrates.

The temperate planted biotope, sometimes called the "dutch" type aquarium concentrates on a full variety of freshwater plants, maintained in low temperatures, and fish are only complementary to the scene. Usually, uniform shoal of small varieties of fish (only one or two types) create the most serene aquascapes in this type.....

The tropical planted aquarium is modelled on an Amazonian theme...plants capable of tolerating the high.

temperatures associated with the best Amazonian ornamental fish, like discus, are used to decorate the habitats of such fish.

The African Rift Valley lakes such as Malawi and Tangyanaika have hard alkaline water unsuitable for plants, and the natural scene here is rocky with groups of territorial cichlid fish. This is one of easiest to maintain kind of ecosystems in captivity.

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