When was the last time you looked at your aquarium and thought “This looks like a section of real reef?”
I mean, the goal of reef keeping is to make your fishes and corals react and grow as if they are on the natural reefs, right? The proverbial “slice of the bottom” that many of our freshwater friends, such as Paul Loiselle and Ned Coletti, have proferred over the years- about replicating in their aquariums a section of a natural biotope is pretty valid for reef keeping, too.
We are seemingly fanatical about recreating optimum environmental parameters for our reef inhabitants, and spend enormous amounts of time, money, and energy attempting to replicate ideal lighting conditions, water chemistry, and flow for our inhabitants. However, the aquascaping in our reef tanks often seems more about creating an aesthetic that we like than it is at truly replicating a given environmental or geographic niche, such as a rubble zone, cave, or lagoonal area.
The type of aquarium that seeks to replicate a natural ecological niche is called a “biotope” system, and freshwater people have been doing it for years, replicating the Amazon, Southeast Asia swamps, and African Rift Lakes in their aquaria. It’s a fun part of the hobby, with great potential rewards!
By attempting to replicate a specifica ecological niche in your reef aquarium, for example, a rubble zone with Faviids or Acropora, and populating it with animals associated with the niche, you’re not just creating a cool tank- you’re providing an optimal environment for these animals, which can lead to some fascinating insights about their behavior, growth, and reproduction.
I encourage every reefer to set up at least one aquarium like this at some point (Ahh, always a call to feed your “Multiple Tank Syndrome”, huh?)! It’s a great educational tool, and it’s downright fun to challenge yourself. You’ll be surprised how far you can take the biotope concept, especially if you strive to be completely true to the niche you’re modeling and aspire to only keep animals found in that niche!
Most important, it’s fun…
This is, after all, a hobby, and hobbies are a vehicle by which we express ourselves. That being said, let’s see how you express yourselves! Who has created a biotope type marine aquarium? Let’s see some pics, hear about what you did to get there. Even if you don’t have one- tell everyone what you’re thinking of doing!
I have this fantasy about creating one of those rock islands in Palau in my aquarium, but I’ve always been a bit goofy…
Until next time…
Stay Wet- or to borrow a line from the great freshwater biotope nerd, Ned Coletti, “Replicate…Appreciate!”
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals
I mean, the goal of reef keeping is to make your fishes and corals react and grow as if they are on the natural reefs, right? The proverbial “slice of the bottom” that many of our freshwater friends, such as Paul Loiselle and Ned Coletti, have proferred over the years- about replicating in their aquariums a section of a natural biotope is pretty valid for reef keeping, too.
We are seemingly fanatical about recreating optimum environmental parameters for our reef inhabitants, and spend enormous amounts of time, money, and energy attempting to replicate ideal lighting conditions, water chemistry, and flow for our inhabitants. However, the aquascaping in our reef tanks often seems more about creating an aesthetic that we like than it is at truly replicating a given environmental or geographic niche, such as a rubble zone, cave, or lagoonal area.
The type of aquarium that seeks to replicate a natural ecological niche is called a “biotope” system, and freshwater people have been doing it for years, replicating the Amazon, Southeast Asia swamps, and African Rift Lakes in their aquaria. It’s a fun part of the hobby, with great potential rewards!
By attempting to replicate a specifica ecological niche in your reef aquarium, for example, a rubble zone with Faviids or Acropora, and populating it with animals associated with the niche, you’re not just creating a cool tank- you’re providing an optimal environment for these animals, which can lead to some fascinating insights about their behavior, growth, and reproduction.
I encourage every reefer to set up at least one aquarium like this at some point (Ahh, always a call to feed your “Multiple Tank Syndrome”, huh?)! It’s a great educational tool, and it’s downright fun to challenge yourself. You’ll be surprised how far you can take the biotope concept, especially if you strive to be completely true to the niche you’re modeling and aspire to only keep animals found in that niche!
Most important, it’s fun…
This is, after all, a hobby, and hobbies are a vehicle by which we express ourselves. That being said, let’s see how you express yourselves! Who has created a biotope type marine aquarium? Let’s see some pics, hear about what you did to get there. Even if you don’t have one- tell everyone what you’re thinking of doing!
I have this fantasy about creating one of those rock islands in Palau in my aquarium, but I’ve always been a bit goofy…
Until next time…
Stay Wet- or to borrow a line from the great freshwater biotope nerd, Ned Coletti, “Replicate…Appreciate!”
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals
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