Community aquarium
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Community aquaria are tanks that are designed to contain more than one species of fish. Most commonly they include a variety of species that do not normally occur together in nature, for example angelfish from Brazil, swordtails from Mexico, and gouramis from South East Asia. The aim of such communities is to bring together fish that are compatible in temperament and water requirements, while using their different colours and behaviors to add interest and entertainment value.
Though not usually called community tanks, most marine aquaria fit into this category too, using fish from places as diverse as the Caribbean, Red Sea, and western Pacific Ocean.
Other aquarists prefer communities, called biotopes, that represent particular geographic locations, and combine fish with appropriate decorative materials including endogenous rocks and plants.[1] The most popular of these geographically correct community tanks are those replicating the cichlid habitat of the East African Rift lakes of Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi.
Community fish
For freshwater community tanks, there are large numbers of species that make successful community fishes. Most of the
Many fishes are not suitable for typical community tanks. These fishes include:
- Territorial or aggressive fishes, such as many cichlids.
- Red-tailed black sharks should not be placed with others of their species, as they often become territorial.
- Predatory fishes such as snakeheads, leaffishes, and bucktooth tetras.
- Large active fishes that will outgrow their tanks and tankmates, such as tinfoil barbs, iridescent sharks, and larger catfishes.
- Fragile fishes, or fishes that get nervous around more active fish, such as the discus and threadfin rainbowfish.
- Slow or specialized eaters that cannot compete with other tankmates, such as pipefishes.
Water chemistry
Most freshwater aquarium fish do well in water that is soft to moderately hard, and that has a pH between 6 and 8.
The most deadly chemical in aquarium water is
Build-up of algae is largely related to light level and mineral imbalance. An aquarium near a window is likely to be overgrown with algae. A material known as a "phosphate sponge" is available at aquarium shops to leach the phosphate out of the aquarium and reduce the growth of algae. Also, plants such as java moss (not java fern) compete with algae for another necessary plant nutrient, nitrate, and reduce algae growth. Java moss also forms a ground cover along the bottom of the aquarium.
References
- ISBN 978-0-7641-3715-0.
- ^ Richy (2020-11-23). "Create Harmony and Diversity in Your Aquarium With the Best Community Tank Fish". Aquarium Stuffs. Retrieved 2020-12-20.