When you are exploring a freshwater habitat underwater you will notice that aquatic and semi-aquatic plants prevent or slow down erosion rates. Their roots hold the substrate together and slow down the speed of the water letting particles precipitate between the plants. So, the sections with plants seem to be higher than the places with no plants that erode easily and faster. Plants seem to be on little hills, which is exactly what you see on the edges of this biotope aquarium setup. I don’t know if the author did this intentionally or if he set it up that way to create visual depth, anyhow he got it right. I was also amazed by the accuracy of the plants, fish, and substrate used.

This is a really nice display! I particularly appreciate the natural and organic style and the creator has clearly studied the relevant habitat carefully to create a faithfully naturalist scene. This is reflected in the demeanor of the fishes which appear calm and happily foraging. The use of the read stems is very effective and helps to suggest the presence of a ‘world above’, elevanting the dispaly beyong its glass box confines. The planting is also natural and the creator has resisted the urge to use multiple species, adding authenticity. The greens of the plants combine well with the green background (really nice to see a home made one used here) which mimics the greenish hue encountered in the waters of many such habitats. My only worry is that the display is somewhat small, as male A. hongsloi can be rather boisterous towards females, and this is a restrcited space. However, the cover and broken lines of sight do provide shelter for any harrassed individual to an extent.