Freshwater, saltwater, brackish, planted: aquarium life keeps sorting itself into tidy boxes

Freshwater, saltwater, brackish, planted: aquarium life keeps sorting itself into tidy boxes

Most of the fish kept in aquaria are found in freshwater, but the hobby also reaches into saltwater, brackish water, and planted tanks. Freshwater aquaria draw from lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds on every continent, while tropical waters are the main focus at 75-80°F. Brackish water shows up where rivers and streams enter the ocean, creating a blend of salinities that most fish avoid. Saltwater aquaria, meanwhile, split into fish-only tanks, fish-and-invertebrate tanks, and reef tanks, with reefs defined by corals. Planted aquaria take a different lane entirely: they specialize in freshwater plants, may need increased light or supplemental elements, and can even use plants as the sole source of filtration.

Gobble's Take: Aquarium keeping is basically a choose-your-own-adventure where the water type picks the cast.
Source: Aquarium Environments Overview

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