I've got a book called Aquarium Designs - Inspired by Nature. And it has the following.
For an asian mangrove type of feel: (naturally for brackish water though)
Hygrophila corymbosa - leaf shape similar to the mangrove
Anubias, Microsorium, Vallisneria, and Egeria - not truly rep. of the mangrove, but help achieve "the look"
It also suggests using lots of branchy wood/brushwood (obviously, if its a mangrove theme) as well as smooth, flat slate and silver sand (which is almost identical to that found in the mangroves.
I liek this one MUCH better:
Southeast Asian Swamp Aquarium
The plants are important in this one. "A number of bushly plants, some with a messy appearance, represent the randowm nature of the swamp's vegetative growth. It suggests:
Heteranthera zosterifolia (stargrass) - s. american species, "but is often used to represent typical swamp vegetation".
Myriophyllum sp.
Ludwigia repens
Cabomba
And pistia stratiotes (water lettuce) Or other floating plants
It suggests taking bamboo stalks, cutting them to the desired length, then coating them in polyurethane varnish (I imagine thats safe to use, if its in a fish book?) Then you place them verticaly here and there throughout the tank. It suggests siliconing rocks to the base to wieght it down since they're buoyant. It also suggests using dark pieces of wood placed vertically to emulate tree stumps. there are also some large pieces of slate in the picture they give...its very pretty.
And lots of Hydrocotyle.
The fish they list for this specific tank are: gouramis of all sorts, catfish, barbs, loaches , and rasboras (it suggests harlequins, slender rasboras (hengeli) and pygmy rasboras (hard to find - maculata - I believe it is the smallest tropical fish...or one of at least). Also bettas - but females, not males, rather obviously.
It also has Southeast Asian Stream
Plants:
Crypts - a mix of all, including wendtiis, balansae
Aponogentons - boivinianus, madagascariensis, crispus
java fern
Fish suggested: cherry barbs, false SAE/true SAE, five banded-barb (P. pentazona), Harlequins and scissortails, red tailed black sharks, ruby sharks, horse faced loach.
Their tank uses very large bambo pieces, much like the other tank. It uses many small pebbles and gravels to create the appearance of a streambed. It also contains "jati" driftwood.
Dont know if that helped some. I appologize in advance for how crappily I just put that post together lol...kind of in a hurry. I have suggestions for a lot of different regions too
cool book.
PS. A really cool thing...go to tropica.com (page has moved I think it will direct you) go to advanced search...then click asia and low light...it comes up with a list
