Twigs and needles play a subtle but essential role in the Botanical Method Aquarium. In forest streams and flooded habitats, there are many coniferous trees that naturally fall into the water, breaking down slowly and layering with leaf litter. In aquariums, they grow beneficial biofilms and fungi, provide shelter for shrimp and microfauna, and add texture that mimics the tangled complexity of natural streambeds. Fish such as tetras, rasboras, and dwarf cichlids use these materials as cover, foraging zones, and even spawning sites.
