The Tint

Getting down to it. Keeping it "simple." Or not.

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."- Albert Einstein

Yeah, some of the stuff we play with is not so easy for me to explain...So  I think that 'ol Albert was right- Perhaps I don't understand it well enough.

I have a lot of questions about all sorts of aquarium stuff.

Like, more questions than answers, it seems.

And I wonder if I make things more complicated than they need to be? Or, if they are simple enough? Do we as a hobby do this?

I think we do.

Personally, I have chosen to employ simplicity over complication in the hobby. I have always felt that we've become a bit too "gadget-heavy" in some areas of the hobby, and that these so-called "improvements" often do little to make things more "simple" for us...I mean, you have to learn HOW these things that are supposed to "simplify" your life work in order to simplify it, right?

Yeah, everything has a sort of "cost", right?

Yeah. 

You can't always assume that everything that is supposed to be easy really is.

Now, I certainly don't think that super-sophisticated ideas and equipment and such are "wrong." I just tend to question some of this stuff because I just don't understand them and how they are supposed to make the hobby more fun. Programming a controller to feed my fishes or test my water for me kind of defeats the purpose of being a hobbyist, IMHO.

It's like that with a lot of gadgets and practices that have become the norm in some hobby circles. I just don't understand the benefits they bring relative to the technique being used or the piece of equipment or product being employed.

Yeah, call me simplistic.And inconsistent....

I'm okay with that. I own it. 

I am not- SHOUDL NOT- bash these things or the people who love them. But I just have to be honest with myself. I'm a pretty simple hobbyist.

I have been for years. I like keeping stuff simple. I'm not one of those "DIY" kinds of hobbyists who builds stuff rather than buys it. Nope, I just do some of the stuff that things you can buy to do it for you allegedly can do!

I've been at it like this forever, with all types of aquarium stuff. 

However, the hobby marches on regardless of simplistic old-school guys like me. I see this in the reef-keeping world all the time. Technology to do everything...

I mean, as a reef aquarist, you're exposed to all manner of arcane ideas, products, and tactics  to supposedly help make your life as a hobbyist easier and your tank more successful. And apparently, the hobby is filled with ALL sorts of stuff that can supposedly make your tank successful if you use it.

Supposedly.

I mean, there are so many variations of "everyday" reef hardware, like protein skimmers, reactors, electronic controllers, LED lighting systems, etc.- each supposedly offering advantages, gains, and improvements over the other. Some leave me scratching my head, like "macro algae reactors", because they add a layer of expense and technology to do something that can be achieved with a much more low tech solution (like growing macro algae in a lighted section of your sump-something 90% of reefers have), while not incurring the expense and additional complication of another (expensive) piece of equipment. 

Maybe it's just more fun to purchase or employ a gadget to do that?

In the hobby, I totally get that technology is awesome. It can help us. But I think a lot of the technology is designed to make the so-called "mundane" aspects of our hobby easier, to give us more time to...to do what? Is the extra 20 minutes a week you'll gain by using some product that allegedly lets you avoid water exchanges- or does them for you- going to be used towards staring at your tank? What exactly will you save? And, I submit that some of the "mundane" stuff, like interacting with your tank, testing the water, etc.- IS the hobby. It IS fun- because you're making and managing a little aquatic world, right?

Now, I get it- if you have 50 tanks in your fish room, are a breeder, travel a lot, etc., saving 20 minutes per tank is life changing. I can't argue with that at all. As a former coral farmer, I can tell you that if my crew spent their whole day working on all of the little things that need to be done to tend to 14,000 gallons of saltwater manually, we'd have been out of business in no time.

However, for guys like me- and perhaps, you- the average hobbyist with an "average-sized" aquarium or two, is it that significant? Are things like feeding your fishes, conducting water tests, scraping algae, feeding your fishes, or conducting water exchanges that distracting from your enjoyment of the hobby that you need to spend tons of money to avoid doing them?

I have always felt that if your life is so busy that you can't perform some of the basic tasks associated with maintaining an aquarium that you should consider some other hobby. The involvement- I mean, to me, that IS the hobby.

I like to think I like simple stuff...but the reality is I'm pretty hypocritical. 

I mean, love the botanical-style approach because we are learning that we can use natural materials to have multiple types of effects and results on our aquariums. Simple, right? Well, not really, because we really don't understand every aspect of what botanicals do to our aquarium water. 

I talks about this sort of stuff as if it is a way of simplifying things in aquarium management, when the reality is, it opens up an entirely new set of parameters and things to monitor, doesn't it? It is an "unlock" in the sense that it provides us with a different way of doing things, but it requires understanding, acceptance of new ideas, etc.

Probably not really that "simple."

Sigh.

Well, I tried. I guess it's part of being a hobbyist, right? Enjoy the hobby the way YOU want to...even if guys like me think it's too complicated. :)

Stay simple- or not. Stay bold. Stay open-minded. Stay creative. Stay diligent...

And Stay Wet.

THAT was simple, right?

Yeah.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The botanical factor: Keeping it "in play..."

Another one of those questions we receive from time to time from our community concerns how to add additional botanicals to an existing aquarium.

On the surface, this question seems almost overly "simplistic", but the reality is that it's a pretty important process and one of the keys to maintaining a stable blackwater, botanical-stye aquarium environment.

For the most part, once you set up your aquarium and add your botanicals, they begin to break down. If you are trying to keep the "visual tint" in the tank at a certain level, that will probably be one of your first indicators that it's time to "top off."

And in my opinion, the best way to "top off" your botanicals in your aquarium is the same way you added them in the first place:

Slowly.

Add few leaves every day over the course of a week. Throw in one or two seed pods a day along with the leaves. Take your time.

The processes in nature which deliver leaves and botanicals into the water are constant (like wind, leaf drop, water currents), and, with the exception of storms, typically happen steadily on a daily basis.

Besides, in the closed system aquarium, as we've discussed repeatedly- soon things slowly and consistently is the key to a stable, healthy aquatic environment. Sure, once in a while you might want to simulate a "wide event" and drop more leaves than usual into the tank- perhaps in conjunction with a weekly water exchange- but for the most part, slow, steady, consistent.

And of course, you could always drop a few leaves into your water aging containers- perhaps a couple per every few liters or gallons- and evaluating both he visual tint and the pH impact (if any) on the water. It ives yo ua sort of "pre-tint", if you will.

None of this is really "rocket science" of course...it's more akin to cooking or making a good cup of coffee...a sort of basic "recipe" that you adjust as you go. And that is the beauty of the blackwater, botanical-style aquarium, isn't it?

No "absolute rules" on how to do anything- just adjustments based on observations and testing.

The one "rule" is to deploy patience.

But you knew that already, right?

Stay calm. Stay engaged. Stay observant. Stay curious.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Mangrove meandering, and the part where Scott kicks his own butt for not doing something already! Yeah, fun!

As the "Estuary" line from Tannin starts to find it's legs, we're seeing some interesting applications of mangrove roots/branches and interpretations of various mangrove habitats. As I talk with our customers, I am awash with new ideas! 

Like, too many ideas. Driven to the point of distraction...and INACTION! "Analysis paralysis" at its finest.

Time for another public "self-flogging"- my preferred technique for getting myself off my ass to do something! :)

And I'm kind of angry about it. I've been keeping my latest mangrove root project "dry" for way too long. WAY too long...LIke, WAAAAAY too long! 

I've been doing a stupid amount of research into different themes for my office mangrove root habitat, which has been delayed more times than the NASA Space Launch System" over the past year, and I'm more than ready to go now...And of course, at the last minute- I'm contemplating a particularly radical departure from my original plan..possibly a full-strength saltwater estuary replication... 

"...Just when I thought I was OUT, you pull me back IN....!!!!"  Protein skimmers, calcium reactors, trendy overpriced coral frags with stupid names...arghhh!

Well, it's not really that bad...I mean, it COULD be- but I don't think it is. I think this could be pretty cool...no matter which direction I go with it!

I say that now...

("Yeah, keep mocking me, you mother-----!")

One of the things that I found/find interesting is that there are plenty of things going on in mangrove habitats that can be potentially modeled in the aquarium, with so many possible approaches!  We've done some of this already in our blackwater, botanical-style systems, and there is more potential in brackish/marine tanks than we'd imagine for this type of setup!

It all starts with the decomposition of "stuff." Like, typically, leaves.

Epiphytes, macrophytes, allochthonous input, and other "natural" fish foods...

As a hardcore enthusiast of the blackwater/botanical-style aquarium, you're more than well-attuned to the nuances involved in managing a system filled with decomposing leaves, seed pods, wood, etc. And you're keenly aware of many of the physiological/ecological  benefits that have been attributed to the use of these materials in the aquarium. However, I am willing to bet that most of us have not really considered the "nutritional" aspects of both botanicals and the life forms they foster as an important part of the "functional/aesthetic" dynamic we've touched on before.

Let's consider some of the types of food sources that our fishes might utilize in the wild habitats that we try so hard to replicate in our aquariums, and perhaps develop a greater appreciation for them when they appear in our tanks. Perhaps we will even attempt to foster and utilize them to our fishes' benefits in unique ways? 

One of the important food resources in natural aquatic systems are what are known as macrophytes- aquatic plants which grow in and around the water, emerged, submerged, floating, etc. Not only do macrophytes contribute to the physical structure and spatial organization of the water bodies they inhabit, they are primary contributors to the overall biological stability of the habitat, conditioning the physical parameters of the water. Of course, anyone who keeps a planted aquarium could attest to that, right? 

One of the interesting things about macrophytes is that, although there are a lot of fishes which feed directly upon them, the plants themselves are perhaps most valuable as a microhabitat for algae, zooplankton, and other organisms which fishes feed on. Small aquatic crustaceans seek out the shelter of plants for both the food resources they provide (i.e.; zooplankton, diatoms) and for protection from predators (yeah, the fishes!).

So, plants in the aquarium have been valued by aquarists "since the beginning" for all sorts of benefits- that's not really groundbreaking. I personally think that one of the more interesting functions of plants in the aquarium is to serve as this sort of "feeding ground" for fishes in all stages of their existence. Oh, yeah, they look cool, too! 

Perhaps most interesting to us blackwater/botanical-style aquarium people are epiphytes. These are organisms which grow on the surface of plants or other substrates and derive their nutrients from the surrounding environment. They are important in the nutrient cycling and uptake in both nature and the aquarium, adding to the biodiversity, and serving as an important food source for many species of fishes.

In the case of our aquatic habitats, like streams, ponds, and inundated forests, epiphytes are abundant, and many fishes will spend large amounts of time foraging the biocover on tree trunks, branches, leaves, and other botanical materials. Although most animals use leaves and tree branches for shelter and not directly as a food item, grazing on this epiphytic growth is very important. Some organisms, such as nematodes and chironomids ("Bloodworms!") will dig into the leaf structures and feed on the tissues themselves, as well as the fungi and bacteria found in and among them. These organisms, in turn, become part of the diet for many fishes.

And the resulting detritus produced by the "processed" and decomposing pant matter is considered by many aquatic ecologists to be an extremely significant food source for many fishes, especially in areas such as Amazonia and Southeast Asia, where the detritus is considered an essential factor in the food webs of these habitats. And of course, if you observe the behavior of many of your fishes in the aquarium, such as characins, cyprinids, Loricarids, and others, you'll see that in between feedings, they'll spend an awful lot of time picking at "stuff" on the bottom of the tank. In a botanical style aquarium, this is a pretty common occurrence, and I believe an important benefit of this type of system. 

I am of the opinion that a botanical-style aquarium, complete with its decomposing leaves and seed pods, can serve as a sort of "buffet" for many fishes- even those who's primary food sources are known to be things like insects and worms and such. Detritus and the organisms within it can provide an excellent supplemental food source for our fishes! It's well known that in many habitats, like inundated forests, etc., fishes will adjust their feeding strategies to utilize the available food sources at different times of the year, such as the "dry season", etc. And it's also known that many fish fry feed actively on bacteria and fungi in these habitats...so I suggest one again that a blackwater/botanical-style aquarium could be an excellent sort of "nursery" for many fish species! 

You'll often hear the term "periphyton" mentioned in a similar context, and I think that, for our purposes, we can essentially consider it in the same manner as we do "epiphytic matter." Periphyton is essentially a "catch all" term for a mixture of cyanobacteria, algae, various microbes, and of course- detritus, which is found attached or in extremely close proximity to various submerged surfaces. Again, fishes will graze on this stuff constantly.

And then, of course, there's the "allochthonous input" that we've talked about so much here: Foods from the surrounding environment, such as flowers, fruits, terrestrial insects, etc. These are extremely important foods for many fish species that live in these habitats. We mimic this process when we feed our fishes prepared foods, as stuff literally "rains from the sky!" Now, I think that what we feed to our fishes directly in this fashion is equally as important as how it's fed.

I'd like to see much more experimentation with foods like ants, fruit flies, and other winged insects. Of course, I can hear the protests already: "Not in MY house, Fellman!" I get it. I mean, who wants a plague of winged insects getting loose in their suburban home because of some aquarium feeding experiment gone awry, right?

That being said, I would encourage some experimentation with ants and the already fairly common wingless fruit flies. Can you imagine one day recommending an "Ant Farm" as a piece of essential aquarium food culturing equipment? Why not right?

As many of you may recall, I've often been amused by the concerns many hobbyists express when a new piece of driftwood is submerged in the aquarium, often resulting in an accumulation of fungi, algal growth and biofilm. I realize this stuff looks pretty shitty to most of us, particularly when we are trying to set up a super-cool aquascaped tank. That being said, I think we need to let ourselves embrace this. I think that those of us who maintain blackwater. botanical-style aquariums have made the "mental shift" to understand, accept, and even appreciate the appearance of this stuff.

When you start seeing your fishes "graze" casually on the materials that pop up on your driftwood and botanicals, you start realizing that, although it might not look like the aesthetics we had in mind, it is a beautiful thing to our fishes. And this made me think that an "evolved" preparation technique for driftwood might be to "age" it in a large aquarium that also serves as an acclimation system for certain fishes. For example, fishes like Headstanders (Chilodus punctatus) and various loaches, catfishes, and others, would be excellent additions to this "driftwood prep tank." You could get the benefit of having the gunky stuff accumulate on the wood outside of your main display (if it bothers you, of course), while helping acclimate some cool fishes to captivity!

Just throwing the idea out there.

And of course, we've talked before about the "botanical nursery" concept- creating an aquarium for fish fry that has a large quantity of decomposing botanicals and leaves to foster the production of these materials, which serve as supplemental food for your fish fry. I have done this before myself and can attest to its viability. You fishes will have a constant supply of "natural" foods to supplement what you are feeding them in the early phases of their life. Learn to make peace with your detritus! 

This little discussion has probably not created any earth-shattering "new" developments, but I believe that it has at least looked at a few of the terms you see bandied about now and again in hobby literature, perhaps clarifying their significance to us. And I think it's really about us understanding what happens in nature and how we can work with it instead of against it, taking advantage of the food sources that she provides to our fishes when we don't rush off for the algae scraper and siphon hose before considering the upside!

Another "mental shift", I suppose...one which many of you have already made, no doubt. I certainly look forward to seeing many examples of us utilizing "what we've got" to the advantage of our fishes! 

Stay bold. Stay open-mined. Stay interested. Stay creative. Stay engaged.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Active management and the leaf-litter aquarium. Just the leaf litter. Nothing but leaf litter. Yeah.

Seriously, Fellman- how much can you talk about leaf litter in aquariums?

Wel, more than you'd think. And today, I'm not talking about "including leaf litter in aquariums." I'm talking about leaf litter as the whole "scape" of the aquarium!

Like, as in the whole thing.

In many blackwater habitats, you'll find leaf litter banks- pretty much one of the main types of ecological niches that we obsess over. Now, in our blackwater/botanical-style aquariums, we include leaves as part of the display. However, I can't say I've seen all that many aquariums which have their aquascape composed exclusively of leaves! In other words, a tank which attempts to simulate a leaf litter bank itself as the overall "theme."

Seems kind of funny, given all of our talk about them, but yeah, I can't recall too many tanks which are simply a fine, sand substrate, and leaf litter- with nothing else.

Talk about an "ephemeral" habitat- a tank with the "hardscape" composed entirely of leaf litter would be just that: Constantly evolving and changing. It would be a tank that you would most definitely have to "actively manage", in the sense that you'd be replacing leaves on a very frequent basis as they break down- a process which, as we've stated many times- mimics what occurs in nature.

And of course, you'd need to deploy a healthy sense of discipline to not want to "supplement" the "litter bank" with other botanicals, or throw in a piece of driftwood or whatever. Yup, we're talking about just modeling our system after the main leaf litter bed itself. Easy, right? Just toss in leaves! Umm...not really. There are some challenges involved here- both in creating the litter bed itself, and in the continuing management of the aquarium and it's environment.

How would this work? Is it even practical? 

Well, for one thing, it would be a tank with little in the way of "vertical" structure, in that you'd be limited to how high you could "stack" your leaves, right? And, as they'd break down, your "vertical" would diminish somewhat! So, this would, IMHO, necessitate starting off with a shallow aquarium- one which you could easily stack leaves 8 inches/20cm or more, with a modest water column over the litter bed. Shallow and wide would be good! Alternatively, you could use an aquarium of "standard" height, and simply not fill at all the way, as shown here:

(But this tank, awesome as it is- is NOT exclusively leaf litter, of course. But you get what I mean...)

So, right from the outset, you've got a "structural challenge" to contend with. You'd probably start off with a sand bed of anywhere from 1/2 inch to 2 inches/1.27cm-5.08cm, to create a literal "foundation", and to foster some denitrification or biological filtration "support" within the system. From there, it would make sense to start with your most "durable" leaves as the "first layer" of the litter bed, as the "structural integrity" they provide would create some void spaces and a "trophic structure" (a structure that fosters the feeding habits or relationships of different organisms in a food chain or food web). It would also allow some water circulation within the litter bed itself, to avoid anaerobic pockets as the leaves break down. 

So, I'd probably start the litter bed off with Magnolia and Jackfruit leaves. These leaves tend to be a bit more solid than say, Catappa or Guava, and hold their "rigidity" longer as well. I'd ask my supplier (Hmm..I Know of one, if you need a reference, heh, heh..) to send me larger specimens of each to help "build up" a more stable, slightly "elevated" first layer. 

 Next, I'd probably go for smaller, longer-lasting leaves, like Mangrove, which we've come to love in all types of systems (not just brackish ones), because we've found them to be long-lived and remarkable durable submerged. They also have a very "exotic" look, from an aesthetic standpoint (Hey, even when you're working with just leaves, you need some aesthetics, right? Yeah.)

Next, you would likely use leaves like Guava, Loquat, and Catappa, all of which have correspondingly shorter "useful lifespans" when submerged- with Catappa being likely the most "ephemeral" of the bunch, breaking down significantly in just a few weeks.

Of course, water movement and filtration are necessary in such a system, and both present somewhat of an "engineering" challenge- or at the very least, require careful consideration with regards to how you'd employ each. 

For filtration, I think there are a few approaches that would work well:

1) An outside, hang-on-the-back "Power Filter" 

2) A canister filter with surface skimmer

3) An air-driven sponge filter

4) Employment of an "all-in-one" aquarium with an integrated surface overflow and filter chamber (It would be quite difficult to find a shallow one, though!). 

5) "Reef-ready" tank with an overflow weir (definitely would have to be a "custom job") with a sump.

All of these formats would work. The keys are to move some water, break up surface/air interface for maximum gas exchange, and to provide physical removal of decomposing leaf materials which are actively moving about the water column. or, i the case of the air-driven sponge filter- to keep these materials in suspension so that you could physically remove them with a net.

I told you this type of tank involves some "active participation" in its management! Not at all the "set-and-forget" type! I'd run some activated carbon in this tank. Oh, and if you're incorporating mechanical media, you'll be cleaning and/or and replacing it weekly as needed.

Indeed, simply starting up this type of display would take some patience, observation, and probably some proactive work on your part.

With a large volume of leaves added to the aquarium from day one, you would not want to convert an existing system with fishes to such a tank. The potential exists for some problems:  Excessive bacterial respiration as a result of a large influx of leaves to an established system could lower the water's dissolved oxygen AND increase CO2...a recipe for disaster with an existing fish population. We've talked about this possibility many times before -both in regards to the leaves themselves and the biofilms that they foster as they break down.

Although biofilms and decomposing leaves are not in and of themselves dangerous- a rapid environmental change of any type in an existing aquarium is no bueno! And don't forget- leaves and their associated microfauna are bioload, creating an environmental change to an existing tank when you plunk down a large quantity at one time. So, the reality is that you should attempt such an aquarium from scratch, and allow adequate time for biological cycling before adding your fishes.

All caveats aside, such a system, once up and running, is fascinating and a bit less challenging than you might think. Like any aquarium with biomass, once it's "cycled", a leaf-litter-only aquarium will be remarkably stable, in my experience. The presence of sand as both biological and pH support is an important aid, as are regular water exchanges (like weekly, 10% of water volume) once the tank is established.

You'll want to monitor pH regularly, and make the decision to remove or leave in place your leaves as they break down. And of course, you'll need to regularly replenish leaves to maintain your litter bed!

What kinds of fishes could you keep in such an aquarium? Well, the leaf litter banks of Asia and Amazonia (and Africa, for that matter), presents a veritable "who-s who" of popular aquarium fishes.

In addition to the ever-popular (and environmentally appropriate) characins/crenuchids and dwarf cichlids, you could try unusual fishes like Steatogenys duidae, a remarkably cool, modestly-sized knife fish, which is known to inhabit leaf litter beds. And others in it's genus, equally cool and interesting! Imagine a population of these fish in a leaf litter bed tank! 

Yeah...

Or, what about the incredible Amazon Leaf Fish, Monocirrhus polyacanthus, if you're into a modestly-sized  rather specialized (like, live fishes only!) ambush predator- a group of which  would be incredible in this type of system!

(Image by Kenpai, used under CC BY-S.A. 3.0)

Then you have the so-called "Darter Tetras" of the genera Elachocharax, Characidium, Poecilocharax, etc.- many species of which are perfectly adapted to live among leaf litter beds, all of which are, IMHO, remarkably under-appreciated and not commonly kept aquarium subjects! 

Of course, feeding strategies in such aquariums, where many of the fishes you keep would dwell just above- or within- the litter beds, require some thought. With the exception of the aforementioned Amazon leaf fish, most are what scientists call Autochthonous insectivores, meaning they eat insects that find their way into the water. So to us aquarists, that means foods like blood worms, ants, fruit flies, mosquito larvae, black worms, etc. are perfect. 

And you have the opportunity to "cultivate" some "in situ" supplemental food organisms like worms, Gammarus, and Daphnia, etc. within the leaf litter itself for a while prior to adding your fishes (to give a chance for a viable population of these organisms to establish free of predators!). There is still much to learn from this practice on an aquarium hobby level, and the many benefits of doing this have yet to truly manifest in the freshwater world!

Sure, you'll be managing an active, dynamic, lower-pH blackwater environment, and have to work with all of the associated husbandry requirements, challenges, and procedures- but this is all part of the game. It's all a group of skills which nay of us have acquired already with our blackwater/botanical-style aquarium "practice"- this is merely the ultimate expression of that.

It's an excise in technique. An expression of confidence. A bold assertion that we as hobbyists can try things that, on the surface seem incredibly difficult, and possibly unattainable. An affirmation that we not only can do such tanks- but we can do them well, manage them long term, and make the mental shifts necessary to create systems which, just a few short years ago, were clearly "fringe" and perhaps even a bit "kooky"- when the reality is that they are the springboard to all sorts of "unlocks" and even major breakthroughs in specialty aquarium concept and management.

Who's in on this?

Stay excited. Stay motivated. Stay creative. Stay confident. Stay disciplined...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Something fishy....

Like most of you, I spend an incredible amount of time reading about  and researching aquarium fishes, their wild habitats, and a whole host of tangential hobby-and-science-related stuff. Of course, when you are involved in some aspect of the aquatics trade, this stuff is really "required reading", so it's not only enjoyable- it's kind of important! 

Having just recently launched Tannin Live!- our collection of live tropical fishes, I've become even more attuned to the "fishy" component of the freshwater aquarium hobby and trade. And this involves a lot of "refreshing" myself about a myriad of fish-specific topics. And one of the things that always strikes me, when considering the actual fishes themselves, is how few species we actually seem to have in the aquarium hobby relative to the abundance in nature!

Yeah, on the surface, that seems like a very "hobbyist-centric" attitude.

I mean, yeah, I suppose I should be grateful that we have ANY fishes, right? Especially when we consider the fragile nature of the natural habitats, the pressures on wild fishes, etc. It's a sort of strange "double-edged sword", if you will, filled with sort of self-serving, yet fairly accurate narratives that we've all heard before: On one hand, we might take too much...and on the other, we are losing fishes to other aspects of human intervention (i.e.; deforestation, climate change, pollution, etc.), and perhaps acquiring some to breed in captivity may be their only shot at species survival......a strange juxtaposition worthy of lots of discussion (although not really today's topic...).

But really, when you think about it- for every fish we have in the hobby, there seem to be dozens which, for one reason or another, never make it into the trade.

Obviously, there are a lot of reasons for it. First off, some are flat-out scarce, endangered, or otherwise challenged in the wild. And in my opinion, they should be left there. And then there are many which are simply hard to find...perhaps they are really good at hiding. Or maybe, they're abundant, but hail from a locale which is kind of hard to get to or ship fishes out of. Some are altogether unsuitable for captive life. Others are just not "chromatically exciting" enough for the average hobbyist to warrant being included in the trade with any regularity.

Of course, there may simply be another reason. Economics.

I know this was true in the marine fish trade: The local fishers are simply not aware of, nor economically motivated by- the "potential demand" for a fish. They need to concentrate on the "bread and butter" fishes that bring guaranteed income, not "by catch" or related species which may or may not find a market in the aquarium trade. 

Now, with more and more "boutique" aquarium suppliers and hobbyist/breeder-driven businesses, perhaps some of these "unknowns' may find their way into the trade. For a great example of the potential, one need only look at the fishes from Amazonia.

I've been researching a lot about fishes in the Amazon region lately, and I am amazed at how many cool species are apparently fairly abundant, but simply not on the radar in the aquarium trade. The species richness of the Amazon and Orinoco basin is incredible- something over 3000 species from over 500-plus genera.

And literally, maybe a fraction of those are found in the aquarium trade. 

Apart from the popular species of Tetras and dwarf cichlids, there are, for example, lots of species of knife fishes which remain relatively small, are not difficult to keep or feed, and would make really cool aquarium fishes in the right type of aquarium. Species like Racenisia, Adontosternarchus, Hypopygus, etc. Fishes which live in small flooded forest areas and live in leaf litter, twists of branches, etc. They're often not possessed of the most striking colors, but they are fascinating in appearance, behavior, and lifestyle.

(Image by Haplochromis. Used under CC BY- S.A. 2.0)

And of course, even in the popular characin families, there are numerous species that most of us who don't hold degrees in ichthyology ever even hear of, let alone, see- such as Corynopoma, Hemibrycon, Gephyrocharax, Microgenys, etc. Or the so-called "Darter Tetras" as well. Fishes that are probably netted quite frequently, and simply tossed back by the fisherfolk in favor of the more in demand (and profitable) Cardinal Tetras, Emperors, etc.

Now again, is this a "bad" thing for nature? Just because 200 of us are into some weird grey fish from The Orinoco, does that justify this?

I go back and forth on this stuff.

I mean, as a hobbyist/business person I admit that I have an inherently selfish point of view about wanting new fishes. Yet, putting further pressures on new species is probably not such a good thing, either. right? I've heard arguments on both sides, ranging from. "Well, all of the fishes which are not being taken are probably more abundant now because they are reproducing and growing free from the pressure of being captured for aquariums." to "We should take some of these 'by catch" species for the trade because reducing their populations somewhat helps with food resource partitioning, keeping the populations of more popular fishes healthy."

I mean, both sides have their pros and cons, I suppose- and I don't suggest that I have some great answer.

We could debate this topic from environmental, socio-economic, and species diversity positions "till the cows come home" and never reach a consensus that will make everyone happy. The simplest answer would be to simply leave everything alone; to not remove any wild fishes-new or previously untapped species- from their natural habitats. 

On the other hand, with deforestation, global warming, pollution, and other man-made ecological disasters pressuring wild populations of fishes, the argument for getting some into the aquarium trade, where we have a shot at reproducing them in captivity seems pretty logical, too.

I read the other day that the Fijian government has ceased the exportation of wild-collected corals for the aquarium trade. Although sudden, this shouldn't come as any great surprise. There is a fairy robust aquacultured coral trade there which, if managed well, could supply the bulk of the demand for coral from this region. The problem, as I see it (and I'm just giving my opinion) is that it had become too easy, too profitable, too much of a "cash cow" for the industry to simply grab from nature, versus spending a considerable sum propagating more corals locally. There is room to do both, if managed well, IMHO.

And here I am, an aquatics vendor who has some vested interest in the collection of wild species, espousing my point of view on stuff!

Great.

Oh, the hypocrisy, right? Probably some warped "optics" here, huh? Yeah.

But I'm kind of thinking about it as an aquarium hobbyist, my commercial interests notwithstanding. I think that there is a need for both wild collection and captive breeding (both in the countries of origin and internationally) of freshwater fishes. Organizations like Project Piaba, which both studies the wild populations and fosters a strong and sustainable collection process (which benefits native fisherfolk) are doing fabulous work. And I wonder if we could realistically do even more? I think it would be cool to see some of the more unusual wild fishes from Amazonia, for example, propagated locally, which would provide the indigenous people not only economic opportunity, but help preserve the wild populations.

Sure, if it were that easy, we'd have done it by now, right? And I certainly don't have all of the answers. I realize that this piece might bring up some rather contentious discussions, and perhaps my ignorance (which I fully confess to) about the topic may be glaring and annoying to some who are well-versed in it. But it IS interesting and important to think about and discuss all of this stuff- and we should, even though it may bring out some rather aggressive points of view during the discourse. To simply turn our heads on rather touchy topics within our industry is not an answer. I know that I need to personally learn more and get involved in helping protect the wild habitats and supporting the native peoples of these regions who are trying to foster a sustainable trade while benefitting economically.

All that being said, there is still something incredibly exciting- romantic, even, about the prospects of some "obscure-to-the-trade" fish starting to appear in the hobby. With the talent pool that we have, and the technique which has been developed over the years, the chance for success with many new species is better than ever!

And with our understanding of the real challenges facing the fishes and habitats we love so much, it's never been a better time to get involved in supporting sustainably-minded operations, captive breeders, and scientists, as we strike a balance that will keep our planet healthy for generations to come.

That's my thoughts for today...No big, right?

Umm, yeah..it's a lot to think about/discuss/debate.

Stay curious. Stay studious. Stay honest. Stay passionate...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The wonder of it all...

I'm not sure what it is about New Year's in the context, but it somehow makes me reflect upon the way I've operated as a hobbyist for years. How I got started in the hobby and them any directions that I've taken in my aquatic "journey."

We spend a lot of time reflecting upon the natural habitats of our fishes, which is an awesome, amazing thing. And many of us dedicate a tremendous amount of time, effort, and energy to replicating them in our aquariums in as much detail as possible. Also amazing.

Yet, there are scores of hobbyists who simply want to maintain their aquariums in a more "natural" format, but have no desire to dedicate all of their energy to recreating that stream on the Igarape Mapinguari in Brazil, or a peat swamp in Kalimantan, Borneo. Rather, many are content with creating a natural-looking aquarium, with a sort of "generic" mix of favorite fishes from around the world. The classic, beloved, "community aquarium."

I'd venture to guess that the community aquarium concept has launched more hobbyist "careers" than just about any other approach. Now, sure, there are people, who, because of an introduction by a friend or family member, or simply because something "spoke" to them, jumped immediately into Discus, Catfshes, corals, or guppies and never looked back. That's pretty incredible, too! 

I know many aquarium hobbyists who have started in saltwater, with reef aquariums specifically, who have never known anything else in their aquarium experience but refractometers, protein skimmers, and calcium reactors. And I've known an even greater number of hobbyists who've created some of the most astounding planted freshwater aquariums in the world, or bred world-class Apistogramma, who have never even tasted saltwater. 

It's interesting.

It's actually kind of awe-inspiring to me that the world of aquariums is so vast- so varied, and so large, that we have "specialists" in areas that many of us have never even heard of, let alone, played with.  I mean, I admit that, short of a few Melanotaenia species, I haven't kept, nor know much at all, about Rainbowfishes. Yet, there are hobbyists- incredible, talented ones- who I barely know of, who have collected, kept, developed techniques for, and maintained dozens of Rainbowfish species. What could YOU learn from them? What practices do they engage in that you've never even thought about...which could have profound impact on something you are doing in your area of interest? We should talk to each other a lot more about a lot of things hobby-related..

Think of the hobbyists who win those "Breeder's Award Program" trophies at your local aquarium club...I mean, they have often bred 75-100 species or more of all sorts of fishes! That blows me away! I mean, I've been keeping aquariums literally since I could walk, and I've maybe intentionally bred 50-some different species of fishes, and a good percentage of those were killifishes and livebearers. It's humbling to think that, even though I'm a huge fan of characins, that I've only bred maybe 5 types...and two of those were accidental!

Like many of you, I've chosen to concentrate on other areas of the hobby- husbandry, aquarium ecology, concepts...and breeding, although fascinating to me...has always taken a back seat, so to speak. Not that it doesn't interest me...it's just that I have chosen to concentrate on other areas of the hobby.

Again, that's what's so amazing. Here I am, decades in, and if I want, I can switch gears next week and simply start learning about___________ and working on breeding them. Or I could go full-bore into a planted "high tech" aquarium. Or I could get really into the trendy, self-agrandizing aquascaping contest thing...Wait- no chance. What the &*^% was I thinking there? 

However, the point is that you are never "too late" to try something different in the hobby. The skills that you have acquired in one area are often applicable to your work in another hobby specialty...well, many of them are.

Okay, a whole lot of disjointed, sleep-deprived ramblings about something we've probably all thought about before.

Well, damn it. Think about it some more...But execute on it!

As we enter 2018, I say...go for it! Whatever "it" might be. If you've been itching to breed knifefishes, make this your year! If you have always wanted to create an aquarium filled with only with Zebra Danios, do it! If you've wanted to test out this whole "blackwater thing"...well, hell, yes! (of course I'd be enthusiastic about THAT one...)...

All it takes is an idea and a willingness to be a bit humbled- to open your mind and do a bit of research; a bit of work. Be willing to ask questions of those more experienced than you. Be willing to accept some failures along the way.

Dream, create, achieve.

And never be too deep in a single aspect of this hobby to overlook the wonder of it all.

Happy 2018. You've got this.

Stay bold. Stay experimental. Stay humbled. Stay enthusiastic...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Following the fishes...

We talk a lot about diversity in our use of botanicals in aquariums, and I know I presented, on a number of occasions, my ideas about not going too crazy with too many different varieties of botanicals in one aquarium. Of course, this is based on my opinion, and not on any specific observation I've made.

One thing that has been studied- fairly extensively, I might add- is the diversity of fish species in specific ecological niches and locales. I spend a fair amount of time perusing scientific literature online, attempting to ferret out little nuggets of information which might be applicable to thew or we do as hobbyists. I've found lots of cool information about the habitats, water chemistry, and ecology of the regions I'm into, as well as some really cool studies on fish population composition and species diversity in some of these niches.

I think we as hobbyists could get some interesting ideas about how to stock our aquariums from perusing some of these studies. Knowing what fishes are found where is beneficial more than for just winning a biotope aquarium contest. Nope...it's interesting information to have because it can give us insight into the types of food resources, water conditions, and physical structures of the habitats from which they come...And that could enable us to create and populate more "structurally functional" aquariums for our fishes- which might be the key to unlocking secrets about their husbandry and reproduction!

And it starts with surveys of what is found in a given area...

For example,  a study I found regarding the igarape of the Rio Acre area in Brazil, conducted over about a year in a fairly sizable sampling area of the region yielded some neat stuff. It's a pretty typical habitat in this area, under the usual pressures from man's activities, which have resulted in some loss of vegetation which is an important component of these inundated forest floor habitats.

Nonetheless, the richness of species in this one are was significant! The study found 94 different species in 24 families. What was most interesting to me was the composition. We're talking about the highest percentage of species collected being characins (around 45 different species). Next most common group was Siluriformes- with 33 species of catfishes, such as Ancistrus, Corydoras, Farlowella, and Otocinculus, among others, being represented. Next was the Gymnotiformes- Knifefishes- with 8 species, including the cool Eigenmannia virescens (a species I hope we see more of!), followed by the Perciformes-Cichlids! The cichlids in the region were represented by families familiar to hobbyists- Crenicichla, Apistogramma, Aequidens, and Satanoperca.

So, if we were to take this information literally, creating an accurate igarape-themed aquarium would have the bulk of it's population consist of Tetras, Pencifishes, Hatchetfishes, and other characins. What does this tell us about the habitat? Well, for one thing, since the majority of characins feed on items such as insects (terrestrial and aquatic), small crustaceans, and seeds and fruits, we know that the habitat is filled with these items, in the form of allochthonous input. And this usually is a result of the presence overhanging vegetation, decomposing leaves, and various types of riparian plants in these habitats. 

And the presence of various species of catfishes, which, if we look into their dietary preferences, show that many have a preference for wood from fallen branches and submerged tree trunks, organic detritus, worms, biofilm, etc. The rich flooded forest floors have much of this material present in order to support such a diversity! So it's fair to say that, as long as attention is paid to the water chemistry, many species of catfishes are ideal for a botanical-style blackwater aquarium representing this habitat.

And then there are the Knifefishes...

Their presence in the igarape habitats tells us a few things. For one, that the aquatic environment there is a twisted, tangled world of fallen trees, branches, submerged plants, leaves, and lots of places to hide. It tells us that, since a large art of their diet is worms, aquatic insects, and small fishes, the these are productive and rich habitats for these organisms as well. It tells us that these fascinating, cryptic, largely predatory fishes tend to aggregate, like every fish- where their prey items are most easily found.

And of course, the cichlids are present in good numbers in these habitats, exploiting the available food sources and spawning areas to hunker down for long periods during the inundation.

Cichlids, like all of the other fishes present in these habitats, make ample use of the resources available to them. They are present because the physical and environmental conditions work for them. This is a ridiculously simple concept that we as aquarists seem to know well...but I think we can execute better with more accurate information from nature.

In fact, I think that looking into the fish populations of natural habitats is key to understanding how to create a successful stocking plan. Now, granted, you probably aren't going to keep large, predatory knife fishes or catfishes with your tetras- but smaller representatives of their groups are perfect in the correctly-sized aquarium.

And, having a diversity of fish species that reflects the wild population can do...what? Perhaps, yield some insights into their natural behaviors? Feeding preferences? Reproduction? Can we create better representations of the "structural-functional" aspects of their environment in our aquaria?  By understanding where our fishes are found- and more importantly- how- we can potentially unlock many new insights into their captive care. It's a game that's been going on for centuries in the hobby, but if we take newly-avialble data and really look at it with some fresh perspectives...what can we unlock when we follow the fishes?

Until next time...

Stay curious. Stay intrigued. Stay creative. Stay adventurous...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The randomness of it all...

One of the things I find most interesting about nature, and the natural habitats that I personally obsess over (well, I think a few of you do, too!) is the sort of "randomness" of it all.

In other words-  the way in which natural materials, like rocks, wood, leaves, botanical materials, etc. are distributed in a given body of water, forming the "topography", if you will, of a  locale. The way these materials are distributed not only contributes to the interesting "look" of the area, but to the function which serves its underwater inhabitants- mainly, our fishes!

In aquascaping, we seem to apply a lot of interesting concepts to our work- some borrowed from art and design, and some from nature. And that's really cool. I don't think we should restrict ourselves in any way. 

I really hate "rules" that some proffer about how things must be.

Now, don't get me wrong...the current state of "aquascaping" is pretty incredible. There is amazing work going on everywhere. However, many of the most beautiful works, in my opinion, tend to NOT have a certain "randomness" which I feel characterizes the most compelling natural habitats. It's not that they're poorly executed or "bad" in any way shape or form. It's just that to me, it's that many seem to lack a "connection", if you will, to the aquatic environments from which our fishes come. 

IMHO, it's like, in our efforts to duplicate what we feel are the best parts of nature, we've unintentionally ended up distilling away some of the best parts of of it...

The "randomness", if you will.

And that's perfectly okay, of course, because they are flat-out gorgeous. Nothing wrong with that at all.

I personally just tend to like a slightly different aesthetic thing...

I am a bit partial to the blackwater/brackish-botanical-style aquariums we play with, if you haven't guessed. And I'm partial to them because, by their very nature, the defy our ability/desire/effort to control them to some extent. I mean, from the minute you add them to the aquarium, they begin to soften and break down, change sharp, form, and re-distribute throughout the aquarium.

And that's what's appealing to me. I mean, yes, you absolutely can (and I see a lot of people do this) do careful placement of botanicals in your tank, within an organized aquascape. Of course, unlike plants, rocks, wood, or other components that we tend to utilize in our 'scapes, botanicals will defy our efforts to "preserve" them. You can "edit" by cleaning, re-setting, or removing materials as they break down, defying, to some extent ,the forces of nature.

For a while, anyways. Then nature will win. She changes stuff based on her own needs. Not ours.

This is how nature works.

Look at the flooded igapo forests we write about so often here. Being a dry forest floor for a good part of the year, they are covered with materials from trees and such, which accumulate in bends and patches on the dry floor, driven by wind and other factors, only to be redistributed by current and gravity when the forests flood.

The mix of materials is, of course, dependent upon what plants, trees, and shrubs are in the immediate area, and brought in from nearby as a result of the aforementioned wind or previous flooding, etc. If you ask exactly what are the most common things you'd find in say, a typical South American locale, it would be materials form trees of Hevea brasiliensis. 

This one plant alone has a significant variety of components which are found accumulating o the forest floors. And of course, a whole lot of palm fronds, branches, bark pieces, and other leaves are found there, too. At present, we utilize a variety of botanical materials to simulate the diversity of items which are found in these and other geographical locations.

And getting back to the random nature of this stuff, that's almost why creating a realistic representation of a natural habitat such as a flooded forest or jungle stream is actually a more challenging process than the neophyte would imagine ("Just dump leaves and twigs in the tank and add water...!"). I mean, you're not only dealing with what to use to repent these habitats- you're tasked with thinking about how much to utilize. Too great a variety of materials (is there such a thing...? Maybe?) could look a bit too "cluttered", right? On the other hand, depending upon the variety of materials present in a given locale, and the activity (wind, currents, etc.) which drove them there, you might see quite a few materials, right? 

And then there is that whole "stuff breaks down" aspect, too. Your carefully laid-out aquascape will change regardless of how cool it is, because the natural processes of decomposition, coupled with water movement and the activities of your fishes, will result in many things being re-distributed throughout the tank. And that's pretty cool, really- because you have a most dynamic, constantly-changing scape! Now sure, you could be strategic, and create more of an "anchor", as many hobbyists do, by having a piece or group of wood or rocks form the basis of your permanent hardscape. And you could couple the "permanent" stuff with botanicals that are extremely durable, like "Savu Pods", "Jungle Pods", "Ceu Fruta", etc. Materials which, although they will eventually soften, are less likely to be re-distributed throughout the aquarium in the daily "life" that goes on there.

The less durable materials and leaves will provide the "random" and transient aspect to your aquascape, keeping it dynamic and ever-evolving. And for those of you who get bored easily, this is awesome- because you can keep replacing disintegrated botanicals with new ones you haven't tried before! So you get random distribution, accumulation, decomposition, and an influx of new materials...just like in nature.

Yeah, in our great effort to control the scene, we can often take some cues from nature. We can relax a bit, allowing her to do as she's done for eons...creating compelling, beautiful habitats which beg for us to stop for a second, drop our "aesthetic defenses", and savor them as they are.

Beautiful. Un-planned. Ever-changing.

Random.

Stay Inspired. Stay creative. Stay observant. Stay in awe...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Hello, Darkness...and some clarification on "clarity"...

Obviously, as lovers of blackwater aquariums, we spend a fair amount of time postulating, ruminating, and just scheming on how to achieve that natural water coloration we want.

As fish geeks, there are a few things that we universally seem to agree upon, right?

I mean, everyone knows that Characins are the best fishes for aquariums. Or is that Dwarf cichlids? Or maybe Plecos. Or? 

Okay, well the ONE thing I KNOW we seem to all agree on is our love of "crystal clear" water in our aquariums. Let's face it: Nobody likes a cloudy aquarium! 

As fish geeks, we want to be able to enjoy our aquaecapes, admire our fishes, and relish our plants. However, for various reasons, clear water is sometimes evasive. The good news is that most of the common cloudy water situations have relatively easy remedies.

As more and more hobbyists embrace the use of aquatic botanicals in their aquaria, we're seeing more and more tanks with a golden brownish-colored "tint" to the water. Now, let's be clear (arghhh!) about one thing:

There is a difference between "color" and "clarity."

The color is, as you know, a product of tannins leaching into the water from wood and botanicals, and typically is not "cloudy." It' actually one of the most natural-looking water conditions around, as water influenced by soils, woods, leaves, etc. is ubiquitous around the world. Other than having that undeniable color, there is little that differentiates this water from so-called "crystal clear" water to the naked eye.

Of course, the water may have a lower pH and general hardness, but these factors have no bearing on the visual clarity of the water.

I remember fondly, when I was co-owner of Unique Corals, a major coral importer/propagator, I had a beautiful little blackwater aquarium in my office. I loved that little tank. 

Everyone who came in my office gazed into that aquarium; most were hardcore "reef people" and marine livestock vendors. And if I had a dollar for every time someone told me, "Man, you MUST be busy! That aquarium looks pretty dirty. You need to change the filter...!"  I'd be filthy rich! Yeah. Once I explained what blackwater is and how it was natural and, in my eyes desirable, they would either have an "Ahah!" moment, or just continue with the business at hand, shrugging off my explanation. 

Some hobbyists just don't get it!

The point is, we seem to associate color in water with overall "cleanliness", or clarity. The reality is, in many cases, the color and clarity of the water can be indicative of some sort of issue, but color seems to draw an immediate "There is something wrong!" from the uninitiated!

Interestingly, if you talk to ecologists familiar with blackwater habitats, they are often considered some of the most "impoverished" waters around, at least from a mineral and nutrient standpoint.

In the aquarium, the general hobby at large has a different opinion of this, as we have come to discover!

Cloudiness and "color" are generally separate issues for most hobbyists, but they both seem to cause concern. Perhaps they should; cloudiness, in particular, may be a "tip off" to some other issues in the aquarium. And, as we all know, cloudiness can usually be caused by a few factors:

1) Improperly cleaned substrate or decorative materials, such as driftwood, etc. (creating a "haze" of micro-sized dust particles, which float in the water column).

2) Bacterial blooms (typically caused by a heavy bioload in a system not capable of handling it. Ie; a new tank with a filter that is not fully established and a full compliment of livestock).

3) Algae blooms which can both cloud AND color the water (usually caused by excessive nutrients and too much light for a given system).

4) Poor husbandry, which results in heavy decomposition, and more bacterial blooms and biological waste affecting water clarity. This is, of course, a rather urgent matter to be attended to, as there are possible serious consequences to the life in your system.

And, curiously enough, the "remedy" for cloudy water in virtually every situation is similar: Water changes, use of chemical filtration media (activated carbon, etc.), reduced light (in the case of algal blooms), improved husbandry techniques (i.e.; better feeding practices and more frequent maintenance), and, perhaps most important- the passage of time.

There are of course, other factors that affect clarity, like fishes that dig or otherwise disturb the substrate and wood with their grazing activities, but these are not necessarily indicative of husbandry issues.

"Aquarium Keeping 101", actually.

Although we all seem to know this, I hear enough comments and questions about the color of the water and its relation to "cleanliness" in "New Botanical" systems that it warranted this seemingly "remedial" review!

Remember, just because the water in a botanical-influenced aquarium system is brownish, it doesn't mean that it's of low quality, or "dirty", as we're inclined to say. It simply means that tannins, humic acids, and other substances are leaching into the water, creating a characteristic color that some of us geeks find rather attractive. If you're still concerned, monitor the water quality...perform a nitrate test; look at the health of your animals. What's happening in there?

I can think of at least one or two other things that are influenced by the same processes, which we accept without question in our everyday lives...

People ask me a lot if botanicals can create "cloudy water" in their aquariums, and I have to give the responsible answer- yes. Of course they can! If you place a large quantity of just about anything that can decompose in water, the potential for cloudy water caused by a bloom of bacteria exists. The reality is, if you don't add 3 pounds of botanicals to your 20 gallon tank, you're not likely to see such a bloom. It's about logic, common sense, and going slowly.

Remember, too, that some "turbidity" in the water, in either a "whitewater" or "blackwater" system, is natural, expected, and not indicative of a problem. In many natural settings, water is chemically perfect but not entirely "crystal clear."  I believe that a lot of what we perceive to be "normal" in aquarium keeping is based upon artificial "standards" that we've imposed on ourselves over a century of modern aquarium keeping. Everyone expects water to be as clear and colorless as air, so any deviation from this "norm" is cause for concern among many hobbyists.

In my home aquariums, and in many of the really great natural-looking blackwater aquariums I see (Okay, I"m NOT clarifying mine as one of the "great" ones, okay?), the water is dark, almost turbid or "soupy" as one of my fellow blackwater/botanical-style aquarium geeks refers to it. You might see the faintest hint of "stuff" in the water...perhaps a bit of fines from leaves breaking down, some dislodged biofilms, pieces of leaves, etc. Just like in nature. Chemically, it has undetectable nitrate and phosphate..."clean" by aquarium standards.

I think that, with a greater understanding of the types of environments our animals come from, that this "clinical sterility standard" for water and overall aesthetics of our systems will change. The movement towards biotopes and more naturally-appearing systems has opened the eyes of many aquarists to the amazing possibilities that exist when we move beyond our previously-imposed limitations.

The future may not be "crystal clear", but I believe that it is bright and full of potential! Much more to explore, share, and sinus here!

Stay open-minded. Stay adventurous. Stay skeptical. Stay curious. And most important,

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics