The Tint

Your new life with with botanicals..Or, what to expect over the long term!

One of the topics we receive a lot of questions about concerning blackwater, botanical-style aquariums is what sort of ongoing maintenance procedures are necessary, and what sort of challenges you face longer term with these tanks...We could probably write many blog posts about this interesting topic, but an initial "quick hit" today will hopefully jump-start the discussion! (oh, and maybe answer some questions along the way!)

First off, one of the things that we all experience with these types of systems is an initial burst of  tannins, which likely will provide a significant amount of visible tint to the water. If you're not using activated carbon or some other filtration media, tis tint will be more pronounced and likely last longer than if you're actively removing it with these materials! You might also experience a bit of initial cloudiness...this could either be physical dust or other materials released from the tissues botanicals, or even a burst of bacteria/microorganisms. Not really sure, but it usually passes quickly with minimal, if any intervention on your part. Oh, and not everyone experiences this...often this is a phenomenon which seems to happen in brand new tanks...so it might not even be directly attributable to the presence of the botanicals (well, at least not 100%). Could be the sand, or other dust/dirt from the other hardscape materials or the tank itself.

So, that being said...what happens next?

Well, typically, as most of you who've played with this stuff know, the botanicals will begin to soften and break down over a period of several weeks. As we've discussed ad nauseum, you have the option to leave 'em in as they break down, or remove them (whatever your aesthetic sensibilities tell you to do!). Many "Tinters" have been leaving their botanicals in until completely decomposed, utilizing them as almost some sort of botanical "mulch", particularly in planted aquariums, and have reported excellent results.

Sure, the stuff will go through that biofilm phase before ultimately breaking down, and you'll have many opportunities to remove it...or in the case of most hobbyists these days- add new materials as the old ones break down...completely analogous to natural "leaf drop!"

I have never had any negative side effects that we could attribute to leaving botanicals to completely break down in an otherwise healthy aquarium. Many, many users (present company included) see no detectable increases in nitrate or phosphate as a result of this process. Of course, this has prompted me to postulate that perhaps they form a sort of natural biological filtration media and actually foster some dentritifcation, etc. I have no scientific evidence to back up this theory, of course (like most of my theories, lol), but I think there might be a grain of truth here!

Oh, speaking of "grains"- one of the "bummers" of botanical aquarium keeping is that you will likely have to clean/replace prefilters, micron socks, and filter pads more frequently. Just like in nature, as the botanicals (leaves, in particular) begin to break down, you'll see some of the material suspended in the water column from time to time, and the bits and pieces which get pulled into your filter will definitely slow down the flow over time. The best solution, IMHO, is to simply change prefilters frequently and clean pumps/powerheads regularly as part of your weekly maintenance regimen.

And of course...this is the elegant segue into the part about your "weekly maintenance regimen", right?

Well, here's my thought on this: Do "whatever floats your boat", as they say. If you're a bi-weekly-type of tank maintenance person, do that. If you're a once-a-month kind of person...Well, you might want to re-examine that! LOL. Botanical-style blackwater tanks, although remarkably stable once up and running, really aren't true "set-and-forget" systems, IMHO. You want to at least take a weekly or bi-weekly assessment on their performance and overall condition. Now, far be it from me to tell YOU- the experienced aquarist-how to run your tanks. However, I'm just sort of giving you a broad-based recommendation based upon my experiences and those of many others over the years with these types of systems. You need to decide what works best for you and your animals, of course...

Now, remember, you're dealing with a tank filled with decomposing botanical materials. Good overall husbandry is necessary to keep your tank stable and healthy- and that includes the dreaded (by many, that is) regular water exchanges. As we pointed out, at the very least, you'll likely be cleaning and/or replacing pre filter media as part of your routine, and that's typically a weekly-to bi-weekly thing.  Just sort of goes with the territory here.

During water exchanges, I typically will siphon out any debris which have loved where I don't want 'em (like on the leaves of that nice Amazon Sword Plant right up front!), but for the most part, I'm merely siphoning water from down low in the water column. I'm a sort of "leave 'em alone as they decompose" kind of guy. And I'm not going to go into all the nuances of water preparation, etc. You have your ways and they work for you. If you want to hear my way some time, just PM me on Facebook or whatever and we can discuss. It's not really rocket science or anything, but everyone has their own techniques.

And of course, regular water testing is important. Not just for the information you'll gain about your aquarium and it's trends. It's important because we as proponents of the "New Botanical" movement need to log and share information about our systems, so we can develop a model for baseline performance of these systems, and perhaps sort of develop "standards" for techniques, practices, and expectations about these tanks. With so many people worldwide starting to play seriously with blackwater, botanical-style tanks, we're seeing more and more common trends, issues, and ways to manage them...a necessary evolution, and one which we can all contribute to! Share! 

So, your testing regimen should include things like pH, TDS, alkalinity, and if you're so inclined, nitrate and phosphate. Logging this information over time will give us all some good data upon which to develop our expectations and best practices for water quality management.

Last, but absolutely not least- one of the most important parts of your "new life with botanicals" is observing and enjoying your tank! Understanding what's going on- expecting the biofilms, decomposition, etc. is only part of the process- that "mental shift" we talk about so much. The rest is observation of your animals and their reactions, behaviors, and overall health. How are they eating, coloring up, behaving? Have you noticed in changes- positive OR negative- since starting your blackwater adventure? Are they spawning? Have they stopped spawning? Have they started dying? I mean, it's that basic. And THAT important.

In the end, living with your botanical-style backwater aquarium isn't just about a new aesthetic approach. It's about understanding and processing what's happening in the little aquatic ecosystem you've created. It's about asking questions, modifying technique, and playing hunches- all skills that we as hobbyists have practiced for generations. When you distill it all- we're still just keeping an aquarium...but one that I feel is a far more natural, dynamic, and potentially game-changing style for the hobby. One that we need no longer be afraid of.

And you're right in the thick of things.

Stay bold. Stay enthusiastic. Stay curious. Stay methodical. Stay open-minded. Stay engaged...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

When certain fishes become a "lifestyle..." This is serious!

Have you ever noticed that some fishes sort of transcend the role of "pets" and become more obsessive, all-encompassing, and essentially become the objects of our devotion? Now, on first glance, it's easy for a fish geek to simply say that ALL fishes do this to some extent...However, if you look at it (as objectively as a fish geek can, anyways) there are certain groups of fishes that fall into this category of what I like to call "lifestyle fishes"...fishes that have gripped so many hobbyists in such a deep, lasting manner that they impact much of our lives. You know, the kinds of fishes that you devote an entire room of your house to! The ones that make you travel all over the nation (or world, for that matter) to attend conventions and events. The ones that, when they spawn, have you cancelling family vacations or seriously impacting life events around!

What fishes seem to do this? Well, here are a few that I can think of off the top of my head..

Guppies- I mean, where would the hobby be without them? These fishes have arguably done more to get people interested in the aquarium world than just about any other fishes. Sure, it could be argued that the serious fancy guppy "show circuit" has a degree of "exclusiveness" to it, but why not? I mean, these fishes have been drawing hobbyists to the fringes of obsession for generations. And with the rapid rise in popularity of Endler's Livebearers, I think a new round of obsession is underway!

Cichlids- Practically universally loved, cichlids are ubiquitous in the aquarium world. Cichlid fanciers are a huge contingent among serious, obsessive hobbyists. They are some of the most endearing, popular fishes of all, right? And the interesting thing about the cichlid crowd is that there are a number of "subgroups" which are huge in and unto themselves, right? Like the Apisto crowd and the Discus lovers! Not to mention, Mbuna fans...This group is so large and so diverse that it literally seems to encompass the whole gamut of hobbyists, with fish rooms worldwide devoted to their care and breeding. These sub-groups are breaking new ground every day, expanding our knowledge on these amazing fishes.

Bettas- Far removed from the $1.99 specimens most people encounter at their local "big box" pet supermarket, the Betta has driven thousands of hobbyists to near obsession, collecting, breeding, and improving their strains. Oh, and that's just the domesticated ones. There are plenty of you out there who have devoted substantial energy, time, and space in your fish room(!) to the wild varieties! Fishes which, although known to science for decades, are only now starting to become entrenched in the hobby. A constantly-evolving area of the hobby that's sure to continue attracting new and devoted followers for years to come.

Catfishes- It all starts with that cute little Cory or Pleco, and then seems to lead to a full-on obsession! Catfish fanciers live in a world of "L"-numbers, taxonomic dysfunction, and fascinating, endearing fishes. The variety and fascination surrounding these nearing fishes seems to have created one of the strongest specialty communities in the aquarium hobby, with specialized technique, equipment, and a group of experts who have achieved near "cult-like" following from catfish fans worldwide. With so much going on, the catfish world seems to offer something for everyone! Cool stuff.

Killifishes- More than just geeks who have houses filled with bags of peat moss and plastic shoeboxes filled with fish, killifish fanciers are possibly some of the most devoted and hard-working hobbyists around. For decades, killie people obsessively collected, identified, bred- and distributed hundreds of varieties of these amazing fishes worldwide. And they built up one of the greatest specialty organizations, the American Killifish Association- PRE-internet! This group of hobbyists has literally "written the book" on how to distribute fishes and share information worldwide among each other, ensuring that many fishes which would otherwise never find their way into aquariums (and possibly become extinct in the wild) are enjoyed and shared by thousands. For fishes that are seldom encountered in fish stores, the decades-old "culture" surrounding the collection and distribution of these fishes is among the most remarkable achievements in the hobby.

Rainbowfishes- Not to be forgotten, this is another specialty group of fishes that has attracted a worldwide following of engaged, obsessed fans, who have worked tirelessly to collect, identify, breed, conserve, and promote many amazing species. As a collective, I suppose you could argue that Rainbowfish fanciers are among the newer groups on the scene, but what  they lack in long-term history, they make up for in knowledge and technique. Like killie people, Rainbowfish fanciers have had to operate in a segment of the hobby where, for decades, just getting your first pair of fishes was a challenge. Now, through skill, communication, and savvy use of the internet, fans are connecting as never before, and information (and fishes) are being distributed worldwide to hobbyists who might have never previously kept them...or even though of them!

Okay, that's just a start.

Any list like this will certainly raise the ire of some group I neglected to mention ("Don't you know there are thousands of goby lovers out their, Fellman? How could you have overlooked THEM"), but you get the idea, right? So many interesting varieties of fishes, each which you could devote a lifetime of study and devotion to...and many do. The really interesting thing, to me, as a marketer, about the freshwater hobby in general is that the demographics are so segmented, and the interests so varied, that it's hard to pin down just how to reach the audience as a whole. Now, granted, as vast and varied as the specialities are, and as obsessed as their fans might be, they realistically represent a small percentage of the overall fish-keeping public. That being said, IMHO its the most important group out there. It goes beyond simple economics.

Specialization is extremely pervasive in the freshwater hobby, and it's a unique challenge- and opportunity-for the budding aquatic entrepreneur  to communicate with a wide variety of hobbyists. I remember thinking to myself, in trying to identify "influencers" in the freshwater world, that there are many "rockstars"  in their respective specialties that most hobbyists have never heard of, because they "stay in their niches" and work in their areas of expertise. The business lesson here is to just do what you do and find ways to get a wide variety of hobbyists interested in a wide variety of things. From a hobby perspective in general, we don't want niches to become so segmented as to preclude any sharing of experience (not for any nefarious reasons- but simply because we're obsessed with OUR "thing" and tend to "stay in our lane.")

It's sort of a shame, because you really wish there was some way to bring the "experts" from these widely varied aquarium subspecialties together, for the benefits of the entire hobby. "Cross-pollination"  within the greater freshwater world would be amazing, with advanced techniques common to one group a complete mystery to another being shared, adopted, and refined...for the benefit of all aquarium hobbyists- and the fishes we obsess over!

That being said, one quirky thing we all know as fish geeks is that, obsessed as we might be about say, Apsitos, we're equally likely to have a few Bettas, Tetras, or Catfishes hanging around.

We just love fish! It's what creates 100-tank fish rooms, for heaven's sake!

And we're great at making friends. Sharing a love, "culture"...and obsession.

So I guess my one "plea" to all of you crazy-cool "lifestyle fish" expert/"obsessionistas" would be to reach out across the aisle- to poke your head over the fence- and share some of your amazing expertise and experience within your specialty to others working in different areas. This will ensure not only that your hard-won information and ideas are not confined only to your specific area of obsession- it will perhaps foster breakthroughs in other hobby specialty groups. And some of those breakthroughs might just be the key to the long-term well-being of the hobby as a whole, and to sharing, educating about, propagating, and protecting the fishes- and habitats of the world -which so desperately need our attention.

Stay focused...on the "big picture."

Stay determined. Stay challenged. Stay devoted. Stay obsessed!

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Those leaves don't fall far from the tree...or maybe, they do?

The ongoing obsession we have with leaves in water is hardly a surprise these days. Seems like we're constantly talking about the physical and chemical interactions with leaves, and the aquatic organisms which reside in them. In fact, It probably sounds repetitive after a while, geeking out over decomposing leaves, branches, and other stuff in my tanks. Getting excited about darkening water, decomposition, etc.

But hey, we LOVE this stuff!

I know that there are more and more of us. And it's as compelling an environment as exists in nature, filled with biological complexity, animal diversity, and, of course- fascinating aesthetics (for aquarium geeks!).

We talk a lot about those flooded Igapo forests in South America. We share the awesome pics, and we talk about ways to replicate the look- and more recently- the function of these fascinating systems. And, although they are compelling and alluring to us aesthetically, they are vital to nature for the processes which they foster. Like so many things, there is more to it than just a pretty face!

It is known by science that the leaf litter and the community of aquatic animals that it hosts is, according to one study "... of great importance in assimilating energy from forest primary production into the blackwater aquatic system."  It also functions as a means to preserve the nutrients that would be lost to the forests which would inevitably occur if all the material which fell into the streams was simply washed downstream. The fishes, crustaceans, and insects that live in the leaf litter and feed on the fungi, detritus, and decomposing leaves themselves are very important to the overall habitat.

In the aquarium, leaf litter and botanicals certainly perform a similar role in helping to sequester these materials. However, in the closed confines of the aquarium, what are the impacts of deep leaf litter beds? We've already started to see some hobbyists exploring this, and they're finding out lots of interesting stuff.

Is there a "practical limit" to how deep you can go with botanicals in an aquarium? Do various botanical materials have different impact and function within the bed? You know, possibly creating void spaces for dentrification, sequestering of detritus or dissolved organic materials...or even forming microhabitats for fishes?

As we've talked about before briefly, another interesting thing about leaf litter beds is that they actually have "structure" and even longevity. In several studies I read on the subject, the accumulations of leaves in various streams are documented to have existed in the same locations for years- to the point where scientists actually have studied the same ones for extended periods of time.

Some litter beds form in what stream ecologists call "meanders", which are stream structures that form when moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its "valley", and the inner part of the river has less energy and deposits silt- or in our instance, leaves.

There is a whole, fascinating science to river and stream structure, and with so many implications for understanding how these structures and mechanisms affect fish population, occurrence, behavior, and ecology, it's well worth studying for aquarium interpretation!  Did you get that part where I mentioned that the lower-energy parts of the water courses tend to accumulate leaves and sediments and stuff? It's logical, right? And it's also interesting, because, as we know, fishes and their food items tend to aggregate in these areas, and embracing the "theme" of a litter/botanical bed or even wood placement,  in the context of a stream structure in the aquarium is kind of cool!

Huh?

Well, rather than covering the whole bottom of your tank with leaves, would it be cool to create some sort of hardscape structure- with driftwood, etc., to retain or keep these items in one place..to create a "framework" for a long-term, organized, specifically-placed litter bed. You could build upon, structure, and replace leaves and botanicals in this "framework"- like, indefinitely...sort of like what happens in the "meanders!"

How would fishes react when presented with a deep litter bed in part of the aquarium; would they prefer to reside there? Or would they simply forage there and stay in the more open areas of the aquarium? Would the spawn there? Probably some fry would seek shelter there, right? If you did what Mike Bognich does, and cultivated "on board" food sources in the litter /botanical bed, it's a sure bet that many fishes would at least spend part of their day there, foraging away as they do in the wild. What other interesting behaviors could we observe in such an area?

As always, these ideas seem to spur on more questions than they answer! However, the questions that we're addressing at this point in our botanical journey are truly fascinating ones, with the answers promising potential breakthroughs and improvements in technique and understanding of these dynamic aquatic systems!

(Cory Hopkin's tank is a visual feast- from every angle!)

Glad to have you along for the ride! Just scratching the surface here, aren't we?

Stay excited. Stay engaged. Stay curious. Stay geeky. Stay adventurous...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Because you asked...No, seriously!

As those of you who follow our community are aware (probably, painfully so- by now!), I recently installed a blackwater, botanical-style aquarium in a very visible, highly-trafficked area of my home for the first time in years, and it gives me a chance to observe my aquarium at different hours of the day or night, unlike at the office, where I'm looking at it the same times every day.

It's been a fun journey so far!

And of course, because YOU asked me to, I've made it a real point to document the process and journey that this tank takes. I receive a surprisingly large amount of questions on this tank, so why not keep going and bore you a bit more with it, right?

As you recall, it started most humbly...even comically, with a stack of wood we affectionately referred to as the "campfire!"

 The overall "theme" of the tank is based on the seasonally-inundated Brazilian forest floors, known as iagpo- a personal fave environmental niche of mine. The habitats lend themselves so well to replication, because there are so many interesting elements that can combine to form a captivating, fascinating, and aesthetically alluring display aquarium.

Although it may seem to the uninitiated that replicating an igapo habitat in the aquarium is literally a matter of just tossing some stuff into the tank and you're done- there are many, many more elements to it, as those of you who play with this sort of stuff know. And that is the essence of what makes such aquariums so appealing to me!

Well, you asked...

One of the first questions I receive about my tank (besides the one from the uninitiated that usually goes something like, "Why the %@#$* is your tank so dark and dirty looking?") is, "What kind of wood did you use?"

(I prefer the first question, because it gives me a chance to go on and on about blackwater, but...)

And of course, I tell them it's mangrove root.

This is really the first time I've used it in a "pure freshwater" aquarium, and I must say, it's everything I wanted it to be! As those of you who have purchased some from us via "Estuary" can attest, it's surprisingly dense, has an awesome color when submerged, sinks within a matter of days (with a few rocks to anchor it down), and recruits nice amounts of biofilm!

And it looks uncannily like some of the submerged branches and trunks I've seen in many natural tropical underwater settings. I selected it for this very reason. It just has a special "something" to it that reeks of "natural!"

And the fact that it tends to recruit biofilm in a surprisingly aesthetically "pleasing way" (Seriously, Fellman- "PLEASING F -----G BIOFILM?" Just how far off the edge have you gone?) All the way, apparently. No, really- it doesn't get this really "snotty-looking" film coat; rather, it's more of a "low patina", which looks just like what you see in some of those Amazonian underwater pics and videos I geek out over. Yep.

And of course, being botanical-style blackwater aquarium geeks, you're always asking me what combination of leaves and such I add to my tank. Well, this one is a nice mix of some of my fave botanicals, and it almost perfectly achieved the "look" I wanted right from day one (or maybe, day 3- can't remember which...)

I wanted a very specific tonal/textural mix for this tank, and didn't want to have too many different dissimilar items. My thinking was that 1) I liked a look of more "homogenous" stuff, and  2) I wanted to mimic an area of an igapo where very specific materials would accumulate- as if from a very localized source, as opposed to a more "conventional" stream where stuff would come from farther away and accumulate, and 3) I just didn't want too use too many different things (Oh, I mentioned that already, huh?)

The botanical I selected were:

*Indian Jackfruit Leaves

*Yellow Mangrove Leaves

*Indian Catappa Bark

*FIshtail Palm Stems

*Terra Sorrindo

And once again, I think my choices were on point, if I say so myself! I've achieved the look I want and am getting just the right amount of decomposition, biofilm, and a very nice brownish tint! 

For substrate, I used CaribSea's "Sunset Gold" sand, which is a bit different than the whitish sand I've used in past BSBW tanks (oh- new acronym for "Botanical Style Blackwater!"). Although perhaps less biotopically accurate (fine white sand is what you're likely to encounter in these types of niches), it has an aesthetic that really works for me! Besides, this tank is anything but an "accurate" biotope tank. Rather, "biotope-inspired" is a better descriptor, I think!

I used (as is my personal practice) 100% RO/DI water, straight-up, with no re-mineralization or other "supplementation" to the water. TDS Was zero out of the unit, but of course, as expected, it rose (to it's current level of 68ppm) once aded to the tank and subjected to my melange of botanicals, wood, and sand. Ph is steady at 6.4 Temperature is 76.5-77.5 degrees F (24.72-25.27C). 

Believe it or not, I do ru na little activated carbon in their passively, as is my practice in newer botanical tanks, to simply "suck up" any extra organics that might be present as a result of the influx of botanicals and the initial cloudiness from the admittedly half-assed job of rinsing my sand that I always do! It has had little effect on removing the tint from the materials present i the water, as you can see from the pics of this tank! 

My initial stocking list was a veritable "who's who" of my favorite species, from a variety of South American locales (yeah, again, not biotopically accurate in any way, shape or form!):

Diptail Pencifish- Nanostomus eques (wild Orinoco)

Ruby Tetra -Axelrodia riesei (wild Columbia)

Checkerboard Cichlid-Dicrossus maculatus (wild Orinoco)

Pygmy Cory -Corydoras pygmaeus (wild Columbia)

All of these fishes will be "regulars", available from Tannin Live! when we launch next month. They are some of my favorite all-time fishes, and are really appropriate for the types of aquariums which we play with! Now, I don't want to be too self-serving, but I must admit that the quality of these specimens was exceptional. Mike Tuccinardi, who will curate our fishes for Tannin Live!, does amazing job in handling, acclimating, prepping, and shipping these fishes, and they adapted very quickly to their  new home, feeding and displaying natural colors, behaviors, and overall good health from day one! I'm confident that you'll be very pleased with the quality and selection of the fishes you will be able to order from us!

Most pleasing to me how well this aquarium has fit into the aesthetic of our new home. With my wife being extremely excited about having a BSBW aquarium in this weird little nook in the family room of our house, it was important to me to create something that complimented our aesthetic nicely- and I think we accomplished that with this tank!

Most important, it's nice to have an aquaria that can provide relaxation, entertainment- and to educate non-aquarium-hobby visitors on the fascinating blackwater habitats. A well-executed aquarium is one of the best "ambassadors" of the tropical fish hobby, and one of the best ways to raise awareness of the fragility and beauty of the precious wild aquatic niches of the world.

We'll continue to update you on the progress of this and the other aquarium we'll be setting up in my home. Hope that you've enjoyed this brief and admittedly superficial introduction to where we're at with this tank thus far. I hope it answered a few of the questions I've been receiving! And even more important- I hope it may inspire one or two of you to try a similar setup in your own home, perhaps utilizing some of the same selections of botanicals and such that I have.

A number of you asked about me making such a section available as one of our variety packs, and I will certainly consider it if there is enough interest! Perhaps we will eventually do combo fish/botanical packs in the near future. Would that be something you'd be interested in seeing?

Let us know!

In the mean time...

Stay curious. Stay inspired. Stay creative. Stay enthusiastic...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The aquarist's "manifesto?" Maybe!

I was talking to a "non-fish person" the other day, and she asked what it really meant to be a hardcore aquarist, a serious "fish geek", if you will -and what makes us any different from people in other hobbies and pursuits...or for that matter, from people who simply have an aquarium in their home.  

At first, I thought that maybe we are all the same- "fish people..." Well, we are, to some extent...but when you attach that title of "aquarist" to yourself, you are a bit different.

So I drove off with the nagging question of "What makes you guys so different?" in my head. I had this bunch of thoughts as to how I'd describe myself...and it made me think about just what makes an aquarist different than other  people...

And it made me want to list exactly why I think we are...and it sort of sounded like a "manifesto!"

I'm an aquarist.

I don't dabble in fishes. I'm obsessed with them.
I know that keeping aquatic life alive requires understanding, skill, patience, and good habits.

I know that a successful aquarium requires me to take certain steps that many other people aren't willing to do.

I regard my aquarium as microcosms of nature; a learning tool, an experience.. Their main function is not to simply provide a piece of decor in my home.

I have procedures for every scenario, every problem playing out in the back of my head. I have other obsessed aquarists to share these thoughts with. We are a community.

I obsessively maintain my aquariums based on husbandry methods that work for me; skills learned and honed from years of practice, towering successes, and humbling failures. I listen to other aquarists, then do whatever I damned well please, if I feel my way is better...And then I try theirs, when my ideas fail! I'm stubborn..and proud.

I don't chase down every hot trend, obsess over every new gadget. I try things that work for my animals. I geek out over obscure stuff, however.

I'm not afraid to try new stuff, but I always consider the impact of any new practice, procedure, or piece of gear.

I support those who are propagating fishes and plants  because I understand that the world's aquatic habitats need our help. As an aquarist, I know that the future of the hobby- the future of the world's ecosystem- is in part dependent upon how successful I am at keeping my animals healthy, and sharing my stories with others.

I screw stuff up all the time. And when I do, I share my errors with other aquarists, get up again, over an over, and try to learn from them.

I am eager to hear about what my fellow aquarists are doing, because that seemingly crazy idea might be the basis for massive success.

I realize that learning is a lifelong process in the aquarium hobby. I want to be doing this for the rest of my life.

I know that being an aquarist is not just a hobby...it's a lifestyle.

I am part of a tribe; a community, which grows and nurtures and shares ideas, concepts, experiences, and animals.

I am a part of a larger whole, which is much greater than the sum of it's parts.

I am an aquarist. And so are you.

And I'm pretty darned proud of that.

Why are you proud to be a hardcore aquarist? What do you feel makes us different than those who take a more casual approach?

Stay proud. Stay hungry. Stay enthusiastic. Stay humble. Stay bold...

And Stay Wet...

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The one that got away..a true "fish story!"

As you know, I've been really pushing to make sure that you always try to get the fishes that you want. Now, I suppose you could say that with the impending launch of Tannin Live!, I can guilt you into pursuing fishes... Nah, that's to manipulative for me.

But I love telling this story- a cautionary tale, really...A call to fish geeks to GO FOR IT when they want "that" fish...

Do you ever wonder why? 

This is a favorite fish story that I tell almost everywhere I speak- fresh or salt-and I'll probably tell it at the next engagement again, too. It's about the one that (literally) got away! Maybe you can relate?

(Centropyge hotumatua- AKA "The Hot Tomato"- the one that got away! Pic by Leonard Ho)

A few years back, I became obsessed with Centropyge hotumatua, the "Easter Island Pygmy Angel." I was taken not by it's beauty (it's really kinda like an ugly 3" Bicolor or Joculator (which it is related to) Angel! What I liked was the story...It's origin, Easter Island (it's endemic to the island), was alluring and captivating. And it was named after a Polynesian King who united that fabled island group many, many centuries ago...I had to have the fish!

You know how that is!

It was about this time that my local reefer friends were obsessing over their "designer" Chalice Corals and Acropora, and you really had to have something "cool" to impress this group! Well, I wasn't trying to impress them, but I knew that my cool Easter Island fish would grab a bit of attention from my coral-obsessed pals! I told everyone about this rare fish and how I was going to make it the star of my 225 gallon reef, etc. And of course, they were like, "Yeah, yeah, okay Fellman...whatever,it's just a fish." Whatever. I was beyond such things as stupid Chalice corals!

I'd show them!

I contacted the only place you could get crazy fish like that back then, the now-defunct "Marine Center" in Dallas. When I called, they told me that they had one, but it was available for the dizzying price of $180! I had to pass at the time; I just couldn't stomach that price tag for a fish that was less than 3" in length. (If I only knew, right?)

A few months went by, and I was still obsessing about the fish, researching what little information there was about it, and even contacting one of the museums for a copy of the type paper for the fish (I was so geeky you can't believe it!)! My friends gently ribbed me about my "Hot Tomato", as it came to be called, while "ohhing" and "ahhing" over their new "microchips" of corals! I decided to try again to get one, resigned to the fact that I'd probably have to pay $300 or more for it by now...And I was ready..I hadn't made a major reef purchase in months, and my reef fund was growing!

I shot an email to Marine Center asking about the fish and its availability..."Oh, Scott, we don't get them in that much, there's only one guy that collects out of Easter Island...They're expensive (I figured), but we'll let you know when we get one." I was prepared for the worst, but finances were at the ready. Weeks later, the call came, "Mr. Fellman, we have one! He's ready to ship...and he's $600." I was incredulous! SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS! Wow! I could have bought a bunch of rare fish for that price!

I decided to pass...

Of course, by now the ribbing was really coming hard, as everyone was showing off their tanks full of crazy corals. "How's that Angelfish working out for ya?", or "I don't see the Angel in there. Is it hiding...ha ha?" I was more determined than ever and was prepared to pay WHATEVER to get this darned fish... Besides, the holiday season was coming, and I'd throw my bonus money into the kitty for this fish. I'd show my friends once and for all what COOL was! I called up Marine Center, and was given some rather sobering, yet oddly predictable news: "The guy who collects out of Easter Island only goes there to collect a couple of times a year. It's super rare to get this fish. We'll let you know when we have one.."

I knew this meant: I'd definitely have to fork over more $$.

Weeks later, the phone call came: "We have one, it's ready to ship. It's $1,000." After almost choking, I was incredulous as I mouthed the words, "I'll pass." Forget it...crazy. I think a drug habit would have been cheaper...what's that work out to per gram of fish? TOO MUCH!

Another few months passed...No major fish tank expenditures. My tank was nice, but missing that show piece. My friends kept bragging and showing off their cool coral colonies. The club tank tour was coming, and I wanted my showpiece. Well, I hadn't spent the money, still had the bulk of my Holiday bonus..A thousand dollars was insane, but I was a little geeky anyways. So I called up Marine Center with my tail between my legs. I was surprised to hear that the fish was no longer there ("You mean there is another guy as crazy as me out there?"). I'd have to wait for one. "Well, the guy who goes to Easter Island only goes like once per year now. He's going in a couple of months. We'll let you know if he gets one (notice it was now "if" instead of "when"?), okay?"

Finally, three months later, the call came. Credit card at the ready.

"We've got one! He's ready to ship...He's EIGHTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS..." 

"That's it. I'm done. Out. No way."

Ya know what? I NEVER purchased the damn fish. Took down the pics of it cluttering my walls. Spoke nothing of it to my friends! Never looked back, either! Well, maybe a bit....But I never bought that fish! I sort of HATE it now!

The moral of the story? 

If you see something that's rare and that you like and want to have it and can afford it (or even if you have to stretch a bit)...Get it NOW! Because it will NEVER be this inexpensive!

True story.

Stay ready to pounce. Go for it.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Giving thanks...

With the American Thanksgiving holiday upon us, it’s only fitting that we  at Tannin Aquatics pause and reflect upon the blessings and advantages that we enjoy. This is not just applicable to life in general, but to our hobby experience in general. Of course, we are all grateful for the freedom that we enjoy, as well as for the sacrifices of our military men and women who secure those freedoms. Like it or not, we take for granted the liberties bestowed upon us by our democracies, and the opportunity to control our own destinies. And of course, we are all thankful for the loved ones we have in our lives.

Okay, with the more "generic" stuff taken care of, it’s time to lie thankful from a fish keeper’s perspective! Here are my top 6 things I’m thankful for as an aquarist this year:

Livestock availability and selection: Can you believe the sheer number of choices that we have available to us now? I mean, when you have literally hundreds and hundreds of varieties of cool fishes-both wild and captive bred, it’s an amazing time to be in the hobby! If you look back less than 10 years ago, our selections were so much more limited, really! And in the reef side of the hobby-the amount of propagated corals was seriously small. Captive-bred Anemonefish were a novelty at best; today they are pretty much the industry/hobby standard. Amazing. Stuff changes. 






Forums and Social Media: The fact that I can wake up each day and share my thoughts and opinions about fishkeeping with each one of you is awesome! The aquarium hobby has become, thanks to the pervasiveness of social media, a more “open source” endeavor, with anyone being able to share his or her experiences with fellow hobbyists around the world instantly. Feedback is available 24/7, in real time. Hobby breakthroughs, disasters, and trends are instantly disseminated for the benefit of everyone. When a hobbyist has a breakthrough and announces her first successful spawning of the Rio Nanay Angel, for example- we’ll all know about it within hours! And we can live-stream it! And we can all benefit from her experience, too! So what if we have weird usernames on the forums- at least we’re communicating!





“Old School” fishes are still available and enjoyed: In fact, many of the fishes that were popular 50 or more years ago are not just available, but highly sought after by hobbyists, who actively purchase and trade them. Although our hobby changes literally by the hour, we haven’t forgotten the fishes that we enjoyed in years past!






Lighting is better than ever: Thanks to the literal explosion in LED technology, super high-quality, ultra-effcient lighting is available to every reefer at pretty much every price point. Tis year alone, there have been amazing breakthroughs that will change the way we light aquariums forever! With highly specialized optics, custom spectrum colors, and dozens upon dozens of control options, it’s possible for even the most non-tech-savvy aquarist to create lighting that can faithfully replicate say, the seasonal lighting conditions on the Orinoco. When coupled with other aspects of aquarium husbandry that have improved, who knows what breakthroughs will be occurring over the next few years in fish propagation?

Hobbyists are looking at aquariums as an aesthetic compliment to their living space: Sure, you’ll still find plenty of jury-rigged “project” aquariums around the world, but, more than ever, your far more likely to find a beautiful tank with awesome aquascaping and the the equipment tucked neatly into a cabinet, garage, basement, or dedicated “fish room”, where it won’t damage the aesthetics of the display. Some of the top “builds” in the hobby are ones that embrace a design ethic that actually enhances the too in which they are located, rather than detracts from the overall design. What do we owe this to? Well, a variety of factors: First, manufacturers seem to get it- we like stuff that makes our homes look good! Second, smart aquarists realize that if it looks good, their formerly disapproving spouse might actually enjoy the aquarium. Finally, I think we’re just “maturing” as hobbyists culturally  realizing that the impact of an aquarium is far greater if the whole system is appealing to everyone. Sure, it’s cool to see cool gear, like pumps, skimmers, controllers and reactors - but not in your living room!





Aquarium keeping knows no racial, social, or gender barriers: Regardless of race, creed, age, color, gender, physical limitation, or sexual orientation, aquarium keeping is not discriminatory. What counts to a fish geek is the aquarium, the animals, and the skills of the hobbyist who created it. This is one of the most amazing phenomenon I have noticed in my many hobby speaking trips around the nation: A tank is a tank to an aquarist- and we are united by our common love for the hobby, the animals, and the lifestyle it encompasses. An aquarist is an aquarist, regardless of what religion he or she practices, who her or she sleeps with, or what color his or her skin is. And THAT is the single greatest thing in our hobby that I am thankful for in aquarium-keeping. We are all part of one fantastic, highly-integrated community which treasures and enjoys the same thing.

And thanks to each and every one of you for being a friend, contributor to the practice of botanical-style blackwater aquariums, and to raising awareness of the wild niche habitats we love so much, and...and of course, to those of you who have supported us throughout our first 2.5 years of existence. We could not have done it without you. We're so grateful get to do what we love each and every day...We'll never take it for granted. And we promise to do more and more each year to help you enjoy this amazing hobby!

May the blessings of the Holiday Season bring joy, peace, and freedom from want to you and your family this year, and may those of you who are facing health or other personal challenges take comfort in your hobby and the community that surrounds it. Be thankful for what we have accomplished, for the sacrifices that others have made so that we can enjoy our endeavors, and never lose sight of the fact that we are all sharing the same planet. Share and learn from each other about fishkeeping - and life. Embrace our differences and savor how they help create stronger and more satisfying bonds between each other. Most important, let’s never forget that the people who comprise our community are the number one reason why we enjoy the greatest hobby on earth!

What are you thankful for this Holiday Season? Share your thoughts with your fellow fish geeks!

So, don’t eat too much, take your time getting around this weekend, spend time with your family, and of course…drop a few bucks at your local fish store or favorite online vendor…like Tannin Aquatics, for example.  (Of course…I had to get the shameless plug in there somewhere!)

Stay excited. Stay dedicated. Stay enthusiastic. Stay engaged. Stay happy! Stay healthy..

And Stay Wet!


Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

"Cursed" tanks- or just the wrong expectations?

Ever noticed how some aquariums just seem to "breeze along", doing well at every stage of their existence? You know, presenting minimal problems and issues during construction, cycling, stocking, and management?

And of course, there are others which, despite our very best intentions and efforts, seem to have every single possible calamity befall them at every stage? It's weird. I've had both. Fortunately, it's usually the former, but there are some tanks that just seem to have everything stacked against them, right?

I mean, this borderlines on superstition to some extent, but I think that the relative success-or failure- of any given aquarium is based on solid factors, including good planning, proper equipment, following "best practices" in aquarium management, etc. Yet, despite seemingly taking every precaution, you'll sometimes have a tank that is just, well- "problematic", right?

What causes this?

Is the tank "cursed?" Are you a "bad" aquarist? Or is it some other, basic factor that we simply don't take into account because it's so damn obvious?

Now, one could argue that when we delve into highly specialized systems like botanical-style, blackwater aquariums, we're dealing with creating and managing environmental conditions that might be a bit different than the "standard" ones we have created and managed over the years. Perhaps we're not as familiar with what these types of systems may throw our way, or our expectations are based on the tanks we've created in the past, and the "curves" that these specialty systems might throw our way are sometimes unexpected. It was like that with the first reef tanks, or the first "high tech" planted aquariums, Discus systems, Mbuna tanks, etc.

Specialized aquariums simply require a different set of practices, procedures, equipment, and expectations. Yet, I think that many of these issues will present less of a problem once we have more and more familiarity with the operation of these systems. The difference between "good" tanks and "bad" ones might simply be understanding and embracing the way these unique aquariums function. We see this every day in our own little niche, right?

With a global community of aquarists playing with blackwater, botanical-style aquariums, we're beginning to amass some good experience and understanding of exactly how these tank differ from the more "conventional" systems that we've managed for decades. We are developing some of our own "best practices" which make it possible for a typical, competent aquarist to create and manage a successful aquarium by following a few guidelines and understanding what to expect.

For example, it's kind of a known fact with our community that you need to go slowly when adding botanicals to an existing aquarium. Long gone are the days when we'd toss stuff into our tanks with the expectation that, because they're "natural", the environment would sort of "fall into its own" or whatever. We realize that botanical materials not only affect the water chemistry by adding compounds like tannins, humic acids, etc.- we are understanding that they constitute bioload- meaning that bacterial populations must be sufficient to handle the influx of organics they release as they break down in our tanks.

We know that adding lots of botanicals rapidly to an established aquarium can create some adverse affects, ranging from a possible drop in pH to an ammonia spike or drop in levels of dissolved oxygen. This isn't that much of a stretch, when you really look at it objectively, right? You're adding organic materials to an aquarium. If it's one that's already established and has fishes residing in it, you are rapidly changing the biological/chemical "equilibrium" that the aquarium microcosm has achieved, and this requires animals to adjust- which creates stress- or worse in extreme cases.

We expect and are gaining an understanding of stuff like biofilms and what they are, and although our aesthetics might be challenged by them at times, we are no longer running scared when some stringy goo starts to appear on the botanicals we've carefully arranged in our aquascape, are we? We've understood the this is normal and to be expected in the establishment and operation of these types of aquariums.

We avoid most of the problems in a blackwater/botanical-style aquarium with good, old-fashioned patience. Nothing really mysterious about it. Patience, coupled with observation, are two of the most important things we can deploy to make any aquarium successful.

I think that it's just as possible to be successful with one of our unique aquariums as it is to be successful with any type of system...once we adjust our practices, procedures, and expectations.

Could it be said that there are "No bad tanks...only bad aquarists?" 

Well, that sounds a bit harsh. I'd think that it's more accurate to say that there are no bad tanks, only new procedures, practices and expectations to be understood.

Yeah, sounds a lot better, huh?

I think so.

Something to think about, anyways.

Stay excited. Stay enthusiastic. Stay diligent. Stay open-minded...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Keeping your cool..or staying hot...or...

Quick one today...

This popped into my head during a discussion with a fish geek last night:

Seems like one of the things we spend like the least time discussing in tropical fish care is temperature...You know, like the temperature that we maintain our aquariums at. Other than the people who breed fishes, we seem to adapt a "set and forget" attitude about the temperature of our aquariums..

And the interesting thing is that if you ask 10 different hobbyists what temperature they keep their tanks at- you're likely to get 10 different answers! It seems that we go with "what works for us" and stick with it. I Know I do...Like for pretty much very tank I keep, it's 77.5F (25.28C). I think it came from a little "study" I did many years back where I averaged the temperatures out for most of the tropical regions of the world where the fishes I was into came from...VERY scientific! (But hey, I was like 12)

And the funny thing is, it's worked really well for me! Oh sure, I suppose that certain fishes, like Discus, Bettas, etc. will prefer the warmer temps, but those are the exceptions to the rule, and when I've kept those fishes, I adjusted the temp upwards of course. Yet, for pretty much everything else...77.5F. 

Yup.

Interestingly, the water temperature of my beloved Amazonian igarape/igapo habitats averages around...26.6C (79F) during the month of October..Which kind of makes sense, as the water levels are fairly consistent during this time. Seasonal temperature variations in these habitats seem minimal.

Of course  in other parts of the world, we have similar stable ranges, too. 

For example, in general, many Southeast Asia average (based on my non-scientific survey of like 1982) around 26C. So yeah, finding "averages" are cool, but as we all know, seeing generalities are never good. You probably want to research your specific fish and the typical range in their habitat, obviously.

And of course, habitats like brackish water estuaries have tidal influences which may create daily temperature fluctuations; something the inhabitants have evolved to live with, but something we as hobbyists tend to eschew in favor of stable, unwavering temperatures in our tanks!

Although I find it interesting that we as hobbyists tend to find a comfortable "go-to" temperature for our tanks and maintain it. I think it's like a lot of things we do...we find what works and keep at it. I suppose things to explore in regards to temperature would be seasonal temperature manipulation...to see what impact they have on fish behavior, overall health, and spawning. So, how would one do this? Probably with tiny incremental increases/decreases over a period of weeks?

Like everything else we do, temperature is just another variable to be explored in the more realistic world of functional aesthetics and blackwater/botanical-style aquariums. There is a tremendous amount of good field data out there for the taking, and utilizing this information to create more realistic functional interpretations of nature is becoming a real fruitful endeavor, with all sorts of potential benefits for those who would but take a look and give it a shot.

So to conclude...I suppose i"m curious if YOU have your own "go-to" temperature or temperature range...and if so, what is it?

As always, I'm curious!

Stay experimental. Stay creative. Stay studious. Stay bold.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Celebrating the slimy stuff...a quick refresher on biofilms...

Your tank is looking awesome. The hardscape is down. The leaves and seed pods are in place...and then..it hits...

Biofilm.

Yeah, you notice some strands of the icky-looking, yucky stuff...that gooey mess of sugar and bacteria that forms what we now accept in the blackwater/botanical-style aquarium world as a sort of "right of passage"- the point where your aquarium has exited the "biologically-sterile" phase and begins its journey towards becoming a diverse, naturally-functioning microhabitat.

We've all been there.

There is that initial "freak out" in many of our heads, which makes you doubt what your doing...has those little questions sneaking into your head. And of course, you do as we do... you dutifully scan all of those cool underwater pics and videos and come to the realization that most aquatic habitats are hardly the pristine, glossed-over aquarium "look" that we have dancing around in our minds.

And then we consider what's really happening; what it all means.

Suddenly, it begins to make sense: When we set up an aquarium in this fashion, we're supposed to expect this stuff to form. In fact, we encourage it and dare I say, celebrate it! Well, I suppose it's easy to NOT want to "celebrate" it's appearance, but it is important to understand it, rather than loathe it.

bi·o·film -ˈbīōˌfilm/ noun -a thin, slimy film of bacteria that adheres to a surface.

Biofilms form when bacteria adhere to surfaces in some form of watery environment and begin to excrete a slimy, gluelike substance, consisting of sugars and other substances, that can stick to all kinds of materials, such as- well- in our case, botanicals. It starts with a few bacteria, taking advantage of the abundant and comfy surface area that leaves, seed pods, and even driftwood offer. The "early adapters" put out the "welcome mat" for other bacteria by providing more diverse adhesion sites, such as a matrix of sugars that holds the biofilm together. Since some bacteria species are incapable of attaching to a surface on their own, they often anchor themselves to the matrix or directly to their friends who arrived at the party first.

And we could go on and on all day telling you that this is a completely natural occurrence; bacteria and other microorganisms taking advantage of a perfect substrate upon which to grow and reproduce, just like in the wild. Freshly added botanicals offer a "mother load"of organic material for these biofilms to propagate, and that's occasionally what happens - just like in nature.  

Yet it does, so we will! :)

It's one of the major components of the "mental stretch" that we as hobbyists must make when we get into using botanicals and leaves in our aquariums.

First off, take comfort in the fact that this is typically sort of a passing phase, and can take anywhere from a few days to 2-3 weeks before it subsides on it's own to some level that you can mentally live with. And of course, you must realize that biofilms are present in every aquarium, to some degree. Yeah, even you "Nature Aquarium", guys.

Welcome to Planet Earth.

Yet, there are always those doubts...and some are not willing to sit by and watch the "slime" take over...despite the fact that we know it's okay...

And when you've got a lot of this material in your aquarium, and it's causing you considerable worry, stress, and just plain giving you a case of the shivers, there are some actions you can take ( besides cursing the whole idea of throwing aquatic botanicals in your system in the first place).

What to do? Here are a few time-tested options:

• You can wait it out. That's right. Do nothing, except appreciate the wonders of nature, no matter how unsightly they may be at times. I mean, didn't nature make the "Death Flower" and the "Slime Mold?" Seriously. Yeah. And this is nicer to experience than "terrestrial" biofilms, like, oh, let's say... plaque!

• You can remove the offending botanicals, give them a good scrub with a soft bristle brush (like an old toothbrush), a rinse in fresh water, and put 'em back in.

• You can remove the botanicals, give them a good scrub, and re-boil/soak them again. Although a bit redundant, and in our opinion, not necessary, this procedure does have the advantage of removing some of the trapped organics that lead to the initial "outbreak", but you may see it happen again.

• You can leave the botanicals in place, and employ some natural "control", in the form of ornamental shrimp. Yeah, that's right- your "Crystal Red Shrimp", "Bee Shrimp", and the rest of those tiny, overpriced, yet engaging little crustaceans  absolutely adore biofilms, and will attack it voraciously. Alternatively, we've learned that some fishes, like Plecos, some Corydoras cats, and even Leporinus and other "Headstanders" seem to pick at this stuff fairly aggressively. In fact, I've seen Pencilfishes and other small characins pick at it.

Remember...always remember...

Biofilms are  common in nature, and a part of pretty much any aquarium, yet a bit more significant (and noticeable) when you play with aquatic botanicals. They are not to be feared- although they should be respected- and ultimately, utilized as food by your animals!

But you knew that already, right?

Stay calm. Stay determined. Stay brave. Stay devoted...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics