The Tint

Aquascaping cues from the flooded forests...findings from a "deep dive"

One of the things that I love the most about our blackwater/botnaical-style tanks is the ability to "edit" your aquarium with relative ease. Our style of aquarium definitely facilitates easy "editing" because of the very nature of the natural habitats it attempts to replicate. Materials are constantly being re-distributed, added to, and and displaced by current, wind, and actively foraging fishes.

The idea of fishes doing some of your "modifications" is pretty interesting to me. As a lover of small cichlids and catfishes, you get used to a certain amount of "movement" of your aquascaping materials in the aquarium. And you understand that it's almost a "compliment" when they do move stuff around. It means that they are comfortable in their environment. Comfortable enough to engage in eons-old natural behaviors, such as foraging, creating territories, and if we're lucky, spawning.

Which is why I'm becoming more and more of an "advocate"of a more well, "disheveled" sort of scape. Quite simply, this is more in line with what's happening in the wild habitats.  I've spent hours pouring over Mike Tuccinardi's igapo pics/videos from the Rio Negro area, and Ivan Mikolji's videos from the Amazon region, and have really looked closely at the way materials are distributed within the aquatic environments.

I have concluded (as if this were some hugely important find, lol) that it could be possible to place too much emphasis on style in our tanks, as far as placement of materials is concerned. Now, granted, I like a  good "foundational hardscape" of wood and/or rock, which sets the stage, as much as the next guy, but I am less and less concerned with the placement of the botanical materials on the hardscape.

Since these materials will decompose and alter their "morphology" as they do so, it becomes more of an effort to keep a real "design" using them in this fashion. It's very much a transitory type of environment. Or, I think more properly ephemeral- so it makes more sense for me as an aquascaper using botanicals to place more emphasis on the selection of specific combinations of materials I use to give me the overall "effect' that I want than it does to emphasize the physical placement of each item.

It's definitely influencing my next aquarium efforts...

My next botanical mix in my office aquarium  will be comprised of some "woodier" botanicals, like "Terra Sorrindo Pods", "Encontro Pods", and Coco Curls, with perhaps a few Banana Stem pieces thrown into the mix. The "softer", more transient component of the botanical "matrix" will be Guava and Magnolia leaves, with some "Nano Catappa" thrown into the mix as well. I think random "scatterings" of some radically different-looking materials, such as "Rio Fruta", Flor Rio, and "Lampada Pods" or "Manta Pods" will serve as some "standouts" within the more homogenous (in regards to color palette and perhaps texture) mix of materials I've selected.

Like many of you, I'm a literal "kid in a candy store" when it comes to contemplating my botanical selections...the choices are many and varied. Of course, the point of this blog was not to be a recitation of the Tannin Aquatics catalog of offerings. Rather, it's to emphasize the fact that you have many options when attempting to replicate these dynamic natural habitats i the aquarium.

I guess the idea is to have a significant covering of materials, without having too many different botanical items within the same area. Again, my cues come from observing the natural settings, where it's pretty apparent what is most abundant. Oh, in case you were wondering- in most of these habitats, it's leaves. Yeah, real shocker, huh? To show you how geeky I am about this stuff, I literally poured over pics and video screen shots of some of these igapo habitats, and counted the number of leaves versus other botanical items in the shots, to get a sort of  leaf to botanical "ratio" that is common in these systems. Although different areas would obviously vary, based on the pics I've "analyzed", it works out to about 70% leaves to 30% "other botanical items." 

Well, I suppose that makes sense, right? Flooded forests consist mainly of trees, and the most abundant thing you fin on a tree is leaves, with fruits, bark, branches, and other parts comprising a smaller percentage. And of course, being a flooded forest floor, this habitat has a lot of other materials that were present on the substrate before the rainy season- yet by percentage, it's leaves that dominate.

Okay, I've pretty much beaten the shit out of these points, but this "deep dive" into the compositional dynamics of botanical beds in the wild was a fairly obsessive "project" of mine for the past few months! (Ahh, the stuff we geek out about!). These findings will definitely influence my future aquaecapes, and I think they will most certainly impact the next botanical variety packs we offer. Some of the next packs will have larger quantities of fewer items, I think, to really more accurately reflect this "botanical ratio" thing.

There is obviously so much to learn, so much to experiment with. We're now at a phase that's beyond "can this work?", have a greater conceptual and functional understanding of the dynamic of blackwater/botanical-style aquariums, and are entering a more experimental, more "executional" stage. We understand the biofilms, decomposition, epiphytic algae, etc, and are no longer surprised or freaked out about them. We understand more about what to expect in our aquariums, and more about how it mirrors some of the processes that happen in nature. And with an energized, enthused, and highly engaged global community of creative "tinters" our little botanical world will continue to evolve as one of the more unique, progressive, and open aquarium hobby niches around. 

And guess what? Every new aquarium- every new idea executed- every successful tank, and every new member of our community- has the potential to discover, experiment, contribute, and share the wonders and excitement of the blackwater. botanical-style aquarium world. It's "ground floor", "open source", or whatever buzz words you want to use. Most of all, it's fascinating. 

And really, really fun.

Have a great day!

Stay excited. Stay open-minded. Stay experimental. Stay unconventional.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Dancing in the dark...

As aquarium hobbyists, we tend to get caught up in the minutiae of "stuff" involved in setting up an aquarium, and tend to concentrate on those areas that are most important to us. And it's nice to see more hobbyists getting really into the details on the use of botanicals in their aquariums. We're starting to see more and more use of certain materials for specific fishes, and as more and more fish geeks start seeing some interesting effects, the "buzz" on them grows a bit louder.

We receive a lot of questions about which botanicals would be best suited for a given fish. These are really great questions, because they show me that we're at a phase where hobbyists are not sending to be "sold" on the concept of using botanicals in their aquariums- they're now down to "brass tacks", trying to figure out exactly which botanical is best for their situation.

Here's the real quick and dirty, shotgun-style answer, by the way:

Pretty much any of our botanicals will "work" with any fish that you keep. 

Yep.

I mean, sure, you probably aren't going to want to keep your Haplochromis from Lake Malawi in a tank loaded with catappa and guava leaves. However, for the most part, to the fishes, a botanical is a botanical is a botanical. A characin from the Amazon isn't likely to be any less healthy and happy because his aquarium has a healthy load of Banana Stem pieces, Jackfruit leaves, or a selection of "Savu Pods", as long as the other requirements for his/her care are met. The botanical items provide a place to hide, foraging, and a "substrate" for algae an biofilms to flourish on. The fish are likely indifferent to the physical attributes of the specific botanicals, with the exception of those who use some of the pods for shelter, or for  a spawning cave, such as Apistos and other dwarf cichlids. Then again, these fishes spawn in clay pots, too, so...

This is hardly a scientific statement (nor earth-shattering), but... it's my opinion that most any botanical item will impart some tannins and other humic substances into the water, the degree to which is dependent upon many factors.

Based on my personal experience, I've always felt that materials like seed pods, stems, etc., are secondary to items like leaves and bark in terms of their pH-reduction abilities and overall environmental impact. This is largely anecdotal, based on personal observations in aquariums, not some controlled lab setting. In general, my experiences and those of others seem to confirm that various leaves and cones (like Alder) seem to have more profound water-tinting  and pH-reducing effects (in a soft water setting) than the (harder) botanicals like seed pods, etc. Perhaps this is because they can more easily release tannins bound up in their tissues, which  have more noticable impact on pH in a soft-water setting.(the soft water thing is a definite "qualifier", IMHO).

This is not a revolutionary disclosure, as various leaves have been offered for years to aquarium hobbyists for the primary purpose of pH reduction and tannin "impartation." Of course, much has been written by various parties of the "near miraculous" attributes of some of them, such as Catappa leaves, which has always given me pause. (Okay, it's made me squirm a bit, too.)

As we've discussed many times, leaves and other botanical materials will have different effects in different situations. If your water is hard and alkaline, steeping a bunch of catappa leaves will definitely color the water. It will likely have a small impact on the pH (depending upon the starting pH and the KH of the water. The impact on KH will be minimal. You won't get "Instant Igarape" by dumping a half a pound of leaves into your aquarium filled with hard, alkaline tap water! (oh, product idea! LOL)

My personal practice has been to use straight RO water for my blackwater aquariums, which many hobbyists are adverse to doing, btw, because of fears over it's lack of buffering. As a result, my water conditions are apparently pretty easy to impact, in my experience. We all have to have our comfort zones, so I couldn't criticize you in the least if you use buffered RO. My personal experience has been that, even in the most botanical-laden tank I've ever maintained, when starting with pure RO, the TDS reading has always hovered around 12-14, and I have enjoyed good overall stability. I simply have not had crazy fluctuating parameters or any of the other scary things many attribute to the use of straight RO.

It's probably the old reefer in me, but I personally find it very comforting to know exactly where I'm starting, chemistry-wise, so RO to me is perfect, lol. Regardless, this is a topic that is wide-open for debate and experimentation, and my practice is definitely not "recommended"...it simply works for me.

One interesting observation I've made: I always found the TDS reading in my tanks to be surprising; I expected much higher, thinking to myself, "You'd think that all of the stuff being released from decomposing leaves and botanicals would have a significant TDS impact, right?"

Fascinating....

Not being an environmental chemist, I'm really not qualified to make any kinds of blanket statements on the specific chemical impacts of various botanicals. I can only go on personal experience and that of my friends and our global community of blackwater aquarium enthusiasts.  I use and have used everything that we offer in my own aquarium for years with good results. And my experience has shown that botanical items in a responsibly-managed aquarium can have many positive impacts on their inhabitants (coloration, behavior, overall health, and in some instances, hobbyists have implied that spawning occurs more readily).

Scientific research has definitely confirmed that humic substances play a huge role in fish health, so that part is not entirely surprising. I'm pretty confident in ascribing many of the other "benefits" to good overall aquarium management, including the use of botanical materials to shift environmental conditions towards those found in the native habitats of many fishes. The "spawning" thing is one that I personally feel is more of a result of excellent care, with the botanicals perhaps "pushing them over the edge." It would be naive for me to assert that the botanicals were the "It Factor" in the success of any aquarium or breeding experiment.

In the end, I think it's safe to say that the use of botanical items as a chemical, "structural", functional AND aesthetic enhancement to the aquarium environment is as legitimate and valid as anything else we do. They're having a noticeable impact on the hobby right now, and there is a lot of "buzz" about them. However, I think that it's important for all of us to study what we can find about the natural habitats of our fishes, from both an academic and practical standpoint. This is a great starting point for anyone who wants to attempt to replicate a more natural ecological niche in their home aquairum.

We can read all of the "marketing talk" (by myself and others), but we should really take that with a "grain of salt", and draw our own conclusions from the personal use of these materials in our own aquariums. 

That being said, I DO know this cool website where you can purchase some of this stuff to experiment for yourself... :)

Stay curious. Stay bold. Stay challenged. Stay smart.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Reading the leaves....

The other day, one of our Instagram followers (do YOU follow us on Instagram? We have a pretty devoted following, ya know...) asked me about the benefits of Guava leaves. And I received a few pm's after that from others asking about Catappa leaves...which are pushed all over the internet, with various degrees of "miraculous" capability ascribed to them...ranging from compelling to cringe-worthy, depending upon the source... 

Oh, and regarding source...

NEWS FLASH: We're not the only place you can buy catappa leaves from. Yeah, there are vendors everywhere.

Periodically, some wiseguy will tell me to get off "my high horse" (actual words from one message I received some time ago), and that they can "get 8 more leaves or whatever from the guy on that other site in __________ for less..." and that I should "watch my back..."  Others "inform me" out of concern, which is great. But there is simply no reason to be concerned about this...And of course, my response is always the same: It's a big beautiful world, and you can support whoever you want. If it's really important to get the extra 8 leaves or whatever for a bit less, from the guy who just sells you some cheap leaves online in an envelope, support him.

Maybe that's all you're looking for. That's cool. 

I'd like to think that maybe you'd rather deal with Tannin, because we have developed a brand, a culture, fostered a hobby movement, supports clubs and sponsors their events, organizations like Project Piaba, hobbyists, world-class aquascapers, and have a vibrant international online community, a wide variety of botanical items, customer support at a high level, a daily blog with free, honest and sometimes not pretty information about botanical-style/blackwater aquariums shared all over the internet....yeah... Don't get me started, lol. But the bottom lien is that these leaves were available long before we appeared, and there are lots of places to get them. Some give you more leaves at a lower price...so, yeah. Enough of that.

And I figured it was time to just refresh our collective memories on why we use leaves in the aquarium...and what their real and alleged benefits are! And just some thoughts on them in general.

The most important parts of the Catappa tree to us fish geeks, of course, are the bark and particularly, the leaves, which contain a host of interesting chemicals. The leaves contain several flavonoids, like kaempferol and quercetin, a number of tannins, like punicalin and punicalagin, and a suite of saponins and phytosterols. Extracts of T. catappa have shown some effectiveness against some bacteria, specifically, Plasmodium, and some parasites as well. 

When Indian almond leaves are subjected to degradation in water, humic substances are formed, which, in turn, lower the pH of the water. The tannins are what color the water the beautiful brownish color that we geek out about so much around here!

There is also anecdotal evidence and theories that the tannins in Catappa leaves are able to reduce the toxicity of heavy metals in aquarium water, essentially binding them up or chelating them- a most interesting benefit for the urban fish keeper, I might add. As a curious side note, blackwater streams and rivers are acidic, resulting in an aluminum concentration greater than that of "white waters", which have a more neutral pH. 

"Okay, Scott. That sounds very scholarly, but what exactly are those things and what can they do for my fishes?"

First off, I admit freely that I'm no scientist. I'm a hobbyist with a slightly higher interest in aquarium science than the typical human, and yeah, I had my share of biology and chemistry in college. But I'm no expert. That being said, I'll share with you what I know in concise, hopefully intelligible language!

Well, lets start with the flavonoids. Flavonoids have been shown to have direct and synergistic antibacterial activity (with antibiotics) and the ability to suppress bacterial virulence factors in a number of research studies. They may also act as chemical "messengers", physiological regulators, and "cell cycle inhibitors", which bodes well for their use as a prophylactic. Kaempferol, a noted flavonoid,  is thought to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Hmm...could that be why Betta fanciers used them for so many years after fighting their fishes?

Saponins can be used to enhance penetration of macromolecules, like proteins, into cell membranes. Some are used in vaccines to help stimulate immune responses, so you can see some potential benefits here as well.

Phytosterols are interesting for their alleged capacity to reduce cholesterol in humans, but the benefits are probably non-existent for fishes, especially as it pertains to Catappa leaves in the aquarium! I mention them merely because fishy authors touting the benefits of Catappa leaves love to throw them out there. 

Punicalagins act as antioxidants and are the major component responsible for the antioxidant health benefits of fruits, such as pomegranates (You know, the "wonderful," yet really messy fruit that I always hated as a kid...). They are water soluble and have high bioavailability, so it makes sense that they are of benefit to fishes!

A cool government fisheries study in Thailand with Tilapia concluded  that Catappa extract was useful at eradicating the nasty exoparasite, Trichodina, and that the growth of a couple of strains of Aeromonas hydrophila was also inhibited by dosing Catappa leaf extract at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml and up. In addition, this solution was shown to reduce the fungal infection in Tilapia eggs. 

Well, that sounds pretty cool!

Only problem with the findings from the study is- and I'll be the first to admit this- most of us don't have the equipment/capability to easily determine the level and/or purity of how many  mg/l of Catappa leaf extract is dissolved in our water, so we may have to rely on the completely anecdotally-derived "recommended" number of leaves per gallon as determined by long-time users of the leaves. Meaning, we estimate based on our gut and the results we're getting...

So the "generally accepted" dose for these leaves is subjective, at best.  You ask twenty people, you'll get 19 different answers. We have our favorite, but it's not about "therapeutic dose"- it's more about aesthetics. We go with typically like 4-5 small leaves- we're talking like 3" (7.62cm) or less- for every 15 gallons/60 liters...there is no real "rule of thumb" here. You an go more or less as desired...

Nonetheless, the leaves do have some science-backed therapeutic capabilities, as touched on briefly above, and their usefulness in helping hobbyists to safely replicate the conditions of blackwater environments in their aquarium is widely known in the hobby. These streams and rivers are fascinating subjects for recreating in our aquaria and they've launched our lifelong obsession with this interesting niche. A blackwater stream or river flows through forested swamps, wetlands, and flooded forest floors. As the vegetation and botanical materials optioned in these features decays, the tannins bound up in these materials are released into the water, making it transparent, acidic, and darkly stained, looking like coffee or tea!

If you're trying to mimic conditions of  blackwater streams and rivers, Catappa leaves can certainly help, as we've repeatedly discussed on these pages- along with a variety of other leaves. The breakdown of these leaves in closed aquarium systems mirrors what happens in nature, and offers many possible benefits for fishes that come from waters that are soft and acidic.

Blackwater rivers and streams have different chemical composition from "whitewater" environments, which has lead to the formation of flora and fauna that differs significantly from what are found in other types of waters. One study showed that blackwater rivers have large numbers of organisms like rotifers, but fewer crustaceans and mites. You won't find a snails to any great extent in blackwater systems, because it is difficult for them to build their shells in these calcium-poor environments. 

Sodium, magnesium, potassium and calcium are found in much lower concentrations in blackwater systems than in other types of water, and with minimal amounts of dissolved ions, the water has much lower conductivity than you'd see in a "whitewater" system. Blackwater rivers like the Rio Negro are incredibly high in fish biodiversity, and it's estimated that they are home to over 700 known species, with around 100 being endemic to this river environment!

The potential health benefits for fishes residing in carefully-controlled "blackwater" conditions are numerous, ranging from greater disease resistance to increased spawning activity, and, as documented in several studies, higher-yielding hatches with less incidence of fungal outbreaks in egg clutches.

So, all pretty cool stuff!

I hope this little meandering reminder about some of the real benefits of Catappa leaves and the blackwater environments they can help simulate will encourage you to do a little personal experimentation with them. With quality Catappa leaves and other botanical items readily available for experimentation, and the documented benefits they offer, not to mention, the cool aesthetics-there's never been a better time to enjoy "the tint!"

Stay engaged. Stay excited. Stay creative.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

You asked for it....

Well, it's a typical summer...Everyone is running around enjoying themselves, we're occupying our days with shipping cool botanicals, some aquariums are getting benignly neglected by hobbyists eager to enjoy the benefits of everyone's favorite time of year, before the crisp chill of Fall once again returns...And others are in full swing, with big-item expansion plans in the works!

Over the years, I've sort of developed a sort of personality of being everyone's fish-keeping confidant. I know a lot of you turn to me for advice, discussion...a shoulder to cry on...and for botanicals and stuff, too (well, that's a good thing!). Like Mary Poppins, most of my advice is dispensed with a "spoonful of sugar", and it goes down fairly easily, if not, on occasion, controversially.

Today's little number is actually based on a "request" a reader had, wanting me to touch on some of the things that I feel strongly about. You'll probably think I'm a bit off on some of them, and maybe spot on about others. You might even wonder why these things concern me at all, lol.

Yeah, I'm usually pretty easy going.

Lately, however, I've taken a somewhat more "realistic" approach to the hobby, realizing that sugar-coating our own follies and giving the typical warm fuzzy isn't always what you need. I realized, both in my personal practice, and in the "advice" I've been dispensing to fellow hobbyists of late, that I've had to take a more pragmatic approach to really do everyone some good.

So the tone of this piece might be a bit more ahem, "blunt" than what you're used to from me. On the other hand, it's formulated to be helpful, not patronizing, and that means we sometimes all have to get some "tough love" in order to progress in the hobby. It's a distillation of advice sifted from a whole lot of emails and phone calls I've received over the past few months, peppered with a sprinkling of recent personal experience and practice.

So here goes...

If a fish or coral looks bad, and might be dying- get it out of the tank…Yeah- that sounds bad, and it almost sounds like I'm endorsing a "euthenasia" of sorts for fish that don't "look good." Don't get it twisted here.  I'm not talking about getting rid of ugly fish. "Ugly" is different than "unhealthy!"  I'm talking about taking action- removing the afflicted animal/plant/coral for treatment. And so many of us take this attitude that fish, corals, or plants will somehow "spontaneously heal" themselves...It almost never happens. Tell yourself that. Us compassionate types seem to have trouble with it. Yet, I remember from the coral farming game, that, if you have a struggling coral frag that might have flatworms, red bugs, or some other pest or disease, you couldn't risk letting it take down other frags and needed to remove it from the system ASAP. Sometimes, you have to make the tough call and not play "Florence Nightingale" to a struggling fish or coral (at least, not while it's in the tank). The risks to the rest of the community are too great, IMHO. ‘The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one…” (OMG did I just quote Mr. Spock from Star Trek? Yeah, I did.)

Some tough love on aquascaping...

Hobbyists seem to think that you have to fill every available centimeter of your tank with "stuff." Not sure where this comes from, but we see it all the time. I see so many aquascpes that are just packed with stuff...Sometimes it looks cool, in context. Other times, it's just - well...too much. Please...keep some “negative space” in the layout somewhere. Not just for aesthetics…I mean, yes, you should have some open space not covered by plants., rocks, leaves, etc.. Why? For several reasons: One, it gives you existing plants a chance to spread out and grow. Second, it DOES have a good aesthetic thing going for it…We all like to allow our eyes a place to rest from the busy “fruit-stand” appearance of a typical planted aquarium. And finally, having some extra space gives you room to…expand your collection, if you want! To be a bit "impulsive" (after due consideration for the merits of the fishes or plants that you're considering, of course). Yeah, that’s right..I said it! You can have some room for future impulse buys! A salute to consumerism (and of course, a tip of the hat to livestock vendors out there!). Yeah, try to keep a little open space...




Ditch really bad ideas…quickly.

Yup, kind of like the Facebook corporate mantra of “move fast and break things”, I think it’s time we let stuff go that doesn’t work. Life it too short. I am not saying to disregard patience (Lord knows, I’ve written a ton about that over the past few years right in this forum). All I’m saying is that you need to let go of ideas that simply aren’t working out, taxing time, energy, money, space, and “mind power.” Better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all…but better to let something that was failing die a quick death than to have it function as a “black hole” of your hobby energy (and budget!). Harsh words coming from me, but they’re true. If it doesn’t work- Kill it. KILL IT!



It didn't work. Move on. Next...

Seek advice and counsel from row hobbyists, but don’t talk anyone’s word as THE ultimate. Because the reality is, there is plenty to learn in this hobby from a lot of people. And from yourself, as well! There are people out there in Fish Keeping Land doing stuff you never even heard of, and maybe they are having great results. Does that mean you should listen to everything they say and try to replicate their efforts to the last detail, or embrace all of their philosophies? Of course not. No way. Take everything- from everyone in this hobby- with a grain of salt. Learn to evaluate aquarium keeping strategies in the context of “Will this work for ME?” Far better than to just blindly follow ANYONE. Do you.


"There is only one way..glorious conformity to MY way..." (Remember the classic Apple "1984" commercial? Yeah.)

And when it comes to "doing stuff...."

If you want something on your tank done right…do it…the right way? Yeah. Doesn’t matter if you’re the guy/gal doing it, or if you hire someone else. Just make sure it’s done correctly. I’ve seen so many people put time and effort into fish projects that were not only doomed to fail, but they simply couldn’t work by virtue of design, function, or even budget. And they lingered on and on in the system, like a slow-growing cancer. This sort of dovetails with my third point about killing bad ideas…

Okay, it’s an addendum, really: If you’re not going to do something the right way, just don’t bother. Really. It sounds negative, I know- but you’ll be much happier in the long run, trust me. I see this in reef-keeping all the time. Example: I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard reefers tell me that “(Insert product here) doesn’t work. I’ve tried it. It sucks.” Upon further investigation, it turns out that the reefer was using the product, but either not in the correct manner, or only part of it. You hear that a lot with regimens like trace element supplementation and carbon dosing, two-part solutions, etc. And it's the same in freshwater systems: If you’re using a regimen or system that needs to have multiple components or systems working together, use them! Don't "edit", for goodness sake.! At least not until you've tested and verified effectiveness for a long time. You can’t expect a complete result out of a partial effort.

Final thought on "doing stuff": 
 
Some things you just shouldn't do yourself. Like building aquariums stands or the aquarium itself if you don't have the tools, time, and skills. But you need things done correctly regardless of who does them! Doing it right the first time is always the "best way!"

Yikes, it was much quieter and less annoying when I was writing about leaves and stuff, huh? Glad I got this out of my system!



Today’s  "bitch-slap" of cold reality, courtesy of your local fish keeping enfant terrible.!


Enjoy the rest of your Saturday... have some fun…

Stay engaged. Stay focus. Stay excited.


And Stay Wet.



Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Thinking about it....or not.

I've come to the realization that I tend to overthink stuff...like way too much.

I mean, it invades every aspect of my aquarium-keeping world. I tend to "mess" with my aquaecapes too much. I have to add "one more thing" to an aquarium setup. I contemplate wether this fish is better than that fish...and end up purchasing neither one.

You know. That kind of stuff.

Or aquaecapes. I'm notorious for overthinking 'scapes. Or making too many iterations...you know, "Ohh, just ONE more rock will do it..." (and then another 3 hours goes by and I'm still back at the beginning...with a totally different configuration than I started with).

This can be a bad thing...or a good thing, I suppose.

The other day, my wife was making some cuttings from some of our houseplants, and asked me from across the house if she could use an old fishbowl of mine for something...and of course I shouted back, "Sure!" Not really knowing what she was doing.

Later that afternoon, when I went into the laundry room area to rinse out some frozen fish food in the "utility sink" we have in there, and I saw this cool little arrangement of cutting from her houseplants, placed in water, anchored with some pebbles.

It looked pretty cool. Had a certain "style" that I found really appealing. It looked as cool as something that I would have taken a long time and many changes to come up with. And I asked here how long it took her to do it, and she was like, "No time. I just threw 'em in..."

Damn.

Of course, I was sort of flabbergasted.  Not that it was this "high concept" thing, of course, but it drove home a lesson for me: Over-thinking stuff is sometimes not an asset, especially to the aquarist. Yet, in the back of my head, I go through "iterations" of this bowl, complete with some Fundulopanchax gardneri or other killies, and am like, "Ohmigod, I need to try this..."

Like, building upon her idea immediately. Cool.

And later that day, I took delight in seeing my friend James Sheen of Blackwater UK doing this cool sort of "Botanical Wabi Kusa" thingy (which he admittedly started spontaneously late one evening). Another example of executing instead of over-thinking. Bringing something interesting into the world without "analysis paralysis!"

I've realized now, in my ripe old age, that some of my best aquarium ideas seem to come from spontaneity. And some of my best executions come from just...doing. Not thinking too much. I'm not sure if that's how YOU work, but it's made me (I think) a better hobbyist, and a happier aquatic business person! 

As an "explorer" of non-conventional methodologies, I tend to try a lot of things, in order to see what works and what doesn't. I try to move pretty quickly, seeing which concept works and which doesn't. Interestingly, I'm not crippled by this "over-thinking" malady when it comes to that kind of stuff. Quick iterations are part of my my "operating system..."

Maybe it's "Aquatic A.D.D." or something (I have this theory, lol), but I think it can actually be a good thing. I often try to think of what it is that makes this pop up in my mind all the time...

I think that it's a matter of wanting to try a lot of concepts out which get's me moving, and it's the "fine tuning" stuff that takes me into this frustrating territory. Like, "big picture" changes and ideas are no problem...but when it comes time to something like selecting which variety of plant or whatever I'm gonna throw in the tank...It hits.

It's always the same few things that trip me up if I let them: Aquascaping, fish selection, and light settings (damn you, LED manufacturers...you HAD to make it possible to come up with thousands of possible blends, didn't you?)

I realize that options are good. Really good, especially when it comes to equipment choices, settings, etc. As much as I'd like to say it can be "overwhelming" or whatever to have all of these choices...it really isn't. So much better to have to ferret out what you need from an ocean of selections versus just having to "adapt" one or two things to every possible use you can think of.

And it's the same with the stuff that we do. Better to let the full range of your imagination inspire and guide you, instead of limit you. That's why I treasure thinking outside the box so much. Not because it's cool to just do things differently "because." Rather, it's because it's really important to follow up on some of those thoughts and ideas we have. Every single one has the potential to lead to some breakthrough or advancement in the hobby. Use the relentless flow of ideas to your advantage.

And in reality, every single one has the potential to provide us with the pleasure that only this engaging hobby can bring.

Can't you think of at least a few things that you tried on a whim, only to realize later that they were incredible efforts that brought you so much joy?

I'll bet that you can.

So, next time you're struggling to decide between a few ideas....just do 'em all. Execute each one in it's own time. Let them breathe. Develop them. Or squash them quickly. 

But do try them.

Because it's far better to do something than to jest think about it, IMHO.

And a lot more fun!

Today's simple thought, courtesy of my wife's 2-minute arrangement of houseplant cuttings...

Stay creative. Stay relentless. Stay engaged.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

It starts with leaves...

My botanical/blackwater obsession started with leaves...

I'm very happy to see so many hobbyists embracing the blackwater, botanical-style aquarium. Not just because, hey- like, I have company that sells stuff for it- but because it's an area of the hobby that was really relegated to "novelty" status for so long, with the mainstream aquarium hobby not really seeing much value in it beyond a "that's different..." mindset.

Now, we're seeing a lot of research by hobbyists into the best way to incorporate botanicals into their aquariums. Many are playing with the idea of a leaf litter zone- something that was given little more than a passing bit of attention a few years ago, if that. This sudden increase in attention to this environmental niche is reaping benefits for those who have played with it. Leaves are sort of the "gateway drug", if you will, into our world.

In nature, leaf litter zones comprise one of the richest and most diverse biotopes in the tropical aquatic ecosystem, yet they are seldom replicated in the aquarium. I think this has been due, in large part- to the lack of continuous availability of products for the hobbyist to work with, and a real understanding about what this biotope is all about- not to mention, the understanding of the practicality of creating one in the aquarium.

The thought behind this biotope can best be summarized in this interesting except from an academic paper on Amazonian Blackwater leaf-litter communities by biologist Peter Alan Henderson, that is useful for those of us attempting to replicate these communities in our aquaria:

"..life within the litter is not a crowded, chaotic scramble for space and food. Each species occupies a sub-region defined by physical variables such as flow and oxygen content, water depth, litter depth and particle size…

...this subtle subdivision of space is the key to understanding the maintenance of diversity. While subdivision of time is also evident with, for example, gymnotids hunting by night and cichlids hunting by day, this is only possible when each species has its space within which to hide.”

In other words, different species inhabit different sections of the leaf litter, and we should consider this when creating and stocking our biotope systems...Neat stuff!

So, beyond just creating an aggregation of material which imparts tannins and humic substances into the water, we're creating a little habitat, every bit as interesting, diverse, and complex as any other we attempt to replicate. In the aquarium, you need to consider both practicality AND aesthetics when replicating this biotope. 

A biotope that deserves your attention and study, indeed.

I encourage every "tinter" to experiment with a leaf litter-zone themed aquarium at some point! You’ll be surprised how far you can take the biotope concept, especially if you strive to be completely true to the niche you’re modeling and aspire to only keep animals found in that niche!

Most important, it’s fun…

This is, after all, a hobby, and hobbies are a vehicle by which we express ourselves. And the neat thing about a leaf litter tank is that each one is different, texturally, aesthetically...and even functionally. The concept is simple, the execution rather straightforward...and the benefits manifold.

Try one!

Stay excited. Stay creative. Stay resourceful.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

"The touch..." And thoughts on the evolution of aquascaping...

Give a guy a soapbox...

Like many of you, I love to look at aquariums. I like to drool over the work of other hobbyists; to get inspired by their ideas, execution, and overall creativity. 

Some aquascapers seem to have a certain "style" or "touch" or whatever you want to call it. Seems like you could give them literally any old rock, piece of wood, or plant, and they'd somehow pull off something amazing...something that you or I never thought of.

What is it with these people? How do they seem to do it consistently better than the majority of us? What skills do they possess? 

I've talked to many of these people over the years. Like you, I've studied their work both in real life and from afar. Watched them "do their thing" over and over. Enjoyed their insights. And time and again, it became glaringly obvious to me that  these most talented of aquascaprs possess some consistent skills that, although you may not initially discern, will become apparent merely by watching them work, and viewing their finished products.

I think what a lot of the truly great aquascapers have in abundance that many of us don't is the ability to see beyond the "raw ingredients" that they're using and visualize the finished product well in advance.  Many of these people can look at a rock and just sort of know how to orient it, where to place it, or how much of it to use. Same with wood and plants- orbotnaicals, for that matter. Hand in hand with this, great aquascapers, like artists, seem to have the ability to draw from life, memory, and imagination when composing their 'scapes. It's like they have this "picture" that they're working from. 

And then there is that "perspective" thing: Perspective helps objects and the relationships between them look realistic...and understanding of perspective in he "canvass" of an aquarium is something that great aquascapers seem to grasp intuitively. They get the "golden ratio"/rule of thirds, and know how to apply them to aquascapes. Knowledge of shapes and proportions, contrast and tonal values, perspective, focus, and symmetry are art concepts, yet the "best of the best" just have this...grasp.

It's absolutely not earth-shattering to make the assertion that the truly outstanding aquascapers, who's work consistently captivates, inspires, and generally blows our minds, are quite simply...artists.

And, artistic ability is a combination of both talent and practice.  With practice just about anyone could become fairly proficient at aquascaping, producing beautiful work that they and others can enjoy. But a truly great aquascaper  (think Knott, Farmer, Senske Jutajevs, etc..) can never be the product of simply mediocre talent and intense practice. They have innate talent that is present in abundance...all of the skills that we mentioned above, and a level of self-awareness that is beyond average. To be at that level takes something that some have more than others; an "it" factor that, although many of these guys will downplay, is simply there; to say otherwise is to say that the truly great are no different from anyone else…that they simply practiced more. Which is simply not true. They have skill AND they work at it. Like a pro athlete, business person, or other skilled individual, the truly talented aquascaper has innate skill, an immense work ethic, and a vision. And they can adapt to changes in "style" if they so choose.

Often, on these very pages, you'll see me assailing many of the top aquascaping contests because of their absolute devotion to a single "style" of 'scaping, with little deviation or variation from entry to entry. I hear it from many of you, too. The "style insiders" who organize these events may think that aquascaping has evolved, when it is increasingly obvious to the "outsiders" of the world that it really has remained, sort of in "stasis" for some time. Yet, we're starting to see the first signs of change, IMHO. I think we're seeing a slight change from the "diorama" style of scape that has embraced "fantasy forests" and "middle earth" scenes ad nauseam over the past several years.

I think we're now starting to see a more realistic interpretation of nature. A desire to represent nature as it really is, not just as we idealize it. This, in my opinion, has "leveled the playing field" just a bit. I believe that it's entirely possible for an "average" aquascaper with a work ethic, deep understanding of his/her subject, access to proper materials, and a "prototype" in mind to create a 'scape that both inspires and enthralls. I think that the artistic skills that the "world-class" scapers possess gives them another layer of talent to execute this type of 'scape in a very different way. However, I think you're also likely to see some "average folks" pull off some incredible stuff in one of these contests in the future, because they have the ability to interpret and embrace nature as it truly is, and are not bound by convention nor pandering to a specific "style." 

The rise of the "soul scaper"- a hobbyist who sees the world as it is and brings it to life accordingly, will add yet another element of achievement to the state of the art of aquasaping. I think that, once judges and those who seem to be the "guardians of style" in the aquascaping contest world recognize that interpreting nature realistically requires as much talent and work as it does to create fanciful, highly stylized takes on the natural world, that we'll see the next evolution in aquascaping. Now, I'm not talking about militant, biotope-perfect aquariums either...I'm talking about systems that represent the natural world both functionally and aesthetically, without the obsession that every stick or grain of sand be absolutely tied to a specific locale we're representing.

Yet, a refreshing step forward from the rigid "nature diorama-style" thinking which has, in my opinion, limited to a certain extent progress on a greater hobby level. Talent, skill, and vision will still be required in abundance, right along with an understanding of the natural processes which shaped the habitats we're so inspired by. 

Blur the lines.

And guess what? I will wager that the best of the best- those aquascaping artists who awe and inspire us- will be every bit as excited about it as we are, cheering on this evolution as loudly as anyone. In fact, their very passion and skill...and love for the game, will help nurture and inspire the next generation of talent in ways we probably haven't even thought about yet.

Everyone will win. Most important, the natural world. Because we'll be looking at it in a different way. We'll be trying to understand as hobbyists why it looks the way it does. How it functions. What processes occur to keep it functioning. We'll see subtleties. We'll understand the external influences, and environmental pressures which man has placed upon the fragile and priceless aquatic ecosystems of the world. The old adage about people protecting what they love will take on an even greater significance. Embracing aquaecapes as functional AND aesthetic representations of the real aquatic habitats of the world will give us a greater appreciation for them, and an even greater desire to protect them and share the challenges they face with those not familiar with our hobby.

Truly a win for all.

Well, that's how I see things shaping up. At least some of that "touch" which we all admire so much is very much alive in all of us, waiting, perhaps, for the inspiration and opportunity to be brought out.

That's my opinion. That's my understanding. That's my hope.

Stay excited. Stay vocal. Stay involved. Stay creative. 

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Dirty thoughts....

I'm thinking it may be time to really play with dirt.

I mean, flat-out, full-on, dirt-from-the-garden-bed dirt. Obviously, nothing with pesticides or whatever...but, like dirt.

Seriously. 

Now, I know that the idea of "dirted" tanks is not at all new, particularly to the planted tank world. There is a whole fascinating subculture of planted people doing amazing things with "dirted" tanks. I enjoy reading about their almost rebellious simplistic approach. I love these folks! Now, they're utilizing garden soil and such, which is geared towards, well- growing stuff. 

I'm talking about utilizing it in a tank where plants are not the primary focus. Like, using it as part of an aesthetic and functional substrate.

Yes, I'm thinking about dirt...the stuff in your garden that get's kind of muddy when it gets wet. Would using this stuff in your substrate, either "solo" or as a "mix", be a cool way of capturing the "look and feel" of some of our blackwater habitats? Now, I realize it's  A LOT more complicated than just throwing some dirt into the water, and that the chemical compositions of many of the soils which originate in the tropical regions we attempt to replicate in our aquariums are often vastly different geologically from our North American/European soils. Yet, I find it sort of intriguing to utilize clean dirt (boy, is THAT an oxymoron?) in a botanical-style, blackwater aquarium. 

This is probably one of the more reckless, least scientific ideas I've wanted to play with...There is absolutely no basis for using "just any old dirt" in a blackwater, botanical-style aquarium- other than the fact that "dirt" is found in many of the streams and rivers of the world. There must be some benefits, right?

Sure, super alkaline soils or soils with a lot of salt or other mineral content will possibly wreak havoc on our attempts to create soft, acidic waters- but there must be some types of soils with some attributes that will perhaps release some beneficial trace elements and minerals into the water? Again, I AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT ANYONE DO THIS without a lot of consideration

I'm merely sharing with you something I might play with at some point.

When I was working on a museum tank in Connecticut several years back, we were growing riparian plants from the beaches of Long Island Sound, and I remember literally digging up clumps of these plants, along with the surrounding soil, and utilizing them in an aquarium with local marine life...it was an incredible display...Super simple, but cool- and the experience never quite left my head...I thought, "Why not do this with a tropical freshwater tank?" 

Or, perhaps with brackish?

Now, with the launch of Estuary, our foray into brackish water, the idea of utilizing/recreating the muds and silts as the basis of our mangrove biotopes, I can't help but let my mind return back to that "dirt thing" and the potentially interesting benefits (like the potential to impart trace elements, organics, etc. to the water) that could come from it. Mixing muds and soils with dried mangrove leaves and some botanicals would be a very interesting long-term game! My vindication for my strange dirt/mud obsession came when I had a  brief chat with Mike Tuccinardi, who is thinking through a brackish display, and we are touched briefly on how to simulate/utilize/recreate mud in the aquarium in a way that is, well, "muddy", and sort of concluded that more thought is required on this!

Mud and dirt can be used in a variety of ways, once we figure out how best to utilize them!

There are some cool commercial products out there, and I have played with them before and will in the future...I just wonder what the ins and outs of using naturally collected stuff could be. 

I'm rambling. Not really fully developing the idea..Just sort of throwing out thoughts. It's an idea...sort of one of those "bring up to your fish geek friends and let them run with it" types...

So...look for more on this. Let me know if you've played around with this before. And feel free to bring up any of the off-the-wall, unorthodox, or otherwise unusual aquatic ideas YOU might have floating around in your mind!

It would be only fitting (although perhaps slightly creepy) to suggest that you "talk dirty to me.."

Yeah, creepy. Nevermind.

So...

Stay creative. Stay unencumbered by convention. Stay bold. Stay inventive.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

What does it mean to be an "Expert" hobbyist, anyways?

The inspiration for today's little piece comes from talking to a bunch of customers over the last few weeks, who have brought up the subject of "experts" and the pursuit of knowledge in the hobby. It caused me to reflect on my personal views of this topic based on my experiences.  

In the “reef” end of the hobby, my name is pretty well known, as a hobbyist, author, and business owner. I’ve authored a ton of articles and lectured at clubs and events internationally, and at the major hobby conferences (MACNA, etc.) for years. My former company, Unique Corals, is extremely well regarded in the “reef” world. Often, when I've given talks around the country, I've been occasionally referred to as "EXPERT reefer Scott Fellman"- YIKES! That's scary... I cringe at that "title" all the time..It makes me think about what a real "expert" is in the aquarium hobby...and the traits they possess which they won't just tell you about.

As a hardcore aquarium hobbyist, you’re not easily impressed, are you? I mean, there are a lot of “armchair experts” in this hobby. I’ve encountered more than a few in my time. The real “experts” in our hobby are far fewer and far less commonly encountered.

Yet, you do read a lot of wisdom from fish-keeping “experts” that can make a lot of sense; really cutting through the clutter of rehashed “ideas” so prevalent everywhere nowadays. In fact, a real “expert” will not call attention to himself by calling himself an expert! 

“Truly “expert” aquarium people seem to lead by actions, not by words.

On the other hand, truly “expert” hobbyists are generally not out to impress anyone.

In fact, there is a good chance that the customer standing next to you at the local fish store, gazing into the "Mixed Central American Cichlid tank, is uber-experienced, with a setup and livestock that could blow you away- but you won’t really even recognize him/her, because he or she does little overtly to call attention to himself/herself. 

He has no desire to. 

The revelation becomes obvious, however, when he/she asks a question, or comments on something hobby-related, and is glaringly obvious when you see his/her aquarium!. He won’t be out there, loudly espousing the latest theories and regurgitating what you’ve read on every forum in existence. Rather, the truly “expert” hobbyists do things a certain way because it works for them. They often utilize methods or embrace techniques and philosophies that may leave you scratching your head- until you see the success they’ve achieved. 

A truly “expert” hobbyists know a little about a lot of things, and maybe a lot about one or two things. As an old college professor once said, “An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less…”

So-called “experts” in our field seem to display an array of surprisingly distinguishable traits that are pretty obvious, once you think about it.

One of the first things you’ll notice when talking to a real “expert” hobbyist is that they have one underlying personality trait: Patience. Yup, they realize that successful aquariums aren’t built in days, weeks, or even months…They take years, and even then, these successful tanks are still considered a “work in progress” by their owners. The true “expert” hobbyist knows that there are no shortcuts to success.

When you check out the “expert” hobbyist’s tank, odd are that you won’t see it equipped with the very latest gadgetry that you read about online. Rather, it will generally be equipped with high-quality, high performance gear from reputable manufacturers…and many times, it won’t even be the latest model. That’s because a lot of expert hobbyists understand one truth: Get the best equipment you can afford, maintain it well, and utilize it to its full potential before you swap it out for the next brand-spanking-new gadget. That’s not to say that the “expert” only uses last year’s gear and never upgrades or doesn’t have “gear head” tendencies. What it does mean is that the expert hobbyist understands that the equipment he/she selects can do certain things for his/her aquarium, and sees no reason to change up just because this year’s model has an additional novel feature…Unless the feature solves some issue that the expert has been grappling with.

Most “expert” hobbyists stick to the basics- and stick to them well…We’re talking water changes, careful stocking, environmental control, etc. They are generally not running off on tangents just because they read that someone in France is using _______ to make their Plecos grow better. They’ll study the problem, and make gradual changes as necessary to achieve the desired result. You just won’t see them rush off, headless, in a frantic attempt to solve some problem by looking for the instant miracle.

You’ll find that almost every “expert” hobbyist will avoid shopping for the “trendy named” fishes like the plague. You’ll rarely see him/her namedropping and begging about the pint-sized fry of that hot Mbuna species. Rather, you’ll hear them go on and on about the fish that he or she likes, and find out that the reason it’s in his/her tank is because he or she loves the fish! It’s the way things should be- keep fishes, plants, and corals that you like because you like them- not because everyone will think that you’re cool because you paid $600 for a 1/2” specimen of some “trendy” new coral species (that, in reality, is probably available from multiple vendors that just haven't identified the darned thing yet and don't realize that they have this month’s “flavor of the month.”). Truly "expert" hobbyists just know that money doesn’t buy happiness, success, or “street creed” in the aquarium scene.

It just buys…stuff.

The real “expert” hobbyist makes it a point to understand the needs of each fish or plant before it ends up in his or her tank. Sure, they will make mistake along the way, but most “expert” hobbyists will seldom make the same mistake twice- especially if it cost the lives of some treasured livestock.

A simple, short, sweet lesson that is always appreciated.

The real “expert” realizes that “stuff” just happens in aquarium keeping…Egg clutches develop fungus, or plants have “anomalous” growth-arresting conditions…Equipment fails, accidents happen with additives, etc., etc., etc.- He or she knows that you need to insure yourself against loss with backup parts, redundancies in your system design, and with fry of prized specimens “vetted out” to other hobbyist- just in case the unthinkable happens. Oh, and an attitude that won't let some problems along the way derail the journey...

In a similar vein, the real power of “paying it forward” becomes obvious in situations like that, believe me. Ever noticed that when something disastrous happens to a generous “expert” hobbyist that fellow aquarists will come out of the woodwork to help? It’s not just because the hobbyist is well known- it’s because he or she has taken the time to cultivate relationships and friendships with other hobbyists- to nurture them and assist with their developing hobby. The realization that we don’t exist in a vacuum has helped more than one hobbyist move from rank beginner to “expert”, believe me.

The “expert” hobbyist also knows that just being consistent and steadfast in maintenance and husbandry can make up for a lot of mistakes- and that you will make a lot of mistakes in aquarium keeping. It’s inevitable. The “expert” learns from mistakes, rather than quits because of them.

In the end, the “expert” hobbyist has an array of skills honed from years of experience in the aquarium keeping game- the product of numerous successes, jarring failures, and lessons learned by getting his or her hands wet.

In short, an “expert” hobbyist is a hobbyist who has done far more than he or she has talked about, and who continues to push forward the boundaries of modern aquarium keeping.

Today's brief, and hopefully, very useful-to-remember lesson.

Until next time...

Stay at it. Stay bold. Stay determined. Stay generous. Stay relentless...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Six lessons from the journal...

Some thoughts on better aquarium keeping are always in order, right? I mean, we practice this art with tremendous effort and expense, so it's nice to glean a few things that can be helpful to others.

I keep a journal of all sorts of absurdly obscure aquarium stuff...have forever. Some of the information I recorded didn't lead to any revelations. Some was actually kind of, well...dumb if I look at objectively ( Like this gem, from my 16-year-old-self: "Neons won't eat crumbled freeze-dried brine shrimp..." OK, well, so what?. )Some did result in some interesting information. I look at a ton of aquariums (not just mine) and speak with a lot of aquarists, and am always looking for little "pearls of wisdom" from them. There are some interesting things I've gleaned from it over the decades. I've made some conclusions based on many of these observations.

 Here are a few that you might find, well- interesting!

1: Practice Diversity on multiple levels in a community aquarium.

What strikes me most about many community aquariums is their refreshing diversity. They feature a complete range of life forms, such as fishes, plants, and even invertebrates. These aquariums are lush, and make no apologies for the complex growth of plants. Just like in nature, these systems incorporate life forms that provide beneficial collateral benefits for their inhabitants, such as food, shelter, and nutrient export.  Well-stocked community aquariums are beautiful systems that are a visual delight, affording many opportunities to see examples of the endless variety of aquatic life forms.

2: Green is Good!

It seems to me that most hobbyists, in our frenzy to get rid of algae at all cost from our reef systems, have banished them. In many natural systems, they are front and center.  With the unique substrates now available, consisting of more nutrient-rich materials than we have traditionally used in aquariums, there is a very  positive impact on the growth of plants and algae. And of course, with botanicals, the biofilms and algae are an integral part of the web of life i the aquarium. Just like in nature.

And that's not a bad thing, really. I wish that more hobbyists would see the real beauty of algae, and embrace them when they make an appearance. Like so many things in nature and in aquariums, they are harmless in small quantities, useful in larger quantities, and invasive in huge quantities, so care must be taken to strike a balance. As long as they do not smother other life forms in the aquarium, your algae can provide aesthetic and functional benefits, such as nutrient export, supplemental food sources, and an attractive alternative to the “pristine" aquarium featuring only plans, rock, and wood.

3:  Feed often and Well

Many of the most successful aquariums I've ever seen are well fed. The owner does not skimp on the food. With many hungry mouths, tentacles, and even polyps to feed (in reef tanks), healthy aquariums receive a lot of quality food, and in frequent intervals. One of the collateral benefits of creating diverse, complex microcosms is that that the aquarium will produce a fair amount of food (ie; microalgae, crustaceans, etc.) without any additional intervention on your part, to help supplement prepared foods.

This may be an overlooked benefit to keeping highly diversified systems. Someone is always reproducing, creating feeding opportunities for someone else! Snails, crustaceans, even some fishes. Just as in nature! Of course, it would be difficult to meet the gross nutritional needs of an entire closed system with just the foods produced naturally in the aquarium, but the benefits of supplementation they provide are very tangible.

4: Practice “Good Housekeeping”

Current good maintenance practices consist of respectable water changes and the occasional scraping of he glass to remove micro algae. Hasn't changed in a century.   The use of some chemical filtration media (such as activated carbon or organic scavenger resins) in media bags or reactors, to assist with removal of nutrients, is never a bad thing, IMHO.  Many successful hobbyists have developed that innate sense of “listening” to their aquariums. They understand what’s going on in their systems, and can tell if something is not right by simply examining their animals carefully every day. Observation is a "throwback" to a time when we had less technology to rely on, and it's not a bad thing!

5: Take a New Approach

Like many aquarium hobbyists, I have a keen interest in all things aquatic. I maintain both fresh and saltwater systems, and encourage others to do so. In my opinion, the “cross training” that keeping both freshwater and marine systems affords is both interesting and valuable in developing your hobby skills. Water quality management, system integration, and proper stocking technique are but a few of the lessons to be learned by working with both “media”.

6: Think outside the Box

What I am most impressed by with really great aquariums is how effortlessly they weave together the complex variety of plants and animals. These aquariums are not necessarily replications of specific biotopes, or rigid representations of a specific location on the reef. They don’t follow hobby trends. Rather, they are unique, elegant microcosms of life, assembled in such a way as to benefit all of their inhabitants. Most important, they are stocked with the animals that the hobbyist loves, and given optimal conditions for life.

By incorporating some simple ideas, any system could benefit. As the old hobby expression goes, “There is more than one way to run a fish tank”, and most successful aquariums certainly substantiate this. Thinking outside the box, having a plan, and following your inner voice when designing a system are so important, and add to the joy of aquarium keeping.

That's a few of the lessons gleaned from the old journal. Hope you might glean a few things from them!

Until next time.

Stay on top of things. Stay enthusiastic. Stay observant. Stay challenged.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics