The Tint

Can you dig this?

There are certain "truisms" and "rules" in aquarium keeping that have been around for decades.

Many of them make a lot of sense, and are based on the experience of millions of aquarium hobbyists over a century of aquarium keeping. Others are newer, and have proliferated more recently online and elsewhere. Some have become distorted, distilled, and otherwise "altered" over time, becoming a mixture of hard facts, partial information, assertions, and assumptions.

Today's piece is about just such a topic; one which I kind of need your help on. I've taken a lot of this at "face value" over the years, but recently, I've kind of given it more thought and wondered if what we've been indoctrinated to follow without question for a century might just have been misinterpreted or incorrectly been given an excess of credence for perhaps the wrong reasons?

Here goes:

We hear a lot in aquarium keeping about the need to keep our substrate level undisturbed as much as possible. And I know it makes sense to some extent, right? The deeper laceless of the substrate is where a tremendous amount of biological activity- dentrification, specifically- occurs. And the conventional aquarium theory is that disturbing the deeper layers of substrate creates a mixing of materials and disrupts the identification process by releasing gasses and "aerating" the anaerobic regions of the substrate or something, right?  Or is it something else?

What exactly is the rationale here? I mean, physically moving around substrate layers through vacuuming of fish activity or what not isn't going to "knock all of the bacteria off of the substrate material", right? And then they're just going to be pissed off and stop consuming organics?  I mean, seriously? Don't filters contain much- if not more- of the same bacteria, probably doing the lion's share of the work, as water is continuously flowed through them? And I know hundreds of hobbyists who maintain bare-bottom reef and freshwater aquariums without issues.

Let's be honest, I am of the school that says "By all mean, disturb your substrate...within reason!" Like, often. I mean, you get buildup of organics debris, fish waste, uneaten food (gulp)...If you doubt this, move a rock or piece of wood in your tank that hasn't been disturbed in a while, and see all of the stuff that comes up- even in a "clean" tank. I believe that you should remove excess accumulations of "stuff" (how's THAT for being technical?), while doing your best not to decimate any interstitial organisms (worms, snails, etc.) that might be dwelling within the substrate. It's okay to leave "some" material in there. It feeds beneficial bacteria and "those creatures" who reside there...

Besides, in nature, the upper layers of substrate are continuously being disturbed by water movement, fishes, etc. Some fishes, like Geos, etc. spend a large part of their day sifting for food in the substrate. Do their aquariums "crash" or suffer chronically from disturbing the sand bed? I submit that they don't, because most hobbyists who keep messy fish like this employ other methods (like great filtration and water changes) to mitigate the disturbance being done by the fish's digging activities.

And the reality is that there is a lot of macro/micro life in the sand beds-in both aquariums and in nature, and these organisms need food. So, although you don't want to go crazy, it's okay for some stuff to accumulate in a substrate bed, IMHO. The idea is to get a decent amount of substrate movement and disturbance at the top layers, to help keep gross particulate from accumulating, while at the same time letting some material in there to feed the organisms which reside in the substrate. The best of both worlds, right? Moderation.

Is it? 

I think so. 

Is this yet another case that's analogous to the kind of baseless fear many hobbyists had about blackwater tanks for so long ("If the water is dark, it MUST be dirty, right?"), or is there a genuine reason we should be afraid to disturb our aquarium substrate?

Now, I CAN See a few cases where you wouldn't want to disturb the substrate. Planted aquariums should typically not have the substrate disturbed because the roots of the planet will be affected. Makes perfect sense. And, if you're using materials like dirt with a "cap" of snd or gravel, you'd simply make a mess of your tank by intruding into the substrate. A reefer with a well-stocked sand bed (i.e. one with lots of interstitial life, such as various worms and crustaceans) has different reasons for not wanting to disturb the substrate. Makes sense- you're uprooting and disrupting your little friends' world down there. 

Okay.

And, with our increased experimentation into "botanical bottoms", what's going on in the substrate is definitely something we should be interested in, IMHO. Now, granted, ours is a world of actively-decaying materials, perhaps loosely aggregated, generally on top of a more traditional sand or gravel bed...yet some of the processes occurring within deep layers of botanical materials might be similar to what happens in sand or traditional substrates, right? A lot to research.

Some reefers go the other way, and would have you believe that you're going to realize all sorts of bad stuff, like phosphate and nitrate, even sulfur dioxide storms, will be unleashed if you disturb the sand bed. Now, I agree, you can release a lot of debris that can cloud your tank if you stir way into a deep sanded. And there is not doubt some organic phosphate and such bound up in some of this gross or fine particulate matter, which will be released into the water column...However, is there a documented scientific rationale for not ever disturbing anything but the very top layers of substrate?

And is your tank so poorly maintained- so "balanced on a razor's edge", that a stirring of the substrate will unleash armageddon? Hmm, if so, I think you need to re-think your general husbandry approach a bit.  And I'm not suggesting that there are no consequences to disturbing a deep sand bed...I'm just wondering what they might be in an otherwise well-maitnaiend aquarium. DO we know, or are we making some sort of assumptions, or...?

I'm not trying to launch some kind of all-out assault on one of the basic tenants of aquarium husbandry. I'm simply asking for some clarification. And, quite honestly, it's not all that clear...if you look up this topic online, "answers" are all over the map. We have hobbyists from both camps (disturb/DND) stating their positions, but there seems to be not a ton of great confidence-building facts (outside of the ones I mentioned) for the "DND" crowd to bring forward.

I think there are a lot of good points on both sides, but I'm concerned that the overly-generalized, excessively dogmatic, heavily-regurgitated rationales for either belief render this another one of those topics which we need to "pick a side" and experiment for ourselves. By bringing these types of topics into a more active discussion from time to time, and asking for more specific clarifications, I think we actually do the hobby a great service.

So, without stirring up (couldn't resist) further controversy on this topic, let's hear your thoughts on the subject.

Think.

Stay inquisitive. Stay logical. Stay thoughtful. Stay creative.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

A growing, breathing...evolving microcosm...

As more and more hobbyists play with the "botanical/blackwater"-style aquarium concept, we're seeing more experimentation, more new ideas, and a lot of interest related to the setup, husbandry, and long-term operation of these systems. We talk a lot here about the fact that a botanical-style aquarium is sort of always "evolving", as we are continuously adding, removing, or rotating in new botanicals and leaves to replace those which have decomposed. It's a bit different than a typical aquarium  because you're sort of "editing on the fly" on a more or less continuous basis.  This dovetails nicely with the "maturing process" of an aquarium- specifically, thoughts on what the difference is between a tank that is just “cycled”, and one that is defined as “mature.” 

I guess the logical place to start such a discussion would be…at the beginning. Well, the beginning phases of your tank, that is.  You know what I mean: You’ve designed the perfect  system. You have a beautiful, low-iron glass aquarium, the best filter you can afford, an insanely tuned LED lighting system...You're going to represent an asian-themed blackwater habitat, and your fish choices are looking good. You've selected some choice leaves and botanicals from an online vendor (hmm, who could that be...?) and you're ready to go. Yeah, this tank is gonna rock!

Of course, before all of the fish are swimming about peacefully in their new home, you need to “cycle” the system, and get it suitable for life forms to reside in. It’s one thing to have a nicely-equipped system, quite another to have a suitable system for life. It’s still another when it earns the lofty hobby moniker of “mature.” 

I am operating on the assumption (gulp) that most of us have a  basic understanding of the nitrogen cycle and how it impacts our aquariums. However, maybe we don’t all have that understanding. My ramblings have been labeled as “moronic” by at least one “critic” before, however,  so it’s no biggie for me as said “moron” to give a very over-simplified review of the “cycling” process in an aquarium, so let’s touch on that for a moment! 

During the cycling process, ammonia levels will build and then suddenly decline as the nitrite-forming bacteria multiply in the system. Because nitrate-forming bacteria don't appear until nitrite is available in sufficient quantities to sustain them, nitrite levels climb dramatically as the ammonia is converted, and keep rising as the constantly-available ammonia is converted to nitrite. Once the nitrate-forming bacteria multiply in sufficient numbers, nitrite levels decrease dramatically, nitrate levels rise, and the tank is considered “fully cycled.”

So, in summary, you could correctly label your system “fully cycled” as soon as nitrates are detectible, and when ammonia and nitrite levels are undetectable. This usually takes anywhere from 10 days to as many as 4-6 weeks, depending on a number of factors. In my experience, there are certainly some “cheats” you can use to speed up the process, such as the addition of some filter media or sand from a healthy, “mature” aquarium, or even utilizing one of the many commercially available “bacteria in a bottle” products to help build populations of beneficial bacterial populations. I hate cheating...but I kind of like some shortcuts on occasion!

So we have at least, for purposes of this discussion, established what we mean in aquarium vernacular by the term “fully cycled.” However, what does “mature” mean? Well, here is where we lose some of the hard facts and get into judgment calls and opinion…and that’s okay. I’ll give you my thoughts on the topic, and I expect to hear yours!

In my opinion, a “mature” aquarium is a system in which the nitrogen cycle is fully functioning, and nitrate is regularly produced as the “end product” of the biological filtration process. However, it goes further than that. I believe that truly “mature” systems have several distinct traits that set them apart from newly-cycled systems, specifically:

*Significant populations of microfauna, algae, and even plants are in the system, with very few anomalous “crashes” or fish deaths occurring. Ammonia and nitrite are undetectable in the aquarium. Stability exists in terms of animal populations and environmental fluctuations.

*Microalgae is present in manageable quantities along with other macro life. Substrate is clean and not excessively filled with detritus. Botanical materials are softening and decomposing without a measurable impact on water quality (i.e.; your beneficial bacteria can "handle" any decomposition of botanicals without significant impact on water quality).

*Fish population has been stable, healthy and consistent, with few losses of any frequency.

*Plants, if present, are actively growing and increasing in size as well as improving in health and color. 

What’s more, there is a certain “Something” to a mature aquarium…A smell, a look, a lack of excess in either “good” or “bad” animals.  Hardly scientific, I know- but true, right? In my opinion, a “mature” tank is one in which you don’t have to freak out every time you miss a water change, forget to feed, fall behind on algae scraping, top-offs, etc. Aquariums that are environmentally stable allow the aquarist a certain degree of latitude in maintenance and overall husbandry. But that doesn’t mean you can kick back, of course.

With a botanical-style aquarium, you're typically adding and removing leaves and pods and such regularly; I pretty much do this during every water exchange. In addition to the obvious aesthetic "refresh", you get a new bump of humic substances and tannins from the freshly-prepared botanicals you're adding. And of course, adding anything to your aquarium that breaks down is "bioload", and you need to continuously observe your aquarium and test the water regularly to detect and follow any "trends" in the chemistry that could prove to be a source of concern.

Mature tanks also can fall into what author/reef great/friend Mike Paletta referred to as “Old Tank Syndrome” back in 2006 in a reef aquarium publication (although this is perfectly adaptable concept to freshwater aquariums, too). Mike asserts (correctly, IMHO) that an aquarium, no matter how biologically diverse or successful, simply is NOT a  true “slice of the bottom”; rather, that it is a closed system, and is potentially subject to accumulations of nutrients (specifically nitrogenous waste and phosphates) over time, some of which can reach a detrimental concentration unless regular maintenance is conducted to combat their accumulation.

Regular, though not obsessive- water parameter monitoring is also always advisable to ascertain just what is going on in the aquarium. The need to monitor  parameters like ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate is obvious, but you also need to look at pH. When you're dealing with a lower ph, low carbonate hardness system, TDS may ultimately prove a more useful "yardstick" than pH in the long run, but for many of us, a good pH meter can provide an accurate assessment of the pH of the system regularly. We’ve talked previously about establishing “baseline” operating parameters for your tank, and trying to stay within that baseline for the life of the aquarium.

In other words, even with regular maintenance practices and monitoring in place, you can’t truly set the tank “on autopilot” and let it run itself. There is a constant “war” between good and bad chemical concentrations going on in your system, and you need to be on top of things in order to assure that the “bad” doesn’t outweigh the “good.” 

Nothing really new here, except to say that with intentionally decomposing botanicals in the aquarium, the need to be on top of things is simply a more obvious priority. This type of aquarium is truly a constantly evolving microcosm, very similar in many respect to a natural stream or river. 

How do you know that you have excesses of organic nutrients building up in your long-established tank? Well, when you start noticing outbreaks of algae where none existed previously, that’s one tip off- as is the failure of previously thriving fishes to display the growth and vigor they once did. There are other signs, many of which an experienced fish keeper just sort of "knows."  As is often asserted, an aquarium is a lot like a terrestrial garden in many respects, and you’ll need to “prune” it regularly.

In our botanical aquarium example, the "pruning" is metaphorical, and represents the act of periodically removing and replacing decomposing leaves and other materials to keep  the parameters from "falling out of line." However, I can state categorically that in the 7 or so years since I've started playing with botanicals in my aquariums, I have not had this happen. Common sense husbandry, attention to what's happening in the aquarium, and learning what's "baseline" for the system have always given me stable, low-nutrient systems.

I have long theorized (completely anecdotally, of course) that the botanicals in our systems offer a significant "media" for beneficial microorganisms to thrive among, which serve to break down organics very effectively. Sort of the way a "deep sand bed" functions in a reef tank. Maybe even some denitrification occurring, in addition to fungal and microbial growth?

An interesting idea that is worth more serious research, IMHO!

The bottom line is that a botanical-style aquarium, being a closed system like any other, will demonstrate some characteristics that are easily identifiable when it’s “mature”, yet you still need to address consistency through aspects of husbandry and maintenance throughout its existence. Much like a garden, an aquarium could “run wild” if left to its own devices, and the outcome for many fishes and plants in residence could be negative- or at least, significantly different than what you intended to create!

No one said that working with specialty aquariums is super easy, but it’s not difficult, either- as long as you have a basic understanding of the environmental processes and conditions within your aquarium. 

So much to learn here, isn't there? 

Stay vigilant. Stay observant. Stay relentless.

And Stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Getting your (aquarium) "groove" back...

We’ve all been there if we’ve been involved in the hobby long enough: That time when, for whatever reason, you just fall into a malaise of sorts…What used to be compelling and enthralling elicits a little more than a casual nod now and again. Really; it's hard to believe...but it happens! 

As a lifelong aquarist, I totally understand. I’m not embarrassed to say that, every once in a while, my interest needs to be “recharged.” What causes this? Familiarity? Lack of progress? Apathy?

Not really sure.

What I am sure of is that this hobby is absolutely engrossing, endlessly fascinating, and can be lifelong…I know I’m a “lifer”- I’ve had fishes and aquariums in one form or another since I was literally 3 years old- and will until they pry my cold, lifeless body from my aquarium! It’s important to enjoy the hobby- in multiple aspects. The key to keeping it so is to make it “fresh.” Yeah, switching it up; trying stuff a bit differently than what we’ve done in the past. A "pivot", as they say in the business world. Not only is this “re-invigorating”, it can spur your hobby into completely new, and even more engrossing directions- ones you may not have even thought of.

That being said, let’s look at some ways to re-energize your hobby interest, should you find yourself in one of those aforementioned “ruts.”

1) Re-aquascape your tank- Oh yeah- super easy…And sometimes, all it takes is a slight change of scenery, if you will, to re-invigorate your interest in your tank. Just like putting a fresh coat of paint in a room, there are few aquariums that couldn’t benefit from a little less rock or wood, a re-configuration, or something entirely different. 

3) Add that new fish that you’ve been coveting…even if it means trading or giving away something else to make room- Yup, if you want that crazy new Malawi cichlid, but just don’t have the real estate for it, it may be time to donate or trade some fishes  to another hobbyist, club raffle, or school that would appreciate them! Sometimes, the key to enjoying the hobby even more is to simply acquire that plant or fish that you’ve been drooling over for the past year. And the trade-offs? Well, they’re usually worth it..Trust me on that!

4) Help a fellow hobbyist get his/her tank up and running- Remember the burst of excitement you felt when you set up your first tank? Experience it- if only vicariously- through another hobbyists just getting started! Take pleasure in his or her awe as they watch their first Betta flare its fins, place their first aquatic moss on driftwood, clean their canister filter for the first time, prepping black worms for feeding (okay, well, maybe not that…), or any number of a hundred little things that you take for granted, but are an endless source of wonder to the neophyte. It just might rekindle your love four the hobby more than ever! (even if the smell of old filter pads never did anything for you…)

5) Try something totally different- You’ve always thought it would be cool to create a tank devoted only to Shell Dwellers, Tetras, brackish water fish, etc. Well, maybe now is the time to cut loose and try it. Or, if space and funds are an issue, perhaps you should consider a total “do-over” on your existing tank, re-booting it as one of these “pipe dream” projects. It could change your entire outlook on the hobby!

6) Give fish breeding a shot- Sure, why not? There is a reason why so many hobbyists are  breeding fishes in their homes. Not only is it fun, challenging, and educational- it will reduce dependency on wild-collected fishes for the long-term good of the natural environment- and the hobby/industry. Want to be “bleeding edge?” There are literally hundreds of fishes which haven’t been bred yet that you can choose from to focus your breeding project on. And the secrets you unlock during your efforts will benefit hobbyists all over the world when you share them.

7) Automate- Ok, I know I’m like the last guy you turn to for tech advice, but even I appreciate the simplicity and control that a well-thought-out automation system can provide. Imagine if some of your “workload” was reduced…Think of the savings in time,effort, and cash that could result. There are many different controllers and aquarium automation systems out there- and as many ways to configure them as there are hobbyists! Don’t be afraid- unleash your inner tech-head…and there is a lot of support out there on the forums if you need it!

8) Share your experiences- Really, it’s almost therapeutic for me to get up every morning and throw down on the computer whatever happens to be on my mind about aquarium keeping. Sure, some of my blogs are more interesting, insightful, and popular than others, yet they all provide me with some sort of psychological benefit- and many of you tell me that you enjoy reading them, too…so it’s all good. Try it- it’s a lot of fun, and if you’re not careful, you might enjoy it!

9) Join (or start) a club- Wanna commiserate, share, and bounce ideas off of fellow fish geeks? What better way to do that than to join group of like-minded people who understand your obsession! No club in your area? Start one! You’ll be surprised what kinds of amazing experiences and friendships can develop from clubs! One of my favorite things to do is talk in front of clubs, see the friendships and closeness..it’s way cool!

10) Take a break- What? you’re telling me to step away from the hobby? Yup. Sometimes, it’s the best- or even the only- way to rekindle that fire you once had. It’s extreme, and the thought of a quiet house, with no worries about pH swings, algae, inter-species aggression, or fish feeding may seem awesome…for a while. If the aquarium-keeping obsession has bitten you hard- and I’ll bet it has…you’ll want back in…way sooner than you expected. Those of us who are “lifers” just can’t keep away. If you don’t miss it, there is a very good chance that stamp collecting, Sudoku, role-playing games, or some other diversion is in your future…at least for a while!

Okay, so I’ve given you a few ways to get your aquarium- keeping “groove” back…I’m sure many of you out there can think of a few more. I’d like to hear them, as would your fellow hobbyists…

Remember, we can’t always be stoked on every aspect of the hobby 100% of the time…Sometimes, we just get burnt on the whole thing….that’s understandable. The important thing is that you don’t lose sight of the whole love affair that you have with the whole world of aquarium-keeping, and that you at least make an effort to rekindle the flame that may have been flickering out within you.

Stay stoked. Stay engaged. Stay creative.

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

"Mysterious crashes", avoiding the "blame game", and accepting responsibility.

I had a reefer acquaintance talk to me a few days back, and he was very upset about a catastrophe in his aquarium. According to him, shortly after he added "a few new corals" that were "very healthy", the tank "crashed!" Every fish in the tank died; the water went cloudy, and the ammonia was "off the charts!"

A "crash."

Wow. Bad.

Yet, the issues that precipitated the "crash" were hardly surprising.

I was quite familiar with his tank and practices. A number of my friends were. It was pointed out to him that he needed to modify his approach and technique to avoid a potential problem on several occasions, when he asked for advice. Each time, he more or less shrugged off the suggestions to modify or alter relatively simple, yet glaringly obvious practices that we felt could lead to negative issues at some point. He was convinced that his large tank and investment in some pretty pricy equipment would "insulate him from any problems" (literally his words).  A very overcrowded tank to begin with, not enough circulation, low and wildly fluctuating alkalinity, and an improperly "tuned" protein skimmer, as well as a radically incompatible animal selection (pretty much anything he wanted...), lack of regular water testing (and management).

Oh, and he was arrogant. A straight-up jerk. (A perfect case study to address the "mysterious tank crash" phenomenon with.)

And thoroughly convinced that it was some "anomalous issue" that caused the crash. He had nothing to do with it.  Various theories he proposed included the usual suspects, along with some rather creative assertions: "...a bad batch of salt mix...", "The LFS sold me some infected corals", "The bacteria in my sandbed were accumulating phosphate", my RO unit wasn't working right", "...the controller didn't alert me..." almost any explanation that didn't involve him making bad decisions. And when myself and a friend gently suggested that he might have made a few mistakes that contributed to the problem, he was less than pleased.

Now, this was an "extreme" case to some extent, with a variety of factors contributing to the disaster. Not every hobbyist who experiences a disaster with his/her aquarium is ignorant, arrogant, and incompetent. Or a jerk.

Sometimes, "Shit happens" for sure. But usually, we have something to do with it. And the causes are usually traceable.

If you've been in the hobby long enough, you'll run into the occasional problem: Disease outbreak, algae problems, maybe some chemical parameter shifts...stuff like that. Or, in rare instances, more serious stuff, like a leaking aquarium, stuck heater, filter malfunction...things that can spell doom for your aquarium. Some are things we've contributed to through errors in judgement or lapses in procedure. Others are beyond our control.

The rarest of bad occurrences have always been what we label as a "crash."

CRASH.

Damn, even the word sounds bad. And the implication, in hobbyist lore, is typically that something has went wrong. Something beyond the ordinary. Something out of our control. Something catastrophic; occasionally even "aquarium career-ending catastrophic." Bad stuff. Beyond our control, or so it's alleged.

Okay.

And, what the hell IS a "crash" anyways?

Well, in the aquarium world, it seems that it has become a sort of "catchall" for REALLY bad stuff that happens to our tanks, and in recent years, it's NEVER something we had anything to do with.

I'd see this often in the reef aquarium world. Tragedies played out on the forums in "real time."  And I'll be honest with you- it almost always happened to the guy who had the "cool" tank; the one with all of the crazy corals and fishes...and expensive gear, and maybe, just maybe- more often than you'd expect...an owner who pushed things a bit too far. Didn't listen to good advice. Knew better. And there was always this "Why me?" attitude, when, quite honestly, you could see it coming from a mile away.  It was you, because you tried to gamble, tempt fate, take a shortcut- and "the house won" this time.

In most of the cases I've seen involving "crashes"-reef or freshwater, that was the case. Yeah, really. "Crashes" almost always have a human component to them. Well-managed, conservatively-run aquariums don't just "crash" for no reason. A catastrophe that kills every fish in the tank typically has a root cause in some sort of failing on our part- whether it's failure to pick up on a negative "trend" that was happening to the environment, or forgetting to maintain a piece of equipment...or even something as basic as overstocking, bypassing quarantine, or not following an accepted precaution or procedure.

Yup.

And "crowd sourcing" sympathy for your case against such-and-such a manufacturer or hobby practice, and trying to foment anger from fellow hobbyists against said company's product, or some concept, when it was really your own fault is simply not cool.

You may may not like what I'm insinuating. You make take some offense with me. I'm not trying to sound "greater than thou" or arrogant. I'm trying to give you a dose of reality. And once you get out of the "why me?" or "blame others" sort of mindset, and look critically at your situation, take responsibility for it- and learn from it- you're well on the way to becoming a more successful aquarist. Super simple.

Trust me. In four decades in the hobby, I've killed more stuff than you. And like 95% of the time, it was due to a mistake, error in judgement, or lack of following generally accepted "best practices" of aquarium management ON MY PART.

Yeah, I've never, ever...EVER- had a "crash" for "mysterious or unexplainable reasons." That's not me being arrogant, or me showing you how "cool" I am. It's me admitting that virtually every tragedy that I've experienced in aquarium-keeping has been because of my own errors.

Yep- I've never had a "mysterious crash"-and I don't think that YOU have either. You just haven't. There is virtually always an explanation rooted in human error or arrogance. Not the aquarium additive manufacturer, LFS employee, or  the guy who told you the fish was "healthy."

So, let this go. Once and for all.

Let's stop blaming every single thing but our own failings as the cause of the problem. It's okay to make a mistake. Really. You're human. It's tragic when we lose livestock- especially when it's avoidable. However, it's part of the learning curve, and much more tragic when we don't learn from the disaster.

And sometimes we do push stuff a bit. Those of us who try new ideas, new concepts, and radical departures from the "generally accepted" way of doing stuff always risk disaster. It's not something we like to do. It's a bit scary. And it could end badly...or wildly successful. However, we go in with our eyes wide open, and understand that there is risk involved. It's the price of progress.

Mistakes are going to happen. Ideas will fail. Bad or aggressive practices may come up to bite us.

But we'll continue. We'll learn. We'll grow.

Because we don't need to blame anything or anyone but ourselves.

And that's okay.

Stay adventurous. Stay bold. Stay careful. Stay humble.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

For the love of detritus?

I've received a number of questions, and participated in a few fishy discussions lately about the benefits and pitfall of utilizing mechanical filtration media in our aquariums. Seems as thought the concept about "stuff" accumulating in our aquariums and somehow negatively affecting the environment is something we keep focusing on. Husbandry is a big, important part of fish keeping. However, thinking through the "whys? and hows?" of our husbandry practices is just as important to contemplate.

I have always been a big fan of mechanical filtration media in my tanks. Filter pads, socks, etc. In my many years as a hobbyists, I've always found them useful to remove all sorts of "stuff" from the water, and it was never a real problem using them, because I was/am obsessive about cleaning and replacing them before they become saturated with detritus and such, which break down and potentially affect water quality.

Wait a minute....do I allow that much volatile "stuff" to accumulate in my tank to the point where it gets picked up by mechanical filtration media in the first place? DO YOU?

Likely not. Nope. Not really...But I get the argument...

Now, in the reef aquarium world, a lot of people freak out about "detritus" and such accumulating in the aquarium, and they blame filter socks and media for all sorts of problems in their aquariums. I understand this concern for water quality, but I think it sort of places emphasis on the wrong part of the equation; that is, what exactly is accumulating, and why? Uneaten food? Bad! Need to be more careful here. Fish waste? Unavoidable to some extent (unless you lower population density/food inputs). You get the idea...

I think it's all relative, though. 

In a botanical-style blackwater aquarium, we tend to see a fair amount of fine "bits and pieces" of decomposing leaves and botanicals accumulate in our mechanical filter media. Funny thing to me is that this stuff, although somewhat unsightly if allowed to accumulate in the aquarium, seldom is seen doing such. And, it's just sort of "there", if you know what I mean. And, other than potentially being visually distracting, this material is not really detrimental- I mean, you want it in your system (at least in its "original" form).  It's what imparts the tannins, humic substances, and other desirable compounds into our water.

Of course, accumulations of uneaten food, fish waste, etc. is just as undesirable, right?

Well, let's revisit the "aquarium definition" of detritus one more time:

"detritus is dead particulate organic matter. It typically includes the bodies or fragments of dead organisms, as well as fecal material. Detritus is typically colonized by communities of microorganisms which act to decompose or remineralize the material." (Source: The Aquarium Wiki)

And back to the reef world again for a minute. 

I know a lot of reef hobbyists who are making the decision to yank their mechanical filter media (pads or filter "socks") out, and either forgoing them altogether, or utilizing materials like foam sponge, which is much easier to clean than those filter socks and polyester pads. The thinking with the people who have yanked the materials altogether is that they feel that the longer material is in circulation within the aquarium, the more likely it is that someone might consume it. Logical. In a reef tank, with all sorts of mouths and tentacles and other feeding appendages, this has a definite grain of truth to it; perhaps a little less so in the freshwater tank, IMHO, although those of you who are experimenting with "inoculating" your botanical beds with creatures like worms and aquatic crustaceans will definitely have some very interesting results to draw upon!

On the other hand, if most of what is accumulating in your mechanical media is just broken up bits of botanicals, I'd have little concern. If it's uneaten food, on the other hand, you need to figure out a more accurate feeding approach. "Detritus" in general, in my opinion, gets a kind of a bad rap, as the bulk of it is really broken down already by the time it accumulates. And there is a certain argument that some amount of this material, if allowed to settle in the aquarium, becomes a basis for biofilms/fungal growth- part of the "food web" in our tanks. 

And I wonder how much of this stuff is really accumulating in a well-managed, under-populated, and carefully-maintained aquarium? Sure, in systems with large, predatory cichlids and messy eaters, you're likely to see a lot more than you would in a lightly-stocked tank with say, Endler's Livebearers or Gouramis, but still...do most of us really overfeed THAT much? I don't think so. Of course, if you see uneaten food and such accumulating in your tank, it looks crappy. However, do you have phosphate or nitrate issues as a result of accumulating organics from this stuff, or is some of it- enough of it- being utilized by bacteria and other "unseen residents" of your tank that it's not really a "problem" from an environmental standpoint?  What does the test kit say? 

I can't help but wonder if our aversion to seeing any amount this stuff in our tanks is much like the aversion many have had to blackwater tanks: It LOOKS "dirty" because of the color, so it must be "unhealthy" or otherwise "bad."

We've become militant about this "pristine-looking" aesthetic. Take a snorkel in an Igarape next time your in The Amazon and you might re-think your definition of "pristine."

Think about it from that perspective for a bit.

And I also wonder, in a tank where we are purposely cultivating small crustaceans and worms and such, will many of these creatures get stuck in very fine mechanical filtration media? Perhaps the coarse sponge is better? I mean, if you're trying to cultivate food, it makes no sense to have 40% of it or whatever end up in your filter media, right? I've offered this thought before and I'll mention it again: Perhaps we're a bit too obsessive about removing "everything" from our water?

This is an age-old aquarium management issue, that goes back and forth trying to strike a balance between "too much" and "too little" of feeding versus filtration, isn't it?  And when you throw aquatic plants into the equation, could they be utilizing some of the extra dissolved organic carbons or other nutrients found in some of this detritus for their growth? I mean, it really is about balance.

Regular water exchanges are a great way to keep this balance, as you've no doubt have had beaten into your head since your aquarium-keeping "infancy."

So...we're back to the beginning, yet again.

Ahh, "detritus"- menace or benefit? Or perhaps, something in between? Like biofilms, fungal growth, aufwuchs, and decomposition- is it something that is inevitable, natural- perhaps even beneficial in our aquariums? Or, is it something that we should learn to embrace and appreciate? All part of a natural process and yes- aesthetic- that we have to understand to appreciate?

We've touched on this topic before, but fellow hobbyists keep asking me my thoughts, and they have evolved over the years. I think so many things in moderation are pretty good- even things that we have historically "freaked out" about. Yes, hardly a staid, scientific conclusion, but I think valuable from an aquarium management perspective. Moderation.

What do you think?

Stay calm.

Stay thoughtful.

Stay observant.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

More thoughts on the sheltered world...

Today is one of those days where I'm sort of overwhelmed by the number of tasks at hand, so I anted to at least get out a quick idea that's been on my mind before things get too crazy!

I'm fascinated by the idea of biological diversity and variety in aquariums, and I think that the idea of utilizing botanical materials as we do certainly creates diversity in terms of "enrichment" of the aquatic habitat, and for providing a "substrate" for breeding fishes and other organisms, ranging from fungi to aquatic crustaceans. I often postulate that a botanical "bed" in an aquarium functions much as a refugium does in a marine aquarium...yet the idea of perhaps setting up a freshwater refugium of sorts utilizing botanicals (or not) is still appealing to me.

Now, it's absolutely not a new idea in the freshwater world, but it is a relatively under-utilized one. We've talked about the idea here before...And it seems like it would make a lot of sense to utilize a refugium in a variety of freshwater scenarios. First, let's think about what a refugium is:

A refugium is a separate sump or aquarium attached to the main display, which allows you to keep organisms which would not normally survive in the main display aquarium, such as plants (in the case of herbivores), crustaceans, deep sand beds for identification (in a system with fishes who dig extensively), etc. A lot of hobbyists run the lighting on the refugium on a "reverse" schedule from the display, which keeps the pH more stable (as CO2 is consumed by plants and photosynthesizing animals in the case of a reef tank during the "daylight period" in the refugium).

Now, in the blackwater, botanical-style aquarium, I think a refugium would be very cool, because you could, for example, keep a "deep botanical bed" of materials in the refugium, fostering not only the growth of fungal and bacterial growth, but imparting the benefits of these materials into the water without the need to keep them in the display aquarium (for those who may not be fans of the aesthetic!).

Another possibility is utilizing a really deep bed of mud or other biosediments to foster not only the growth of aquatic plants, but to encourage denitrification and growth of animals such as worms and other aquatic crustaceans, which can take advantage of this habitat. This sort of ties in with my recent musings on substrates and utilizing alternative materials, like soils and such, within the botanical-style aquarium.

Yet another possible application for an upstream refugium in a botanical-style aquarium would be to experiment with one attached to a fry growout or rearing tank. The biologically rich refugium would be inoculated with all sorts of microorganisms (I"m thinking creatures like Paramecium, various "infusoria", rotifers, etc.), that would utilize the decomposing leaves and botanicals as a food source, and being "deposited" randomly via flow into the fry rearing tanks as a supplemental source of food. Not an exact science, or a primary feeding scheme, but one which might help support growth of small fishes, such as characins, Danios, Gouramis, etc. in early growout phases.

And of course, those are many, many other possible applications for a refugium, and I think we should all take a peek at the idea now and then!  I just wanted to kind of keep the idea in the front of your mind...let's keep talking about it!

Back tomorrow with a more in-depth look at another interesting topic!

Stay excited. Stay engaged. Stay open-minded.

And Stay Wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

New adventures, courtesy of the box of "old aquarium stuff..."

So, I've been working on a new tank for the past few months, and not too long ago, I needed a specific part for some application that would work perfectly...Something I KNEW I still had...somewhere... You know that feeling?

Well, part of the process for me involves going through that big 'old box of "aquarium stuff"  that I've accumulated over a lifetime of fish-keeping...seeing if there is anything worth salvaging or repurposing for my new projects...Yeah, liquid test reagents and food samples from 2002 need not apply...

I was digging through one of my several 'boxes of fish junk" the other day, looking for some ridiculous thing I thought that I needed...and of course, it made me stop and reflect...

We all have that box, right? You know, the one that contains the parts for that 1982 model Eheim canister filter, or the diaphragm for that air pump you bought back in '93. Maybe you even have an old "Metaframe" aquarium from dad back in the day?

As aquarists, we love shiny new stuff..but I'd hazard a guess that most of us like to hold on to our old stuff, too! I'd like to think it's because we have a sentimental sense of history, and these things make us harken back to a gentler, more simpler aquarium-keeping era...

Perhaps, it's because experience tells us we're going to need some of this stuff again. Maybe for some new application that wasn't even imagined  back in the days when some of these items were brand new. Just like what I  was thinking recently. Or possibly, we need to cannibalize an old device to keep the one we have in operation running for an indefinite period of time. This is not a bad thing at all, right? I have reefer friends who, let's put it nicely- are hoarders...And I mean that in a good way...because if you need a part for a 2006 model AquaMedic protein skimmer or a vintage 2010 EcoTech Marine Vortech pump...they've got it!

No- that's not a bad thing at all. It's good to know aquarium equipment "hoarders!"

Of course, perhaps some of you out there don't have the slightest bit of sentimental attachment to your 30-year-old hang-on-the-back power filter. Maybe you feel no great sense of historical obligation to reflect upon that old pump and perhaps admire its durability. Maybe you chose to keep it for "other", less defined reasons.

Which brings us to the final set of reasons why we as fish geeks typically hang on to stuff, having absolutely nothing to do with sentimentality: Maybe, we're simply just too cheap/poor/busy to replace them?

That could be it..not sure. No shame in any of those reasons, by the way...

But keeping old equipment is sort of a validation of our culture, an homage- intended or unintended- to the hobby's progression and history.

I mean, there is something so appealing about taking a piece of damn-near antique aquarium equipment and employing it in a new, more-or-less "state of the art" system. Repurposing. Sort of like the way old factory buildings are turned into cool offices for high-tech startup companies- uses that no one could have ever conceived of "back in the day."

And let's face it, some stuff was- IS- still great, withstanding the test of time. Like Ehiem "Classic" filters. Sure, the materials might have changed a bit, but the filters are essentially unchanged from their original  1970's design- because they work so awesomely!

And of course, you've seen me rave on about my 1980-vinatge Tetra "Luft" air pump, which has been operating with me for so long that it's practically become a family heirloom!

Well, I do draw the line with aquarium heaters. I don't like old heaters. Don't trust them, for many reasons..An air pump is one thing- a heater, however, is another story. Old heaters are archaic, often undependable, and occasionally downright scary! Practicality and safety outweigh sentimentality with a critically important piece of gear.

Yet, in general, many pieces of older aquarium equipment, like the aforementioned Ehiem filters, are appealing because they're so well made. So "right" in their utility and practical elegance.

Maybe old aquarium equipment appeals to us because it has a bit of "soul" to it; like an old friend or pair of jeans, it's proven itself as a reliable, earnest partner over many years and many situations. That new high-tech Bluetooth-enabled LED light just doesn't offer that feature. Perhaps we have some psychological sense of "kinship" that we attach to old equipment?

Okay, perhaps I'm reading too much into this topic at 5:45 AM in Los Angeles...Perhaps the damn thing may be old, but it's what we've got right now, and we really need a three-way gang valve immediately, be it plastic or 19060's vintage brass! Yup.

Wow. That could be it.

I Like the "sentimental" explanations better, though.

Do you have that ONE fave piece of, shall we say..."vintage" aquatic gear that you hang on to? Does it still work well, or do just keep it because you feel some sentimental attachment to it? Or have you simply forgotten to toss it in the recycling bin?

What is it? What gems do you have in your "collection?"

Do tell! 

Because I know I'm not the ONLY one who's got that "aquarium junk hoarder" thing going on, right?

Until next time...

Hang on tightly to all of your old aquarium "stuff"..And your new ones. But give away your experience and time freely with other hobbyists.

Stay true to your roots. Stay focused o the future.

And of course...

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics

Staying Wet.

What happens when you lose your edge as a hobbyist? CAN you lose your edge? I reflect on this now and again, having worked on the "industry" side of the hobby for a while, and occasionally, I have to look at where I've been to appreciate where I am!

Maybe there is a kernel of wisdom here for you in my story? Perhaps. Personal stories can somehow provide others with a little insight- a little boost, perhaps, that was needed to push you along...

I’ve been an unabashed aquarium geek pretty much since I could walk. Like many of you, I’ve bred dozens of varieties of fishes, had planted tanks, set up my first saltwater tank when I was 12, and my first true reef tank in 1986…I’ve had an aquarium in one form or another most of my life without much interruption. I’ve made tons of mistakes, and had many great successes…I even get paid to travel around the world and talk to fellow geeks about aquariums and all of the insanity of the culture that goes with it all. That is a very cool gig!

When we launched Unique Corals in 2012, I was at the top of my game, from a hobby perspective…I had accomplished many of the things I wanted to accomplish, and was itching for a different challenge. And with the birth of the UC brand and world, came a chance to exercise not only the skills I’d learned as a hobbyist- but more important- the skills honed in college as a Marketing major, and in the business world in general…Putting it all together and adding some energy and a slightly different view. It was magic…the growing crew at UC worked our collective butts off in pursuit of a dream, never losing site of our values and our goal of creating a great company.

Fast forward a few years and we had a successful company, great customers, a large “fan following”, and an amazing team. Every day was sort of “living the dream” as they say…I get to do stuff I used to dream of as a kid…and it’s pretty amazing. As Unique grew to a pretty serious company, with 9 employees and all of the complexity that goes with it, I had taken a bit more of a “big picture” leadership role, and less of a “get-your-hands-wet” reefer role. In the process, I got really good at some things, and, regrettably, a bit worse at others.

Sure, I could still build up a cool reef tank, select some killer coral and fishes, and mix it up with the big boys, but I sometimes found myself searching Google for some of the latest corals and such..it might have taken me a bit longer to figure out exactly what the "_________ Acropora" is, or why this pump is better than that one, but hey- no one is perfect, right? This stuff changes so often that unless you’re trolling the web 24/7, specializing in a few things, it becomes darned near impossible to know it all. On the other hand, you don’t need to.


You just need to have an appreciation for where you are as a hobbyist, and what got you there.

An experience one summer day was one of those moments when I was able to just appreciate this…the sheer joy of being a fish geek. I was working on some behind the scenes website thing when a colleague popped his head in and said, “C’mon man, there’s an Acro with your name on it out there…” ( His way of saying, “Get out into the warehouse and get those hands wet..”). As we spent a while just walking the raceways, looking at the amazing variety of stuff that’s growing out…which was one of the best parts of my job, really.-we’d stop to admire an amazing frag coming up, or a mother colony that’s ready to frag again…whatever. Just loving the coral.


And having cool people around every day to give you their insights, ideas, and share their vast hobby knowledge is amazing. I learned this from Jake Adams ( of Reef Builders), who worked with us a for several months. He absolutely loves coral. Loves them. He’ll point out little stuff about why this-and-that Acropora is doing so much better because it was oriented differently, or because we are adding just a bit more of this-or-that to the water. Subtle things. It’s very cool. Infectious. And as a result, everyone here at UC was falling in love with our corals even more…Including this guy who spent most of his day staring at a computer and talking on the phone.

We all need hobbyists around us who love and obsess over stuff. It keeps the magic alive and gives you a different sort of appreciation for things!

As we were walking, I paused by a particularly nice Acropora I’d been keeping tabs on for weeks. It was looking amazing. A beautiful maricultured teal A. insignis from Bali, I believe. I couldn’t help but say something like, “Man, people would love this coral; we should make some frags of it…” And Jake’s response was, “Dude, maybe YOU should make some frags of it! You love that coral.” So guess what I did? Reached in there, grabbed the coral, took it to the fragging table and made a dozen beautiful little frags. Of course, everyone who worked in the warehouse had a great time with it: “Oh ———-, Fellman’s on the saw, look out!” Or, “Wait a minute, you feeling okay?”

Sure, I was a little scared, actually- I mean, I was this fairly well-known reefer and I was co- owner of what was arguably one of the more well-regarded coral vendors in the U.S.. Here I was, hitting the fragging table on a Friday afternoon, unsure of wether or not I still “had it.” What would my employees think if I shredded this poor coral or broke the saw with my incompetence?

Never mind. I just did it.

The reality was, it was an energizing boost for everyone for me to be out there, laughing it up with the crew and doing what a fish nerd is supposed to do: Get your hands wet. It gave me an appreciation for what really matters in aquarium keeping: Having fun with the hobby, the art…the “wetness” of it all.

It was amazing. Up until that point, I hadn’t made a coral frag myself for UC in almost two years. TWO YEARS! Wow, could I really have been that disconnected from the physical process of coral propagation? Maybe. Were the very skills and interests that got me to where I was at the time still intact? Were my fragging skills there? Well, my cuts were a bit rusty, but my gluing was spot on…I guess it’s like riding a bike- you just don’t lose all of those skills.

I vowed right then and there to get up from behind the desk more often. And I never forgot that. At Tannin, I make it a point every day to spend a few minutes "playing" with the aquariums in the office...not only to "keep an edge"- but because it's FUN. And because it's what being a fish geek is all about. No matter where you are in the hobby/industry.

The lesson here? Don’t become detached from what you love…What got you to where you are now. Don’t ever lose those core skills. Do something that keeps it all in perspective. Aquascape a nano. Frag some corals. Put together a filter. Take apart a pump. Hatch some killie eggs…Whatever.

If you find yourself straying from what you really love...get back in there. Just stay involved.


And to all of you out there…I mean it when I say with great gusto- Stay Wet.



Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Ways to make sure that your aquarium doesn't suck? (Seriously!)

This might be a bit nasty today...

Ok, maybe after a while writing these columns, you sometimes have to tell things like they are, right? The following is one of those examples of me having a bit of an attitude today. Some of this stuff may seem a bit mean-spirited to some of you. However, in the interest of making you be a better aquarist, I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t give you some of my opinions, right? Sometimes, those opinions are “tough love”, and they aren't pretty…

 Ok, here goes.

 Let’s say you’ve been in the hobby a while, and your aquarium is just kind of…average. Maybe it’s not even average. Maybe it…sucks.

Ouch.

There are many reasons why an aquarium can suck…Yup, you never thought that you’d read that in a blog, huh? So let’s look at some of the less obvious signs that your aquarium…sucks.

 They might be not what you think.

Your tank looks exactly like the “Tank of the Decade/Year/Month/Week/Day” - Yeah, that’s right. The fact that your tank looks just like the one that just won that coveted title is not such a great thing, IMO. I mean, you’re a fish geek! You’ve invested tons of time, money and effort in creating and maintaining your tank. So, why would you want to have it look like ANYONE else’s aquarium? Your tank should reflect your taste, your style, YOUR dream. 

I hate seeing tanks that are purely imitative. Why? Because with all of the aforementioned time, money and effort, you could have come up with an aquascape completely of your own design. Please, please, please…be yourself. You’re really good! The tank you create as an homage to someone else’s work is never as good as the one you can create from your own imagination. Being inspired by others is great...but put your won stamp on it.

 See. that wasn’t so bad, right?

 Oh, it  will get worse.

 Your tank has too many pumps/filter outlets, and other technical “props” that are showing- “Oh, c’mon Scott! Don’t be such a smart ass! It’s not easy to disguise all that stuff.”  No, it isn’t. And I don’t apologize for that. You gotta up your game and hide some of that stuff. It’s so totally distracting to see technical gear in the aquarium. It just stares at you and screams, “I’m a heater! I’m a powerhead!” Yuck. You can use rocks, wood, angles, even design elements to hide these props, or at least minimize their obvious impact on the overall aesthetic of your aquascape ! Please, please PLEASE make sure that you do your best to hide these things.

You won’t share experiences, advice, time, fry, eggs, or plant cuttings with other hobbyists- For goodness sakes, why would you NOT want to do this? By being closed off, not only do you miss the opportunity to help expand the hobby, preserve natural resources, and educate others- you’ll miss the chance to enjoy new friends as well. So, in my opinion, if you (and I mean it in the generic sense, of course- you’re not that guy) are a selfish, closed minded person, even if your tank looks amazing- it sucks in my book. Ouch.

You perform no regularly scheduled maintenance tasks on your tank. No, throwing in a  cube of frozen food is NOT “maintenance.” Grab a siphon hose and commit to making at least a small water exchange on a regular basis. Form good habits that will make sure that your aquarium is around for the long term. Not a spectacular showpiece for a few months or a year, and then a slowly declining disaster…This happens more than you think, and “Tanks of the (insert time period) that look great for a while then decline into ruin because of apathy…suck.

Your aquarium relies on automation for everything. What? Automation is cool! Yeah, it is…and it’s cool when it’s HELPING you monitor or maintain your tank…It’s all cool. However, when you are relying on automation to do everything- water monitoring, water changes, top off, dosing plant foods, etc., you’re ceding control to technology…Sure, it’s important to have these systems, and I will not fault any of them. But if you feel that you’re installing that fancy controller so that you won’t have to get your hands wet, check manually on your tank, change water, or do testing ever again…your tank…sucks. Yup, I said it. It may be a technological marvel, but you need to actually get your hands wet once in a while…Looking at a readout of status on your iPhone is not “observing your tank.” 

 Wow, I’m getting rather brash and nasty here, huh? The point is not to be a pompous jerk, or a guy filled with self-righteous indignity borne of several decades in the fish world. I’m not pining away for the days of under gravel filters and Vita-Lites. What I am making a big stink about is for you, as dedicated hobbyists, to recognize when you are getting “off course”, and losing touch with your beloved hobby. 

 You need to sometimes step back and look at how you’re doing in this hobby. We need to put more of “who we are” into our tanks…A tank should be an embodiment of who we are, what we are…It’s not about trying to impress your friends, display your vast wealth, or to pound your love of a certain brand’s equipment into everyone’s head. It’s about expressing yourself, your talents, your unabashed love for the hobby in a way that everyone can benefit.

 Oh, this may sound like a lot of psychobabble from the crazy botanical vendor guy…And it might just be. However, I think you’ll agree that it makes sense to look objectively at where we are and why we do what we do in the hobby. Listen to yourself…listen to the suggestions and occasionally- the criticisms- of fellow aquarists. Engage others in discussions about aquarium keeping. Communicate with fellow hobbyists on forums and at shows, events, etc. Realize that you’re pretty good at what you do.  You can teach others- and learn from them, too. And when you lose touch with who you are as an aquarist, it will show. Your tank  will….suck.

 Make sure that your tank doesn't suck, okay?

 Until next time,

 Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Quick changes...significant impacts!

One of the things I've noticed about my blackwater/botanical-style aquariums over the years is that, as they age, the 

Like most fish geeks, I'm always thinking two moves ahead. I mean, it's sometimes hard to just look at my aquarium and enjoy it without thinking about the next upgrade, the next fish I'm gonna add, or the next "iteration" I'm going to work on These things almost always involve change, or changing something. Maybe it's simply a part of the aquarium keeping mindset; I think so, because I am certainly not alone in my obsession! The common denominator is about things that I want to change. I suppose it's a good thing- always striving to improve. Or, perhaps it's a form of OCD. I couldn't tell you.

What I do know is that when it's typically about change, the change is often a good thing.

And, of course, it's Spring- a season of change, so what better time to focus on changing stuff? Rather than discussing what grandiose upgrade plans you might have for your system, let's focus on changes that you could- and probably should- change right now. These are changes that can not only improve your aquarium's short term appearance and health; if done regularly, they can have real and lasting long-term impact! Here are a few things you can quickly and easily change right now. Of course, my list is by no means complete, and in no particular order¦

Your mechanical filter media- Yeah, go ahead and change it. If you're not doing it monthly or more frequently already, you should. It's important. The gross particulate matter than accumulates around most filter media can break down quickly if unattended, and will have an impact on your system's water quality.  In a botanical style aquarium  it can also result in diminished water flow- you'll often get that sort of "mash" of decomposed botanical material (often bits of leaves) that can impede circulation from pumps and such. It just makes sense to clean any pre filters, filter pads, etc. as part of your regular maintenance as often as possible in these tanks.  As you might have surmised, "dirty" filter media (and I'm thinking more about uneaten food and such as opposed to botanical debris here) are one of the culprits in declining water quality that are often sitting in front of our very nose, that we fail to take into account when algae problems and other water quality issues arise. Try weekly or every 3-4 days if you really see a lot of trapped matter in them, and you've eliminated a major contributor to declining water quality and potential nuisance algae.

Super easy change...




Your dull algae scraper- Seriously! Regardless of the type of aquarium you have- glass or acrylic- there is a point when the blades on those scrapers (plastic or stainless steel) need changing. Mine are always losing there edges- literally. They get worn down, pitted, and otherwise degraded, and cannot perform for the job the way they were originally intended. Don't be lazy or cheap about replacing them. They can damage your aquarium if not replaced regularly. Especially the acrylic scrapers! I mean, you pretty much look at acrylic tanks the wrong way and they scratch anyways, so the last thing that you want to do is increase the potential for damage by not changing the pitted $1.29 plastic blade on your scraper. (I know, I've done it!) And, as you know, glass can scratch, too, so not changing a dull and/or damaged blade for glass opens up similar problems for glass aquariums. It's such an easy and inexpensive change that you should treat it like changing a razor blade on your shaver.  Hmm...is there a "subscription service" for "aquarium consumables" in your future..? Perhaps....In the mean time, just replace them every three weeks or more frequently if needed and be done with it! (was there a hint of a  "big idea" in there? I think there was...)






Test kit reagents- If you are a water testing geek- and many of you are- you need to make sure that you're getting accurate results. I mean, how else could you rationalize your decision to by that new monstrous canister filter if you can't demonstrate to yourself that your water quality needs improvement? (amazing rationale for a major purchase, huh?) And if you're utilizing test kits with liquid reagents, you'll need to replace them from time to time, as they degrade, affecting their accuracy. I've seen a bunch of cases where hobbyists were convinced that there might be a problem in their system, as test kit results were showing problematic readings. Upon cross-referencing every other factor they could think of, it turned out that the same test performed with new reagents yielded drastically different results. Problem solved! Instead of buying a some new expensive gadget to "fix" a perceived "problem", they bought more fish! Man, I LOVE hobbyists! Change those reagents regularly!

(Extra credit: If you use electronic test meters, replace the batteries and calibrate them regularly!)

Activated carbon and other chemical filtration media- I am a big fan of carbon and such to help continuously remove potentially problematic substances from the water. Some of you are big fans of using them to keep the "tint" down...gulp. If you are utilizing these media full-time, it's important to recognize that they don't last forever, and that they will eventually stop removing organic substances and simply retain detritus and such, trapping it in their structure, which will function more as a "biological" filtration substrate at some point. Not all that bad, but when you have stuff accumulating in a matrix of carbon, resin, or other water-polishing chemical media, it's just a matter of time before the once helpful chemical media becomes the metaphorical "old broom that attracts "dust bunnies" instead of doing it's job." So if you use these "dream killers" (anything that removes tint falls into this classification in my world, lol), replace them regularly.





Water- "OMG, Fellman, you're bringing THAT up again?"  Yup, I'm going to make you a habitual water changer yet. There is, in my opinion, no single practice, piece of equipment, or routine that you can utilize on your aquarium that will have more positive impact on your aquarium than a water change. We all know this. We do. As I discussed in previous columns in "The Tint", it's not a bad habit to employ smaller, more frequent changes. You can do a small water change right now, and virtually assure yourself that you're doing something beneficial and positive to keep your system running in top form. Closed systems can only export so much dissolved organics without needing to physically remove some of the water on a regular basis. And of course, in our case, it keeps the visible "tint" where you want it, too! There's no time like the present, so why not perform a 3% or 5% water change today? Your fishes will thank you, and I'll get off of your back....at least, for now.

Honorable Mentions:

Your aquascape- Yes, in keeping with the time-honored tradition of changing pretty much everything in the aquarium from time to time, most of you are going to want to shuffle stuff around again at some point. You hate the wood stack or rockwork in your tank. You know you need to do something...It's part of the aquarium- keeping mind set, I think. Even the "pros" seem to not be able to deal with their own 'scapes for indefinite periods of time...If you just can't stand your aquascaping, and you can see a practical as well as aesthetic advantage to doing so (like, the present wood and rock configuration interferes with your flow, maintenance, etc.), then go for it. If you don't, you know it's just going to haunt your mind and aggravate you every time you look at your tank, right? One tip- do it on a day when you're not rushed, have time to contemplate, and are in a generally creative mind set. Otherwise, you're almost guaranteed to have all of the rocks and wood out of your tank and then have some weird psychological ""meltdown- you know, one of those "Omigod, what have I done?!?" moments. Been there-done that.

Botanicals- I know, oddly self-serving,right? However, the reality is that, like everything in our aquariums, they don't last forever, either. As botanical materials (leaves are the obvious example) break down, you can either leave 'em in, add to them, or remove them from your tank. Regardless of the route you take, adding some fresh ones figures in the picture somehow. As we've said a million times before, removing/adding/substituting new botanicals in your tank is absolutely analogous to what happens in nature, where new materials end up in the water as older ones are broken down, swept away by currents, or otherwise removed from the physical environment. Regularly replacing/adding botanicals not only creates a sort of "environmental refresh" on your tank, it gives you a continuous aesthetic "edit" that keeps the aquascape an even more dynamic environment!

Okay, I've sort of gotten this party started...time to hand it off to you brilliant people. What are some changes you can do to your tanks right now that will reap immediate benefits? Let's hear 'em.

As always, thanks for stopping by this morning. Love your family, care for your tanks, and above all...

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics