The Tint

Facing our fears: Some stuff you simply can't afford to ignore...

As fish geeks, we have this incredible "intuition" about stuff, don't we? Not only that, we just know when something bad is going to happen in our aquariums. If you've been in this game long enough, you develop a sort of fishy "sixth sense", and can really tune in on things that affect your tank; your fishes.

You ever get that suspicion that something is just “not right” with your tank? You do a little investigation, and notice that the problem appears to be something minor: The reason your tank looked a bit darker is that the cover glass over your LED pendant was a bit dirty. Easy fix. You wipe it down and move on. 

Sweet.

Of course, for every easy, quickly-solved issue, there are other signs...things that you notice over time and know that you need to address...like, pronto!

Stuff that you kind of "know" could turn into a larger, more serious problem. Stuff you might keep "putting off" because the idea of dealing with it is just too painful, or at the very least- more than you feel like handling at the moment. We all do this. However, you KNOW better. It's time to face your fears directly. These things don't go away on their own...at least, not without extracting a great physical, emotional, and economic cost.

Deal with them now. Please.

Classic examples:

1) That small drip...means something. You regularly notice a bit of dried mineral or an occasional, yet consistent "dampness" near a plumbing connection. It’s obvious that the fit isn’t perfect, and that you have a very small leak. A lot of hobbyists will simply note it and accept this as a “self-curing” problem. It will mineralize and create a natural seal. But isn’t that near-constant leak bothering you? Could it be indicative of a greater problem, or simply an isolated instance of an ill-fitted connection? Who cares! Fix it now, by either re-fitting the section, or utilizing a material like "Rescue Tape" to create a more permanent seal. No time like the present. Over time, “small” leaks can often result in major water damage or other issues for your aquarium and the room in which it resides.

2)  That Sword Plant is declining steadily. It’s apparently the only one in your tank that’s doing poorly. Its started with a hint of algae on the tips...now it's like a "patina" all over, and some of the leaves are showing some "wear and tear." Time to finally roll up your sleeves and take a serious look. You need to take some action- either snipping off large portions of the affected plants, or simply removing it all together. Don't be like me: I tend to sit on this kind of stuff…like, indefinitely…until I have a plant with...no leaves…much to my dismay. Just yank an unhealthy plant out!

3) Getting a handle on your system’s water chemistry is important. Yeah, I know. I’ve went on and on about you not getting obsessive about shooting for specific"numbers" on your test kits. I still believe that firmly. However, I also believe that you need to get an initial “baseline” reading on your environmental parameters. It will make it easier to spot trends- both good and bad- in your aquarium. Test when your tank is looking awesome. This will establish what is “normal” for your system. Obviously, if the condition of your tank starts to decline, you’ve drifted away from what was "ideal" for your system. The same tests conducted at that time will no doubt confirm a few things. Use the differences as a means to determine an acceptable range. In a botanical style blackwater aquarium, there are a lot of moving parts, and you best get a handle on them, without being "handicapped" by "absolutes." Don’t obsess over your TDS being exactly  “X”, or your pH being exactly 6.3, or whatever. Understand that it may fall into a narrow range that is acceptable for your fishes, without disease or other serious consequences occurring. Stability within a range. Understand what the consequences are-both good and bad- for your system when parameters deviate from the "baseline." You can't guess at this stuff. It’s never bad to have information.

4) Is it time for backup? I've been astounded over the years at the sheer amount of money fish geeks will spend assembling a huge dream tank or fish room, and then not take the extra steps to ensure its survival in an emergency. With all of the storms, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters, power interruption is more of a possibility than ever before, and lack of power for even a few hours can doom your expensive and precious collection in some instances. Why would you not protect the investment with a battery backup or backup generator? It may seem like a luxury, but when you take into account just how much time, energy and money you’ve invested into your tanks, spending a several hundred dollars/pounds/euro on a dedicated generator to keep the lights, heat, and circulation going after the power fails just makes sense, doesn’t it? In my opinion, it should be as important a part of your planning as developing the correct stocking program, or purchasing the right lighting system for your aquarium. Consider this from day one of the planning of your next dream tank/fish room. You will not regret it, trust me.

5) That __________ has become a real problem. You've taken a "calculated risk" by adding this guy to your aquarium when you knew- everyone knew- that you shouldn't.  But you nobly pressed on with your plan. It started out okay, but he's gotten a bit too "comfortable" and now considers the whole tank his territory. It's a real problem. Not only is he chasing all of your other fishes around the tank relentlessly, he's digging up your substrate! Removing this fish is going to be almost impossible without tearing apart your tank! It’s gonna suck. What to do? In my opinion, you can do one of two things: Continuously subject your other fishes to disease-causing stress, and watch your pricy fish collection shrink continuously, or you can suck it up, start breaking apart some of your beloved hardscape, and getting the offender out. Wow! That’s pretty radical! You could try fish traps, trying to get the fish out at night…whatever. But in the end, almost inevitably, you’ll end up tearing some or all of your hardscape out to get the fish out before it decimates the tank. It’s always an "ego blow", a disappointment, and a royal pain in the ass. Reality. Of course, the alternative is to watch your other animals suffer continuously. Trust me, after doing this, you’ll never take a “calculated risk” again quite so easily! Unfortunately, it’s a clear cut example of the "..needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few, or the one...” as Mr. Spock would say. Bite the bullet and get him out.

6) The heater seems to be having trouble holding a steady temp. The tank is drifting way more than you’d expect from day/night variations. Perhaps it’s running a bit warmer? If you have a controller, it’s really easy to spot this problem. Regardless, you need to have a backup for critical components like heaters and system pumps. These things don’t have infinite life spans, as you may have surmised. Even the best ones can fail. It's a simple reality. Build items like a backup main system pump and backup heaters into your overall budget when you build your system. Yeah, forgo that one extra crazy rare wild Discus pair and have these backups in your closet “just in case.” Usually, the “just in case” seems to come at night. On a holiday weekend. During a snowstorm. Right after you paid that huge roofing repair bill. ‘Nuff said.

7) You have a life. You travel a lot, work hard, and are simply not always around. On occasion, you’ll need to entrust your tank to someone else. Maybe that person is an experienced aquarist if you’re lucky. Maybe you have a controller that will at least tip you off to a failure. Maybe not. Maybe, you’ll have to talk that person through some sort of emergency procedure from thousands of miles away. You can make the process somewhat less dramatic and daunting by taking just a few steps. First, make sure that you label every plumbing connection, every power cord, every switch, and every piece of equipment. This may seem insanely time consuming, but it just might save your aquarium or entire fish room if you need a rapid response from someone who isn't  familiar with it. Trust me, there are few things more difficult than trying to simultaneously diagnose a problem from a distance, while telling the person taking care of your tank which valve to turn, or which cord to disconnect. It’s one of those projects that you can do as you set up your system that will pay potential dividends when you need it the most.

Okay, so I’ve given you my top seven things that I don’t think you can ignore. You must have dozens more, no doubt! It’s part of being an aquarium hobbyist- solving problems. Or in the case of some of these things- identifying them BEFORE they become serious problems!

Let’s hear some of your favorite aquarium-related things that you simply cannot afford to ignore. Please share, so that we can all add your experiences to ours! The tank you save might just be your own!

Until next time..

Stay vigilant. Stay observant. Stay confident. Stay prepared.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Just can't get enough....

If you're like me, you love talking to and reading about other hobbyists, and seeing how they do stuff. I love to sort of "peek in" on other "worlds" in which I may not operate. I not only gain some knowledge, but I pick up ideas that could be applied to whatever I happen to be working on at the time...

For example, I love reading forums on livebearers, in particular, the wild ones. I Love the work these people are doing; how they're managing some endangered populations of fishes, and seeing how they use their insanely good fish keeping skill to maintain and breed some of the more unusual varieties. Man, if I could just find one fro ma blackwater habitat....I can spend hours on the American Livebearer Association forums, just seeing how they roll. I love the technique, care levels, and ideas they share.

And I haven't kept a livebearer in years.

But I'd like to.

And what about the African Cichlid keepers? I love perusing websites and forums that cater to this section of the hobby. The cool thing to me is that there are so many different  subspecialties within the African Cichlid world, that there is something for everyone. Like, the Lake Tanganyika people alone have shell-dweller specialists, and others who work with fishes from the sandy or muddy bottom environments (one of those obscure, yet irresistible niches that I can't help but be fascinated by!), and all sorts of pelagic and even benthic varieties to work with.

Yeah, if I were doing African Cichlids, I'd be a "Lake Tang" guy for sure.

And of course, one can't leave the cichlid world without taking a glance at the Biotodoma cupido...one of my fave "Eartheaters"- another fish I'd love to invite into my home for a while. I don't know why the idea of a sandy-bottomed aquarium with some wood, rocks, and a few hefty botanicals appeals to me so much...I suppose something about sand from my reef keeping background or something, right? I have kept these fish before in an aquarium that really wasn't set up just for them, yet I have this fantasy of a nicely-filtered setup with reasonably clear water and a mixed bed of sand for them to do their "benthophagous- lifestyle" thing... 

Wow. So many varied ideas...so many different types of fishes and habitats for just cichlids...one could easily spend a lifetime playing with all of the different ones out there, huh? They could easily take me out of my blackwater realm into entirely different directions... And seeing what others have done to accommodate the diversity of this family really inspired me...For some reason, Mike Tuccinardi's Rio Xingu biotope aquarium does this to me! There is something extremely compelling about this tank that has grabbed me like few others that I've seen lately! 

I love the idea of taking inspiration from- but maybe not being completely "biotopically obsessive"-about different types of habitats or niches, incorporating different types of fishes. It's just another avenue for my fishy obsessions...

So, that's why I have this fantasy about keeping some of the more obscure gouramis and wild Bettas...I mean, you've got small, interestingly-colored blackwater-loving fishes that are remarkably unique and as fascinating as the environments from which they come.

I could just imagine a small, interestingly- appointed blackwater tank, replete with lots of leaves and roots and palm fronds, and all kinds of stuff- with a little community of some diminutive gouramis or other anabantoid fishes...Just managing a tank like this would be fun in and of itself..but working with almost any of the cool fishes that inhabit this type of habitat could become a whole different obsession....

Speaking of obsessions, I've sort of had this off-again/on-again fascination throughout my lifetime with killifishes. The colors, size, lifestyle, and spawning habits of these fishes are obsession-inducing in and of themselves.

There is something altogether fascinating about keeping fishes that are from such obscure, yet highly specific locales as to have names like "Aphyosemion Calliurum Funge ADL 2013/39!" Yeah, and there is something only the initiated can grasp about packing up some peat fibers filled with annual killifish eggs- little time travelers- and packaging them up for hatching 9-12 months later. It's a very "romantic" process, when you think about it. Think of how much your life- or the world, for that matter- can change in 9-10 months while you incubate these eggs in a plastic sandwich bag, or the fact that some of these eggs are "programmed" not to hatch during that time span; only to remain in incubation for...years, potentially...wow!

When you think about all of the different fishes that we as aquarists keep, admire, and breed, it's truly remarkable. There are "experts" and "specialists" for virtually everything we keep. It's as much a tribute to the "spell" that fishes hold over us as it is the skill of those who play with them. I suppose that's why it's always a good thing that many beginners start with the venerable "community tank", and ultimately find out their obsessions and start specializing in them...Kind of like the "General Education" classes you have to take in your first year of college- you often need to try a variety of fishes and aquarium types before ultimately arriving at the one- or 100- types of fishes that grab your fancy!

There is almost no reason to be bored or "burned out" on this hobby. I've spent a lifetime playing with fishes, personally and professionally, and I have yet to be "done" with them in any way. Oh, sure, the interests flip-flop or evolve over time, with different fishes occupying my "I'm obsessed" list- but it's always SOME fish- SOME new tank idea...something that piques the interest, compels me. And I know it's the same with most of you.

This hobby, this interest...this obsession- with fishes and the habitats from which they come, is not just something you can set up a tank for and be satisified, IMHO. I think the true fish geek is simply never "done" with this stuff. Sure, tastes may change, levels of commitment may wax and wane- but we always come back and try something else. It's the reason 50-100 tank fish rooms exist...

Because we just can't let it go...we can stop "iterating" ideas, or trying new stuff. Even the most hardcore, focused "guppy gal" or "cichlid guy" has a tank full of...Rainbowfishes, or whatever- lurking somewhere in their vast fish room collection.

Yeah, it's an obsession, isn't it? With thousands of species possibilities, and hundreds of sub-specialities within the various families of fishes, there is literally a fish for everyone- at every skill level- with almost any interest.

Guess it's time for another tank...or should I say, "tanks?"

Stay obsessed. Stay engaged. Stay fascinated.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Diets, food resources, and the value of "feeding abstinence?"

Much has been discussed about the proper foods feed our fishes, and lots of anecdotal and other evidence and theories have been bandied about by hobbyists for decades about who eats what and where. It's one of the more interesting and intruiging topics of discussion we have as hobbyists, in my opinion, and there are so many factors which contribute to "who eats what" among the fishes that we keep in our aquariums.

Some of the most interesting food sources for tropical to me involve what scientists call allochthonous input, such as plant materials and terrestrial insects. And even more interesting are organisms like "tree-living sponges", which become part of the food chain during higher water periods of time in the intruiging Amazonian streams we obsess about so much here.

And of course, there's algae.

Now, the interesting thing to me is that the fishes in blackwater, leaf-litter habitats depend little on algae as a primary food-mainly because there's not a whole lot of it in these habitats. They'll eat the stuff when it's available, but because algal densities are lsol ow in this type of habitat, fewer creatures (Pseudopalaemon sp. shrimp are an exception) consume algae as their primary food source.

And, with varying seasonal water levels in these streams, food inputs and fish populations change in both size and composition, creating a sort of "partitioning" of available resources.

Many fish species take food from what are known as "allochthonous sources" (i.e. food originated from sources outside the aquatic habitat), such as insects, other invertebrates, and plant parts that fall from the nearby trees. Like, remember seeing films of Pacus chowing on fruits that fall in the water? I've even seen pics of Arowanna leaping out of the water to pluck a frog off of a branch! And then, of course, there are terrestrial insects, which form a large part of the diet of many fishes.

Yeah, terrestrial insects are a very important and significant part of the diet of some small characins. In fact, a study of some Hemmigramus species indicated that a whopping 96% of their stomach contents were terrestrial insects, mainly...ants!  This is actually not surprising, when you think about it, because ants are ridiculously abundant in tropical forests, and in particular in the central Amazon basin, where scientific surveys have estimated that they may constitute as much as three-quarters of the biomass of the soil fauna!

In addition to providing a potentially rich source of energy for Characins, ants tend to become vulnerable to predation once in the water, so they are "easy pickings" for tetras! The predominance of ants in the gut content analysis of Hemmigramus, Hypessobrycon, and other tetras may also indicate that these species feed naturally on the surface of the water, given that these insects tend to float and flail away on the surface after falling into the water.

The "allochthonous inputs" of tropical streams are really fascinating to me, for the reason that these are some of the easiest food items in many fishes's diets for us to replicate as naturally as possible. We've discussed before that items like Blood Worms represent an excellent, highly "realistic" representation of the insect larvae that fishes from these habitats consume.

Since items like ants and various flies are such an important component of the diet of many fishes, including things like fruit flies, small houseflies, and the aforementioned small ants in your fishes' diets is actually a really realistic representation of part of what they consume in the wild!

And then there are fungi, biofilms, and detritus...The literal bottom of the food chain; some of the things we as aquarists have traditionally found the least desirable from an aesthetic standpoint to have in our tanks. Ironically, these are some of the most important components of the food web, and are consumed by a wide variety of aquatic life forms that live in these streams as part of their diet. Again, only certain shrimp present in these waters are more likely to consume them exclusively; however, fishes, being somewhat opportunistic, will consume them "as needed."

And gee, don't we have some good "on site production" of biofilms and fungi in our decomposing leaves and botanicals? Yeah, we sure do! We're really good at that. Many fishes will consume these items as a part of their daily "grazing" activities. Now, our aquarium fishes get a bit spoiled, especially after being with us for a while and knowing that they're never more than a few hours away from stuff like brine shrimp and black worms, etc. However, I can't help but imagine if there is some value to abstaining from feeding them prepared foods say, once a week, to let them sort of engage in their natural, instinctive feeding habits, like picking at the substrate, etc. In a botanical-style aquarium, this type of "feeding abstinence" could easily be achieved, right?

The man who brought darkness into the land..and what we can learn from him.

I was in my office the other day, winding my afternoon down, when I fielded a message from a customer...Not all that unusual, as I love talking to fellow hobbyists. It's the best part about working in this industry! However, after a few minutes, it became painfully obvious that the person I was talking to was no hobbyist.

He was a fish killer, plant terminator...a stubborn, impatient, obnoxious, and ungrateful- yeah, I said ungrateful- person who simply had no clue- no desire- to apply even the most basic tenets of aquarium husbandry to any aspect of his practices. To him, the "hobby" was simply acquiring stuff, putting it where he wanted it to achieve some desired "effect", and then expecting some sort of spontaneous miracle to happen. Tropical fish were simply a piece of decor- an accessory for his home. And the fact that they required some basic level of care and compassion was simply lost on him in his quest to achieve the look that he wanted.

Honestly, in all the years I've been involved and active in the aquatic hobby and industry, I've never encountered a more callous, downright despicable person. He was downright ANGRY- He was calling me (as he had other vendors) to get an explanation why he couldn't keep  a combination of fishes alive in his tank. He wanted some Discus in his 60 gallon "show tank"- he wanted to keep 14 of them. Fourteen! 

Fourteen very expensive, very rare wild specimens.

His "understanding" was that botanicals would "create the proper environment for them" and was extremely irritated when I suggested that they could enhance environmental conditions in an aquarium which met the basic needs of the fishes, and that careful monitoring of the environment would be necessary. He dangled "hundreds of dollars of business" in front of me, as if he could "buy my approval" for his absurd aspirations with a few bucks. He wanted something that would make up for an overcrowded, improperly equipped, questionably managed system. Set and forget.

And he wanted my blessings. Someone's blessings. ANYONE'S blessings on this stupid project.

Now, you know from my writings and concepts here at Tannin that we're all about pushing the limits with things, in terms of new concepts, responsible experiments, and unusual executions- but this wasn't any of the above. It was a stubborn, ill-advised, illogical plan. Someone who, if you could label him as a "hobbyist"- certainly had an agenda that he wanted to make work- regardless of consequence. He had such a stubbornness and air of hubris about him that it actually was making me mad. And if you know me, it takes a lot to get me mad...

After me explaining to him my rationale for starting with far fewer fish and carefully monitoring the water chemistry, he abruptly terminated the conversation at about the 15-minute mark. He essentially told me that I and the other people he talked to were "intentionally making something that should be pleasant, untenable..."

I had to laugh through my horror.

"On to the next vendor..." No doubt resonating in his head.

Now, this is just another one of those "Can you believe people?" articles, right?

Well, maybe. But I think that it benefitted me to think through exactly what it was that created this attitude in the first place. And moreover, to understand the awesome responsibility we have as hobbyists to stand up to these kinds of people and attempt to educate them.

I don't know if the guy was a stubborn person, used to getting his way with everything, or if he simply felt that nature's laws didn't apply to him. I've seen this kind of behavior in people before, and quite honestly, it's never found in people who are serious hobbyists. It seems to me that the serious tropical fish enthusiast, although sometimes biased or opinionated, doesn't go out of his/her way to skirt the basic tenants of human fish treatment simply to suit some passing fancy. Serious fish enthusiasts don't "commoditize" life forms, at least this is the impression I get after several decades i the hobby.

It goes without saying that I think we need to consistently impart into our "tribe" the pursuit and understanding of basic aquarium principles, like the nitrogen cycle, environmental stability, and husbandry of the animals in our care. I think that the biggest reason we see people like this guy appear is that they are drawn to the hobby, perhaps like many of us- by the stunning visuals of beautiful aquariums. We saw this a lot on the marine side, where the brightly colored corals and fishes were like a magnet to the uninitiated. Most people, when confronted with the realities of owning and managing a reef tank, understood that education and responsibility came with the territory. However, there were always a few- like this guy- who simply wanted to get to the finished product.

And the industry, of course, has solutions. Aquarium design, installation, and maintenance services. Lots of dedicated people do this for a living. The good ones aren't as obsessed with the dollar signs as they are with doing the right thing, and simply paint the picture that, "You can have most of what you want, but there are tradeoffs..." The best of the best will simply "fire" a client who insists on doing things that are in defiance of nature's laws. Awkward scenarios may play out for these brave professionals, but at least they can sleep at night.

In the end, monsters like this guy start because they don't go beyond the superficial, and don't feel obligated to do anything more than pay for the privilege of owning an aquarium and the animals which reside within. And you could probably make the case that, "Who are WE to judge?" My answer: We- all of us- are the guardians- the "stewards", if you will, of precious life forms, and we owe it to them- to nature- to do the best that we can to take care of the fishes under our care as long as possible. It's not that difficult a concept to grasp for most of us. So, we kind of need to "judge" a bit. And educate, inform, nurture our fellow hobbyists.

Hell, if this guy showed even one gram of compassion and a desire to understand the needs of his animals and the reasons why his plan wouldn't work, he'd have had my respect, and I would have perhaps been able to reach him.

Perhaps.

However, there are millions of reasonable people out there. And a bunch of them want to start an aquarium. And some of them may ask you for some advice.Indulge them. Help them. Coddle and nurture them. Appreciate them.

And to you and your family- have a wonderful day.

Stay compassionate. Stay focused. Stay appreciative.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Something old, something new...? Continuing the romance of the aquarium hobby.

I was in my LFS earlier this week; something I love to do.  As I perused the many tanks, one of the cool discoveries I made was a tank full of some Epiplatys annulatus, the tiny little killifish often called the "Rocket Killie" by hobbyists. It's not exactly "rare", in the sense that you never see it; however, it's not the most common fish that you'd expect to find at your LFS: Although it has pleasing colors and typical Epiplatys behaviors...You know, like lurking in plants or glued right to the surface...anywhere that it's maximum "pain-in-the-ass visual" location. Oh, and they're like .75" (1.9cm) long...not exactly show-stopping in stature.

Yet, I thought to myself, "What a remarkable thing to see!"  This was fish that I read about as a killie fan for years, back in my pre-teen AKA-member days. It had a certain element of mystery and awe attached to it. Not easy to breed or rear, and fairly difficult to obtain..It was one you'd either have to purchase from a specialized breeder as fish or eggs, sight unseen, and in small quantities...and here was this fish; available by the dozen- in a tank at my LFS.  I mean, seeing any killifish in the LFS was and is always sort of exciting to me. Seeing THIS one was just plain crazy!

Three tanks over was the "Purple Emperor Tetra", Inpaichtys kerri, a fish that was discovered when I was a kid; I remember reading about it in Tropical Fish Hobbyist (yeah, my parents bought me a subscription when I was 11 years old. They knew.). It was a big deal back in the late 70's/early eighties...a sexy new version of the Emperor Tetra. Well, not a new "version", actually...I believe one of the distinguishing characteristics is the presence of an adipose fin, which is lacking in the "classic"  Nematobrycon palmeri. It made quite a splash in the magazines, and was a real collector's fish. Since then, it's been captive bred by the "ga-jillion", and the price is super reasonable. 

It just sort of made me reflect on the state of the hobby.

I mean, nowadays, it's not just easy to purchase a classic fish like the Pristella. You need to choose if you want the regular, albino, gold, or even a long-finned variant! This is really crazy...in fact, I remember looking for that fish not long ago, and it was actually hard to find the "basic" species; it was superseded by the many captive-bred variations available! What a switch, huh?

And the Danios, like the Leopard and Zebra, are available in all sorts of captive-bred variations to the point where I think there is probably almost no market demand for the "regular-finned" versions. Actually, a bit alarming, and somewhere I hope some hobbyists are taking note of this as well, and keeping/breeding the "OG" versions of these fish before they are utterly forgotten; even lost to the hobby altogether!

I suppose it was my early 1970's little kid indoctrination into the hobby, reading my dad's vintage late 60's collection of aquarium books, which got me excited and romantic about the "classic" fishes and blown away by the intriguing variations that I was seeing now. I think reading this book and others that were sort of "vintage"- written in a time when everything was so amazing and new and exciting and...exotic- really set the tone for how I looked -and continue to look at- the fishes we keep. It IS sort of romantic and cool, huh?  I mean, just in my lifetime, a lot of fishes went from being newly discovered, nearly unobtainable, or elusive at best, to being available as captive-bred variants by the million-"staples" in the trade! 

In a way, the very fact that it's difficult to obtain the "original" versions of some classic fishes makes things even more romantic! Strange, but true, when you think about it.

And of course, don't even get me started on the previously unusual fishes available in their "natural" versions that are now commonplace in most well-stocked local fish stores. Fishes like the "Threadfin Rainbow", which has always had a certain "allure" to it- yet it's commonly seen at shops nowadays!

And there is another thing that us romantic aquarist-types notice: Some  of these "classic" fishes, by virtue of them being perhaps more difficult or impractical to breed at scale, still come in from the wild, and still are sort of "aspirational" and smile-inducing when they arrive, like the Marbled Hatchetfish, Carnegiella strigata- one of those fishes which, in my opinion, will always put the "exotic" in the term "tropical fish!"

Of course, then there is the fascinating influx of "Wild Bettas" we see now...lotso f cool species that were previously relegated to Asian mud holes and the tanks of super-specialized breeders are now coming into the mainstream.

"Wild" -yet not because that many are freely-imported- but "wild" because they are not the "pampered poodle-type" domesticated show variants we see in every pet shop in the world.

And that makes them super cool..and yeah- a bit romantic, too.

And being a romantic, I cannot help but also lament a bit, the sort of "loss of mystery" I feel every time I see the words "captive bred" in front of my all-time favorite fish, the Black Ghost Knifefish, Apteronotus albifrons - for years my personal "Poster child" for "Coolest, most amazing fish ever!" For so many reasons: The story behind its name; the incredibly cool tale surrounding Fred Cochu's first capture and importation of this fish into the hobby, and even Axelrod's brief, perhaps sort of unintentionally (?) ethnically demeaning, but really impactful description of the fish in his classic "Exotic Tropical Fishes"- part of which I will never forget: "...The South American natives believe the ghosts of their departed ancestors take up residence in the fish, and refuse to disturb it..." and the oddly juxtaposed (yet correct!) description of it as a "...peaceful, friendly fish.."

I'll always feel this way about that fish.

And there will always be some fish which, although more and more available, are simply not all that common in the trade for a variety of reasons...like my "bestie", Crenuchus spilurus- the "Sailfin Tetra", which first captured my fantasy as a 7-year-old scanning the well-worn Innes book, stumbling upon the compelling black-and-white pic of this truly exotic and mysterious fish, and vowing to one day keep it. It wasn't until several decades later (Yikes! Dating myself here) that I actually finally owned some...and guess what? The thrill was as strong as ever! You know how it feels, I'll bet: When you finally acquire that fish you've been musing about for so long, it's a very sweet thing!

 And then, finally, there is always that "thing" that keeps many of us going. The romance and thrill of finding a "mislabeled" or "nondescript" fish in the "Any fish in this tank, $2.99" aquarium, or whatever- that just happens to be some undescribed Apisto, rare, yet grey-brown (I Love your article series in Amazonas online, Matt Pedersen!)  characin that's simply "by-catch", or a  Hyphessobrycon rosaceus mislabeled as a "Candy Cane Tetra...Or maybe finding the seemingly incongruously-named "Costello Tetra", Hemigrammus hyanuary (I mean, why not just call it the "Hyanuary Tetra" once and for all and be done with it? )... 

And, have you ever noticed how excited we get when someone posts a pic of the "real deal" version of a fish? I think we all sot of get this. We may not want to admit to being as unabashedly romantic and "gushy" as I do- but we all get this.

This is the stuff that fuels the fire, continues the romance...

Stuff like wild Discus, which serve to remind us that nature did a pretty damn good job for eons without our selective breeding and bare tanks.

Romance. straight up.

It's part of the reason I took my now-legendary hiatus from the reef world, to return to my first love in freshwater...The "romance" sort of got lost in that world, sandwiched somewhere between the latest protein skimmer variation, hyper-tuned LED, and rampant Facebook overhyped, overpriced, phony-ass microchip coral-frag auctions...The romance is sort of lost in that world. And that's sad.  Perhaps I can help bring it back one day. We'll see.

Our world- this world- the massive, truly exotic, wonderfully segmented, still-ripe for innovation world of the freshwater aquarium- the world where I know I feel most at home- is truly amazing. It's filled with it's own challenges and absurdities, too. However, it's also filled with promise, aspirations, new and exciting developments, discoveries and yes- adulations of old friends, and a rich, varied, historical "culture" that builds on traditions- and hopefully, eschews and challenges some of them. And through it al.l, it never fails to inspire, excite, and yes- provide that special "romance" that makes this the greatest hobby on earth.

I sure hope somewhere there is a 7-year-old, leafing through her dad's copies of Amazonas, TFH, or PFK, and wondering...dreaming...

Stay excited. Stay compelled. Stay engaged. Stay...romantic.

And above all...

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

"Any old leaf..."

As more and more of us expand into the botanical, blackwater aquarium world, it's only proper that more and more of us experiment with different things. Being both a "power user" and vendor of botanicals, I certainly consider myself fairly well-versed on a lot of this stuff (okay, as "well-versed" as one can be about adding "twigs and nuts" to his aquarium!). And, like you, I enjoy a good experiment or two, particularly when it comes to trying new botanical items for use in our aquariums!

I am often approached by hobbyists who found "such and such" a tree or bush in their yard, or while on vacation in Florida, or wherever, or from some other vendor, and ask me if the seed pods, roots, or leaves are suitable for use in aquariums. And honestly, most of the time, I give the same answer if I have not used the item in question:

"I don't know."

I get it. Hardly befitting on an answer from a guy who makes his living selling botanical items for use in aquariums, but it's the truth. There are around 400,000 described plant species in the world, and an average of 2,000 new species are described each year. I'm a fish geek, not a botanist, so understanding the physical/chemical/environmental impact of almost any plant is "beyond my pay grade", as they say! I can only speak in general terms. To assert otherwise would simply be irresponsible.

When we started Tannin, we had a good working knowledge of playing with some of these items in aquatic environments. Catappa (Indian Almond) leaves had been used for decades by fish people to impart tannins and humic substances into the water, as had guava and a few other leaves.

Now, it just so happens that Catappa has been studied pretty extensively by science, and it's generally acknowledged that there are some beneficial substances contained in the leaves and bark, many of which are known generally to have potentially medicinal properties. Now, keep in mind that these substances are present to protect the tree from fungi, bacteria, and parasites, so it's a bit of a leap when aquarists immediately extoll the virtues of them as fish remedies. Flavonoids, such as Quercetin and Kaempferol, which are abundant in Catappa, apparently have anti-inflammatory and possibly even anti-cancer affects, and anecdotally have been determined to be beneficial to fishes. I did come across a laboratory study from the Fisheries Ministry in Malaysia that determined catappa extract to be useful as a remedy and/or prophylactic for some fish diseases, so that vindicated some of the "anecdotal" stuff, in my mind.

You see tons of vaguely-worded articles on the purported "medicinal" properties of Catappa, typically on sites that, well- sell the leaves. And typically, they're muddy and filled with all of the wonderful marketing hyperbole and claims about their wonders that compounds the myths that are unfortunately so abundant in the aquarium world about this stuff.

We steer clear of this kind of vagueness, and rather, choose to focus on their use as aquascaping materials and as a means to impart tannins and humic substances from their tissues into the aquarium water, creating the visual tint and impacting some of its environmental parameters. Those are typically not disputable, with the exception of to what extent they do this.

And of course, we're ultra geeky about this, and that's why we offer what could only be described as "varietal" Catappa. I mean, where else can you find Terminalia kaerenbachii or T. litoralis? Yeah we geek out hard. 

And its the same with many botanical items you find in nature. Let's face it, most trees and plants have leaves, bark and seed pods which contain tannins and humic substances. To what extent, may only be determined by careful laboratory analysis- something most of us are simply not equipped, educated, or prepared to do. Some may prove toxic to aquatic and other animal life if consumed, steeped, or otherwise utilized in the aquarium. 

I can't tell you if that cool seed pod you found on holiday in Ibiza or your hiking trip in The Appalachians is going to nuke your Geophagus tank. I can only tell you how we'd approach it: Try to research what you can (there's this crazy cool site, g-o-o-g-l-e, and they have all sorts of information you can look up!), and...experiment with what you consider "expendable" (gulp- I cringe even saying that...) fishes in a reasonably controlled setting. Yeah, "experiment." Risk. Chance. It's not for everyone, but if you want to use "any old seed pod" or leaf, you'll need to experiment  for yourself to know for sure. 

I can tell you that very single botanical item which we offer has been tested- and fairly extensively- in our own aquariums, and in those of some of our friends- with our own precious fishes. It's the best way, IMHO.  We didn't just wake up one day and decide to create a business because we found some cool acorns in a tree down the street. We spent years playing with this stuff. And guess what? We've killed a few fishes- very few- along the way. But we have killed some. And it wasn't just because the botanicals used were somehow "poisonous"...it was usually because we pushed it, in terms of numbers of stuff added, using the materials without preparing, or just added too much too quickly. Even with "safe" stuff, as we've discussed many times here- you can push too hard too fast, and create potentially tragic outcomes for your aquariums. 

You have to prep, add slowly, and observe. We say this over and over to the point where you're probably sick of hearing it- but we'll keep saying it. No matter what you use, where you obtain it from- or what anyone- even myself- says. Every aquarium, every fish, every situation is different, and the possible outcomes are always subject to lots of variables. Natural materials can sometimes have unpredictable results. It's as simple as that. Anytime you add anything to your closed aquatic environment, "stuff" can happen. It's reality, as you know. Some fishes, like Apistos, are very sensitive to changes in their environment, and even with "safe" botanicals, you need to go slowly when adding them to an established aquarium.

Now, after a while, like anything else, you sort of get a "feel" for what can and cannot work. You'll look at a seed pods or whatever and have a sort of hunch, test them, and be very pleasantly surprised. Other times, you'll be shocked that the seemingly innocuous leaves you just added to your test tank have the fishes gasping at the surface. You just can't be sure until you test it yourself. 

Or, of course, you can get your botanical stuff from us or some other reputable source and have a little peace of mind, knowing that we at least use the stuff regularly in our own tanks after a lot of testing. I've even seen a few  Tannin "knock offs" pop up online lately, and that's cool. Check them out, for sure. Although I sometimes can't help but wonder, based on many of their "parallel" offerings, if all they did was try to source some of the stuff we offer and simply sell it at a lower price or whatever.

Like, we did the risky groundwork, and they figured it was all safe, lol.

Well, I suppose I can't blame them for adopting this "strategy." Yet I can't help but wonder...The reality is that just dumping "any old leaf or pod" into your aquarium carries some risk to it, and that cool decorative gourd you saw at the craft store, for example, may or may not be coated, varnished, or otherwise chemically preserved with material that can easily wipe out your tank. A "bargain" is no "bargain" when your precious fish are lying dead at the bottom of your tank.

I suppose it's in our hobbyist "DNA" to want to find shortcuts, "hacks", workarounds...whatever. And that's fine. If you accept the potential risks that go with it.

There's a reason why we offer what we do, and why we obtain our botanicals from the people we do. It's why we aren't rolling out new things every single day. It takes time to source, test, and observe them in use. We test them extensively with our fishes before we'd ever think of making them available for yours. We know how they are collected and handled. We've gotten to know our global suppliers personally, which is awesome!  It took a few years. We know what to expect from them. And yeah, you might find find stuff cheaper, but I don't know for sure if you can find it safer, or backed up by lots of testing and free information on its use and preparation.

That being said, if you're fortunate enough to have a nice oak tree or whatever near by, go for it- test those leaves and if they are not harmful, use them in your aquariums! Chances are, it's totally fine. This is the fun part of playing with botanicals! There is a lot of DIY potential here. But you have to take the risk. 

(White Oak. Pic by Msact, used under CC BY-S.A. 3.0)

And it's worth it to me, when you can create an amazing, natural-looking-and-performing habitat for your fishes. You may just want to wait until someone else has done the groundwork, and that's totally cool, too.

So, if you see that cool seed pod, leaf, or piece of wood on your next hike, and think to yourself, "Gee, that would look killer in my Apisto tank!"- Go for it...but only after you weigh the risks, prepare the item for use, and test it carefully.

It's a very enjoyable, alluring, and fascinating part of the hobby, if you take the proper steps to minimize risk.

Stay adventurous. Stay curious. Stay excited.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The process and the "destination"...one in the same? And what's the big hurry?

After a number of years playing with botanicals in a large number of aquariums, there are a few things I've noticed that are almost "constants." One of them is that we LOVE to scheme, build, set up, scape, and populate new tanks. We add stuff, nurture it, make modifications, and just work it. We typically do this over extended periods of time. I've taken to using the (arguably inappropriate and decidedly "marketing-hyperbole-sounding" term, "evolving." 

I think it's a pretty good descriptor, but I can understand if some of you wince when you see that term used in this context...

The other day, I was perusing a forum post (yeah, I do that in my infinite free time...) from a guy who had recently switched over his lighting on his planted aquarium to LED’s, and was sharing pics and some comments about his results. The plants looked beautiful, and obviously were healthy, colorful, and growing. And this was a guy that was a hardcore T5 user for many years (man, I made that sound like he was on heroin or something, huh?), and decided to make the "big switchover" on his tank to LEDs. Among the many questions he fielded from fellow hobbyists were numerous, repeated inquiries about how fast his plants grew under the LEDs. 

I mean, I suppose it’s a fair question, right? People want to know what to expect. However, to me, it seemed oddly strange for home aquarium hobbyists to be so incredibly preoccupied with the idea of growing plants so quickly. I'd say 80% of the questions on this thread revolved around the concern of how fast stuff grew. In the commercial side, on the other hand, in addition to color and health, we are all about growing fishes, corals and plants as quickly as possible so that we can "bring them to market" in a relatively short period of time. In the coral propagation sector, we constantly had to think of economies of scale, operating costs, etc., so speed was important. That makes sense.

However, these were hobbyist inquiries, and I thought to myself why “quick” growth was so important. (I suppose if you're thinking about the relationship of plant growth to nuisance algae, in a highly fertilized environment, there could be an assumption that fast growth takes a more important role...but why not just back down on fertilizing, right?) In my tanks, I certainly don't complain about rapid growth- especially when you start with tiny fishes, like I do- but the main goals are good color, morphology, long-term health, then growth. Yeah, when you’re starting with a juvenile fish, microchip-sized plant cutting or coral frag, you want to see it grow and fill in fairly quickly. I can get that. However, I really want to see the thing look nice and THRIVE, too. And I think you do, too, right?

So why does our "default" always seem to be, "How do I get there quickly...?" It's not just in planted aquariums, either.

I wonder if it has to do with some inherent "impatience" that we have as hobbyists- or perhaps as Homo sapiens in general: A desire to see the "finished product" as soon as possible; something like that. Provides us some "closure" or something. A goal. A "finish line" that is a tangible destination for us? And there is nothing at all wrong with that, I suppose. I just kind of wonder what the big rush is? I guess, when we view an aquarium in the same context as a home improvement project, meal preparation, or algebra test, I can see how "rapid growth" would take on a greater significance! 

On the other hand, if you look at an aquarium as you would a garden- an organic, living, evolving, growing entity- then the need to see the thing “finished” becomes much less important. Suddenly, much like a “road trip”, the destination becomes less important than the journey.

The process. It’s about the experiences gleaned along the way. Enjoyment of the developments, the process. It begs the question:  Is there even a “finish line” to an aquarium?

We see our customers and fellow "tint enthusiasts" evolving their aquariums every day, slowly adding new botanicals, tweaking hardscape, replacing leaves, carefully placing new fishes into the mix..and just letting natural processes of decomposition, growth, and life- do their thing. It's a process- one in which many derive as much enjoyment from watching the "evolution" as they do seeing a "finished product"- although we still don't know what that is in this context, huh? 

Which brought me into one of my typical philosophical ponderings. I mean, to most hobbyists, I wonder what’s more important? Rapid growth, daily appearance, or some other factor? And why? I suppose if I ask 100 hobbyists, I’ll receive 100 different answers, but I am more curious about the prevailing attitudes among our community here, as we take a different sort of outlook than many in the "general" hobby world.

And, to add to the equation, there is the simple, but inescapable fact that an aquarium-planted, hardcscaped, blackwater/botanical, African Cichlid, brackish, or otherwise- can be a real pain in the ass sometimes- challenging us and testing our skills, patience, commitment, desire, and oh- yeah- our finances! It’s never as easy as just starting up an aquarium, doing “A-B-C-D” and ending up with this killer system. There are all sorts of challenging twists and turns along the way. And really,  that's not so bad, right? What fun would it be anyways if you just start it up and it's all roses..if that’s all that there was to it, right?

So, to get back to the spirit of my original question... Is an aquarium ever really “done?” Is there some point of finality when you just say, “Okay, I don’t want to change anything, add anything, take out anything?” Is this even possible? Could you hit that point? Would you want that? I mean, when there is nothing more to do but change water, tweak a few gadgets, and feed, is it still an enjoyable hobby to you? (not looking at that with awe or disdain, just asking, lol) Is THAT a hobby in and of itself? Further, have you EVER actually gotten a tank to that stage? 

The reality, as most of us grasp, is that an aquarium is not a static entity, and will continue to encompass life, death, and everything in between for as long as it’s in existence. In fact, planted tanks, reef tanks, botanical-stye aquariums, and other systems require some form of "active management" throughout heir operational lifetimes. It goes with the territory. It's not "set and forget, by any means. And it's kind of fun to be involved, anyways, right?

Yet, what is it that really happens in a truly “mature” aquarium that separates it from those "in process?" Or is there a difference? What factors come into play? There might be some competition between plants or fishes that results in one or more species dominating all of the rest…or does diversity continue to win, with lots of plants and other life forms eking out an existence in your artificial microcosm, just as they have managed to do for eons in nature?

I’d especially like to hear from hobbyists that have had an aquarium running for a really extended period of time, like 10 years, 15 years…or longer.

Deep questions, huh? But interesting ones, nonetheless, aren’t they?

Discuss.

Until next time…

Stay Wet

Scott Fellman 

Tannin Aquatics 

More ideas than tanks...How fish rooms get started!

I'm sort of struggling with this common thing we have as fish keepers: All of these ideas and not enough tanks. The desire to set up more aquariums is a very real desire!

A while back, I was fortunate enough to have a fish geek experience that really made me sit back and think about this crazy hobby of ours in a whole new light. I attended a meeting of a local club in the midwestern U.S. (Yeah, in February! It was a bit colder than L.A. in February...LOL), and got to stay at the home of a dedicated hobbyist and his very serious fish room! What was that I wrote, a fish room? You got it. A room filled with dozens of aquariums of varying sizes (freshwater and saltwater!), dedicated to the study, care, breeding- and sheer joy of fish keeping.

Fish rooms used to be a lot more common in the hobby. Serious hobbyists thought nothing of filling their basements, garages, and extra bedrooms with lots and lots of aquariums. It seems that in the last few years, the fish room has gone the way of the VCR- a once pervasive device that seemed to just fade away . Unlike the VCR, technology did not force the idea of a fishroom into retirement. Rather, technology has benefitted the hobby immensely, making it easier than ever before for a hobbyist to create his or her own little nerve center to practice the state of the art in aquarium keeping with several aquariums.

Yet, for some reason, the multiple aquarium fish room was starting to become a thing of the past for a while there. However, with all of the new focus on fish breeding, it seems like we’re starting to see a big resurgence of sorts. Dedicated hobbyists are devoting entire rooms to their obsession, and are pushing the state of the art forward every day.We're now seeing fish rooms devoted to different biotopes and methodologies for running tank. Super coo!  An interesting overall hobby change, IMHO.

Sure, given factors like economic uncertainty, time pressures, and other commitments, today’s hobbyist is more pressed than ever to find time for his or her hobby, even for one aquarium, let alone a dozen or more. Yet, there is something about this hobby that makes it so hard to stop at just one aquarium, isn’t it?

What we only half-jokingly refer to as “Multiple Tank Syndrome”- the addiction to the hobby that gives us the urge to set up more aquariums-is alive, well, and very real!

Some people collect souvenir shot glasses, coins, or house cats. 

We collect aquariums. And fish. And plants. And all of the junk that goes with 'em.

Cool.

It seems that with every dedicated hobbyist, there is the desire to expand or horizons, to try new things, learn about one more coral, etc. And that requires just one more aquarium or perhaps a few more! It requires the need to expand, explore, and experiment. I know that I can't seem to want to just execute on ONE idea..I have to try like 5 different things...at once.

Are you struggling with this like I AM?

If you are, I say- Go for it! Don’t fight the urge to get that next aquarium. Not only are you giving yourself something that you will enjoy immensely, you might just be able to try something altogether new, break new ground, or better yet-inspire others to persue their aquatic dreams. Maybe you don’t have the room or finances for a true fish room, but fueling your passion with another aquarium is a good start!

l’ll say it again. Fish room. A place of magic. A place of wonder. A place of awe. A laboratory. A retreat. A launch pad for dreams. I dedicate this post to all of you out there who practice the art of aquarium keeping each and every day. You are the very essence of the hobby- the living, breathing soul of our passion. I say it again: If the muse strikes, don’t fight it. Why stop at one?

Who has a "fish room" going? Who's contemplating setting up one? Or at least, who admits to having "Multiple Tank Syndrome?"

My advice to you if you don't:

Set up another aquarium! 

Oh, and I know this website where you can get really cool “aquatic botanicals!”

Until next time,

Stay Wet

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Aquatic "cross training", breaking the "salinity line"- and the benefits of "aquatic multiculturalism"

As you know (or maybe you don't!), I spent a good part of the last couple of decades in my hobby and business careers "embedded" in the reef aquarium world. Although I kept freshwater fish during that time, my main focus was everything "reef": Corals, inverts, fishes, systems, etc. I never took my feet out of the freshwater side, but it wasn't until I started Tannin in 2015 that I fell back in, full time, with my first love- freshwater!

And, like many of you who have "crossover" experience and skills, I realized that the decades honed in the rapidly evolving reef world gave me the "tools" I needed to "play" in the area of specialized freshwater aquariums. And, as you may or may not have surmised, my lifelong freshwater experience helped me find my way in the frenetic pace of the reef world. 

I have "aquatic cross training."

It's not that unusual. The more our customer base at Tannin grows and evolves, the more I see we're pulling in aquatic hobbyists from other disciplines, including reef tanks, frogs and herps, and planted tank people. I like to see Tannin's community as a sort of "melting pot", where ideas and influences from throughout the aquatic hobby-and around the world- are studied, considered, interpreted, and incorporated into our practice of blackwater, botanical-style aquarium , and soon, brackish.

However, it wasn't always this way...It wasn't all that long ago that you could sense a real palpable division between freshwater and saltwater "culture" and practice. There was, in the words of many, a strange sort of elitism emanating from the saltwater side (particularly in the reef keeping world), where freshwater was absurdly looked at by some snobs as "a beginner's world", filled with brown fishes, outdated thinking, and lack of progression. I'd hear it at conferences and clubs all over the world, when I'd come to speak and get to visit the home of an accomplished reefer and see his aquarium, only to fin out that he/she "used to keep Discus"- or whatever- and then they'd sheepishly show me their freshwater  tank, as if it were somehow a mark against their skill and honor or something. Weird. I hated that.

And of course, the freshwater world, at least the people I was in contact with, had an equal amount of skepticism about the snobby reefers. It was weird. And somehow, the myth was perpetuated that, in order to run a successful reef aquarium, you required some incredible skill set and mysterious knowledge in order to succeed. It was ridiculous, really. Having long been a "straddler" of both freshwater and reef tanks, I would often challenge snobby reef types to set up and manage a full-on planted aquarium, Discus tank, African Rift Lake cichlid tank...or my fave...blackwater!

Fast forward few years...

Things are evolving rapidly on both sides of the "salinity line", new ideas are being expressed, and information exchange is coming at a rapid pace. More and more aquarists are doing both.

And an interesting thing that I've observed...and talked about at the last couple of reef clubs I spoke at": The reef world seems to be more stagnant at the moment, from a "technique" standpoint, with the exception of marine fish breeding (which is happening at an amazing rate). On a popular, mainstream level, in the reef world, the emphasis seems to be on collection of corals and playing with new toys (tech), and- impressing each other. Vapidity has sunk in.  That's the way I see it, and that won't make me popular in all areas of the reef world, but I believe that on a "macro level", it's true. Very few reefers seem to be trying "new" stuff that doesn't involve a trendy "named coral" or expensive high-tech gadget. Technique seems to be on the back burner in many areas of that world (at least, those that come across the loudest to the overall aquarium hobby), in favor of gadgetry and trend-chasing...sad.

Look, I get it. Who am I to judge how YOU enjoy your hobby? 

However, when I see the "hobby" being affected by close-mindedness and tainted by hype and consumerism over technique and progression, I open my big mouth. Love your crazy corals. I do. But learn about them in ways you haven't before. Understand that there is more to a hobby than just acquiring stuff and trying to impress people with your material wealth. "Bling" is not talent, and doesn't help the hobby progress. Think about how much more we would all benefit if you'd emphasize technique, and share just how you keep these amazing animals alive long-term. It's being done in many areas already- but that's not what the aquarium world sees. This is just my opinion, of course...and this is MY blog. (lol)

Yet, among progressive and talented reefers- which there are many- some are looking for new approaches. Some have confided in me that they miss the challenges of progressive work.  They need to apply this thought to reef keeping, before it simply turns into a "frag fest" of overpriced, overhyped coral selling as a hobby. Some get it. And many of them have crossed back over into freshwater,  or tried it for the first time...with the emerging popularity of niche movements like...blackwater, etc.

 I'm sort of happy to fill my role as a fish culture "ambassador" between the two sides of the "salinity line." I have a number of friends who see specialty freshwater systems (like our blackwater/botnaical-style tanks) as a sort of analog to reefs, where interactions between the fishes and the overall environment are an important part of the equation, and they're excited about trying one. If they bring the best aspects of reef keeping (rapid iterations, experimentalism, understanding the relationship between organisms), and leave out the "Super-duper named high-end coral frag" bullshit- we may just have something here.

I think we already do.  

Look at our own community- the group we half-jokingly call "Tint Nation": Not a day goes by when we don't receive a pm or email from an aquarist somewhere in the world showing us a progressive new blackwater tank, or sharing one they've had set up for years...And with the imminent launch of our brackish line, Estuary, we think we'll see even more aquarists showing an interest and elevating yet another niche in the freshwater hobby...bridging the "salinity gap" and emphasizing a collaborative, ultra inclusive mindset, way of thinking, and..."culture" that we hope will continue to set the standard for the way a global community within the aquarium world should be. No elitism. No snobbishness. No exclusivity. 

Learn from each other...

If you're a lifelong freshwater hobbyist, go for it and apply your skill set to a reef tank. You'll realize at once all of the cool stuff you bring to the table. If you're a hardcore reefer (and I know you read my stuff, because you tell me you do...), lower your guard just a bit, expand your thinking and skills and try a specialized freshwater system and bring YOUR set of talents along.

We all love to keep aquatic life in glass or acrylic boxes. What a great starting point. Reach out a (wet) hand, and bring up your colleagues on the other side of that "salinity line..."

To steal our own tagline:  blurthelines

Together, we can and will, continue to cherish nature's wonders, push the boundaries of what is possible in an aquarium, and create an inclusive culture where effort, passion, and aquaristic skill are shared, studied, revered, and...loved.

We've got this.

Something to think about.

Stay bold. Stay open minded. Stay humble. Stay collaborative.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The 2017 "Igapo Challenge"- UPDATE #2

So here we are, well into the planning of the 2017 Igapo Challenge. We are super excited about the response and enthusiasm from all over the aquatic world...well beyond what we expected, and super gratifying to see!  The organizers of Project Piaba are incredibly excited and enthusiastic, and look forward to seeing how this unfolds! As we're moving along, we're starting to iron out some details on a few things, and I'd like your feedback on a few of the most primary issues.

1) ENTRY AQUARIUM SIZES: It seems like there has been an overwhelming number of prospective entrants who feel we should have two categories, a "small" and a "large" category. I"d like to frame this party of the discussion by defining what we feel are appropriate descriptors for the two categories. "Small" is anything from 2.5 to 20 U.S. gallons. ( 9.46L- 75 L). In our context, "Large" would be 21-40 US gallons (79L -151L). This kind of "caps" things to keep them in a reasonable framework for scaping, managing, and judging. What do you think about these categories?

Now, we  also kicked around the idea of an "Open" category, for those who want to enter systems over 40 US gallons...This would have some caveats; for example, you'd have to use the "large" size of the contest botanical pack, pay a slightly higher entry fee, and again, stay "on point" in attempting to model the tank after an Igapo habitat. Like any of the other size entries you'd be required to show startup, progress, and final judging pics for the contest. Our thoughts were that you'd be able to make more liberal use of "additional" materials (i.e.; stuff not included in the contest pack) in the "Open" category. Thoughts?

2) ENTRY FEES: Okay, we've beaten this one up quite a bit, and I've talked to a lot of hobbyists who absolutely agree that we should charge an entry fee appropriate for a contest in which one of the primary goals is to make a nice donation to Project Piaba. Quite frankly, I was surprised and encouraged that most of you suggested a respectable-sized entry fee. Here's the fee structure we have envisioned to date; obviously your feedback is important here:

"Small" Category:  $20USD

"Large" Category:  $30USD

"Open" Category: $40USD

Remember, 100% of the entry fee will be donated to Project Piaba. We are donating the botanicals to each contestant at no charge. 

The only other fee we're now feeling less "creepy" about charging is shipping.

After much going back and forth with many of you (and with our accountant!), we feel that charging for shipping of the entry packs is acceptable. Believe me, I went back and forth about this, but it does make sense. You're honest with us- I'll be honest with you: It would not be viable for us to offer free shipping for every entry, particularly international entries. We would charge you whatever the shipping cost is for your order size/destination country. I realize this might limit some international entries, which is not what we'd like to do, but it's kind of "where we are" at this point. Suggestions are welcome!

A cool loophole for our US customers/entrants: If you grab a contest pack in conjunction with an order, you'd be eligible for free shipping if you hit the appropriate amount. For those of you in other countries, we realize that shipping is costly, and we've been tearing out our hair trying to make it fair and affordable. The best solution we've come up with to date for international entrants is that we would offer a discount off of a future order with Tannin to sort of "offset" some of the higher shipping expense you'd incur. How do you feel about this?

3) COMPETITION PACKS: The "small" and "large" packs will have the same materials, just in larger portions. The "open" category would utilize the "large" pack. We kicked around the idea of perhaps making an additional "large pack" available for a nominal charge for "open" entries, or do you have other thoughts on this?

4) ADDITIONAL MATERIALS: Obviously, you're gonna want to use more than just the botanicals we'll include in the competition packs, so we figure this is an area that we need to discuss. Use of wood, rocks, etc. has to be allowed, but we also don't want someone to go crazy with a ton of "high-end" wood and a smattering of botanical materials, because we're trying to use the contest as a platform to educate the hobby about the Igapo habitat, and although wood is a big part, the real "charm" is the leaves and other materials that accumulate in these ecological niches. Rather than come up with some "percentage" and split hairs over just how much wood or other material not in the pack that you can utilize, I feel it might make more sense to be clear about our thinking up front, and understand that all judging will take into account how well the contest materials were used in the overall scape. Does this make sense? Do you have some thoughts, ideas, suggestions on this?

5) JUDGING: We think that it makes sense to have you-our community- judge the first round, which will determine the finalists (we'll have to decide how many in each category). You know this stuff as well, if not better, than any typical "contest judge" does. The final judging will be by a selected panel, which will try to be inclusive and varied, and be comprised of people who are familiar with the habitat and concept we're working with.  We'll make those announcements about who will be on the panel once things get closer.

PRIZES: Don't worry, we're going to be lining up some good ones that will make entering worth your while! And we hope to have a few extra things, like tank clings, designed for the contest. Perhaps maybe other merchandise, like tee shirts and such, if it makes sense, with a portion of the sales going to Project Piaba. Does anyone like that idea?

Okay, so that's update #2! A lot of ground to cover; lots more to discuss. As always, we're trying to make this contest as "open source" as possible, so your feedback and suggestions are an essential part of the process, and are  always welcome. You can respond here or, preferably, our Facebook page, because it's more "conversational."