The Tint

Leaves need friends, too....

We've seen a lot of awesome new tanks going up lately, featuring botanical/blackwater themes, and there are a lot of new ideas.

Of particular interest to me are the tanks in which hobbyists are playing with leaves. It seems like we see more and more interest in creating aquariums with leaves of various sorts, and that's just fine with us!

Regardless of if the main botanical "feature" is leaves or other materials, it's neat for me to see how hobbyists are incorporating these materials. A good number of you ask what are some materials that you could integrate into your litter bed that have "leaf-like" properties or aesthetics. At the risk of being a bit of an "info-mmercial" today, we break with our typical more "idea-oriented" blogs and touch on this emerging area of interest for a bit. Hope you enjoy the "detour!"

Fortunately, we offer a few that should fit the need nicely. To begin with, there is the palm-derived "Mariposa Pod", which is lightweight, has a nice reddish-brown color, and an interesting texture. Since it's not a leaf, it holds up far better underwater, and in our experience, may last for many months as it breaks down. This puts it into a nice position to be an "anchor botanical" in a leaf litter bed in which more transient leaves break down and are replaced regularly.

Because of it's seemingly smooth," non-porous" interior surface, it tends to accrue less biofilms and algae than other botanicals with a different interior surface texture. And, it does seem to continue to impart some tint into the water for extended periods of time after submersion! Shrimp and other herbivorous fishes seem to love to pick at its surfaces, looking for any algae that is actually visible, and I've seen Plecos "rasp" at the botanicals themselves a bit, too.

We just completed testing on, and are about to roll out a smaller-sized version of a similar palm product, which we think will really help create interesting litter-like effects, particularly in nano-sized tanks, in which "scale" is important. It's characteristics appear to be the same as the "Mariposa", so the possibilities are quite exciting!

One of our more popular botanicals is the cool, "potato-chip"-like "Terra Sorrindo", which has a very attractive appearance, and displays a durability that is impressive! I've had these last 4-6 months before they ultimately break down, and during that time, they hold their overall shape nicely. The exterior is decidedly "woodY" in appearance, with a contrasting lighter interior. They tend to soften from the "inside" surface first. Unlike the "Mariposas', these guys do tend to recruit biofilms from time to time, which seem to pass quickly.

These are really great long-term "accessories" for a leaf-litter bed, and we include them with a number of our "sampler" packs because of their unique aesthetics and durability. 

The next "player" in this interesting "leaf-litter supporting cast" is "Carambola Lixo", named for its interesting "Starfruit-like" appearance. The neatest thing about these botanicals is that they are quite lightweight, so you'd think that they'd simply float for ever. Surprisingly, they saturate quickly and sink like a rock!

And they hold their unique shape after preparation, in contrast to some botanicals which fold or close up after boiling or steeping. They impart very slight amounts of tannins, and have proven quite popular with our customers who keep various species of shrimp. Their small size, unique appearance, and surprising durability after long-term submersion have made them very popular!

The final "leaf-like" botanical in this crew is a real "heavyweight", also derived from a palm. The "Encontro Pod" is unique in that it's just plain durable and "thick" in structure, with a orangish-brown color that really contrasts nicely with leaves and other materials that comprise the litter bed. It will last a very long time submerged; our record is well over a year before we've seen one finally break down significantly! It will impart some tannins to the water during it's submersion, and you should definitely boil it to get it to sink and soften a bit.

Well, that concludes our brief look at some of the "leaf supplements" you can incorporate into a unique leaf-litter zone display in your botanical-influenced aquarium. As you probably imagine, we're always sourcing, testing, and working with new and exciting botanicals materials for you to use in your next tank! Keep following us for the latest additions to our collection!

Stay creative. Stay curious. Stay excited.

And Stay Wet!

Scott Fellman

Tanin Aquatics 

The future is almost here...

It’s the year 2040.

Yeah, really…sounds like a nice even number…far enough away to be “in the future”, but not so far away as to lost in the realm of intergalactic science fiction, ya know? You’re a reefer…Yeah, the hobby still exists. The hacks in government and the hapless environmentalist tools finally realized, thanks to the efforts of some dedicated hobby activists back in 2017 that captive propagated corals and fishes are viable alternatives to collecting wild specimens from the “watch lists” of years earlier. We have a long-established, viable and sustainable trade. The marine and freshwater aquarium trade have collaborated with governments around the world to create guidelines for long-term stewardship of wild reefs, lakes, and rivers , and collection is managed and tempered with a slightly higher percentage of propagated corals and fishes coming into the trade than being collected from the reefs, lakes, and rivers of the world.

Fantasy? Perhaps. But it’s MY vision of the future, so indulge me for a bit, okay?

The typical hobbyist is not wearing a jet pack, driving a gravity-modulating vehicle, or walking around with a microchip imbedded in his head. Not that kind of Hollywood-esque, dark future. Unfortunately, the USS Enterprise is still 300 years away, and “getting away” still means climbing on a noisy, high-carbon-footprint subsonic jet to Tahiti.

What else is happening in the hobby in 2040? Let’s take a look at some of my hoped-for predictions. You can give me a wedgie or something in 2040 if they don’t come to pass, but the way I see it, I have like 25 years before you get to call bull@#$% on my predictions! Here are a few:

Captive bred fishes are the standard, rather than the “in addition to wild-caught.…” Collection pressures on many wild populations has forced the hobby/industry to embrace captive bred fishes once and for all. And breeders have come through! The “new norm” for aquarium fishes is those which were bred in captivity by boutique breeders and larger commercial operations. Big fishes have fallen out of favor, with hobbyists finally realizing that they are just not practical for most tanks…Keeping a Parrot Cichlid in a 100 gallon tank is now viewed the same way as if you or I chose to live in our living room for the rest of our lives…I mean, you have a couch and Netflix, but you’ll go nuts after a few months, right? The new mantra is “Small Fish- Big Tank.”

Water movement in aquariums is via ridiculously small, low-power consumption, ultra high-tech internal pumps. It is now possible to generate widely dispersed flow rates of thousands of gallons per hour with electrical consumption in the single digits of watts. Don’t think this will happen? It already is, to some extent.  I was in Germany a couple of years back, visiting  a manufacturer, and saw some prototypes of pumps that were ridiculously advanced, super-efficient, and really small, made in a high-tech facility that had us convinced that some kind of deal must have been struck with extraterrestrials to get this technology. We even saw a pump that was the size of a pencil eraser, which put out like 80 GPH..Sheer craziness..and it’s all coming soon. Woosh!

We’re all trying to give our fishes the best possible environment; a replication of nature. To that end, the industry and hobby have spent decades of energy, millions of R & D dollars, and lots of brain power trying to develop additives, salt mixes, and other elixirs to try to help accomplish just that. In the very near future, it will be completely possible to replicate natural water chemistry in the aquarium from locations worldwide with relative ease. Thanks to the work of some scientist/hobby entrepreneurs, a database is being developed of super-detailed ICP-OES water analysis from natural waterways around the world. 

This will enable a hobbyists to mimic the exact chemical/trace element composition of water from a specific locality. Picture this: You’re on vacation in South America. You see a very cool little “Igarape”that you’d love to mimic in your home. You have the tank, you have the lights. You have the water movement. Now, you know EXACTLY what the trace element composition is in that fabulous ecosystem, and have a means to replicate them in your home aquarium through simple synthetic additives. A literal “recipe” for the environment you want to replicate in your aquarium… Crazy. Further. imagine if collectors, wholesalers, then retailers had this information all along the chain of custody from “river to retail”, being able to provide fishes with the exact water conditions they enjoyed in the wild- and then providing that to you! Welcome to the future.

Since replicating the natural environment is a key to successful husbandry, it only makes sense that linking technology and biology together will propel the hobby/art of reef keeping forward. In 2040, I have no doubt that we will see real-time connectivity between technology as diverse as satellites and aquarium controllers. Huh? For example, a storm is a-brweing in Southeast Asia…Your aquarium is set up to mimic a pond in “those parts”..Your controller is set to monitor the conditions down there via subscription service (Much like satellite TV or cable) to link satellite weather reports and other meteorological information from that region to your controller monitoring service (either third party or from the manufacturer- whoa- can you say “niche market opportunity?”). 

Through a program, a set of conditions is developed at the monitoring service, and your water pumps, LED lights, and yeah- even trace element dosing, feeding and whatever other functions are tied to your controller- are adjusted accordingly. To some extent, we have these kinds of things now…However, in the future, you’ll see pumps adjusted to produce crazy water currents, LED-generated “lightning”, “cloud patterns”, and perhaps even temperature swings that coincide with real time ocean data- occurring right in your aquarium. Of course, these changes would be “stepped down” to not create ridiculous, deadly environmental swings- but there would be changes! If it’s a bit too “Big Brother”-ish for you, I suppose that you’d receive ample warning from a forecast feature on your mobile device, so you could “opt out” of the encroaching storm if it interferes with your next house party..LOL

How many times have you had this argument with a fishkeeping buddy at the club auction LFS, or even a big show? “Dude, that’s a Wattley Discus.” “No, it’s from Discus Hans lineage.” “Nah, I think it’s from…” Okay, whatever. Wouldn’t it be nice to know, once and for all if the expensive fish you’re about to purchase really IS the morph you think you’re about to purchase- from the lineage you think it is from? Or, what that killifish species REALLY is? Well, think about this: We have the Human Genome Project, and DNA sequencing is used for all kinds of crazy stuff. It’s only a matter of time before someone applies the DNA analysis techniques used in fish-specific research to practical fish ID for the industry and hobby. The impact could be dramatic and revolutionary. Species ID would forever be accurate, and we could develop a body of knowledge on the husbandry of various fish species the likes of which has never been done before- simply because we’d know EXACTLY what species we’re dealing with. The arguments  would be put to rest once and for all, and true “lineage” could be established for all sorts of fishes. Vendors and breeders would be better informed, right along with hobbyists. This ID would be great for enforcing trade restrictions, proving that a fish is from captive-propagated stock, etc. It’s not at all far-fetched- and really has amazing practical implications!

As the technology impacting the hobby continues to evolve, I’d like to think that hobbyist will, too. We’ve already seen it- thanks to the internet, blogs, and forums. Communication on a global scale is immediate and far reaching. Instant access to information. Ideas that pop up to a fish geek in Battle Creek, Michigan can immediately be relayed to a fish geek in Glasgow, Hokkaido, or Burkina Faso, for that matter…Collaboration, kinship, and the perpetuation of aquarium “culture” will always be possible, thanks to this advanced technology- and even more because of the sprit of the hobbyist…unshakable, grounded in science, yet tempered with passion. A formidable combination for the present, and into the future. Enthusiasm and love for what we do never changes.

Well- those are a few of my predictions of the future of the hobby…Some are already coming to fruition- others are still a ways off- but they WILL come to pass…along with hundreds of ideas not even postulated here. What sorts of visions do you have for the future of the hobby?

As always, keep an eye on your tank, another one on the future…And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

"Fail" quickly?

Do you ever have an idea in your head that you want to get out, which you just KNOW will be possibly misinterpreted, leaving you vulnerable to attack from "critics?"  Yeah...I think that this might be one of 'em, lol.

Let me relay to you an experience and a philosophy I've acquired that may or may not be applicable to your fish keeping experience.

Here goes...

I was talking with a friend several months back, who has a 30+ tank fish room, and he was sort of complaining about the lack of space he had to attack all of the projects he wanted, while in the same conversation complaining about 3 or 4 tanks dedicated to projects that have not played out well for the last couple of years. A rare fish breeding project. He was holding on to them, out of "habit" more than anything else, and was now starting to lose fishes, and clearly felt bad about it. He's a patient, compassionate, and skilled hobbyist. But he was becoming increasingly frustrated with this venture. He asked me what I would do.

I told him that I'd move on.

Those of you who know me well as a hobbyist understand that some of the traits I cherish and uphold the most are tenacity, persistence, and patience. I practice and preach these...And I've been a "master" of pushing it...sometimes too hard. I mean, I'm the guy that has maintained perpetually understocked large aquariums for many months, even years at a time, waiting for the specific fish I wanted to become available, often with little hope of ever obtaining it. Deliberating every change and tweak ad nauseam. I've stayed with tank concepts that, if evaluated objectively, just weren't working, despite numerous tweaks, revisions, and iterations.

And I've been "tenacious" and "dedicated" and "patient", almost to my own detriment sometimes; certainly to the detriment of the animals I've kept. Over the recent few years, I've "evolved" my attitude on this philosophy. Yeah, old habits die hard, but I have learned from life events and business dealings about the value of "knowing when to say when." Knowing when to stop deploying precious time, energy, money, and other resources into a fishy project that is simply no longer enjoyable or successful. In the hobby, in life, and in business, I feel that you should give your best effort into everything that you do, but that you should be prepared to move on quickly from failures.

Life is too short. Time is too precious. Resources are too valuable.

More than almost anything, the time factor is important. You never get it back. So why continue to waste it on something that is making you unhappy?

If something isn't working, you should do your best to salvage it, deploy as much patience and empathy as you feel are necessary to make a go of it in a reasonable amount of time- and then move on if it still isn't working out. Without waiting many months or years continuing on a path that is obviously not working, is causing you frustration, and for which you have no alternative.

Fail quickly.

Yeah. 

I know, it almost seems hypocritical of me, in that, on a "micro" level, I preach tenacity and persistence, while on a "macro level" I'm telling you to move on at some point. Perhaps patience is not "scaleable..?"

Sure, there are exceptions to this approach:

For example, if you're trying to breed that rare, difficult, or never-before-spawned fish, "quickly" may not be the correct approach to take. You simply have to try, learn, adjust, and repeat as necessary, which might take years...Assuming that you're up for the challenge, of course. That's the price of admission in that venue.

However, with the majority of aquarium adventures, I feel that giving it your best and moving on once you've lost that "drive" or "inertia" for the project is smart. If that one fish or aquarium concept just isn't working out the way you had hoped, and it's becoming obvious that it will eventually be a strain on your resources (i.e.; tank space, food, etc.) to continue to work with the fish...move on. Trade, sell, or give away your stock to another hobbyist eager for the challenge. 

It's okay. It's not a bad thing to "call it." 

And for those of you who are saying that I'm abandoning my long-standing, oft-repeated calls for patience- I'm not. I'm not saying to be a "quitter" when things get tough (I'll repeat this later, I know!). I'm talking about deploying your self-awareness as a hobbyist. It's not a bad thing. Really.

Hear me out.

If some aquarium project is not working out, and "the fit is not good" for you and your goals, desires, or capabilities, isn't it better to learn this before you spend years and years and countless resources frustrating yourself? The same mental energy and physical resources that you're applying to the "sinking ship" are far, far better spent on a project that you:  a)enjoy more b)have the correct temperament, skill set, and resources for, and c)can create a better outcome for the animals themselves.

Wouldn't it make sense to get the fishes that simply are problematic for you into the hands of another hobbyist who may have a different approach, a better sense of what is needed, and more passion for them? And, for you to move on to something which would provide more benefit to you and the hobby as a whole...Wouldn't the hobby benefit from this?

I think so. 

This is especially true when you're working with extremely rare or endangered species that need to be in the right hands. (of course "right hands" is a subjective thing, but I think you understand what I mean...)

Again, it's not about "churning" through stuff, or "somehow "commoditizing" the fishes we keep, or the hobby we love. It's not about quitting when the going gets tough. It's about enjoying things and being honest with ourselves. It's not a "defeat" to tell yourself, "This Snakehead breeding project just isn't working for me...But if apply those same ideas to the ___________, I might be on to something..."

Look, I am probably fairly typical as a hobbyist. I have some things I think I'm good at, some things I can learn to improve at, and some things I just suck at.

With the things I need to improve on, or just plain suck at- I have some options. I can continue to work on my skills in those areas, take on new challenges, and apply resources to them in order to improve, and hopefully help others. Or, I can give it the old "college try" to the point where the frustration is too great- and then just move on, applying the energy, skills, and passion to something else.

It's a hobby. It's supposed to be fun.

And it's NOT really "failure" in the sense that you "blew it", just so you know. It's failure to complete the objectives you set out for yourself. No one is "grading you." And recognizing that you need to move on because you aren't hitting your objectives is a form of success! Yeah, "success" because you will be doing what is truly in the best interest of yourself, the hobby, and the animals you keep. Redeploying your skills to an area better suited for you. It's a form of "EQ", or emotional intelligence...Pretty cool!

And guess what- the "education" you've received along the way; the experience you accumulated..the skills...and the personal enlightenment you've acquired- are yours to keep. A tangible, valuable set of rewards for "failing quickly..."

And my friend? He finally gave the fishes to another hobbyist, who had them breeding within the month. 

Oh, and the four tanks have been dedicated to breeding some Plecos, something my friend always wanted to do. And guess what? He's getting results.

Weird how that works out, huh?

Just sharing my personal thoughts and experiences in the hobby, gleaned from life. Hopefully, you'll take this in the right context and maybe, just maybe, derive some value from it. 

Or, maybe you'll just be mad at me.

Oh well, at least I've opened the door for the conversation, right?

Stay honest with yourself. Stay committed. Stay engaged. Stay realistic.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

From the other side of the keyboard: A story from a day in the life of an aquatics vendor...

You know that this blog is like my personal "therapy" of sorts, right? I think I told you that before, right?

Yeah, I like to think that I’m generally well-adjusted, a bit cranky, sometimes a diva, and often a pain in the rear. And I’m lucky. I get to talk to a lot of cool aquarists all day-every day. Cool.

So, once in a while, I get a call form someone that, for no reason, just - I don't know- ANNOYS the hell out of me. Two phone calls recently got to me..One in particular, annoyed me enough to want to share it with you- my friends.

I received a phone call from someone the other day who I guess you’d call a “hardcore hobbyist” (I suppose..), and the guy just got my blood pressure up right from the start..And I feel bad about it, because the annoyance was purely on my end…and based on my prejudices arising from this kind of crap, which I had seen in the reef-keeping world over the past few years. 

Here’s how the call went down:

The guy identified himself as “ _______ from the forums.”  Okay, I don’t typically call my friends by their forum names or avatars, or whatever..So already, I was like, “Oh boy- here we go..” 

Terribly judgemental of me, I know…But as a business person- and human being- I like to know the real name of the person I’m talking to. Just a quirk of mine, I suppose.

The conversation deteriorated from there…He told me (literally) that he was a “big player” in “high end plants”- I’m not exactly sure what he meant, but I think he meant “overpriced”, hyped plants that are today’s “flavor of the week…” Okay, you know that I have some feelings about the absurdity of the whole “high end” thing from my coral vending days, so he got off to a bad start. He went on to describe how he had all of the “designer”  plants  (he called 'em "stems") from “ ________” (insert name of "well-known" plant hobbyists/propagators here)…and was “done with them” and looking to obtain “high end blackwater stuff” from us.  What the hell does THAT mean?

Uh-oh. Yeah…

"Red alert...all decks, man your battle stations!"

And, of course, he dropped name after name of various competitive aquascapers who incorporate his plants in their tanks. And the names of the plants were sort of “common” or “varietal” names of things like Bucephalandra, Eriocaulon, and Fissidens, few of which meant much to me, as these"varietal" names are so transient and varied…He then went on to tell me that various botanicals that I had could be sold for much more to “high end” aquascapers and companies, who would happily pay "2-4 times as much" as I charge for them on my website. (Which, by the way, he called "high end" Probably the only time during our conversation that the term didn't turn my stomach...SO, at least the guy has some taste, lol)

“High end…” I hate that term….WTF does it mean, anyways…especially in the aquatics world?

"Hyped?"  "Over-inflated?" "Deceptive?" 

Urghh..those were just a few of the things going through my head…

I know, I was probably being waaaay to judgemental, but...

I mean, the guy was genuinely trying to "help me"- in his mind, I think..But it was weird when he was telling me that this-or-that botanical could be sold to go with such and such plant or wood in such-and-such a country at some breathtakingly high price…I mean- how did HE know this? I tried to explain to him that most of the ideas he was pointing out to me involved simply coming up with new names for the stuff I already offer, calling them "rare", then twisting the price way up…He countered that I was "blowing an opportunity.."

Look, I’m not trying to be a buzzkill, destroy someone’s dream of a business model, or call B.S. on anyone….

It’s just that this poor, misguided hobbyist had been so caught up in this world of hyper-inflated “high end plant” gobbledygook (he called them “stems”, which gave me a frightening coral “micro-frag” flashback…) that he just couldn’t grasp the fact that there are plenty of vendors out in the market that offer the same plants he and his buddies have been stumbling over themselves to acquire (at insane prices, I might add) for modest, fair pricing, and high quality. His idea of a good business model was simply to take whatever seemed to be gaining traction in the market, “re-branding” it, and charging a stupidly high price for it or no apparent reason (at least from the consumer’s perspective) to an audience as ignorant as he was...

And to think, people think I charge too much already for "twigs and nuts..."

And, despite my trying to tell him that we don’t want to sell our botanicals at “Tiffany’s” prices- he just couldn’t put his head around it. He felt as though we were somehow missing out on this vast market segment by not charging more and properly identifying our botanicals as the “limited edition” specimens that they were.

I've seen this in the coral world before, and look..if someone can pull it off- and manage to sleep at night- more power to them.

I couldn't do this.

I suppose that, in the plant world, like in the coral world, this “limited edition” nonesense probably works for some guys because the plants are typically gone from the specific vendor after they chop up the one plant that they have..on to the next. So it seems like it's an urgent need to grab it before it's gone... It’s a sleazy business model to me, but it hey, if it’s working for this vendor, who am I to judge?

Of course, I am going to judge. I’m human. And someone was on the other line telling me that I could play in that expensive sandbox, too. As a human, I was like, "Ohh, interesting.." FOR LIKE 5 SECONDS.

So, I was actually more amused than anything else. I mean, on one hand, there is a guy who, for all intents and purposes- is providing me with what he felt was useful market intelligence based on his “knowledge” of this “niche”…And on the other hand, proffering advice that I felt was completely off-message for our marketing strategy. Look, my company is not "Wal-Mart"- we don’t have the cheapest stuff on the block…Nor are we the most expensive. Rather, we try to price within reason on everything. Some stuff we offer is priced higher than other places who might carry similar items, and vice-versa. Quality and “value added” service have a price. And I suppose the argument could be made that we charge an obscene price for stuff...It goes on and on. 

Nevertheless, we are not going to participate in the “race to the bottom” to blow out everything at rock-bottom pricing…nor are we going to shoot for the incredibly tiny niche of (mentally ill) collectors who want only the most expensive stuff because it’s “cool.”

Everyone should enjoy the hobby the way they want…It’s just that I felt “dirty”, if you know what I mean; feeling for just a few seconds like maybe I should be somehow pandering to this small market segment with botanicals that are worth much less than what they feel they should be priced at. 

And of course, I was disgusted with myself for even entertaining this absurdity for a nano second.

Okay- then came the part that really got to me…

All of this “market intelligence” was being leveraged to use me and my company as a "source" for obtaining the "hot rare stuff" ( Really? I mean, I sell leaves and seed pods here...) before it comes to market, so he and his buddies could trade it and "hype" it for us…Ewwww...

And, of course, he wanted a “discount” on purchases from Tannin for this “service”, which elicited the rare “double Ewww!” from me.

Yuck.

Okay, I’m sharing with you- for better or for worse- the stuff that happens in my day-to-day life... As well as the stuff that floats around in my head on a daily basis..the thoughts I process from discussions I participate in. You guys and gals help me grasp some of this stuff, which is why I share it with you. Besides, what other aquatics vendor writes about this kind of stuff, huh?

Just to clarify- There is no great "moral referee" passing judgement here. I’m not doing this to bash the industry, hobby, fellow vendors, or dictate the way I think things should be. I’m not trying to self-aggrandize, or beat my chest about Tannin. Plenty of good vendors in the aquatics business feel exactly like I do. (Some actually think I’m crazy and sleazy doing what I do…It’s the “cycle of life” in the business world, right?)  I suppose it can be viewed as me "getting up on a soapbox"...However, in my mind, I’m simply sharing how I felt. 

And I felt gross.

Some of you may be like, “So, this guy was trying to help you, dude. What’s your problem?”  

Others may be wanting to borrow the disinfectant spray after I’m done with it.

Ah, the life of an aquatics vendor. Thought I'd share this tale with you.

So, my advice, if you get into the aquatics game: Don’t be sleazy. Simple.

Stay nice, stay on track…Stay true to yourselves. Stay true to your hobby.

And stay wet.

Regards,

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

To boldly go...

As you know, I seem to write a lot of blogs based on conversations I have with fellow fish geeks. I love fellow hobbyists! They motivate, delight, confuse, and inspire me. And sometimes, they make me want to shake them!

Like the other day, when I spoke with a hobbyist who had some really crazy cool ideas he wanted to play with in a new tank, but was worried about the criticism he'd take from his fellow hobbyists. 

Arrghh!

Of course, being the against-the-grain kind of fish geek that I am, I heard his feeble argument about why he shouldn't go for it, and I think I talked some sense into him.

Actually, I think I gently kicked his ass...but got the desired result, which was drumming it into his head that he is the master of his own destiny, aquarium-wise.

You hear me make this appeal a lot: “Do what makes YOU happy as a fish geek. You need not follow the “rules” laid down by others. Aquascape according to your own vision…experiment responsibly with new techniques as YOU see fit"…blah, blah, blah.

And I really believe it. I live by it, as a lot of you do, too. Hell, I even started a company because of it.

Yet, some of you still need the little shove. The encouragement. Positive reinforcement. There is no reason to hold back. Anything is possible if you try.

Oh sure, this is a bit of a generality…There are certainly "natural laws" and chemical/biological principles and laws of nature that can’t really be broken. Well, some can be danced around or pushed...with some collateral consequences. However, everything else- procedures, conventions, equipment choices, aestheitcs, stocking, even values- is your call. The things that hold us back from trying, in many cases, are not really “rules”, but we seem to treat them as such in this hobby, don’t we? And really, we don’t need to get hung up on this at all.

The reality is that many so-called “rules” in our hobby are, in reality, sort of “placeholders”, which were installed into our “culture” before a better understanding was achieved. For example, the idea that you need to keep certain fishes under specific environmental conditions to breed them is based on what the prevailing knowledge of the day was when the subject was initially breached, and no one really questioned it at the time. Over the years, dramatically different technique has evolved and sort of become the “new normal”, yet, for many years, you heard stuff like,  “You must keep this fish in soft, acid water in order to breed it.”

It can be almost stifling at times, if you let this stuff get into your head...

We get into that mindset of being almost "apologetic" for attempting something against the grain, and it’s kind of a waste of time, really. Remember the old “It’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission?” I tend to agree with that statement, the reason being that if you aren't forgiven later, you probably never would have been given the “permission” anyway, so why not just go for it? 

Besides, who’s “permission” do you need? Nature’s, maybe, in our case. But that’s about it. The hobby doesn't need more people to do the tried and true all the time. In order to advance, we need the fearless visionaries who seemingly swim against the tide. Not just "because"- rather, because you believe in the idea you have. You believe in yourself.

Fortune favors the bold.

So- build the 30-foot long, wet-season, flowing Igarape display in your living room. Try to group spawn your Bettas…whatever. Just be sensible, and don’t be an arrogant jerk in the process. The reality is that most things turn out okay in the end…

(I say “most”, because the “group spawning of Bettas” has “bad outcome” written all over it. Yeah.)

And if things don't work out, you've definitively proven the validity of the prevailing thought, right?

So, really, short of the massive criticism you might get form one or two people who have their head up their___ and who hide behind their keyboards, ready to strike out at anyone who questions convention- what holds you back?

Threat of imprisonment? Financial fallout? A visit by the “Men in Black?” 

No. None of the above. 

Just a few judgmental people on the forums, at the local club…people that will, for whatever reason, be agitated that you decided to go against the “establishment” as they see it. Will that really ruin your day, destroy your marriage, break up your resolve in life?

Will you cry for hours?

Of course not.

You might even squeak by under the “criticism” radar if you show a cool result. And even if you can’t- who cares? You’d be doing the hobby a service by at least demonstrating that the “old rule” is indeed worth holding on to…but you’ll have the added satisfaction of knowing that you put it to the test personally. You might even learn something new and useful as a “collateral” benefit! And you’ll have demonstrated to the “regurgitators” out there that boldly going against convention has it’s merits. 

The price of admission to the arena of new discoveries? You might lose some fishes. It sucks, but it's inevitable. And you might spend some money. You might end up with a lot of algae. And your floors might get wet...

But those things are a daily occurrence in the hobby anyways, right?

So please, please take a few more risks…Please. I implore you. You’ve got the talent. You’ve got the idea…and you don’t need “permission” from anyone in the hobby. 

Go for it. 

I promise you…there’s at least one guy in your corner.

That is, unless you do the Betta group spawning thing.

You can’t do that…it’s...stupid.

:)

Until next time…

Stay bold. Stay devoted. Stay independent. 

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Accepting, incorporating, evolving...changing.

It’s a real leap of faith for us fish geeks to try something new, isn’t it?

I mean, on the whole, as a hobby-we’ve done things pretty successfully, with some gradual iterations along the way- for the better part of 100+ or so years…

Sure, there have been changes in basic technology- like frozen foods, freeze-dried foods, under gravel filters, internal water pumps, wet-dry filters…canister filters. Thanks to intense efforts by hobbyists, breeding of fishes once considered near impossible, like Discus, is commonplace.

Aquascaping has evolved from a pleasant side diversion to a full-blown professional/competitive "circuit!" And what about the planted aquarium? It's virtually a hobby in and of itself! "Dirted" tanks, estimative index, tissue culture...We’ve gone through different types of stuff like aquarium substrates for planted tanks…and the application of liquid fertilizers and CO2- stuff that used to seem so exotic and unfamiliar is now just "the way it’s done", right?

It’s not always easy getting fish people to adapt new methods, equipment, or ideas…It’s almost like we have to see the "relevance" to what we do before we consider it…There has to be some element of familiarity, it seems.

The odd, but well-treaded analogy of the "California Roll" resonates well here. Huh? "What are you talking about, Fellman?" Stay with me, here…

Remember, not too many years ago, the whole concept of sushi was- well- alien to many Americans of non-Japanese ancestry.  Back in the late 1970’s, or so the story goes, owners of Japanese restaurants were just nots sure how to get Americans into sushi..Eventually, someone made a roll, consisting of ingredients that were almost entirely recognizable to the American/European palette: Rice, cucumber, and crab. The little bit of nori that wrapped the whole thing up was a stretch- but the majority of the roll was produced with entirely familiar ingredients. It caught on- big time- and became the “gateway drug” for the sushi addiction here in the U.S. and elsewhere in the West. Now, it’s pretty much the most “basic” of the sushi rolls- but I’ll bet that in 1977, most Westerners would freak about it if they were offered it at a restaurant!

And that’s how it is with our fish stuff, right?

We accepted the idea of the “Nature Aquarium” in The West, with it’s rigid adherence to aquascaping layout “rules” and such, it was sort of a "sea change"…but it also was an evolution or change from what we had in the past…It incorporated familiar components (plants, rocks, wood), but assembled them in a different way.

It was like that with the first freeze-dried foods…live stuff that was preserved in a different manner than previously done…and it made our lives better and easier, in terms of our fish keeping…And so it goes with electronic testers, LED lights, etc., etc. Familiar ideas/concepts expressed in new ways…

That’s what pushes the hobby forward. In our case, the idea of using “botanicals” in our aquariums is not groundbreaking…it’s just a bit different than what we’ve been doing in the past…a tiny, tiny incremental change in our practices. I think the big step forward has been the mental "stretch" that botanical/blackwater enthusiasts have made to understand just what the role of botanicals is in the whole "recipe" of an aquarium. We got out of our own headspace to really "get" it.

There is a bit of hesitancy at first with some hobbyists, because, although we're talking about an "aquarium", we're asking them to make a bit of a leap of faith and understand and accept that stuff like brown water, biofilms, and even a bit of algae are perfectly natural, beautiful parts of the "whole."

I think we're starting to see a new emergence of a more "wholistic" approach to aquarium keeping...a realization that we've done amazing things so far, keeping fishes and plants in a glass or acrylic box with applied technique and superior husbandry...but that there is room to experiment and push the boundaries even further, by understanding and applying our knowledge of what happens in the real natural environment. 

It's the "garden" versus "flower in a vase" argument you've heard before: We can either mimic a garden, taking into account the many different needs of the plants we keep in a controlled, yet natural setting, to encourage long-term growth and reproduction, or we can keep a cut flower in a vase, supplying the most "deconstructed" form of care to simply enjoy it for a while.

There is no "right" or "wrong." It's a matter of preference, really.

Taking the familiar and doing different things with it to achieve a goal. 

Every new fish that’s bred, each new strain, every new idea that’s executed and perfected. They all make things so familiar to us that much better…

And, as students of the "New Botanical"-style approach to aquarium keeping, you're doing just that, every day. And you're laying down the groundwork for the next great phase of aquatic husbandry innovation and breakthrough.

It's a pretty exciting time...and YOU are creating it! You did it.

Ponder that today.

Stay bold. Stay inspired. Stay fearless.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Stuff that used to scare the @#$% out of me, but doesn't anymore!

Okay, I know I put out a lot of posts talking about what we've learned in the botanical/blackwater game, and an equal number with my conservative admonitions to do this or that before using botanicals in your tanks.

Most of this stuff is still just that- conservative. However, it's based on years of my experimenting with what worked and what didn't, in regards to adding botanicals to aquariums. Despite some pretty radical experimentation- perhaps even bordering on "reckless" with this stuff- I've personally only had one or two incidents that actually resulted in the loss of life of fish, and one of them may be partially attributable to circumstances other than use of botanicals.

I don't claim to have even a tenth of the answers about every aspect of using botanicals in aquariums, but I do have a lot of experience putting them through their paces in ways that I wouldn't, in all good conscience recommend to others. When I finally decided to take the Tannin "concept" to market, it was after I was more than confident that the bulk of people who use our products wouldn't "nuke" their tanks if they followed some conservative guidelines concerning use, preparation, and addition of them to their tanks.

It's been a constant refining process, with everyone learning more and more usable information that contributes to the body of knowledge of the benefits of the botanical-style blackwater tank. It's an ongoing process. And with some of the biggest and most respected names in the hobby playing with botanical-style aquariums, there is a lot more inspiration and information emerging daily!

When we first started, my biggest concerns were not things like, "Is this stuff toxic by nature to fishes?" It was, "Would anyone even have an interest in this stuff? Brown tanks and murky water? Decomposing leaves?  I mean, the aesthetics alone aren't for everyone. I recall reading numerous pleas for help in aquascaping forums from despondent hobbyists desperate to get out the "tint from the tannins" caused by their new piece of driftwood! And here I was, encouraging blackwater and decomposing leaves to form both an aesthetic and functional alternative to the crystal clear tanks splashed all over the internet?

I mean, selling off my share of one of the top coral propagation firms in the U.S. to persue this "murky" vision that has become Tannin Aquatics? Yeah...talk about a leap of faith!  I really believed in this stuff...at first, I'd figure we'd simply rally a few "outliers" in the hobby who already loved this stuff.  I mean, we didn't "invent" the idea..Rather, we amassed information, inspiration, and made the materials more widely available to the hobby. And now, it looks like we're attracting attention from all corners, with hobbyists, clubs, aquarium magazines and bloggers worldwide taking more than a casual glance at the idea of blackwater tanks again. And curating, studying, testing, and marketing these botanicals took some time. It has been a rather lengthy "vetting process", determining what works and what doesn't, and I take it very seriously. We won'tsell you anything to put in your tank that we wouldn't use in our own.

I used to be really scared about the preparation process; getting it down, and making sure our customers did, too. Worried that people wouldn't listen. Although it doesn't scare me as much as it used to, it's still one of my biggest concerns with regards to our customers using our botanicals.

Every now and then I'll get an email from a customer asking why his pods "aren't sinking", or why the fishes are acting "weird", or what not, and in almost every case, they didn't follow our preparation or "stocking" instructions. We take this process very seriously. And, if you visit our site, you can see the warnings and instructions to prepare everything before use. We went so far as to make an "Aquatic Botanical Preparation" page to describe the prep process for every item we sell. If you don't follow these instructions, you really are taking unnecessary risks, IMHO. It's not just about getting stuff to sink! It's about getting some of the dirt, organics, and possible pollutants bound up in the outer layers of the botanicals out. There is no reason to take shortcuts here.

Although some of my processes have "evolved" a bit, I must tell you that I never recommend skipping the preparation process, with the possible exception of an "abbreviated" form of preparation for some leaves. Many of my experienced friends will take issue with my call to steep leaves for several hours, or overnight, but I am not really comfortable recommending much in the way of shortcuts. Others tell me it's a waste to discard the preparation water, but I maintain that I wouldn't want this stuff in my tank, so I wouldn't recommend it to my customers. There is much to understand about the long-term maintenance of these systems and how preparation influences it.

I'm not as afraid as I used to be about how much stuff to put in one's aquarium, and how quickly, because I think that, in the course of 17 months of operations here and over 500 blogs, thousands of social media posts, and numerous emails and phone calls, we've helped spread the word that common sense about adding anything to your aquarium needs to be enacted by the individual hobbyist. Actually, we've beat you senseless with it, right? We tell you to "go slow" because adding botanical materials that can and will decompose-some more quickly than others- adds to the biological load of the tank, and your beneficial bacteria population needs to be able to step up and handle it.

With regards to "how much", we've made a concerted effort not to say "X" number of "whatever" per gallon in almost every case, with a very few exceptions- because there are so many potential variables. Every tank is different. It would be downright irresponsible of us to suggest "5 ____ pods per liter of water will lower the pH by 0.5" or something like that. I cringe when I see some of those sites that make recommendations like this with regards to leaves and such. Yikes! You need to consider your starting pH, alkalinity, fish population, how long the tank has been established, what you're trying to accomplish, etc. We've talked a lot about the "clear water" botanical tank versus creating "blackwater", and the fundamentally different approaches involved. It's absolutely possible to negate many of the water tinting aspects, and some of the pH-adffecting characteristics of many botanicals with due attention paid to filtration media, husbandry, preparation, substrate, etc., etc.

I used to worry a lot about how other hobbyists would react when they saw biofilms appear on their botanicals, and see them showing signs of breaking down, etc. We have written extensively about this process here in the tint from both a practical and philosophical standpoint. We keep emphasizing the "mental shift" that we as lovers of the "New Botanical-Style" aquarium need to embrace. These are not the pristine "diorama" tanks of international aquascaping contest lore. Rather, they are a true embodiment of the natural processes which occur when botanical materials fall into waterways...And that involves biofilms, algae, decomposition.

To maintain a "NewBo" style tank requires you to understand that this is normal, natural, generally harmless, and actually a sign that your system is functioning in a healthy manner. And we have discussed numerous ways to manage or "deal with" the appearance of these processes if you aesthetics and patience can only handle so much for so long..

And really, most of the few things that used to really scare me and don't (as much) now are simply human-related factors, like patience, understanding what's happening, getting our heads around the whole philosophy of these tanks, and thinking through possible "problems" that may arise. Transparency about the pros, cons, and possible pitfalls has been crucial to our goal of making as many hobbyists as possible comfortable with this stuff.

As those of you who have traveled with us on this journey since the beginning can attest, the "New Botanical Movement" is as much based on long-established philosophies of aquarium husbandry as it is on some new ways of looking at things. Sure, there will be mistakes. There will be some failures. That's part of trying anything a little new. There are no guarantees of success. Yet, the skills and experiences that brought us this far will continue to serve us well as we push outward into (literally) uncharted waters. There is so much to learn- so much research, practical experience, philosophizing, and discussion yet to take place in this fascinating little "tributary" of the aquarium hobby.

For those of you just getting underway- welcome aboard! There's a fair amount of information to catch up on- and an equal amount yet to be uncovered. And YOU are a part of the discovery process! 

Everyone plays a part here.

Stay excited. Stay intrigued. Stay with us...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The new wave is here...

There's a new wave coming.

You've heard this expression before in lots of different things...art, music, cuisine, etc....However, the aquarium hobby does have a new wave coming. In retrospect, you might say that it's already here. 

The freshwater hobby is entering a new "renaissance" of sorts. An incredible time, filed by new ideas and innovations. Yet, not everyone seems to have gotten the message.

I received a call from a pretty advanced cichlid breeder the other day, who was relaying to me some of the scathing teasing and criticism she was receiving from some reefer friends over the past couple of years, who went out of their way to remind her that she was operating in the "minor leagues" of the aquarium world, "wasting her talent" on the "brown fish."

As a reefer, I found the stuff that they were saying to her insulting, short-sighted, and remarkably typical of some of the rhetoric I've heard over the years. It made me think the reef keeping side of the hobby is starting to "show its age" a bit. It made me a bit angry, actually.

I received some of this same criticism when I started Tannin..."good old boy" humor that I think carried the undertones of a detrimental "cultural belief."

It's a well-known fact that some reefers seem to love to gently "trash talk" the freshwater side of the hobby. Much of it is good-natured, of course. Yet, a surprisingly large amount of it is unwarranted, based on uninformed, superficial observations of the popular side of the freshwater hobby. The freshwater side is often seen as a sort of "quiet backwater" in comparison to the "high-energy" reef hobby zone. A lot of reefers incorrectly and unfairly stereotyped the freshwater hobby as a bunch of old 1970's people excited about keeping brown fish in metal-framed aquariums filtered by under gravel aquariums.

Really.

And as someone who comes from the reef world/culture, was a well-known speaker and author in that world, and co-owned one of the hottest coral propagation facilities in the U.S., and now owns Tannin, which has garnered a sort of "cutting edge" reputation, I think I have a pretty decent read on the vibe of the reef hobby and the freshwater side.

I think the tide is turning. I think that the reef world, dynamic and fascinating as it is, has become a bit...well, how can I put nicely? Predictable? 

In freshwater, we're seeing the beginnings of a new influx of ideas, technique, technology...thinking. Experimentation in all sorts of areas is leading to awesome breakthroughs, new techniques, etc. And it's not just dependent upon the development and release of new expensive toys. It's about good old fashioned technique!

The reef aquarium hobby, which has been the red-hot darling of the aquarium world for the last couple of decades, is, in my opinion reaching a sort of "asymptotic limit", where the new huge breakthroughs are leveling off, or becoming a bit less spectacular. Coral propagation is a given. You can get great frags everywhere that have never even touched the ocean. Marine fishes are being bred in captivity to the point where we really no longer need to rely on wild imports for most varieties of Clownfish, many Cardinalfish, and some other popular varieties.  For the first time, we're actually seeing internal pressure within the marine breeding world for breeders to "move on to some other species."

Now, don't get me wrong. I love reef tanks. 

Reef aquariums are amazing little captive microcosms, but they are rapidly becoming sort of, well...ubiquitous. They're everywhere. Now, don't be misled, the reef side of the hobby is thriving, new products are debuting almost daily, and beautiful tanks are popping up constantly. However, having stepped back from that world, I've noticed some things that are well, interesting. In my opinion, the things you see the most of in the majority of the media on the reef hobby are: 1)new expensive hight-tech gear, and 2)new crazy-expensively-equpped reef tanks. Oh, and a ton of frags. 

Now, all of these things are cool. All of them are engaging...But it's like there has been a technique progression that has almost reached a limit for now, and a lot of the changes in the reef side are being driven by technology breakthroughs, or the "gear" side of things. With a few exception, the "art" or technique side of the reef hobby has sort of "leveled off" for the time being, as everyone's eyes are on the latest reactor, controller, or pump.  Sure, the new technology is creating new dynamics and possibilities that hobbyists will develop techniques for as they "catch up" with it over time. 

New products are really cool, but how many different versions of a protein skimmer, LED light, or reactor do you need? Pump technology is cool, and DC motors are creating amazing energy savings. Great stuff. But what about techniques? What about the "art" of reef keeping? Time to return a focus to technique a bit, IMHO.

And, just because the bulk of new equipment and flashy toys are being marketed towards the reef world doesn't mean the freshwater world is moribund.

Short-selling that the freshwater world is "for beginners", "mired in the past", etc. is just wrong. It's out of touch with reality, and shows an ignorance that is really disturbing, if not laughable. 

Guess what? You can do both. Your skills cross over. Notice I said "skills?" Great reef keepers make great freshwater hobbyists- and vice versa. And just because you can keep a cool, gear-heavy reef tank doesn't mean you can "nail" keeping wild Altum Angelfish from day one, any more than an IAPLC winner can keep a stunning Acropora tank right away.  You have to hone up on your aquarium technique. You'll have an advantage if you're a skilled hobbyist- not because you spend $37,000 on an over-the-top, uber high-tech, gadget-driven reef tank or high-tech planted tank.

To my reef friends who have this attitude: Enough. Wake up. The "new wave" is here. Time to leave the attitude at the door, "cross pollenate" and have everyone share all of our amazing experiences for the betterment of the aquarium hobby as a whole.

Join in on the fun.

In the freshwater world, we're seeing the beginnings of a new influx of ideas, technique, technology...new thinking. Some of it is coming from well-known FW hobby people we've known, loved, and respected. Some is coming from a new generation of "resident freshwater" hobbyists. And some is coming from people from other ends of the hobby- Reefers, Frog people, planted tank enthusiasts, etc...

Almost every day, I'm talking to a different reef hobbyist who can't wait to play around with new freshwater tanks! They get it.

It's an amazing time that we should all be enjoying together. With the crossover technologies, the power of the internet, the talent, and the killer ideas flowing from all sorts of hobbyists, it's time to create a new and open-minded culture, taking in the best ideas from both sides of the "salinity line", for the advancement of the entire aquarium hobby! There is so much to learn from each other.

Break down the barriers, cast aside antiquated notions, open your eyes...and share. 

Yeah, the New Wave is here.

Stay open minded. Stay experimental. Stay focused on FUN.

And above all...

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Shining light into the dark waters...new questions in search of new answers...

As we've progressed in this whole botanical/blackwater "genre", I know I have personally learned a ton about the setup, husbandry and long-term maintenance of these systems. It's been amazing so far, and I'm proud that the Tannin community has been on the forefront of this "movement" in the hobby!

Although hobbyists have kept blackwater tank for years, I think it's only been quite recently that they have literally "emerged from the darkness" and have become a more popular, accessible subject for experimentation and enjoyment among fish geeks!

It seems like almost every day we are hearing from hobbyists who have started a blackwater tank, and have made some interesting observation that can give us insights into the "best practices" surrounding  the application of botanicals for blackwater tanks.

And of course, with new people and new task comes new ideas; new approaches- and a refinement of techniques already "in play." And this is really great, because it makes the whole "mystery aspect" of keeping botanical/blackwater tanks that less "mysterious."

There are so many areas that almost anyone getting in the game can contribute to. Here are just a few of the things that I know I'm going to be looking into over the coming months:

*Really locking down which leaves seem to be most effective at reducing pH in a given sized sample of RO/DI water, and seeing if there is a way to at least come up wit ha more reliable "baseline" for how many leaves to use "per gallon", if we start with specific source water conditions...And of course, I'd do the same for preparing water to use in changes as well, rather than just the "4 Nano Catappa leaves in a 5 gallon container"  approach I use now... 

*I'm curious how effective the once-dreaded biofilms are as a supplementary food source for small fry of a variety of fishes. In other words, for certain fishes, would it make sense to create a more natural "rearing tank" incorporating a leaf litter bed? 

*Is there a pH "equilibrium point" where a tank maintains a very steady pH based on the amount of botanical material present? IS there even a way to determine this?

*Is the "tea" created when I prepare botanicals truly something I should be discarding? I have always done this, for fear of adding pollutants and contaminants released during boiling, but a growing number of hobbyists tell me they always use this stuff as an "additive", and that it's kind of a waste to discard it...That's a tough experiment for me to undertake, but I may have to let go of my fears at some point in the interest of knowledge acquisition! 

*How deep a leaf litter bed can you keep in an aquarium? What types of flow and filtration requirements would be optimal with a very deep (like 8"-10" 20-25cm) bed? In nature, leaf litter beds can be several feet deep! Is there a maximum practical limit for aquaria? What are the challenges associated with the management of a deep leaf litter system? Are there techniques to limit any deleterious effects? Are there any bad things that can happen? What are they? How much flow can you push through it without displacing the material? Might be time to break out the old Vortec pumps from my reefing days!

*How well do aquatic plants do in a blackwater tank over the long haul? Can they keep growing steadily? Is there a "barrier" point where they reach their max potential, or is this just aquarium theory?

And finally, the ongoing "experiment":

Leaf litter tanks over the intermediate long term (like a year and a half or so) have shown surprising stability when I've adhered to some regular maintenance and "replenishing" practices. My hypothesis is that you can keep one of these types of tanks running almost indefinitely with the practices I've embraced. I want to see if this holds out, and what the challenges are (if any) to keeping one of these tanks going for several years.

These are just a few of the dozens of things I'd like to tackle in the near future. I know a bunch of you have set up your own experiments. This is so important; so helpful for advancing the "state of the art" that we have developed in this formerly obscure specialty niche in the amazing aquarium hobby!

Experimenting, discussing, and sharing are so easy to do in the wonderful time in which we live. It's truly "open source", and everyone's effort counts!

What ideas are YOU working on? What discoveries will you make? 

We can't wait to hear and see them!

Be experimental. Stay open minded. Stay observant. Stay excited.

And stay wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The inner game of aquascaping...listening to your own voice.

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." - Andy Warhol

I will admit something here:

I've got the affliction that almost every aquascaper  on the planet seems to have.

I think I'm a lousy aquascaper. Don't get me wrong. I can "turn 'em out"...occasionally. I might hit on a few points I wanted...but historically, I'm my own worst enemy. 

I like to look at aquascapes. Love to play with them. Love to talk about the concepts behind them...but I feel that I'm just not that good at executing them. I stand in awe of guys like George Farmer, Oliver Knott, Johnny Ciotti, Jeff Senske, Luis Navarro...these people have serious "game"- and this ability to adapt the idea that they have floating around in their head at the moment into reality, as well as the seemingly otherworldly ability to "see" the completed scape as they work.

You ask some of these guys, they'll literally tell you that the components they're using-the rock, the wood, the plants- sort of "talk to them.." And they listen. They have that ability to visualize and execute where something should go; how it should be placed- and how much of it-because they evaluate just what kind of "contribution" a certain element will make to the overall design. They don't fight it. They listen.

And they'll tell you that we ALL can do this. We all have the ability.

Oh, sure, some people have a background in design and art. They understand ratios and such...but they almost never tell you that these things are the main reason they are good at what they do. Rather, they'll tell you it's because they developed an innate understanding of the process, and the ability to heed an inner voice.

These guys- like all aquascapers- you and I included- are really deep. Very philosophical. You can have awesome discussions with them. The main difference between "them" and "us" is that these guys listen really intently to that inner voice and don't fight it off...

We ALL have this ability. We just need to overcome a few tendencies, in my opinion. We all have greatness within ourselves. 

(Takashi Amano, perhaps the greatest of all, understood the value of belief, harmony, and awe when creating aquascapes.)

Over the years, I've learned a few things about the mindset of the majority of aquascapers, which seem to come up all the time:

*We are typically our own worst critics

*We tend to place too much value in what other people think of our efforts.    

*We're almost never "finished" with a scape. We keep going when it's done.

*Our work is almost always better than we think it is.

Honestly, I think I'm spot on with these points. Don't believe me? Check out almost any forum where someone is showing off their latest work. It's almost guaranteed you'll see the creator say stuff like, "I know it needs some work, but..." or "Please be gentle, it's my first effort..." or "I just can't seem to get my rocks arranged as good as ________ can...

Oh sure, once in a while, you'll actually see a comment like, "Im pretty happy with this one. I think I nailed it."

Yet, in the aquascaping world, that seems to be the exception rather than the rule. We're too damn self-critical; too damn modest. Not everyone, of course, but many of us. And look, I'm not espousing that you go on Facebook with a pic of your tank and proclaim to the world that you're the second coming of Takashi Amano...Arrogance is never fashionable. What I am espousing is that you take a second to realize that you're pretty damn good at this stuff. Really damn good.

Believe it or not- and I think that my "A List" aquascaping friends will vouch for me here-  every single aquascape that is put out to the world has amazing merits that inspire everyone. Really. Ask your local aquascaping superstar. They'll tell you that they can glean something from every single scape they look at...Wether it's a brilliant placement of a rock, a use of color or texture that they simply hadn't seen before, or even- just occasionally- a reinforcement of why they don't want to do something a certain way.

(Luis Navarro- adapting, studying, improvising...creating)

Yeah. Nothing is ever wasted when you share i the aquascaping world. A tank can always serve as an example of what NOT to do for someone. And gain...notice I said for "someone." Because every 'scape has it's merits, and should satisfy the one person who really counts- its creator. 

(George Farmer has a deep respect for nature, design, and listening to his own voice. And it shows in everything he does...)

And, I think I've been able to zero in on what I feel is the most important thing to learn about aquascaping:

Did you see my point about not being "finished" with our 'scapes? It's a tough one to overcome. I have this problem...I always need to place one more rock, one more iteration of the finishing piece of wood...one last plant. It's hard to stop sometimes.I have to battle myself.  I think part of this is the fact that all of those cool scapes that we see online in pics from aquascaping competitions are "evolved" or "finished" products, in which man started and nature took over.

Yet we don't see that from the pics. We see this finished product and think to ourselves, "Keep going."

Sometimes, it's best to tell ourselves, "Walk away."

I know that my best aquascapes have always come from a place of being "done"- whether or not the scape could have used one more piece is not the point. The point is to put yourself in the state of mind that says, "Okay- let it breathe a bit. Bring life to it as it is, and see how it goes." Rather than the more common, "If I just tweak the direction of this stone a little bit to the left..."

Restraint, like effort- is important. Yet often overlooked in our quest to seek perfection. Noble, but actually a form of self-sabotage, IMHO.

We need to learn to walk away. To know when to say "when."

The realization that the very best aquascapes are ones that start with a solid "foundation" of a good design, but require time, growth, an other natural processes to allow them to reach their full potential. Nature has been doing this for billions of years. Our intervention might be appreciated, but it's seldom "necessary" when it comes to aquascaping. The botanical systems that I love so much are the absolute embodiment of this...as soon as we finish, nature takes the range and completes the job. 

(Johnny Ciotti. Heading his inner voice.)

Stuck? Thinking you need one more rock? Walk away for a bit; let nature have at it. She'll do what's right, just as surely as the sun rises or the tide returns. When you work with nature instead of trying to circumvent it, the results are never quite as good.

Learn this. Embrace this. 

I think you'll be a happier, more fulfilled aquascaper as a result. Call it "wabi sabi", "evolution", or "transience"- whatever. But embrace it. 

And savor your work. The experience. The process. The satisfaction. 

You've got this.

Stay hungry. Stay open minded. Stay strong.

And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics