The Tint

To breed or not to breed...?

Okay, this is kind of a fair question, actually...

With so many hobbyists getting into the idea of botanical-influenced blackwater aquariums, I know a fair number of us are trying to create natural conditions to stimulate breeding of fishes.

Others are experimenting with the purported "therapeutic" aspects of blackwater and the botanicals which help create it (i.e.; Catappa, etc.) Yet, many of us are simply trying to create a cool-looking tank, to savor a new aesthetic experience. Any spawning events with fishes that take place in our aquariums are seen as a delightful, yet random, occurrence.

In our office aquarium, which you've seen splashed over these pages and on our social media feeds, we've chosen to use this this tank as more of a "poster child" for the "Botanical" approach. The idea was to create a fairly natural-looking aesthetic, and select fishes that came from this environment, such as characins and dwarf cichlids.This has worked out very well, with the fishes displaying incredible coloration, relaxed behavior, excellent appetite...and, on several occasions- spawning behaviors!

A few weeks ago, I had contacted my friend, William Garden of The Cichlid Garden, one of the top Apisto breeders in the U.S.- about obtaining a few new fishes to add to the tank. I felt that it would be a lot of fun to have a group of Apistos in this aquarium, to add some color, interest, and perhaps-some incidental spawning...although the spawning was not really on my mind in this display. I have really fallen for the behaviors, color, and personalities of these cool little cichlids.

I started looking to create a little colony of Apisotgramma bitaeniata, which I was smitten with at the time.

And William, ever the hobbyist, asked me this awesome question: "Do you want to breed them, or just have a cool-looking group?" And I was thinking, "Wow- great question..." I really didn't have the time to create spawning tanks and rearing systems, and to me, it was really more about the behaviors and seeing the fishes interact in an interesting environment. And of course, he had an idea, "Why don't I send you some various selected males of different species that you can keep in that tank? They'd make a cool display!"

And guess what? He was right! I now have a little cadre of Apistos: A. cacatuoides "Triple Red", A. bitaeniata, A. abacaxis, and A. atohualpa. And guess what? They all get along like a bunch of beer-swilling college buddies!

Oh, the occasional little "tiff" might break out between the larger ones (the really large cacatuoides and the atohualpa), but that's it. Just a little "nudge" here and there. No protracted territorial battles. No vengeance killings. No one cowering in the corners. They sorted it out from day one, and now they are always hanging out and interacting together, forming a little "clique" and displaying and darting around the lower reaches of the tank.

They spend their days diving in and out of the leaf litter, flashing for each other- and just adding to the overall color and interest of an already fairly unique aquarium. Just generally looking cool.

The idea of keeping fishes for the sake of enjoying their appearance is as old as the idea of keeping fishes in aquariums. The allure of breeding is as important and strong as ever, but I've noticed that simply keeping beautiful fishes in environments that are conducive to their health, coloration, behavior- and spawning- creates a truly memorable and enjoyable display and hobby in and of itself. Seems like, whenever I visit a fish room of a well-known breeder, they always have at least a few display only tanks to simply enjoy their fishes. 

And many hobbyists, for a variety of reasons- simply want to enjoy looking at their fishes in a cool tank. They don't have the time, inclination, economic ability, space, or interest, to go int a full scale breeding program. And that's perfectly okay. Who says we have to breed every fish we keep? 

So, in my opinion, the goal of keeping tropical fishes, wether you're intending to just savor them in a pretty tank, rear them, or breed them- is to provide optimal conditions for their health, appearance, coloration, and longevity. And if they just "happen" to reproduce- well, what bonus, right?  The "icing on the cake!" Treat your fishes like you're trying to spawn them- in terms of environment, food, etc., and at the very least, you end up with some amazingly nice looking fishes to enjoy! Win-win for your fishes- and for the hobby.

The answer to the question, "To breed or not to breed?" is moot. Irrelevant. Rather, it makes more sense to simply "do what we do" as fish geeks: Enjoy them. Just as many secrets can be unlocked by keeping fishes in optimal, nature-like conditions as can be gleaned by spawning and rearing them, IMHO.

The first step to getting delicate, rare, or otherwise seldom-kept fishes to spawn is to simply keep them alive long enough to reach a reproductive condition...and then to help them thrive. The work done to get to the "spawning phase" is every bit as important- although seemingly not a "sexy"- as the work that goes into spawning them and rearing that first batch of fry from said fish!

We all can make important contributions to the body of knowledge that makes up the art and science of tropical fish keeping. Whether it's perfecting their captive environment, studying their behaviors, needs, and interactions, working out their dietary requirements- or rearing their fry- every step along the way as a valuable contribution. Sharing your endeavors is so important- they unlock so many doors.

Don't ever lose sight of that.

Say engaged. Stay excited. 

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Never forget.

Today, in memory of the many lives that were lost on the horrible events of 9/11/01, we're not going to put out a blog post. Rather, like all freedom-loving people everywhere, we're going to take this day to pause and remember all of the innocent victims who lost their lives on that day.

To every hobbyist, around the world, let's hope that the love that we share with our families and friends, and the simple pleasure we receive from our favorite hobby give us the strength and inspiration to continue to bring light to the world.

Stay Strong. Stay compassionate. 

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

"How the cookie crumbles..."

I swear I write about my love of water changes at least every few months. I woke up and changed water in my home aquarium today...felt great.

I love them because there is something incredible, psychologically, when you know you're doing something that absolutely has a benefit for your fishes. It puts you in touch with you animals, provides a visceral, real experience that really lets you look, feel, smell, and experience exactly what's going on in your aquarium. A key "ingredient" for success, IMHO.

And of course, they give me an opportunity to reflect on stuff...

The other day, home feeling crappy with a little cold, I felt like doing something-anything- besides watching movies, perusing fish sites, or just sitting and thinking about how lousy I felt, and I had this craving to make something...in this case, oatmeal raison cookies.

Seriously. A sick guy baking. Weird. (Yes, I actually wore a  mask and gloves because I didn't want to get my wife sick, if you really must know, lol.)

Why am I mentioning this? Well, as I was perusing the recipe and assembling the ingredients, my mind sort of drifted into how much this reminded me of the process of creating and maintaining an aquarium....You have a certain number of "ingredients", and proper procedures for using each; and of course, there are reasons why you need to use each. And the outcome is based upon the proper utilization and application of each ingredient and procedure die; mixing, beating, baking, etc.). 

Not at all unlike what we do with an aquarium, really. 

And when you think of it, like in a recipe, if we leave out one element of the system, one "ingredient"- we can end up a complete failure. A lot of interdependencies. Especially in our botanical systems, with more "moving parts" than many more "traditional" approaches. Failure to properly prepare, or not taking into account the impact of an influx of botanicals on an established system can cause problems.

Of course, so can failure to follow common sense husbandry or any number of practices  on a "traditional" system...Regardless of type, we need continue to remind ourselves that an aquarium is a living, breathing, closed biological microcosm that has many interdependencies and requires management on multiple fronts.

Slacking on any one of them can cause an out coming significantly different than what you'd want, just like leaving out a key ingredient in a recipe.

Today's obscenely simple thought.

Oh, and the cookies?

They came out pretty good. I at more of the dough than the finished product, but they came out okay.

Okay, back to chilling out so we can get a lot of orders out on Monday!

Have a great Saturday!

Stay healthy. Stay thoughtful. Stay philosophical.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Habitat enrichment, redoux

The other day, I performed my weekly water change on the 50 gallon aquarium in our office. As part of the routine, I take a soft-bristled brush to the surfaces of my botanicals which might occasionally develop a slight build up of algae. Interestingly, I find myself doing this less and less as the months go on in a given aquarium. Based on my experience with botanical-themed systems, the blooms of biofilms and algae that one might encounter early on tend to dissipate after a couple of months, only making sporadic, transitory appearances, if that.

Anyways, I noticed a bit of algae on a "Terra Sorrindo" pod that I've had in the aquarium since its inception last November, and I reached for the piece and removed it from the water to give it a gentle scrub-down...and the 'Sorrindo promptly disintegrated in my hands! Another botanical did it's job, gradually releasing tannins and humic substances over the months, until finally decomposing back into its constituent parts. The essence of what we call "habitat enrichment"- imparting beneficial substances and materials to the overall environment- in this case, the aforementioned tannins, humic substances, and ultimately, its inert outer shell. Fishes foraged upon its surfaces, shrimp consumed its lignin-rich tissues, and microorganisms flourished on its matrix of interstitial surfaces.

The end of this botanical's "service" life was symbolic, in a way, of what takes place in our aquariums: Fungi, bacteria algae...indeed, the water itself all conspire to erode, degrade, and ultimately, decompose these materials...a real cycle of life. As I continued with my weekly maintenance, I siphoned out a few stray pieces of broken-down leaves and added some new, colorful ones (one of my favorite things!), which is sort of like "re-scaping" the aquarium every week.

It serves the twofold purpose of keeping the water "tinted", the pH more-or-less consistent, and the look and vibe of the tank "fresh"- so similar to what goes on in nature, when old leaves break down, and new ones fall into bodies of water to take their place.

New leaves are sort of a biological/chemical "shot in the arm" for a botanical aquarium.

Speaking of leaves (what a smashing segue, huh?), we receive a lot of questions, in the course of our daily operations, from hobbyists who inquire about adding leaves of various types that they've collected in their local area, wondering if they can use them in their aquarium. It's a very good question, and one which deserves a good answer!

My response typically conservative, admonishing them to "qualify" the leaves first ( i.e.; collected from a "clean" area, free of pesticides, fertilizers, or environmental pollutants), and to make sure that they are using naturally-fallen leaves from deciduous trees. The "naturally-fallen" part is really important.

Why? When the seasons change and trees drop their leaves, much of the material bound up in the leaves' tissues, such as sugars, and more prominently, nitrogen and phosphorous, is essentially "re-absorbed" back into the tree itself before they drop, via chemical pathways and processes. The trees use all of that good stuff to sustain themselves over the long-term after seasonal changes. (winter in temperate climates, and the dry season in tropical climates)

Green leaves, which have not naturally fallen, still contain the bound-up nitrogen, sugars, and other substances in their tissues which the tree utilizes for energy. And when you use those leaves in your aquarium- guess what? You're releasing all of those bound-up sugars and nitrogen into your water, thus increasing nitrate levels and bioload in your tank- something most hobbyists like to avoid. We want the leaves for their tannins and humic acids, not for a cocktail of sugars, nitrogen, and phosphorous...so avoid using green leaves in your aquarium in your leaf litter bed!

On occasion, a customer may comment about the leaves we send them, remarking that they look pretty dried...and I respond by telling them that this is the whole point! You want to utilize, clean, dried leaves that have been collected after they have naturally fallen. Besides, the leaves look amazing, displaying beautiful and varied colors, after they have naturally fallen, providing not only environmental benefits, but a huge aesthetic component as well.

And a diversity of leaves is important, in my opinion, because not only are you getting a nice "aesthetic" benefit, but I feel that varying leaves impart varying levels of tannins and humic substances to the water...Yes, somewhat anecdotal on my part, but I believe I am correct in this assumption, as my personal experience and that of other "tinters" has shown. A nice mix of Catappa, Guava, Loquat, Magnolia, and Jackfruit is amazing to look at.

And again, there is always that question about preparation...Does boiling the leaves remove too much of the tannins and humic substances that you want from the leaves? I'd say that boiling the leaves does. Steeping them a bit in boiling water (say, 10 minutes), however, will release some of the initial burst of tannins found in their tissues, and will help them sink more rapidly, while leaving much of the desired tannins intact over the longer term, in my experience.

Over the last few months, I've simply been rinsing my leaves, then soaking them overnight in room-temperature RO/DI water before using in my aquariums. I've had no issues. As a business owner and responsible aquarist, I opt to recommend the most conservative course of action, hence my recommendations all over the site to steep them in boiling water. Probably more of a habit than a necessary practice for me...That being said, if you are comfortable with "rinse and drop" right from the bag, more power to you! I've done it numerous times without any problems at all.

In the end, utilizing leaves and other botanicals in your aquariums is all about enriching your aquatic environment, providing your fishes with extremely beneficial tannins and humic substances which have scientifically proven health benefits, and adding a "matrix" of material to support biological activity and production of natural food sources. "Habitat enrichment" in the truest sense.

And, there will be a lot more about the benefits of botanical-style aquariums coming to he forefront soon. I recently became acquainted with another remarkable hobbyist who has done extensive research on the concept of utilizing leaves and botanical materials on the basis that they are a rich source of humic substances, which offer absolutely amazing health benefits for fishes, borne out by some remarkable peer-reviewed lab research. I'm coercing him into writing a guest blog on this fascinating topic in the coming weeks!

We are at an exciting time in the aquarium hobby, particularly as it pertains to creating more "natural" conditions for our fishes. The use of botanicals in the aquarium, although not a new practice, is becoming more and more understood and appreciated for a wide range of benefits, not just because they look cool (Which is a pretty good benefit, IMHO)! Rather, we're at a time of great experimentation, discovery, and even more important- sharing of ideas in the hobby. With so many talented hobbyists playing with botanicals more and more, the varied long-term benefits to our fishes will be better and better understood, for the benefit of all!

So stay engaged. Stay curious. Stay experimental.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquaitcs

A complex discussion on simplicity, for the purpose of advancing the "art" of aquarium keeping.

It seems as though not a day goes by when you don’t hear about some new product, animal or technique that "will help change the hobby forever." Crazy, modern, new things that promise to simplify and improve our hobby experience. Some are great. Some add to the complications we already deal with in the hobby. Complication. Complexity. These are kind of "old school" philosophies, if you ask me. For some reason, many of us in the hobby seem mired in the past, with a “more complicated must be better” philosophy. (You've probably heard me rant on this before. In fact, I'm sure you have.)

To this end, we often equip our systems with tons of gadgetry with the intent of recreating the natural environment., and employ complex, militant protocols to keep the environment within a precise range. 

However, lately, I find myself turning to (and preaching) a more disciplined, yet simplified approach to aquarium keeping.

Do you ever wonder why we collectively seem to like to make things so complicated? I attribute this “complication syndrome” to a few possible factors:

1. We think that we ARE making things easy on ourselves. We have busy lives, so we’ve bought into the idea that more complex systems will help us spend less time working on our reefs, and more time enjoying them. The point of a hobby is enjoyment, right? Strange paradox here, though: If multi-stage zeolite reactors, complex additive dosing regimens, two-chambered calcium reactors, automatic top-off/water change systems, and eight-way water return devices make your “job” easier, that’s good, right? Well, don't you have to maintain all of that stuff? Where is the “savings?” Technologically complex systems and approaches seem to have become a necessity in our minds, yet they sometimes make things tougher, IMHO.



"OMG, this saves me 7 minutes a week scraping algae off the front glass. Ain't technology grand?"

2. We like to buy stuff and impress each other. Hey, who can argue with THAT? It feels good to show off that sexy, expensive canister filter or uber-high end LED lighting system…doesn’t it? In all seriousness, I’m sure few hobbyists really set up a system costing thousands of dollars simply to “one up” their buddies, but after reading some tank build threads on hobby forums, I just can’t help but wonder about this sometimes. I’m particularly entertained by the responses of other fish geeks on these build threads, seemingly impressed at the sheer bombastic nature of the builder as the builder brags about the thousands of dollars that he or she is spending on their tank, and the “Wow, I hope my tank is like yours one day!” responses from readers. Yuck! 



"Here are my latest pics of my 72 gallon build! Today, I tested the 96-way titanium actuated ball valve assembly for my internal flow..."

3. Because that’s how it has always been done! Okay, there is some merit to this one. We tend to follow the tried and true. As we’ve discussed in previous posts, discoveries of the past help influence the breakthroughs of the future. If something works for us, we tend to stick with it- complex though it may be-perhaps tweaking a few things here and there as we go. Yet, think of how heretical it was back in the day to get rid of our under gravel filters, or to actually feed our reef tanks! Paradigm shifts involve a certain degree of risk, and I wonder- perhaps we’ve become adverse to risk or criticism in this forum-based hobby area?

4. If something is more "complicated", it MUST be better and safer! Again, back to the infamous build threads: “This guy has 5 different reactors and two types of controllers running the show. All of these functions are automated! He MUST know what he’s doing!” Perhaps it’s because he DOESN’T know what he's doing…ever considered that? Complexity for complexity’s sake is NOT cool. Very “1990’s”, if you ask me.

Look, I am not trash-talking everyone with a complex aquarium system with tons of cool gadgets and exotic husbandry protocols. I’m not a technophobe. I’m not suggesting that we go back to the “good old days”- a simpler and more gentle time…NO!

What I am doing is questioning the need for such complexity in everything. Look, I love these advances. When I was co-owner of Unique Corals, we loved our Neptune Systems "Apex" controllers. They still use 'em there. They are fabulous, and they made monitoring and control of basic functions in our busy warehouse extremely easy. When you have  6-figure inventory of propagated and wild corals from around the world, you need checks and balances and redundancies, and a 24/7 controller, when properly set up, is invaluable! Amazing stuff. And they are perfect for fish rooms, complex aquariums, and for making busy lives less stressful. 

But guess what? These fantastic systems are not intended by their designers to replace the “art” of aquaristics, nor are they intended to be a technological “crutch” to make up for our shortcomings at aquarium management. They can never replace your judgement, "feel", or common sense. Rather, they are tools to help augment your efforts, make life easier and to monitor and automate some of the more mundane- yet necessary- functions of aquariums.



We loved our Apex...But it worked FOR us...We didn't work for IT!

Sure, I’ll be the first to tell you that water quality management is a key to success in aquarium keeping, yet I’ll also be the first guy to tell you that just picking up a siphon house weekly or more frequently is, in my opinion, the ultimate expression of water quality management. All of the technology in the world is not going to save your system if you don’t have the fundamentals down. The John Tullock gem, “More biology- less technology” is so applicable to us. With the "New Botanical"-style aquarium, we're sort of going back to a more natural approach, with a lot more reliance on natural processes.

Thank goodness we are collectively starting to rethink some long-held hobby beliefs and simplifying our approaches — to the benefit of both our animals and our pocketbooks! 



I think we have also make things pretty intimidating for newbies over the years. Advising the newbie to equip his or her small tank with every conceivable technological prop for success, and keep every water parameter at precise target numbers perpetuates the myth that aquariums are more complicated than any other hobby. Yes, there are some minimum equipment requirements that you have in order to outfit and maintain a tank, and we shouldn't oversimplify things to the point of teaching new hobbyists to overlook important stuff.

However, I occasionally wonder if giving the new hobbyist a bucket, a siphon hose, and the admonition to use both regularly and frequently would benefit him/her far more than any multi-stage filter system would.

Again, don’t get me wrong. All of the cool technology and equipment has its place, and there is a certain “barrier to entry” of skill acquisition that you need to hit in order to gain success in the hobby. However, in this new era of the hobby, I think that it’s important to step back once in a while and simply re-evaluate what we’re trying to accomplish, why we are doing what we’re doing, what we really need, and what really works. I’ll hazard a guess that we can simplify many things and still enjoy great success. 

Simple, yet focused approaches are used every day by the pioneering hobbyists that are breeding rare fishes and propagating plants, marine animals, and corals. Their systems, equipment choices, husbandry techniques, and approaches are based upon a specific need — and the results of this focused approach are being demonstrated regularly.

The bigger picture here is that the application of a more simplistic, focused approach can — and has been — leading to huge advancements in the hobby. I’m not encouraging you to eschew technology, nor to abandon the fun of the community tank, or even the complex system.

I am encouraging you to step back now and then to make things easier on yourself by focusing on the "art" a bit more than we have in recent years. A successful aquarium need not be a complicated technical endeavor; rather, it should rely on a balanced combination of knowledge, skill, technology, and good judgement. Take away any one of those pieces, and the whole thing teeters on failure.

Utilize all of these things to your advantage and enjoy your hobby more than ever!

That's the "postmodern" way.

Until next time…Stay focused. Stay in touch. Keep it simple.

And Stay Wet

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Leaves, wood, water...life.

Red leaf and yellow leaf
Are flaunting through the air;
The paths are rustling underfoot,
The sun is everywhere.

– William Francis Barnard

As a fish geek who takes more than a little passing interest in the rather obscure practice of adding leaves, seed pods, and other botanical items to aquariums in order to create "blackwater" conditions, I can't help but get excited about the materials.

Yeah, I've spent a good chunk of the last couple of years playing with, sourcing, testing, enjoying- and "romanticizing", if you will, the materials that we use to create these amazing aquatic environments. The "romanticizing" thing is what I'm going to talk about today. Specifically about Catappa leaves, and  the difference that it makes to use leaves in your aquascape that  are of a certain quality, and that offer a certain "something."

I am a big fan of Indian Almond Leaves (Catappa) in the aquarium. Like many hobbyists who have played with leaves, for many years, I was all about just adding some decent quality materials to my tanks and getting that cool blackwater effect. And it's true, pretty much any old Catappa leaf will impart some tannins to your water, helping to drop the pH a bit and add that "tint" that I won't stop yapping about. 

And Catappa leaves are available seemingly everywhere. All over various online sources, eBay, Amazon, etc. And it's never been easier to get them. Very cool times.

And then I started thinking about what makes some leaves better than others.

I mean, have you ever given some thought to the real quality and source of these materials? In other words, is there a difference between random leaves, collected in some village in Southeast Asia, leaves that are touted as "A" grade, or ones that are more expensive, less expensive, pre-packed, or ones that are romantically touted as hand-selected, carefully sourced, and come in a sexy jute bag? (hmm...)

In other words, aren't all leaves essentially the same? Is there really any added value by purchasing our Catappa leaves versus, say, from some random eBay seller?

A scientist will tell you that all  Catappa leaves are Terminalia catappa, from a dry-season deciduous tree, and that they turn color before they fall due to the presence of pigments like violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and lutein. All Catappa leaves contain a number of flavonoids, like kaempferol and quercetin, as well as a number of different tannins, such as punicalin, and tecatin, and saponins and phytosterols.  Extracts of T. catappa have shown activity against bacteria, such as Plasmodium falciparum  and CQ-sensitive strains. In other words, there is some merit to using them as a fish disease preventative. And all Catappa leaves have these properties, more-or-less.

Yet the similarities end there. 

Once the fallen leaves are collected, it's up to the people who handle them to make sure that they are handled in a manner which preserves these unique qualities, or if they become dried out, moldy, or otherwise deteriorate before being shipped to you. And, there is the question of sourcing. It is thought in the horticultural world that different geographic and genetic cultivars of Catappa may contain more-or less concentrations of tannins, possess slightly different leaf morphology, and coloration and durability characteristics.

Now, we're the first to tell you that we are not aware of any specific study that developed a "guide" to which leaves from which area have, say, a higher concentration of phytosterols, etc., nor if tattered leaves have any detrimental affect (they don't, IMHO). I can tell you that we are aware of how well some leaves are collected, processed, stored, handled, and packed. These things ARE pretty important when we're using them in an aquarium. An intact leaf with has literally been hand-selected, carefully processed, and optimally stored before being shipped to you will be different. 

Remember, when we offer you leaves at Tannin, they're not solely for the purpose of stimulating fish breeding, or to apply their purported therapeutic properties to your fishes. Sure, you can and should use them for these purposes if you want, but the primary mission of our leaves- the reason we offer the varieties that we do- is to offer certain aesthetics, durability, and to impart the "tint" that we love so much around here. When we select new leaves to add to our collection, those are the primary considerations which we apply.

We realize that not everyone will want pristine-appearing, super-colorful leaves. It's natural to have some variation, and little rips, tears, and blemishes on leaf surfaces are pretty cool, in our minds. Some of you will want "base" materials for your leaf litter, allowing the more "varietal" types of Catappa and other leaves to really shine! We offer those, too.

We have also embarked on a long-term program to bring you different varieties of high quality leaves from a number of carefully vetted sources. We work with outfits with whom we've developed personal relationships and a high degree of trust. Suppliers who understand our needs and our commitment to our customers. 

Moving forward, you're going to see a variety of leaves of different origin and source, each one of which will bring a different aesthetic, feel, and quality to your aquarium. The very best will conform to what has been more-or-less developed in the Catappa leaf trade as a "grading system", with the highest quality leaves being designated as "A" grade, and falling under our "Tannin Reserve" designation. Our leaves will be categorized by source and quality. You'll continue to read our romantic musings and stories about leaves, much as you do about gourmet coffee, wine, or cheese!

We'll continue to provide as much impartial, honest, and helpful information about the use of leaves in your aquatic feature. Probably more information than you may care to know...but then again, maybe you will! I think I wrote more than 18 pieces specifically about leaves and their use in aquatic features over the last year...and we're just getting started here!

Why do we go on and on about leaves? And our other botanicals, for that matter?

Because we are crazy about this stuff. And we want to earn your business- and most important-your friendship. And it starts with offering lots of good information in addition to high-quality, value-packed products. And because there is a growing global interest in the botanical-style aquariums, and we're committed to sharing all that we can about them.

And this little aside might give you a bit more insight about where we're coming from:

As we've stated many times before, Tannin Aquatics is not a bargain-priced aquarium vendor, offering tons of "deals" on mass-market stuff and generic items. It's not true to who we are, and not what we choose to bring you. There are plenty of sources for that. In fact, look for a number of our mass-market, widely available product offerings to start disappearing over the next several months, replaced by more unique, more focused merchandise that you'll love. We'll continue to offer fairly-priced, unique, and high-quality stuff, backed with an unwavering commitment to customer service and satisfaction.

Yeah, it really is all about YOU. 

We're excited, pleased, and privileged to serve you, to excite you, and to inspire you. And we continue to utilize your feedback to improve. We're about to release some exciting new stuff and continue to refine our selection, packaging, and your customer experience. We have a lot of cool inspirational video and photo materials coming in the next few weeks, providing you with ideas and information to help you create the botanical-influenced aquarium of your dreams!

So, the next time someone tells you that all leaves are "more-or-less the same", you can tell them that essentially they are, but that there are some significant differences, as well.

Then, send them to our site. :)

Until next time. Love the leaves. Stay true to the things that move you. Stay connected. Stay inspired. Stay excited.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Two ways to have a not-so-good experience with aquatic botanicals...Seriously!

Okay, a seriously negative sounding title...but it did get your attention, right? And this IS kind of a serious topic! Yet,  I will punctuate it with a little touch of sarcasm...Of course!

People ask me if anything about our business keeps me awake at night. Other than shipments being lost, and the other usual minutiae of running any business, I'd have to say that the possibility of someone "nuking" their tank is the one thing I worry about most.

We've been working with botanicals for a few years now, and offering them to customers  for just over a year now (can you believe that?), and with an ever-growing global customer base, the possibility of someone screwing up big-time and killing all of their fishes because they didn't follow our instructions is more of a possibility than before, I'm afraid..You know, it's kind of a "numbers" game, I suppose...

Surpisingly, we've only had maybe one or two incidents of someone having a serious problem, and they were both caused by the aquarist failing to heed our advice about preparation and adding materials slowly to an established aquarium...

And you know, we've always been about being up front, honest, and helpful for you. The key to success with the "New Botanical" approach to aquarium keeping is to follow just  a few basic guidelines regarding preparation, stocking, and monitoring. The rest is all about whatever approach you want to take.

So, really, how does one go about possibly wiping out his or her aquarium with botanicals? Here are a two "excellent" ways, in my opinion:

1) Add your botanicals directly to your established aquarium without any preparation whatsoever- After all, even though the package says "preparation required" and to consult our website for instructions, you're just talking about some seed pods and stuff..I mean, "natural products", right?

Well, yes, they are natural; however, they still need to be prepared for aquarium use. Remember, seed pods and such have been exposed to all sorts of stuff prior to arriving at your door. They are harvested or fall from the trees, accumulate dirt, soil, even pollutants that may be in the atmosphere, like anything that's been "outside." So at the very least, a good rinse with fresh water is a start. 

We are firm believers in boiling most botanicals, or steeping them for a while in boiling water, often followed by a prolonged (overnight, at least) soak in room temperature water. This allows them to release any organics, accumulated dirt, lignin, and an initial burst of tannins from their outer layers, as well as other matter bound up in their tissues- stuff you don't want in your tank- before they are placed in it. It's also a fact that the boiling and soaking will soften their tissues, saturating them and helping them sink more easily when submerged.

Now, granted, every botanical behaves differently when boiled, soaked etc. We did a pretty thorough write up on them in our "Aquatic Botanical Preparation" section on the web site, but it's not the last word on everything. Some botanicals will still not sink easily, even after our recommended preparation times. Remember, these are just guidelines, and your experience will vary. Just be patient, and do what is necessary to achieve "submergence..."

2) Add everything at one time to an established, stable aquarium. It's not like a bunch of leaves, seeds and pods should have significant impact on the water chemistry or quality, right?

Okay, this is the one that often keeps me awake at night. I dread receiving the email from the guy with a long-established and stable Discus aquarium, or the hobbyist with the 13-year-old Pleco, who dumped a large quantity of botanicals into his or her aquarium at one time, and suddenly, everyone was gasping at the surface, or worse. 

This is a very real possibility. You're adding organic materials to the water. "Bioload", if you will, which can affect the pH, oxygen level, and overall water chemistry far more rapidly than you might imagine. These things start breaking down as they decompose, but a large quantity of material added all at once can amplify this affect. It's really, really, REALLY important to add botanicals- or ANYTHING, for that matter, to an established aquarium SLOWLY. I know this sounds like "Aquarium 101", but I'd rather piss you off by sounding "preachy" than hear that you nuked your fish collection by throwing everything in at one time.

Remember, some fishes are extraordinarily sensitive to seemingly any changes in their environment, specifically rapid ones. Fishes like Apistogramma and Geophagus, and of course, Discus and Angelfishes, some of my favorite cichlids, come to mind. They don't like rapid changes. Most fiefs don't. And you'd be surprised how few botanicals, particularly leaves, can affect a "rapid" change in ph, redox, or water quality in a short period of time. A sure recipe for problems.

Look, it's not all doom and gloom. I'm simply advocating caution. Go slowly. There is absolutely no rush to add stuff to your tank, especially a well-established on with a substantial and/or stable population.  Of course, if you are starting with a brand new, "fish-less" aquarium, you have my permission to go to town, and add as much stuff as you want- as quickly as you want! Just be sure to do some basic water tests, adjust environmental parameters as you need to, and carefully and slowly acclimate all the fishes you add to the aquarium. Botanical-influenced aquariums are no more difficult to establish or maintain than any other type of aquarium. You just need to apply common sense. 

Another note: For everyone's peace of mind, including our own, we "batch test" all of our botanicals on our own systems before we release them for sale. Even though we have vetted out suppliers who we feel provide clean, pollutant and chemical-free product, we are paranoid enough to check for ourselves. Again, it's still highly advised to go super slowly...You'll get there soon enough. Enjoy the journey!

Now, I appreciate you staying with me to the end of this little dissertation. Look, as experienced hobbyists, we all know to approach everything carefully and skeptically, yet it's easy to get excited and forget the "golden rules" of aquarium keeping, concerning going slowly and carefully. You know, "common sense." (is that like the 5th time I've used the expression, "common sense?" Feels like it...)

With a little caution, some observation, and advanced knowledge about what to expect, you can have some amazing experiences with aquatic botanicals. There is no need to fear them, but every reason to respect the "power" of these natural materials. For eons, leaves, wood, and botanicals have been washing into streams, rivers, and other bodies of water in nature, affecting the water chemistry. It is no surprise that the same thing happens in our aquariums, albeit with more rapid, pronounced, and potentially serious consequences, so that "fishy intuition" we all possess as aquarists may be the most important tool we have with which to enjoy them!

Oh, and I didn't even mention the biofilms, brown water,  algal films, and decomposing matter...Stuff we've talked about repeatedly, and no doubt will talk about again in future installments!

So, to borrow from the cliche'd expression- "Be calm and tint on."

Stay alert. Stay level-headed. Stay smart.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Turning into the wind...

At some point, as a hobbyist, we all have to make that tough decision. 

The one where we may not have all of the information that we think we need to have in order to reach what we've always regarded as a "good one." The one that makes us doubt our experience, judgment, or discipline. The one that may cause us to go out of our comfort zone. Way out. The one that requires the larger tank, the more expensive lighting system, the larger fish, the wild-caught one instead of the domesticated one...The one that requires us to embark on a path that everyone says is the tricky or "wrong", radical one, even though everything that we know tells us it's the right one to take...

That point of departure from the tried and true is scary, invigorating, and often fraught with peril. Turning into the wid. Headed out to the uncharted waters, if only metaphorically. However, by treading outside of that well-trodden "mainstream" procedure or practice, we are not only casting off  the "shackles" of "conventional aquarium wisdom", we're showing ourselves the confidence that we have in our own abilities. And maybe, just maybe, we're advancing the art and science of aquarium keeping.

This is a big deal. 

A lot of you have just created a botanical-style aquarium for the first time. You've had to break the mindset that said "An aquarium needs to have crystal clear blue-white water and no debris, biofilms, algae or other types of materials in its substrate, etc., etc."

You know, the one that says that your aquarium needs to follow the same path that all of the 17,567,287 aquariums that came before yours did. 

Sometimes, our experiences start out rough, and the doubts begin to knock at the door. "See, I told you that it wouldn't work!" 

You've heard that.

I've heard that.

I remember the first few botanical-style blackwater tanks I built would hit that phase early on when biofilms began to appear, and I'd hear my friends telling me, "Yeah, your tank is going to turn into a mess. Told you that you can't put that stuff in there."

I remember telling myself that this is what I knew was going to happen. I knew how biofilms appear on "undefended" surfaces, and that they are essentially harmless bacteria exploiting a favorable environment. I knew that fungi appear as they help break down leaves and botanicals. I knew that these are perfectly natural occurrences, and that they typically are transitory and self-limiting. Normal for this type of aquarium approach. I knew that they would go away, but I also knew that there would be a period of time when the tank might look like a big pool of yuck. 

To reassure myself, I would stare for hours at underwater photos taken by guys like Takashi Amano and Ivan Mikolji in the Amazon region, showing decaying leaves, biofilms,and fungi all over the leaf litter. I'd read the studies by researchers like Henderson and Walker, detailing the dynamics of leaf litter zones and how productive and unique they were. I'd pour over my water quality tests, confirming for myself that everything was okay. And of course I would watch my fishes for any signs of distress...

I knew that this type of environment could be replicated in the aquarium successfully. I realized that it would take understanding, trial and error, and acceptance that the aquariums I build would look fundamentally different than anything I had experienced before. I knew I might face criticism, scrutiny, and even downright condemnation from some quarters for daring to do something different, and then for labeling what most found totally distasteful as "a routine part of the process."

When beautiful aquariums began to emerge, it suddenly seemed all worth it. I mean, it was all along. It's just that it became a lot more tangible. More real. Even more satisfying.

Like anyone who ever took a slightly different path on the way to hobby enjoyment and adventure, I weighed the risks, took the leap, and went for it. I did it in a very visible, one, and highly interactive way, thanks to social media. I believed in the process- the concept- so much, and found it so engaging that I decided to build a company around it. I sold my interest in one of the most successful coral propagation businesses in the US to pursue my passion...

And it was scary. Especially when I began selling the materials that I carefully sourced and worked with over the years to other hobbyists. Then it became really real. People were adding this stuff to their tanks.

I knew some people would try adding stuff to established tank without following my cautions and advice to prepare botanicals, or go slowly, and that the ensuing disaster or loss of fishes would be blamed on me and my product. I knew that some people would not read all of my advice and information about what to expect- biofilms and such, and would misconstrue this temporary phase as the ending- a disaster- and that the idea couldn't work. They'd probably blame me for their failures. 

Years of doing things slightly differently, being an aquatic speaker and writer, and the time I spent in the coral propagation trade sort of toughened me, steeled my resolve to do things that I knew were right, and to not fear critics.

I needed to understand. To educate. To share. More than ever.

I knew that I had to "walk the walk." I had to explain by showing my tanks, my work, and giving fellow hobbyists the information, advice, and support they needed in order to confidently set out on their own foray into this interesting hobby path.

I'm no hero. Not trying to portray myself as a visionary.

The point of sharing my personal experience is to show you that trying new stuff in the hobby does carry risk, fear, and challenge, but that you can and will persevere if you believe. If you push through. IF you don't fear setbacks, issues, criticisms from naysayers. You have to try. In my case, the the idea of throwing various botanical items into aquariums is not my invention. It's not a totally new thing. People have done what I've done before. Maybe not as obsessively or thoroughly presented (and maybe they haven't built a business around the idea!), but it's been done many, many times.

Yet,  it was still a very, very "fringe" thing, looked upon more as an oddity than a technique by many in the aquarium world. Subject to a lot of criticism and questions. Now, after just a a year since Tannin launched, we've amassed a considerable body of work from fellow adventurers around the world, who have jumped in and decided to give the "botanical-style" aquarium a go, and it's becoming quite a global movement.

There is still a ton to learn. New discoveries to make. Corrections to the practices we employ. Improvements of all sorts. Mistakes will be made. Disasters will happen. Fish will be lost in the process, unfortunately. The price of progress, or of trying new ideas, new paths, is an expensive, risky, and sometimes discouraging one. 

However, it's also invigorating, fascinating, educational, often humbling, yet almost always amazing!

So, when you're considering trying that slightly unorthodox step, that new crazy idea to get that tough fish to breed, or even starting an aquatics business- just be true to yourself. Push forward, brush aside fear...and turn into the wind.

Stay bold. Stay excited. Stay unique.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Teach the children- and their parents- well...

As you progress in the hobby, does it always mean that you can't appreciate the simple, basic things that were so amazing to you when you were a complete beginner?

I think the short and sweet answer is "No!" Seems like no matter how far we progress in the tropical fish hobby, we're still easily engrossed by simple, seemingly "basic" fish stuff. Yet, of course, we can't help but bring our experience and "advanced" tastes to the whole experience. We seem to have trouble viewing things through a beginner's eyes. 

What do I mean? Here are just a few examples:

* You're at a pet shop and you see they sell goldfish for kids. The first thing you do is look to see if any fancy ones slipped in there. You're also curious about the filtration system on the goldfish tank...You'd love to change out the carbon. Is there carbon in there?

* At the dentist's office, they have a freshwater aquarium, complete with fluorescent plastic plants, pink gravel, and a bubbling clam for aeration. Within minutes of your arrival, you secure a seat next to the tank, and it takes all of your will to avoid reaching in the tank and moving some stuff around. Wait, is that Pleco and L137? Nah, can't be...or, can it? 

* You're asked to set up an aquarium for a friend's young child. And of course, this is not an easy task, as you so badly want to give this kid a Southeast Asia biotope aquarium with wild Bettas, blackwater, and gnarled roots for the aquasacape. You know, the one you now say, "I wish I had when I was a kid!" And then, you come to your senses and realize that what she really wants is the Sponge Bob aerator, blue gravel, and some Long Finned Leopard Danios, despite your grand vision. Nothing wrong with the Danios, right?

It's weird, being an advanced fish geek. We totally appreciate the basic stuff; the "beginner's" experiences. However, we can't seem to want to bring everything up to "our level"- to "modify" the process. I get it. I often think, when I see someone leaving the "big box chain" pet store with a 5 gallon aquarium, three bags of fishes, and excited 5-year-old in tow that I'd love to do an "intervention"- to somehow stop them and scream, "No! You need to cycle the tank first! You can't just-" And then I realize that, although I'm right, and that we need to preach responsibility and all...we can't fight every battle. 

I mean, you can, but it isn't easy. It is our responsibility as a hobby and industry to counsel people purchasing aquariums for the first time about the correct techniques, approaches, and impart at least a rudimentary understanding of the needs and care requirements for tropical fishes.  The problem is, we can't be at every pet shop in the world. We can't be present at every dinner table, when parents tell their excited child that they're "going to buy them a fish tank tomorrow!"

Or, can we?

As a hobby and an industry, much effort is made to educate hobbyists on requirements, techniques, and concepts related to the fishes under our care. However, it seems like the real problem is reaching those who are outside of our industry and world. It starts with indoctrinating non-hobbyists about what's involved in keeping tropical fishes. Yes, non-hobbyists. Before they even think about a tank.

How?

That old internet thing shows some promise, doesn't it? The problem is, your typical parent of a 5-year-old isn't going to spend a lot of time searching tropical fish sites for "How to set up an aquarium." We need to reach the potential aquarium consumer where they are, before they pull the trigger.

And they're not on aquarium websites.

He or she is much more likely to be on a more mainstream, parenting or lifestyle website, or the site of the store they plan on shopping at.  Something less specific than a tropical fish, or even a pet website. Some of the big chains do a pretty good job of providing some information on tropical fish care, but it's awfully difficult to find a good beginner's guide quickly. Plus, it's often found too late. Why not just stick it on the front page? Why not have a link under "fish" literally called, "I'm thinking of purchasing an aquarium for my kids. What is involved?"  I mean, the same thing for hamsters, mice, and turtles, for that matter, right?

We're in the most amazing age of information dissemination in history, yet we still have people jumping into the aquarium world with little or no clear information. We need to spend our collective energy communicating in the right places.

Can't some club, some hobby organization, somewhere in the world, create a simple, easy-to-understand guide to "starting your child's first aquarium", which can be disseminated somewhere other than the point of sale? I know some clubs who have done this, and it's worked well wherever it's been executed. I just think we need to do more, and in areas not usually "served."

And, why do we not do more outreach as a hobby- especially at a club level, by donating more aquariums to elementary schools? Of course, this kid of thing has been going on for decades, but wouldn't it be nice if we as an industry/hobby took some time to get even more involved with our communities, sponsoring non-fish events, getting involved with library or after-school programs, just being more visible to non-hobbyists, developing or sponsoring an outreach program for a local club to get out there. Anything.

The opportunity to engage, enlighten, and ignite the spark in children and adults alike is totally within our grasp. If we don't, the "Blackfish", "Snorkel Bob" and "For The Fishes" organizations will do it for us, albeit with a different message entirely. Thanks, "Dory." And their message is to shut down the hobby as we know it. We need to do even more. We need to do better. We can.

We just have to look a bit more outside the box. 

And it's a vital thing. We've been exciting and delighting kids forever about aquariums. It's just that now, it's a bit harder to get through all of the clutter. A bit more difficult to target the masses with our specific message. 

But it is possible, with a bit of creativity, to teach the children- and their parents-well.

Stay excited. Stay dedicated.

And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Back to the bottom...

We talk about the concept of "substrate enhancement" or "enrichment" a lot in the context of aquatic botanicals (we tend to use the two terms interchangeably). We're not talking about "enrichment" in the same context as say, planted aquarium guys, with materials put into the substrate specifically for the benefit of plants.

Rather, "enrichment" in our context refers to the addition of botanical materials for creating a more natural-appearing, natural-functioning substrate- one which provides a haven for microbial life, as well as for small crustaceans, biofilms, and even algae, to serve as a foraging area for our fishes and invertebrates.

We've found over the years of playing with botanical materials that substrates can be really dynamic places, and benefit from the addition of leaves and other materials. For many years, substrates in aquarium were really just sands and gravels. With the popularity of planted aquariums, new materials, like calls and other additives, entered into the fray. With the "New Botanical"-style aquarium starting to gain in popularity, now you're seeing larger materials added on and in the substrate. 

As we've discussed before, these botanical beds and mixed-grade substrates form an amazingly diverse, vibrant community.

With good flow, solid husbandry practices, and a nice mix of bottom-foraging fishes, the possibilities are endless for creating some very interesting aquariums!

There is something oddly compelling to us when we look at both aquariums and natural biotopes with a diverse, interesting bottom structure.You set the stage with wood, plants, and then enhance it even more with botanical materials. 

It's a study in texture, color, contrast, and eco-diversity.

If you look at natural streams and other bodies of water where our fishes come from, you'll see that many of them are more than just sand or gravel. Rather, they have a mix of all sorts of botanical materials, ranging from leaves to seed pods, to pieces of driftwood. These materials form a surprisingly diverse set of "microhabitats", home to a remarkable variety of animals. One which can easily be replicated in our aquaria!

A mix of materials of different sizes on and in the substrate creates the "interstitial" spaces that benefit many small organisms, functioning as protection and breeding areas. You might say that, to some extent, an "enriched" or "enhanced" substrate functions as sort of a "refugium", providing protection for many beneficial creatures to grow and multiply. Many offer services like nutrient processing and scavenging of uneaten food, making this not only an aesthetically pleasing area within your aquarium- but a highly functional one, as well!

Form, function, and aesthetics all coming together is what we're all about!

Stay creative. Stay excited...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics