The Tint

We dream in water.

I will bet that you're a bit like me (well, maybe not quite as weird..) in that you'll often fall asleep dreaming up your fantasy aquariums in your head. You know, the crazy idea that you've wanted to execute- the one with the huge tank, the outrageous aquascape...the one that technology isn't quite available for yet..Or maybe it's a fish room..Not JUST a fish room, but one with a perfect design, awesome filtration, great access, lighting...all that stuff.

Or maybe it's a dream of breeding that one fish that you covet. When I was a kid, I dreamed about breeding the Black Ghost Knifefish...well, not just breeding it- creating different color strains! Like, a Black one with a bright red anal fin and tail...yeah...I mean, it WAS a fantasy...

Every once in a while, it's kind of fun to indulge those dreams. Particularly, those dream concept tanks. I often think that many of these tanks are actually derivations or perfected versions of the ones I currently work with. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that my current leaf litter-dominated aquarium in my office, which I often sort of take for granted, was a "fantasy tank" of mine a number of years back. I mean, I played around with leaf litter in tanks, but just doing a "casual" display tank with the botanical "concept" was definitely "fantasy material" for me for a lot of years.

It's funny to see some of the technology that I needed all those years ago to execute on some of my dream concepts actually come to fruition. Stuff like LED lighting with all sorts of controls, electronic pumps with precision flow adjustment, filtration technology. Some of the tech we are actually starting to take for granted, like inline heaters. Think about it: For years, hardcore aquascapers had to figure out any number of ways to hid the unsightly aquarium heater from view in our display aquariums. Then, inline heaters came out and- wham- problem solved!

Another one of those cool ideas are seemingly simple and easy to take for granted are those cool Riparium planters from Aqua Verdi. Now, you have an easy, off-the-shelf way to grow marginal plants in Paludariums and Ripariums. This solves a big headache for a lot of scheming hobbyists like myself!

Speaking of Paludariums- for at least the last 10 years, I've been fantasizing about doing  a marine palladium to mimic those "Rock Islands" that you see in Palau, essentially pinnacles of coral rock with lush terrestrial plant growth above water, and a vibrant reef below. Seems so obvious, so easy...so unique..Yet to my knowledge, no one has done this yet. Part of the problem, I think, is that you're working with two distinctly different environments (terrestrial plants and a reef system) in one aquarium, which requires proper lighting, filtration, containment, humidity and lighting, and a bunch of other things- all of which are totally "doable" with a little ingenuity. Oh, and capability/experience with both plants and corals...

The closest thing I've seen to this concept is hobbyists playing with mangroves in a reef system. Close, as they say, but "no cigar..." I came really close to doing this in a 450 gallon cylinder aquarium during my days as co-owner of Unique Corals, but the realities of designing, assembling, and maintaining such a tank in a busy coral propagation facility were too great, would take us off focus, etc. the timing was wrong, even though we had a lot of the elements in place to pull it off (labor, smart people, a great working space/tools, and of course, the aquarium- not to mention, unlimited access to coral!). It became a "standard" reef tank. Nice, but not that crazy "concept tank" I dreamed of. Practicality won out.

Of course, that brings up the other issue with making dream tank a reality: Sometimes, it's not about our lack of skills to pull it off- it's about lack of resources (time, money, space). In the case of my "Palau thing", it was time. Just not enough to allocate to such a detailed and innovative project. Could I have scaled it down? Could I simply have done this at home or something? Well, sure, but then I had to find a place that would work, purchase the right equipment for the space, etc., etc.

Some ideas are definitely doable from a technology aspect, but require a bunch of the right factors to line up in order to execute them. For example, I've long dreamed of doing a river tank. I mean, a serious river...like 15-20 feet long and sort of "meandering" into a pool, then recalculating into like a waterfall at the other end.  Big, potentially expensive, complex...and entirely doable. In fact, I saw one in Hanover, Germany a few years back...it was amazing.  Of course, in order to pull something totally outside-the-box like this off, you need all of those elements, right? Space, time, money, do-it-yourself (DIY) skill, etc. It's another one of those fantasy projects that are just at the outside edge of practicality...You can see yourself executing it, if only you had__________.

I suppose that's why many of the most seemingly achievable hobby dreams are those that involve acquiring, keeping, and maybe breeding fishes that we covet. I say, "seemingly achievable", because we often run into problems that make things a non-starter, like availability of the fish you want (Hmm, what collector wants to risk kidnapping and torture from crazy Guerrilla forces in the rain forest to get that rare cichlid?). Or, you have this fantasy about keeping that little cryptic brown fish that commercial collectors simply toss back as "commercially unviable" (because who wants a little cryptic brown fish that dwells in leaf litter?).

Or, perhaps the fish comes from an environment that is really impractical to replicate in captivity, like the African "Soda Lake" cichlids. The "Soda Lake" cichlids, like Danakilia dinicolai  and Alcolapia alcalica, have adapted to survive in extreme aquatic conditions of high pH (8.8-10.2), high salinity and high temperatures (30-43⁰C). I mean, something this weird is begging for a chance in the hobby, but the odds of this fish being imported with any real regularity are quite slim.

(Danakilia dinicolai.  Photo by Giuseppe de Marchi)

Still, many of us harbor even more achievable dreams: Breeding Discus, perhaps?

Or, maybe our dreams are even more realistic, such as simply having a larger aquarium.

The best part about having dreams as a hobbyist is that you always have a possibility- a chance- no matter how remote it seems- of pulling off one of your fantasies. We live in a globally interconnected world now, with hobbyists form all backgrounds, skill levels, and regions communicating daily. Perhaps you'll stumble on a kindred spirit- a hobbyist much like you, who, after years and years of dreaming, just pulled off the same thing you've been fantasizing about. And maybe, just maybe, this hobbyist can provide some encouragement, guidance, assistance- even fishes- that you need to pull of YOUR fantasy...

It's that amazing "what if?" and the endless search for the stuff that keeps us excited which inspired me to launch Tannin. I felt that, if I dreamed about creating botanical-influenced aquariums and blackwater environments, and curated all of the knowledge, ideas, and materials that I amassed over the years to make MY fantasy come true, then maybe- just maybe- other hobbyists who harbored some similar dreams could utilize the resources we have at Tannin to help pull them off.

Yes, we all dream in water. Be it fresh, salt, brackish, or soda water, as the case may be. We dream and ponder and scheme, and more often than not, pull off those dreams, satisfying ourselves, and delighting and inspiring other hobbyists around the world. It's that dreaming, scheming, creating, and sharing that make being a tropical fish enthusiast a very special thing.

Keep dreaming. Keep scheming. Stay relentless. Stay inspired.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

A forest in the dark? Thoughts on planted blackwater aquariums.

I never portray myself as an expert on aquatic plants. In fact, I never portray myself as "knowledgable" about 'em. 

Oh, sure, I love aquatic plants and the look and benefits they bring, it's just that my primary focus has always been on the hardscape and fishes, and plants have sort of fulfilled an undeserved "supporting" role in my recent aquariums. Obviously, most of my recent freshwater aquarium efforts have been dominated by stuff like wood, leaves, and seed pods. Items which lower the pH and contribute to that "tint" which you hear me ranting on about non-stop.

And the key here is "tint"- because that's been the big hesitancy for a lot of hobbyists who want to play with plants in a blackwater system. The concern of many is that the tint imparted by the tannins will inhibit the growth and/or coloration of their plants. I'm not aware of any specific issues related to the tannin in the water inhibiting plant growth. Although many natural blackwater environments have few aquatic plants and little algae, so there's obviously more to it.

I do know of a number hobbyists who played with Cryptocoryne in blackwater systems for a long time, with a few caveats, such as keeping the carbonate hardness low to non-existent (hey, RO/DI, right?), pH low, nutrients limited, and lighting not excessively bright.  Sounds like a typical blackwater aquarium to me! The species were a bit more "rare", yet are available in the hobby when you look: C. pallidinervia, C. yujii, C. zonata, C. longicaudata. And there are dozens more. Some are "obligate" low light plants, and They don't really like highly mineralized conditions (i.e.; high level of nutrients in the solution).

Interesting to me is the use of low pH substrates and leaf litter in their culture ( a lot of the blackwater Crypt. "players" use Beech, etc. in a ground up form, almost like a mulch of sorts...cool). Interestingly enough, many of the so-called "blackwater Crypts" also tend to "melt" if they are in soils that are too nutrient rich...A lot to take in here.

Okay, those crazy hardcore plant people love making stuff complicated, don't they? I mean, they're pretty brilliant, but most of the stuff they talk about is a bit more in depth than I care to go. That stuff kind of "buzz-killed" the whole thing for me...just a bit too "horticultural", ya' know? So for my "trials" in my latest office tank, I it did it the old-fashioned, hardcore fish-geek way: I just obtained some cuttings of plants I liked from a friend, Luis Navarro (who happens to be one of the best planted guys in the game) and went for it.

The real intention of my plant experiment was to utilize a plant that would grow out of the water. He recommended the uber-cool Polygonum sp. "Kawagoeanum", and I couldn't be happier. 

It's a very interesting (okay, it's Asian...but it looks kind of "Amazonian" to me) plant that has amazing colorful leaves and tons of roots that drive those competition-oriented "Nature Aquarium"-types crazy, because they look "messy" (as opposed to their neatly-ordered tanks filled with very "natural" underwater waterfalls, fantasy forests, and floating moss "trees"...yeah, okay...)! And it turns out, that with some nice LED light and my basic, non-nutrient-infused Carib-Sea "Torpedo Beach" substrate covered in assorted leaf litter, this easy plant is growing like...well- like a weed...literally, because I just let it do it's thing. Darkly tinted water notwithstanding, it's doing great.

As stated above, I'm absolutely no plant expert, nor do I claim to have some magic formula or procedure to get plants to grow. Really, I think it's a combination of dumb luck, good source plants, and consistent environmental conditions. However, over the years, I've played with plants like Crypts, Cabomba, Amazon and Pygmy Swords in blackwater tanks, and enjoyed similar sucesses...

What's it all mean? I think it means that most plants are adaptable.

I think hardcore plant people are a bit concerned about many plants in blackwater tanks because they (correctly) are under the impression that blackwater will cut down on the light that gets to the plants, as touched on above. Well, sure, it's tinted, right? However, I think the popular misconception about blackwater (and this is a hunch I have based on talking to a lot of hobbyists who think my obsession with the stuff is weird) is that it's always "murky" somehow...like the tint and "murkiness" go hand in hand.

I, of course, disagree completely with that misconception, and my tank water is as clear as glass, from a visability/turbidity standpoint. It's just...brown. Oh, and my tank grows plants. And I'm not the only person who is doing this...In fact, there are tons and tons of people doing this, with full-on planted tanks that would rival any of those "Fairy and Wizard Fantasy 'scapes" that you see in the big international aquascaping competitions. It's just that I think a lot of people don't talk about it, because blackwater tanks in general have been sort of pushed into a "subculture" status for a long time. 

I think it's time to show off some planted blackwater aquariums! Like our hardscape, it's a totally different aesthetic- an aesthetic that embraces some algae, biofilm, "disorder"- stuff that a lot of aquarists don't like. 

And I get it.

However, for those of you that were itching to try some plants in your blackwater tanks to go with your botanicals...I say, go for it!

Sure, you could use plants that are more closely aligned with the geographic region you're trying to represent in your tank, but I think you can allow yourself some "artistic liberties" to make things less rigid, and more enjoyable (you know, like an Asian plant in your "South American-inspired" tank...). Purists will hate you. Counter-cutlure hobbyists will love you. And everyone will benefit from the information you share.

Todays' disjointed dissertation on something that you may have already tried...

Enjoy your "tint." Stay experimental. Stay adventurous.

And Stay Wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Debunking the reef "mystique..."

As most of you know by now, a good chunk of my recent aquarium experience is from the world of reef keeping...marine aquariums, fish- that sort of stuff. Oh, I've been keeping freshwater aquarium almost since I could walk. I joined the American Killifish Association when I was 15. Bred my first cichlids (Kribs) when I was 14. Always had at least two aquarium in my bedroom as a kid. I sort of deviated in to saltwater when I was around 12 years old, and pitched a "base camp" in the saltwater world shortly thereafter, where I remained for decades. 

I kept reefs, hung out with other reef geeks, experimented with stuff, wrote articles, appeared in videos, travelled the world speaking at reef clubs and conferences. I was a sort of "rock star" in the reef world (really), getting the coveted prime speaking spots at the glamorous Marine Aquarium Conference of North America for several years. I worked in a prestigious reef aquarium design and maintenance firm, managing some pretty talented people designing and building some amazing aquariums. I ultimately co-owned one of the reef world's most successful and respected coral propagation/online vendors, Unique Corals, which I sold my interest in last February, while the company was still peaking.

I was very salty. 

Yet, I always had a foot in the freshwater world. And the call of my freshwater roots was too strong to resist. It was time to cross back over, big-time. I couldn't resist the fishes I loved: Killifish, tetras, dwarf cichlids, etc. I was always fascinated. And I always was playing with natural materials, different aesthetics...blackwater. And the itch to do something in the freshwater world led to the creation of Tannin Aquatics last year. It's been quite a ride! We're now starting to receive worldwide recognition not only because we are advocating a different approach to freshwater aquariums- but because we are embracing and fostering a culture of excited, enthusiastic hobbyists who are doing all sorts of cool stuff. Bulding bridges; creating an inclusive culture. It's fun!

Yet, in discussion on various hobby forums, and just with individual hobbyists, many are still a bit "intimidated" about saltwater- reefs in particular.  I still hear about this mystery or snobbiness associated with the reef world. It's almost as if the 1990's "reefs are mysterious and difficult" mystique never left. It's like someone said: "There are you freshwater guys...and then there are us reefers! Just be careful when you try to enter our world. In fact, maybe you should stick with guppies..."

Like, snobbery. Or at the very least, some desire to perpetuate some continued myth that reefs require some magical talent level to enter the kingdom- let alone, succeed in there. A real joke, IMHO.

What gives here? I mean, back in the 90's, when the reef hobby was really taking off, you read a lot about all sorts of exotic equipment, procedures, tests..."Stuff" that you had learn, purchase, understand, to play the game. Reefs were seen as a "graduation" from the "minor leagues" of freshwater...And for some unknown reason, the freshwater world allowed this sham to be perpetuated.

Trust me, reef keeping  not that complicated. In fact,  I recently read an article about the "Estimative Index" method of keeping a planted tank, and my head spun around far more than it ever did when reading about trace element management, Lanthanum chloride dosing, or any number of reef-keeping practices that have been popularized over the years. of course, we make it super complicated for some reason. Dunno why.

Think keeping coral is complicated? Yet, you can keep an African cichlid tank, with its chemical dance, need for strong nutrient export mechanisms, environmental monitoring, and territorial squabbles...not to mention, the endless taxonomy debates. Oh- and you BREED them. Speaking of breeding- just about any fish breeder who maintains a few tank in his or her basement is doing stuff, using skills, and understanding problems every bit- if not more- than reefers do.  And biotope aquariums, with specialized water chemistry, fish populations and such- every bit as complex and demanding as any reef tank- if not more so. It's about perspective.

I think part of the whole myth of "reefs are too mysterious and complicated for most people" started because, "back in the day" (like the 1980's-90's), the freshwater hobby was sort of "stagnating", and things had been done pretty much the same way they had been since the "Golden Age" of the 1960's. Then, along comes this new thing, and with it, a need to understand things from a slightly different angle- the addition of a few new components (literally and figuratively- we needed some new equipment, but nitrate, phosphate, and ammonia are the same, right?). Suddenly, the slumbering freshwater world woke up and saw this new thing, and many hobbyists simply saw this expensive, new, complicated, and somewhat brash world that they felt was not really for them.

And the reef world did little to close this gap. I think part of the problem was that a lot of the technology and concepts used up until the mid 1980's in the saltwater world were simply freshwater things adapted to this different "medium", and they didn't always work. So you began to see a literal explosion of new brands offering dedicated reef keeping equipment. New techniques were developed to grow corals, keep fish healthy longer. The marine/reef world was, for the first time, "flying free", developing on its own. And as more people got into the game, the demand for more and more refined equipment and techniques grew. Specialized development happened at an explosive pace. A lot of R & D money from aquarium manufacturers seemed to be pouring into the reef world.

And reefers themselves developed. They learned the stuff that seemed on the surface to be so complex, but was really much the same as applied to the freshwater world. It was just necessary to bring some of this stuff front and center, because many freshwater life forms simply couldn't thrive in conditions that weren't monitored carefully. And because we were doing things that hadn't been done before, everything seemed so new and mysterious.

Meanwhile, the freshwater world sort of started to evolve even more, with amazing dedication, new animals, techniques...everything was at a higher level. The same tech we had in the reef world started to "cross back" into the FW world. To those in the reef world who didn't keep a foot in the freshwater community, it appeared to be moving at a glacial pace, relative to the hypersonic world of reefs. But those of us who looked on the other side of the fence had our mind blown.

And that stupid stereotypical view of freshwater is for "beginners" took hold even more. Personally, I found the whole thing disgusting. I knew many reef keeping "experts" that never owned a freshwater tank. Never could tell the difference between an Apistogramma and a Plecostomus. Never knew the joys of tetras, Bettas, etc. Nor the challenges of new concepts, like ripariums. Too caught up in their high energy, high priced, burgeoning world.

Fortunately, it seems that the freshwater world has so many crazy cool things going on at any one time that it's almost too much to comprehend. And coming from the more homogenous reef world, the hundreds of "subspecialties" in the freshwater world- each with it's own technique, adaptations of equipment, language, culture, and tribe of experts-seems to match, or even eclipse the reef keeping world in many ways.

But it doesn't matter. It shouldn't matter...we are all fish geeks.

It is a bit different now. Nowadays, I have tons of reef keeping friends- "heavy hitters" in the hobby- who are going crazy keeping freshwater tanks. Planted systems, cichlids, Rainbowfishes...all sorts of cool things. And they're challenged. Yes, challenged. because the nice thing about the hobby- despite the efforts of some to quantify, qualify, and "snobbify"- is that it's all there for us- as shallow or deep as we want to go. 

The skill sets we acquire in one area will absolutely translate into another. We are not compartmentalized in our thinking. We can't be. There is far too much to learn- far to much to share- and more to discover.

So the next time someone tries to sell you on the "reef mystique", tell 'em about the Lake Tanganyikan "mystique" (ohh, rock dwellers, shell dwellers, or..?), or the concepts behind the high-tech planted tank, or a blackwater aquarium, or a Rainbwofish biotope tank, or... You won't find a rival, a person to be humbled. Instead, you'll find a kindred spirit, who is as fascinated about a part of the aquatic world as you are- and equally as excited to explore it.

We're all on the same team here.

Stay curious. Stay interested. Stay united. 

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Yaay! You purchased some new fishes. Now what? True confessions of a traumatized fish buyer...

Are you one of those hobbyists who's pretty easygoing when it comes to purchasing, acclimating, quarantining, and adding new fishes to your aquarium? Are you just sort of "systematic"- with a set procedure that's almost automatic ("Open bag, pour fish in bucket, drip, add to tank...")? Or, is each time sort of a unique, highly specialized, well-orchestrated process, with anticipation, frazzled nerves, and second-guessing? Or, are you like me- sort of somewhere in between?

I don't know what it is, but it seems like whenever I purchase fishes, whether it's online or in person at the LFS, it's a double-edged sword for me. On one hand, when I "pull the trigger" and buy some fishes, it's an exciting experience, which leaves me childlike with euphoria!

And then I get home. 

All business, man. Time to go through my acclimation and quarantine process. I mean, I have the process down, honed by decades of experience, much like many of you. It's virtually like a "checklist at this point, you know? ("Airline tubing? Check. Bucket? Check..."), yet each time, I sort of get a little- I dunno- nervous, maybe? I mean, I've never ever lost a fish during acclimation (well, at least due to the "stress" from acclimation...I've had a few losses caused by- well-"stupid equipment choices", as I'll explain later...)...

I have had some close calls: A wrasse or two jumping out of my acclimation bucket (and quickly swooped up off the floor by me, the "mother hen."), a Centropyge Angelfish or two keeled over in the freshwater/methylene blue dip I use with marine fishes...(always a bit traumatic to watch, but absolutely effective and highly recommended!), a baby Knifefish sort of "disappearing" in the acclimation bucket for a while, before reappearing, as I was ready to give up after searching the floor (still have no idea what happened, but there he was..), and a few other assorted traumas.

Okay, once I did have a pretty bad experience using a powerhead to provide aeration while acclimating some Tetras. I loaned my spare air pump to a buddy that week...Let's just put it this way- I started with 12...and added 9 to my quarantine tank...yeah. Not recommended.

So yeah, for the most part, acclimating new fishes is probably more traumatic on me than it is on my fishes...Pureed Tetras not withstanding, of course. 

Oh, and isn't the whole process even more- well, scary- when you're dealing with a "rare" fish? Yeah, it's like time to double down and really get it right, huh? I mean, it should be no different a process or experience than acclimating the most common batch of Zebra Danios, but there's something more...I dunno- businesslike- when it comes to acclimating a fish that you paid $50- $200 for. I remember acclimating some very expensive marine fishes in the past, and I tried to be very nonchalant about the whole affair. I mean, a fish is a fish, right? Well, when you forked over the equivalent of a monthly car payment for a fish, it takes on a different vibe. Looking back, I remember how scary it seemed at the time.

And I remember winning some "extinct-in-the-wild" Goodeids at an auction once and taking them home...talk about pressure!

(Zoogonectus tequila by Loury Cedric - CC BY S.A. 4.0)

And of course, it doesn't end once you've acclimated your new fishes, does it? I mean, then you have to see how they do in quarantine (you don't quarantine? Urge, don't get me started...). You carefully watch and observe and look for any sign of something wrong with the fish...you know how that feels.

Hoping against hope that they're "clean" specimens... And then, of course, there's the issue about the first meal: "Why isn't this fish that just completed a 2 day journey in a box to me after just traveling halfway around the world the week before eating! I'm giving him enriched brine shrimp, for goodness sake!"

Yeah, you know that feeling. Logic will tell you that the fish needs to settle in from its traumatic last week or so before it even thinks of food, but as hobbyists, we want our babies to be healthy and happy- and that means "hooking 'em up" with the best cousine that the house has to offer within 10 minutes after they hit the quarantine tank. It's almost like a "test" to see what kind of time we'll have with this fish. Instinctively, as an aquarist, you KNOW that the fish won't touch any food this soon, yet you still drop in that spoonful of food anyways...

Yes, you do. Don't deny it. I do, too.

Finally, after a bunch of observation, careful feeding, and just general waiting around, comes moving day. You carefully acclimate your new addition to his "forever home", and hope for the best. And of course, the process of the fish adapting to another new situation starts pall over again, and the pressure and nervousness that we dealt with a few weeks back ratchets right back up, with a new set of potential challenges and questions: "Will the fish get bullied? IS the tank big enough? Will this guy hide all day? Will he eat my Rainbowfish? Will he eat at all? Why is he showing fright coloration? And why are the Cardinal Tetras taking runs at him? WTF?"

You know, the usual stuff.

It almost always works out in the end, but the whole experience tells me all I need to know about why purchasing new fish- ANY new fish- is a big deal for me. It is the marriage of research, planning, carefully coordinated action, watching, waiting, and hoping. It's a big, sort of traumatic event...

And I- we- love every second of it. And when it's done and the fish is calmly swimming in your display tank without a care in the world, you smile, publicly acknowledging that it's no big deal adding new fishes to your collection. When inside, you know that the whole damn process generally scare the s---t out of you, doesn't it?

Yeah. 

On the other hand, when you think about it. Just imagine how tough even "delicate" fishes are. Especially wild-caught ones, right? I mean, they survive collection, transport, acclimation, the wholesaler, the LFS or vendor, and the whole process yet again when you get 'em. 

That's toughness. That's why we owe it to our fishes to acclimate carefully, quarantine methodically, and observe them continuously. 

So next time you're ready to purchase that cool little Pleco or hot-looking Mbuna at the LFS, think ahead about what comes next after they net the fish out for you...

And try to enjoy every delicious, agonizing, nervous, traumatic, and ultimately satisfying second of the whole process.

You're a fish geek. It's about the fish. And getting them and going through all this stuff?

It's what you do.

And that's pretty damn cool, isn't it?

Yeah.

Stay excited. Stay methodical. Stay vigilant. 

And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

"Fellman, do you really like biofilms, decomposition, and all that stuff in your aquarium?"

We have been "thought" by our fellow aquarium "tribe" since the beginning of the hobby that having slimy, yucky-looking stuff, like biofilms, mold, and algae in our tanks is nasty. A bad omen. Signs that our tank is "dirty", "unbalanced", or otherwise poorly managed.

The appearance of the fist film of algae, or heaven forbid, some biofilm of any sort, is typically cause for an aquarist to frantically post on his/her favorite hobby forum about the plague that is starting to overtake the aquarium.

We're convinced that if something looks a little weird, it's bad for our tanks! ( Well, hell, the fact that we keep those nasty Parrot Cichlids sort of validates that theory, huh? But I digress...).

Anyhow, you see me write a lot on these very pages about how a "New Botanical-style" aquarium will often recruit biofilms and algae, and invite decomposition and such. We've talked about decomposing leaves and their impact on the physical and chemical environment of our aquariums and the wild environments in which they are present.

We've talked about this repeatedly, including a fairly detailed examination of what biofilms are and what they really mean to your aquarium and it's inhabitants (not really a bad thing, actually). We've talked about the "mental stretch" that you need to make if you're really gonna embrace this truly natural type of setup over the long term.

Biofilms, some algae, decomposition, and even a bit of mold on leaves and such are to be expected if you are going the "New Botanical" route. Materials with surface area conducive to bacteria and algae colonization will accumulate this stuff. It's part of the natural processes that occur in our tanks.

Sure, it can be limited, reduced, even mitigated altogether, depending upon the amount of effort you want to put into it. A lot of hobbyists who run these types of systems will not simply scrub away some of the stuff off of the leaves or botanicals upon which they appear, or allow the leaves to fully decompose- they'll simply remove and replace them!

And that's okay. You don't have to, of course- unless you find the appearance of these life forms unpalatable. I think you'll miss an opportunity to see a truly natural system at work. Do I take these materials out?

I don't. 

Seriously. I don't.

I don't because I like them. I like the look. And, I understand that :

a) these life forms are found in the natural environments we are attempting to replicate all  the time.

b) They are often "ephemeral"- they come and go periodically, many times never to return again...it's a "phase" that our aquariums go through. Some NEVER go through this "phase."

c) They provide many benefits, such as a natural foraging substrate, for many of our fishes and invertebrates, as well as continuous imparting of tannin and other substances into the water.

I've been playing with these types of aquariums for years, and I've learned- tought myself, actually- to expect, understand...and ultimately, to embrace the appearance of these life forms and processes. In an otherwise well-managed aquarium, they present no problems...unless we simply don't like the look.

Yes, bacteria contained in biofilms are part of the bioload of the aquarium, in a sense, and yet also serve to help process and bind up nutrients, much the way sand and live rock do in a reef tank.

Again, if you're so inclined to remove the "offending materials", you could view it as a form of nutrient export, I suppose- even though you're sort of removing the nutrient export "vehicle" itself when you remove a biofilm-covered pod or leaf!

As we've discussed previously, you can "employ" some "friends" to help keep some of these growth in check if you are offended by their appearance.

Or, you can enjoy the botanical look, and keep things looking "pristine." There is no right or wrong here. And that's what's important to know.

Nature offers solution to many of the things we view as "problems"- yet it also offers opportunities to embrace and appreciate the processes that occur within our little microcosms. Nature has its own "check and balances" that we can choose to enjoy.

In the end, we all want the same thing: A beautiful aquarium, filled with healthy and thriving life forms. We all have the means to help our life forms thrive. What we consider "beautiful", however, is subjective, and should be based upon our own aesthetic tastes, using natural as a sort of "barometer."

So my answer to the question, "Do you really like all that stuff in your aquarium?" is as much an expression of my philosophy of aquarium keeping as it is an answer. I've chosen to embrace a certain natural look, accept the processes that happen in my aquariums, and to watch them evolve. It's not for everyone. But it need not be considered 'dirty", untidy, or otherwise indicative of a poorly managed system.

Rather, the "New Botanical" style can be almost anything you want it to be...An expression of nature. An appreciation for a specific environment. OR simply, another way to keep a successful and beautiful aquarium.

Enjoy. Embrace. Evolve.

Stay open-minded. Stay honest with yourself. Stay curious.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Saturday morning aquarium yoga..again.

Time for more "aquarium yoga."


"Lokah samastha sukhino bhavanthu." ("May this world be established with a sense of
well-being and happiness.")


Vendors, authors, and fish in general will tell you that you have the power within you to truly enjoy the hobby, and it doesn’t just take a ton of money. If you’re not 100% content with your hobby, remind yourself that it’s not all about going out and buying the latest gadget, obtaining the most unusual fish, or tearing your tanks apart. It’s about having confidence is your aquarium keeping skills, managing your tanks with a sense of purpose, and sharing.

I think there are truly attitudes, actions and mental practices in aquarium keeping that can make you not only a better hobbyist- but can help you enjoy the hobby more and inspire others in the process. I've jotted down a few of my theories that you may or may not agree with...the result of practicing and observing the aquarium  hobby for decades. They might be a bit off to some of you, but I present them anyways for your consideration:

Don’t pin the success of your tank on the “approval” of your fellow fish geeks. Enjoy what you enjoy- because YOU enjoy it.In our society, we apparently place great stock in believing that a large part of our happiness comes from the outside- something that happens to us. In the aquarium world, you see a lot of people putting out these “build threads” about their tanks on forums worldwide, typically done in the spirit of sharing and growing in the hobby- terrific! However, if you read carefully, I submit that a fair number of these “build threads” are almost solicitations for “approval” from the aquarium keeping community. You can almost tell by the way the hobbyist who's posting goes out of his/her way to impress or even appease fellow hobbyists by showing off the tremendously expensive gear he/she is accumulating, the trendiest fishes to be kept in the tank, or the over-the-top modifications being made to the room the aquarium is housed in. It’s one thing to be “aspirational.” It’s quite another to be seeking the tacit acceptance for those we interact with. Life is too short to live for others- and that applies to aquarium keeping as well!



You don't really need this to enjoy the hobby. Seriously.


Take a few minutes every day to simply chill out in front of your tanks. I mean, we spend enormous amounts of time, money, and energy working on our reefs, taking pictures of them, tweaking systems, etc., which are indeed part of the fun of the hobby. However, they are “part” of the fun! How about just spending some quality time every day just chilling out in front of your display aquarium, actually enjoying it- not thinking of the next gadget you’re gonna add, or the dose of additive you need to throw in later. You might just love the hobby that much more! I can’t tell you how many hobbyists I visit worldwide who spend so much time concentrating on actually doing stuff with their tanks that they seem to never spend time simply enjoying them. I know it seems ridiculous, but ask yourself when the last time was that you simply stared into your tank without the intent of modifying, cleaning, or tweaking something? You might surprise yourself!

Look for the good stuff in your tank. As aquarists, we seem to be a very self-critiquing lot, don’t we? We’re always finding something in our tank that we think needs tweaking, fixing, or outright replacement. We never are satisfied, huh?

I submit that, rather than constantly evaluating the things that we need to “fix” in our aquariums, we should spend some time appreciating and complimenting ourselves (internally, at least) about the cool things that are going on in our aquariums. Sure, your “Buce garden” may not be full and lush as you envision it will be yet, but why not give yourself a pat on the back and realize that you’ve gotten a great start on creating this beautiful thing? You may be critical of the less-than-perfect-appearing plumbing job you did on your sump, but take pleasure in knowing that not only does it work, but it was your own scheme- and that, most important- it doesn’t leak! Little affirmations about the thing you put so much time and love into are never bad. And maybe you DID pull of something awesome!



"Totally pulled that one off!" pat yourself on the back. I will....Tai Streitman is like my blackwater hero, modest though he is...

Treat your self once in a while- just because. Okay, there are definitely those of you out there who will say that I included this one because I’m an aquatic hobby vendor. The reality is that I’m including this section because I’m a hobbyist! You work hard, and you probably work hard on your tanks. So, if getting that new gadget or acquiring that new Apisto gives you some pleasure, why NOT indulge yourself from time to time? Part of the fun of being in the hobby is that you can call the shots, and if you feel like you need a “treat” from time to time, you should go for it. Pay close attention to your desire- and your budget- and toss yourself a little reward once in a while- just because. Part of what makes the hobby so fun is that it’s OURS- and we are perfectly capable of knowing when we need to give ourselves a little boost now and then, right?



Go ahead. Indulge yourself. (Shamelessly commercial, Fellman. How DO you sleep at night?)


Share your tank with other fish geeks. Huh? Why keep it to yourself? Invite some of your aquarium-keeping buddies over to just hang out in front of your tank one afternoon. Do you need some help figuring out how to install that new gadget? Ask an aquarium buddy over! Or, just give away some fry of your "L Series" Pleco- just because. The hobby, and your tanks- are wonderful social “props”, and the common interest that you share with fellow hobbyists when you check out someone’s tank is very satisfying. Many strong friendships (and at least a few clubs) have formed over a few fish geeks getting together at someone’s house to check out the new tank, or help install the new lighting system. Don’t have any aquarium-keeping friends? Not a problem! Create some by posting in this, or other forums, and flat out ask for help, or invite local hobbyists over to check your tank out. You’d be shocked how many fish geeks will drive for miles and miles just to check out that 300 gallon Mbuna tank that you've been working on, once they’re invited!



Sharing fish. Never a bad way to make friends!


Play to your strengths. Huh? Think about the stuff that you do well as an aquarium keeper, and what sorts of fish keeping activities bring you the most enjoyment. Cleaning your tank? Aquascaping? Programming your controller? Just what is it that puts you in your “happy place” while working on your tanks  Indulge in those things more often…Or better yet, offer your skill set and services to fellow hobbyists, either by interacting on forums, or by visiting fellow aquarists who need your help. Take it even farther by giving a lecture at the local club about the topic or topic(s) you know best..Not only will you help others enjoy the hobby- you’ll enjoy the hobby even more yourself as you share and interact with fellow aquarists…A great sense of satisfaction arises when you help others with something that they love, too.

Okay, I’m off of my whole yoga-esque thing now…

Probably was just a passing phase today…I'm sure I'll be ornery later. Well, it IS the weekend. And, it did feel good to get this out…I’ll be back next time with a more practical, nuts-and-bolts topic that will probably tick you off in some way…that’s what you’ve come to expect, right?

Deep breath..namaste.

Until next time, 

Share, enjoy, be grateful for what we have in the hobby, and practice great aquarium keeping…

And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The vanishing peat swamps of southeast asia...replicate before its too late!

We spend a lot of time talking about how to replicate blackwater environments on these pages (Well, duh- our name is Tannin Aquatics, right?), specifically, South America. Of course, "SA" is not the only rich blackwater environment with amazing fishes and biotopes to replicate in the tropical world. For example, Southeast Asia is home to the interesting "Peat Swamps", fascinating and surprisingly diverse in their ecology.

These swamps are important to the local ecology in that they absorb excess rainwater, which keeps rivers from flooding. They are being lost at an astounding rate, as human activity encroaches- and with them, the fascinating fishes- both known and yet discovered- which call these swamps home.  

For example, in the Malaysian Peninsula, it's been estimated that only about 10-20% of the original peat swamps remain. To add to the concern we have, many of the fishes found in these swamps are known to inhabit only certain swamps!

In the well-studied North Salangor Peat Swamp Forest area, it's been estimated that there are about 48 species there, 8 of which have been described to science only within the last couple of decades, and 6 of which are known only from this area. And that's not entirely unique...that's just one example of many!  

Many of the fishes from these unique environments are classified by science as stenotopic- able to adapt only to a narrow range of environmental conditions. It's been estimated that stenotopic species represent about 18% of the total fish fauna in Malaysia- so to lose these environments would be to lose a significant number of unique fishes!

(Betta livida, another rarity form the Peat Swamps of Malaysia)

One wonders how many of these environments may be lost before some of these fishes are even discovered! Fortunately, there are some governmental agencies in these regions that are making some effort to preserve these unique biotopes before they are lost forever.

To replicate one of these environments in our home aquarium is not only fascinating, it could one day represent the only "sanctuary" for many species endemic to these unique swamps.

Some well known hobby  anabantoid species, such as the "Licorice Gourami", Parosphromenus anjunganensis and Parosphromenus ornaticauda, hail from these biotopes, as well as many Barb species, such as the beautiful  Puntius rhomboocellatus.

Conservation issues aside, these environments are very interesting, and would be fun and educational to replicate in the aquarium.

So, how would we do this?

Depending upon the species you're wanting to keep, you could probably utilize a relatively small aquarium (like 20 US gallons, or even less) to create a very tightly controlled, cohesive environment. I'd look for a shallow, wide "footprint" for such an aquarium. Even a "frag tank" used in reef keeping would make a fine "swamp!" I could imagine all of the cool aquascaping we could do with such a tank!

Well, obviously, the "tricks of the trade" include utilizing botanical materials to recreate the unique substrate foreign in these swamps- decomposing leaves and such. Now, I'm not one for using peat in our aquariums whenever possible, but this could be one exception where I would consider using some to supplement other materials, to create a more realistic substrate. For example, one could mix some peat with a clay-based planted aquarium substrate, along with some Catappa leaves, and perhaps our "Fundo Tropical coconut-based substrate material- to create an interesting, if not somewhat faithful facsimile of the natural substrates found in these swamps.

I don't presume to be an expert on planted aquariums, but I do know that some species, such as Cryptocoryne, are found extensively in these environments, and would be the natural and easy choice for plants in such an aquarium. 

Lighting could be subdued, to enhance the swamp-like atmosphere, so you could use LED or T5 with ease. Interesting effects could be created with spot lighting. Filtration would be best accomplished with a canister or external power filter, as water movement is minimal in these swamps. Plus, with a mix of rather buoyant substrate materials, you'd probably want to limit the heavy flow to keep them from blowing all over your tank!

I'd plant fairly densely, and intersperse lots of botanicals, such as our palm-derived "Rio Fruta", and "Mariposa Pods", which add that special "something"- and tint- to your tank!

Perhaps you'd even want to include some palm fronds, as our friend Tai Streitman has used to great affect in his gorgeous Amazonian biotope aquarium that we'll be featuring soon! Tai tells me that he removes them after a period of time submerged, airs them out to dry, and uses them again and again! Very cool- and very environmentally friendly!

The maintenance of this aquarium would be no different than any of the Amazonian biotopes that we discuss so frequently here. Common sense water quality management, and regular water changes would go a long way towards maintaining a healthy environment for your little swamp!

Fishes, as mentioned above, encompass a large number of species known to the hobby, some fairly common, and others quite rare. This is a great chance to acquire some firsthand knowledge- as well as some rare fishes- for your collection! And even the rare fishes can be sourced with some effort. There is a tremendous interest in wild Betta species in the hobby, so with a little research and networking, it wouldn't be all that difficult to procure some cool specimens for your tank! For example, my fave, Betta coccina, is fairly easy to obtain from breeders, and would be entirely appropriate in such a display!

The vanishing Southeast Asian Peat Swamps offer us as aquarists a unique opportunity not only to stretch our creative "muscles"- they create a discussion point- an educational tool- with which we can share a small representation of an environment that may not be with us all that much longer. As hobbyists, it's both our joy and our responsibility to share these amazing environments with fellow hobbyists, nature lovers, and the general public. Does it have to be 100% biotopically accurate to convey this message? Some people will tell you that, but I don't think so.

 A well-thought-out aquarium could serve as a valuable tool to teach about the need to conserve these endangered ecosystems. A starting point for more detailed research.  Sharing our work and knowledge of them could lead to a greater understanding, appreciation, and perhaps- a chance to help preserve some of the inhabitant of these environments for future generations to enjoy.

Stay optimistic. Stay enthusiastic. Keep sharing and educating...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The art of "fish geek intervention": The quick guide to preventing your newbie friends from f---ing up their hobby experience!

I've had the good fortune to be in this hobby pretty much my entire life, and to work with a lot of incredibly talented people during that time- most more talented than I could ever hope to be. Over the years, I've seen countless hobbyists find success while others have found nothing but failure. Among those who had the most difficulties in the hobby, I've found a few noticeable commonalities.

This has never been more apparent than in my interactions with hobbyists each day when I co-owned Unique Corals, and now as sole owner of Tannin Aquatics. Marine or freshwater-doesn't really make a difference- the underlying theme is similar- Many of these "commonalities" are things that truly can be prevented or avoided if we offer a little wisdom and guidance.  Now, you personally may have made some of these mistakes, learned from them, and moved on.

Other hobbyists you know might still be in "that phase", and knowing to recognize the signs can perhaps help you do an "intervention" that will keep them in the hobby! Today's little tirade is directed at those of you who find yourself in a position to advise a relative newbie now and then, and perhaps see the "washed out bridge ahead" when they don't. It's like a very succinct "Quick guide to helping prevent your friends from f------ up their aquarium keeping experience big time."

Yup. Rather catchy title, I think. Wouldn't you say?

So, for your "intervention", here are what I feel are the 4 most common "fatal" fish-keeping "traps"  that new hobbyists fall into, and how they can be avoided...

1) Not trusting your instincts- or "If they say it's supposed to be done this way than I better do it that way or else!"- Sure, starting an aquarium can be a bit scary or intimidating to some- we all know it's an expensive hobby, if we don't plan correctly! You understand as an experienced hobbyist that it's super easy to second guess yourself as the challenges mount, but it's really important to "go with your gut" on some things and just forge ahead if you believe in what you're doing. Just because "they" say it's supposed to be done this way doesn't mean that a variation or slightly different take on "it" (whatever "it" is...) won't work.

(Don't tell Oliver Knott "It can't work!")

Obviously, being arrogant is not a good thing, but the newbie does need to be confident in his/her skills. As long as the idea isn't completely absurd (like using a radioactive isotope to heat your system), environmentally wasteful (stocking a new 100 gallon aquarium with a pair of Asian Arowana), or dangerous (an Electric Eel touch tank in a preschool classroom aquarium), then I say tell 'em to take a chance and go for it! They might just be able to show others a new way of thinking...Don't accept the status quo "just because..."





2) "Biting off more than you can chew"- How many of you have done this before? I know I haven't (hah!) I see this in reef keeping and in the planted tank world all the time: It’s awesome to start a new reef or "high-end" planted aquarium, loaded with the latest gear, advanced lighting, crazy corals, or uber-rare live plants. Been there. Love it. Yet, I’ve seen a lot of well-heeled, well-intentioned, but totally unprepared hobbyists crash and burn spectacularly with mega dollar setups that they simply did not have the experience to operate on a sustainable basis.

These were often accompanied by amazing “build threads” and displays of expensive equipment along the way on hobby forums which had everyone drooling. Yet, appearances can be deceiving. Suddenly, once things got underway, the reality as that a newbie hobbyists may simply not have the fundamentals to operate a 500 gallon monster, particularly if he or she has had little experience with a much smaller, less sophisticated system.

If you can't manage a 20 gallon tank, a 200 gallon tank isn't gonna be all that much more successful...Right?

Look, I’m not discouraging mega-dream tanks and build threads and such…What I AM discouraging is jumping headlong into megadollar, highly complex systems that the new hobbyist simply cannot effectively operate in the short- or long- term. Perhaps you could phrase it to your friend this way: "If you can’t deal with "beard" algae in your 50 gallon tank, will you be able to deal with it in your 500…?"  Hopefully, it gets his or her thinking. At the very least, advise the neophyte to hire a competent aquarium service company to assist him/her if he or she simply not experienced enough to manage such a behemoth. Enough said, right?

3) Not soliciting advice from others- Okay, almost the antithesis of #1, but really, I’m talking about interaction and camaraderie. In this vast, internet-enabled hobby of ours, it’s very unlikely that there isn’t someone out there who has experienced the same thing your friend has during his/her startup. Newbies with disasters often feel isolated in a way...Let your friend know that he or she is not alone: "There are so many innovative and bold hobbyists out there that it’s quite likely someone has been in your shoes before, and can offer some great, solid advice based on experience- not regurgitation of some old third hand information." Make sure that they get out there on Facebook user groups, club and other forums and chat it up with other geeked-out fish nerds! Not only will they realize that you are not being a buzzkill (because the other 43 people they tell about their idea for a 20 gallon piranha tank will tell 'em the same thing...), they might just make some friends- or worse yet- learn a few things that they may not have known-and help others!

And of course, counsel them to recognize creepy forum "enablers", who would love to see them try some crazy stunt and crash and burn. they need to be able to evaluate "advice"- yet another skill we acquire as fish geeks, huh?

A fish geek conference is a great place to get some advice...and fishes, too!


4) Expecting stuff to be "easy"- Wow, that will make you sound like a bit of a "buzzkill", but the reality is that the hobby is complex. I mean, not only are you dealing with plumbing, hardware, and construction- electricity and water, for goodness sake...you have the other variable of live animals and their needs, reactions, and "issues." A lot of moving parts in an aquarium- literally!  Hard. Now, it doesn't have to be. A newbie (or experienced hobbyist) can easily be tripped up by something as simple as adding the wrong animal or misreading a test kit and making an ill-fated “correction” to water chemistry (Nope. I've NEVER done that, lol)…A lot of stuff can go wrong quickly. Why sugar coat this? We need to weed out the people who don't get it. Responsibility and logic are involved here. The "bad apples" will, in reality, do far more harm than good for the hobby, the animals, and the environment.

That being said, it’s not all doom and gloom, right? However, the reality is that a fish tank ISN’T alway easy- and it’s not always cheap, either. (My industry friends finally have something to be happy about with me!). To do it right involves research, effort, planning, observation, patience, and skill building- things that aren’t just handed to you, right? We know this...do our struggling friends? It’s part of the "delightful" learning curve of the hobby. Agree with me here: An avoidable ich outbreak in a planted tank, or flatworm infestation in your reef tank is about as awful as it gets- but the skills you’ll acquire while combatting them will help your friend to be a solid resource for other hobbyists; a grizzled veteran of the  aquarium universe that can make life better for a lot of other fish geeks, right? Nothing’s ever wasted in the aquarium hobby, really. We just need to communicate this.



If creating something like this was easy....(Tai Strietman's inspiring blackwater paradise!)

Okay, there are doubtless countless other potentially “fatal” mistakes in aquarium keeping, but these are a few that I see all the time…If we communicate to our struggling newbie friends that they should make it a point to learn from their mistakes, and to share their hard-won knowledge with other hobbyists in a gentle, supportive, but no B.S. way- the hobby will continue to be an amazing place where we get to live our our dreams every day!

I’m gonna get my hands wet soon…Gotta do that weekly water change. The tank won't change the water itself...

See you soon..Stay happy. Stay educated..Stay supportive to a neophyte hobbyist.

And Stay Wet!

Scott Fellman

Respect the classics!

Have you ever obsessed over a fish that, just perhaps, you have kept many years ago- maybe even as a kid- and now have sort of "moved on" or just sort of taken for granted otherwise, because it was one of those so-called 'beginner's fishes?"

Yeah, well it's kind of funny to see these staples of the hobby sort of fall off of our radars as we progress, moving beyond what we feel are those "basic" fishes, when the irony is that these fishes are often every bit as interesting and cool as any of the new ones we covert nowadays!

Today, I'd like to look at two of these little fishes that totally fall into this category! Fishes that, at first, you simply tell yourself, "Oh, yeah, okay. Had 'em once..." Only to realize, upon further examination, that each one has some interesting characteristics which make it most deserving of being in your aquarium today!

The "Glowlight Tetra", Hemmigrammus erythrozonus, hails from one locale, believe it or not- the Rio Essequibo in Guyana. Okay, well, that river happens to be the single longest one in Guyana, flowing between the Orinoco and Amazon rivers. It's over 600 miles long, so we're not exaggerating to call it a l-o-n-g river! Being such a long river, it flows through all kinds of environments, ranging from rain forests to grasslands, and everything in between. This fish is typically found in the rain forested regions, where the water is, of course, filled with decaying leaves, creating that "blackwater" which a few of us here kinda like.

Here's where it gets kind of interesting: Although the fish is found in this one river, the ones we work with in the hobby are not from there! Nope. This little baby has been bred in captivity from like "day one" of its presence in the hobby. I challenge you to find "wild caught" specimens of this fish in any number anywhere in the world! Talk about a success story- this is a fish that is bred in such huge numbers in captivity that wild collection is simply not economically viable! If only some of the other fish we love in the aquarium hobby fell into this category, right? For lovers of the perverted, there is an albino variety available, too.

First described by Durbin in 1909, this small (like 1.5") fish has been around for a good long time! For years, this fish has delighted beginners with its bright orange glowing line, active behavior, and general hardiness. It pretty much eats anything you feed it. Oh, and the darned thing schools. Like, really well. Like, probably as good-if not better- than just about any other sexy characin out there. 

And yeah, you see them by the million in pet shops around the world, in tank featuring everything from dayglo pink gravel and diving Sponge Bob ornaments, to planted aquariums (where they typically will garner that most awesome of all fish geek compliments; goes something like this: "What are THOSE tetras? Wait. THOSE are GLOWLIGHTS?"). Because they tend to show off best in groups in aquarium with dark substrates and richly colored backgrounds, we often see them kind of brown with a neon orange stripe, and just walk by them at the LFS, maybe with an occasional knowing nod to the "fish of our childhood..."

So, wait a second. We have a fish that is like one of the most sustainably-sourced aquarium fishes ever, it is super hardy, eats everything, looks cool in a variety of tanks, and schools like mad under almost any circumstances...

(Pic by Gonzalo Valenzuela- under CC-2.0)

Woah. Oh, and the best part? When you keep 'em in, oh- let's say, an aquarium that has soft, acidic water stained with tannins, leaf litter on the bottom, and driftwood and plans throughout, they become an integral member of a cool blackwater aquarium display. The funny thing is, we seldom display them that way, as they're more common in the aforementioned kid's tank with the dayglo gravel than they are in a more natural, biotope-oriented aquarium. In fact, you'll have to take the extra time to acclimate them to their natural conditions, as they've been bred for generations in all sorts of water conditions. Ironic, huh?

And trust me, the time it takes to acclimate these fishes to their natural water conditions is SO worth it! They look amazing in a blackwater, botanical-themed aquarium. Like, crazy good.

The other subject of today's "Let's-give-some-love-to-the-fishes-of-our-youth" campaign is the ubiquitous "Head and Tail Light Tetra" (Hemmigramus ocellifer). It's another one of those fishes that has become so darned common in the hobby that it's hard to imagine going into an LFS anywhere on Planet Earth without seeing one!

Winner of the worst, yet most descriptive common fish name of all time, the "Head and Tail Light  Tetra" (henceforth referred to as "HATLT" in this rant) is also, mercifully, called "Beacon Tetra" in some circles.  Described by Steindachner in 1882, this fish is very prolific.

In the wild, you find these guys all over the Amazon Basin, in pretty big numbers in streams, rivers, and tributaries. They tend to be found more in slower-moving waters, which gives you a little clue as to how they should be kept, and with whom they should be kept in our aquariums!

Not quite as sexy as the Glowlight, the HATLT is nonetheless, subtly attractive and super hardy. And, like the Glowlight, it schools pretty darned well. It's an awesome fish to use as a "contrast" to sexy, showy fishes like Discus and Angels (assuming the HATLTs aren't too small), and will remain relatively small in size  (like 2') and peaceful throughout its rather long life span.  Interestingly, although this species is bred in ridiculous quantities commercially, it's still available as wild-caught in limited quantities; and, believe it or not, I think the wild ones are a LOT nicer than the captive bred ones, which are like pale imitations of the wild guys, IMHO.

Once again, this is a fish that deserves a "second look", as it is amazing to see when you give it the proper conditions (yeah, the soft, acid, tannin-satined water really works for these guys) and care. Set it up in a biotope style aquarium, and this little, "beginner's fish" will take on an entirely new vibe.

This is one fish that I've seen spawn with almost no "conditioning" whatsoever in the community tank. In fact, I've even had some fry survive and grow up in a 40 gallon community tank featuring a big school of these fish, a ton of driftwood, and lots of leaves and other botanicals!

These are just two of the many, many "classic" fishes that we've come to take for granted as "beginner's fishes" in the hobby, and perhaps never really reconsidered their charms when creating more "advanced" aquatic displays. I hope that the mere mention of these kinds of fishes in a blog post will spur you to re-consider some of those old favorites that we might have overlooked in our eternal quest for the new and different!

Until next time, don't disrespect the classics!

Stay engaged. Stay interested.

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Keeping your tank in the dark...literally!

Are you into the tinted look of blackwater, but you're not totally sold on the idea of a pile of leaves and seed pods and stuff in your tank?

Totally understandable. I can think of dozens of reasons why you might love the tint but not like the botanicals in your aquarium, and we do receive a fair number of inquiries about the best ways to get the "tint" into your tank are without having to keep all of those leaves and such in the display.

Fortunately, it's almost shockingly easy. You simply prepare the makeup water that you use for water changes with some botanicals to help influence the water tint and pH. No brainer, right? Well, there's a bit more to it than that, but that's sort of the basic idea...

What's the most efficient way? Well, it depends. If you are looking to lower the pH significantly in your aquarium, you're advised to start off with water that has little to no alkalinity (like reverse osmosis/deionized water), and start from there. You'll want to reconstitute it somewhat to retain some buffering capacity in many cases, and there is a lot of information out there on the internet by people with chemistry backgrounds that can explain this way better than I can. Avail yourself to it.  As we've touched on previously, there are a lot of ideas out there about how to handle the "dance" that is alkalinity and pH in our water, and we'll sort of spare the gory details for the sake of keeping this piece simple and on point today.

Like many of you, I store my water in plastic containers for use during water changes. Over the years, I've sort of worked out a rough "formula", if you will, to create consistent "tint" and conditions for my makeup water. Typically, I'll add 3 medium-sized Catappa leaves to a 5 gallon container of "straight-up" RO/DI water. This has always given me a nice even color and a pH around 6.5-6.6, which is the range I maintain in my display aquariums.

Botanicals will gradually break down and impart tannins, humic acids, and other organics to the water which may affect pH; just how pronounced the effect is in your aquarium will depend upon a number of factors, including the starting pH and alkalinity of the water, and the number of botanicals you add to a given volume of water. "Your mileage may vary" as they say, and perhaps a different number of leaves in a different sized container works for you. Obviously there are many variables, even in as simple a practice as steeping leaves in your makeup water, like the source of the leaves and their "potency" (in regard to tannins contained in their tissues), the age and condition of the leaves, temperature, etc., etc., etc.

Because we're asked...a LOT- let's narrow down the botanical field for a second, to some of the particular items that we feel will lend themselves well to imparting tint and lowering pH in your aquarium. 

Alder Cones: These are potent little tannin-producing botanicals, which, in my personal experience, are best suited for "habitat enrichment" rather than their utterly terrestrial, "non-tropical" appearance! You can prep them and place them easily into a filter age passively, or in a canister filter, outside power filter, or cartridge filter. A handful of these little cones can tint a 10 gallon tank quite easily, in my experience. Similar results may be had with the Indian Casuarina Cones and Birch Cones. You'll need to experiment to see what works best for you!

Fundo Tropical: This coco-derived product is great for aesthetics- forming a cool substrate component. However, it's equally adept at providing tannins and humic acids as a "water conditioner" as well! You can use it just like the Alder Cones- in a filter or passively in a mesh bag. To gain maximum benefit of it's tannin-producing qualities, reduce the boiling time to just a few minutes.

Catappa Leaves: The "classic" botanical has been used for many years for just this purpose. Instead of throwing them in the tank, you can easily use them as above, in a  filter or mesh bag, and they'll impart their magic not the water easily and quickly. Again, since you're not worried about them sinking, you could maximize the tannin-release by steeping them in hot water for a few minutes before incorporating into your filter. Oh, and  another super potent "tint aid" is Catappa Bark!

Coco Curls: These are overall awesome botanicals- attractive for aquascaping, but surprisingly useful to help "tint" the water, as well!

Mopani Wood: Yep, it's a bit pricy because of it's relative scarcity in the trade, but this stuff puts out some serious tannins, and depending upon how long you soak it prior to use, it can impart tannins for many, many months. In fact, I've had pieces in smaller tanks (like 20 US gallons), that were soaked minimally, and imparted a beautiful (okay, to ME, anyways) brownish tint for over a year! Oh, yeah- it's some of the most beautiful wood used in the aquarium world, too. 

And of course, I could pretty much go on and on with the whole catalog of stuff we offer; however, these are the best ones, IMHO for doing the "tint" thing!

I'd be remiss if I didn't at least mention the "golden rules" of using botanicals to influence your water chemistry, which we've talked about over and over and OVER here:

1) Always follow our preparation recommendations (boiling and/or extended soaking) prior to adding botanicals to your aquariums for any purpose- be it "aesthetic" or "functional." It's not the most enjoyable thing in the world to boil stuff and then soak it, but it's one of the best ways to a) release some of the organics, dirt, and other impurities that might be bound up in the surfaces of the botanicals, and b) helps to saturate their tissues, softening them and water logging the botanicals so that they sink more readily (something that's more important in specimens destined for display tank, but you get the idea here...).

Aquarists always wonder how much of the tannins they might "lose" through the preparation process, particularly in regards to leaves, and the answer truly is that I don't know for sure. I can tell you that most of these items will continue to release tannins over time as long as they are submerged. I suspect that the amount of tannins lost as a result of proper preparation is far less than the potential risk you expose your aquatic animals to when you don't prepare them for use. That's MY opinion, of course.

 2) Always GO SLOWLY and add botanical-influenced water, or botanicals themselves to your established aquariums gradually. Because you have a stable system, and are adding materials that can impact the water chemistry, and indeed, add to the bioload or affect water quality to some extent, it's really important to gradually add the botanicals to your system. This will give you the opportunity to gauge for yourself the impact on your water parameters that the materials impart, and to allow your fishes, biological filtration, and aesthetics to adjust to the changes. Remember, fishes don't always react well to (rapid) environmental changes. Err on the side of caution and go really slowly. What's the rush, anyways?

One of the things we've touched on before, which deserves repeating is that there is a difference between the the "tint" that you can often expect botanical materials (leaves, wood, seed pods, etc.) to impart to the water and an impact on pH and alkalinity.  Just because the water is brown doesn't mean that you have "Orinoco-like" conditions in your tank! In many cases, botanicals will have almost no influence whatsoever on the alkalinity. However, depending on the alkalinity and other environmental factors, they can affect the pH...To what extent is hard to predict. Water with minimal to no general hardness can be influenced way more significantly with botanicals, and if you're not careful, you can create a downward spiral of plummeting pH and it's associated problems. A little research, patience, and care goes a long way towards preventing any problems in this area.

The overall approach to observing what influence botanicals can have on your water chemistry is sort of a no-brainer, right? You simply have to add the botanicals and monitor your basic water parameters after you add them to compare them to your results prior to adding the botanicals.

Maybe it's the overly-cautious reefer in me...or just the cautious way I was trained in my formative hobby years by my father, and experienced hobbyist himself, but I think that it's just common sense to follow the directions we prescribe for preparation, and to use a healthy dose of good old-fashioned patience- coupled with common sense- when using these items in your aquatic displays. Observe your animals...Test your water regularly.

As usual, we can go on and on about this stuff, so we'll rap it up here. The point is, you can do many cool things with botanicals, apart from just giving your water that golden-brown color we obsess over here. The extent to which you will go, and the way you'll get there, of course, are based on your own decisions and needs. And you can do it safely and comfortably for both you AND your fishes!

It's actually pretty easy to keep your aquarium "in the dark!"

Stay patient. Stay observant. Stay enthused.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics