July 17, 2016

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Amazing, globally interconnected geeks...That's what we are.

Only a real fish geek- a hardcore aquarist- really “gets it.”

You know..."it."

Yeh, that thing called..."IT."

There is this unofficial characteristic that you find in almost every hardcore fish geek: A helpfulness, an undefinable generosity, compassion, enthusiasm- call it what you want- but it’s a palpable, measurable characteristic that separates hardcore fish geeks from the hapless dabblers in the aquatic hobby.




Not sure what I mean? When was the last time you went to the LFS with a bunch of fish keeping buddies? It’s kind of like 8-year-olds taking a road trip to Disneyland…The excitement and giddiness is unbearable! By the time you arrive, you’ve worked yourself up into such a frenzy that it won’t be a let down at all if the only cool fishes you see are some Green Neon Tetras or common Pseudotropheus zebra morphs.…


"I know they have that Aulanocara I want! And I can't wait to see that wild Betta! Are we THERE yet?"

One of my favorite things about owning Tannin is the childlike wonder that hardcore fish geeks demonstrate when, after a long road visit to our website, I'll receive tons of excited questions about how such-and-such a botanical will work in this aquarium ..You know their minds are going a hundred different excited directions...It's infectious!



Seeing that thrill in others never gets old…And that “thrill” that we get as hardcore fish geeks is a defining characteristic of our essence, as alluded to previously. The things that excite us are way different than the things that excite the casual fish keeper…I mean, you know you’re hardcore when your buddies can’t wait to show others YOUR beautiful tank, etc.- as if they somehow own it, too.



And, in essence, we all do. Not in the communist, “everyone owns everything” kind of way- rather, the fact that every hardcore fish geek seems to take a bit of pride in things that his/her fellow fish geek accomplishes. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve arrived in a new town for a speaking gig, and the people who pick me up at the airport can’t wait to show me “Jim’s” tank, because he has the coolest “__________” ever.

I love that. I mean, they’re excited to show you SOMEONE ELSE’S tank? Awesome.

And what about generosity?

Hardcore fish geeks are typically overflowing with it. They love this stuff so much they’d literally give you their fry just because they are stoked that YOU"RE stoked on them. I saw a sterling example at a marine conference a couple of years back (when I still co-owned Unique Corals) when a fellow reefer/vendor was so stoked that I loved one of his (rather expensive) Acros, that he literally said “I want you to have it..” I was like, “Well, dude, come to my booth and grab something..” And his response was, “Maybe.”

I mean, he was all about just sharing (a rather expenisive) something that he loved with another hobbyist who also fell for the coral’s charms..And getting something in return wasn’t even on his mind. This guy was so stoked that I literally was getting goosebumps just talking with him. An absolutely perfect example of what I mean when I say that hardcore fish geeks are the coolest group of people you’ll ever meet. 

Oh, and he never did show up at my booth.



Hardcore fish geeks have this air about them…they just want to try new stuff, share ideas, offer their opinions, and most important- support. When you have a problem and go on a forum and post the story of your trouble- you almost always get immediate, overwhelming response…Because hardcore fish geeks have been there…or if they haven’t- they know that they will one day. And, they will typically give generously of their time and effort simply for love of the hobby. “Payment” is usually in the form of fishes…at some far off date in the future. It’s like, “No worries, just score me some fry of that sweet Apisto when you finally spawn it” (Even though the fish in question is like .75” in length and a year away from spawning)..and the cool thing: The fish geek who “owes” the fry will not forget…One day, he’ll come to the local meeting with a nice bag of fry and tell the recipient, “I owe you from last year, when you helped dial in my LEDs that night..”

Hardcore fish geeks have a long memory about stuff like that.



"Just let me know when you spawn it, bro.."

And don’t ever tell a hardcore fish geek that you’re just getting started in the hobby during a visit to her fish room, or you’ll be up until 2:30 AM acclimating all the fry she is going to give you. It’s almost predictable how generous hardcore fish geeks are…to a fault, almost! 



And the cool thing- it’s like that in every fishkeeping community in the WORLD that I’ve visited…It’s like a "universal culture." There are certain constants:

*Every hardcore fish geek downplays Java Moss, calls it “weed”, but secretly is looking for some ‘cause they can’t get it to grow.



*Every hardcore fish geek has at least three disaster stories to share (ya know, floods, broken hardware..or worse).

*Every hardcore fish geek has like 400 cichlid fry they want to get rid of at any given time, and will gladly drive 2 hours to do it!

*Every hardcore fish geek has a pair of Kribs that breed regularly, but they never get around to harvesting the larvae to rear.



*Every hardcore fish geek has an “algae battle” story or three to tell!

*Every hardcore fish week has that ONE fish that he or she has been trying to track down for years...



Ah, hardcore fish geeks. I love ‘em. 

You people make my days- every day. We are a global, interconnected, interactive, fun-loving, fascinating, highly dysfunctional family of people who love this crazy hobby. Most important…

We are all friends.

And that makes getting up each day that much more enjoyable.

Until next time.

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

July 16, 2016

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That thing that permeates all that we do...

A customer called me the other day and frantically described how he found some guy on eBay or some such site who was selling leaves and things..."He's trying to rip you off!" he screamed. I was very flattered at his loyalty and concern.

However, I explained to him, as I do to you all the time- we didn't invent the idea of using leaves and stuff in aquariums. It's been around for years...scattered here and there in the backwaters of the hobby. We like to think that we're the first who came along and elevated the concept a bit; developed it into a cohesive idea; created a community, excitement, and curated inspiration.

Have you ever noticed that we spend a lot more time chatting about our ideas than we do our products?

Yeah, it's a fact.

We feel that, once you understand the concept; the idea behind Tannin- our mission, our focus, our aesthetic- that you'll either love our products, or hate them. You won't feel indifferent about them! And that's what we want!

You and I- all of us- are at the epicenter of a growing "New Botanical" movement within the hobby..an interest in doing "natural" aquariums with a different aesthetic and angle.

It's an exciting time. Every day, I receive new pictures from customers and fellow hobbyists, excited to share their discoveries, ideas, concepts. We've got people from every corner of the hobby rolling up their sleeves, breaking out the pots, and cooking up botanicals to try in their aquarium setups!

Every new tank that is developed in this unique area is helping advance the state of the art; breaking new ground, and just elevating the concept of incorporating botanicals into aquascapes in a manner seldom, if ever, attempted previously. We're expanding into the global marketplace, as the interest in our source for information and products grows worldwide. It's exciting.

We don't delude ourselves into believing that we are the ultimate experts and originators of the concept of using botanicals in aquariums. There are tons of "vendors" on E-Bay, Amazon, and other sites hawking Catappa leaves and such at bargain-basement prices.

And that's fine with us. We're more concerned about doing the best job that we can for you than we are worrying about everyone who sells a bag of leaves on line. To do otherwise would be foolish. We up our own game. Besides, who else do you know who can wax romantic about leaves and such like we do?

There will come a point when other vendors will be sourcing, aggregating and offering some of the same botanicals that we do. It's inevitable. Some might even offer lower prices or other sizes, quantities, or whatever...

And that's fine with us. We're as excited about the concept of blackwater, botanical-influenced aquariums as we are about offering you stuff for them. If other people are getting into this niche, it simply means that there are more hobbyists interested in the concept! We'll just have to up our game even more. Competition is not a bad thing.

Besides...

We add one thing that they won't, and cannot: Our unique perspective, our experience with the products we offer, and the information, instruction, and ideas on how best to utilize them. Call it a touch point, body of work, a marker, or whatever- but it's what sets us apart. It's what we hope will always set us apart: Value. Dedication to our craft. Love of the concept.  Support. Service. A community. Anyone can sell you stuff. Not everyone can "sell" you an idea; interact with you. Not everyone can offer perspectives and ideas every day like we do. It's the added value that makes everything we do a little bit different.

So worrying about that kind of stuff is more of a distraction than anything else. We have important work to do! 

And we're just getting started. We vow to keep pushing, improving, exploring. A lot of cool changes are coming in the next few months, and we look forward to sharing them with you!

So, to my friend who went out of his way to express his concern: Thank you. And don't worry. 

Stay excited. Stay adventurous.

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

July 15, 2016

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Wake me up before you "Oto!" Reconsidering the "disposable" Otocinculus catfish...

Okay...here goes...I know I'll get at least some hate mail on this one- with someone ticked off because I appear to be judgmentally "preaching" about something...The disclaimer here is that I am merely giving you my thoughts on a subject which I have personally grappled with before...

One of those things that we as fish keepers seem to have to contend with is that decision between keeping fishes that we in the aquarium world tend to view as "utilitarian" (i.e.; intended to be kept for a  specific purpose such as "algae eating"), or those that we want to keep for pure enjoyment, interest, or breeding work.

*************************************************************************** 

One of our favorite "little helpers" in the hobby to maintain control of algae in our aquariums is the little Otocinculus catfish from the Amazonian region. There are about 16 different species of these easily-recognizable (at the genus level, at least!) fish, several of which find there way into the hobby on a regular basis. Telling the individual species apart is challenging at best, so we (unfortunately) sort of lump them together, from a standpoint of needs and care.

And as a sort of "confession", I know that for many years, my approach to keeping them was just totally wrong.

These are relatively inexpensive fish, and that often brings about a very cavalier attitude about keeping them. Ironically, they have that reputation of being a bit "touchy", not lasting long periods of time in the aquarium for a lot of hobbyists-suddenly "checking out" for no apparent reason. This unfortunately has given them the undeserved title of a "expendable" fish that you just "replace as needed" (i.e., when the fish "croak")- a horrible moniker for any animal, IMHO. When we look into their requirements and feeding habits, it become a bit more apparent why they can go so quickly.

First off, from a water standpoint- they are pretty adaptable fish, but being from the Amazon region, they're typically at home in soft, neutral to acidic water. Although the pH and hardness are not super critical, STABILITY is very important to these fish. Another important factor in their survivability is water quality. This means low levels of nitrate, good oxygenation, and a clean, healthy aquarium. Like, this should be the goal for most aquariums containing fishes, but once again, I theorize that, because we've assigned these fish the unfortunate role of "utility players", they're brought in to solve a problem (i.e.; algae) and any specialized needs they might have are viewed as secondary...)

Oh, the aquarium. I admit, in my less experienced hobby days, I'd unleash a few of these guys in a relatively new, rather unstable aquarium as a "preventative" against algae outbreaks.  I know I used to watch them, convincing myself that they were seemingly continuously "eating" algae (even though I couldn't see it with the naked eye), when the reality was, they were frantically looking for something- anything- to sustain them. I was literally watching my Otos starving to death.  If we're honest with ourselves, we realize that a typical new aquarium seldom has any significant amounts of  algae, right? And if it does, it can be handled by one of two of these guys until it's gone. Yet we (and I include myself in this...) will often add a few as part of the "package" of fishes we consider "necessary" in our new tanks.

Oh, and this brings up yet another problem to the approach we take: These fish are quite gregarious in nature, occurring in large groups with dynamic social structure. The weird sort of paradox here is that it's important to keep them in groups for their well being. They fare far better, and are far more interesting in groups. Yet, how can you really do this? The problem is, if you don't have enough algae available on a continuous basis, a group will simply "eat itself to death as the algae are consumed"...unless you make an effort to supplement their diet with other foods.

"Okay, really? So now I have to target feed my Otos?" Well, yeah, it makes sense, right? And if you think it's a pain in the ass to do this, you're right. Let's be honest: In an active community tank, have you ever been able to target feed a tiny catfish effectively and regularly, as many authors suggest? Really? Because I've done this many times, and it's anything but "easy."  It's pretty much "dump and pray" that they find their treats before everyone else does. And that's a dice roll, at best.

You'll have to spend a fairly significant amount of time trying to deliver foods to these little guys, trying to beat out the more aggressive feeders, all the while hoping that these fish will even show an interest unfamiliar foods items, like pellets, zucchini, or spinach, as is often recommended. Flitting over them with active mouths is NOT the same as consuming them. It's easy to delude ourselves that they are deriving sustenance from these foods sometimes, much in the way we are convinced that they are finding "something" in a new aquarium because they are so "busy." Again, it's not at all impossible- but it requires patience, observation, and a tiny bit of luck...any of which you may not have- or may not want to expend on these fish- if you're honest with yourself.

Gut content analysis of these fishes in the wild shows pretty much two things: algae and the less defined "organic matter" (i.e.; detritus probably bound up in an algal matrix). So, this is a clue that getting them to eat other foods is not gonna be super easy. Not impossible, but certainly not the easiest thing you'll do. And if you take the (unfortunately and widely held)  position that this is a "role playing" fish, destined to be an algae-eating "janitor"- then you really have to be honest with yourself and consider if these fish are for you.

My position is that, unless you have a large enough aquarium with a significant amount of algae that grows on a near continuous basis, you should consider other means of control, including other animals (such as "Amano Shrimp", which often consume uneaten food and other things in addition to algae), more advanced nutrient control and export techniques, and the least popular method- manual removal of algae. I strongly believe that we have not kept these fishes in a "fair" manner for many years.

It's one of those decisions that we have to make for ourselves. These are amazing consumers of algae. I've seen a pair literally strip a 20 gallon tank with modest algae growth completely in 48 hours. And then struggle to survive until the algae returns. Hardly a life for an animal that seems to fare wonderfully in the wild.

So, without sounding like a judgmental "buzz killer", I think that we should carefully consider the implications and responsibility that goes with these "5 for $10" fishes that we've unfairly assigned the role of "consumable", much like we would a box of carbon or a filter pad.

It goes against the grain of what we might typically think about when considering these fishes, and brings up some ugly, difficult-to-face truths about our position on the matter, yet it does deserve some consideration.

Choices. Responsibility. Morals. All things that we need to utilize when we think about purchasing this fish. Look, I'm not trying to occupy the moral "high ground", preaching to you that I'm the guy with the answers...I don't pretend to be that person. I find it a tough call, myself. I've killed to many of these fishes over the years needlessly, basking in my ignorance, stubbornness, and denial, and I'm merely telling you how I see it. You may have an entirely different viewpoint, capability, situation...Like so many things in the hobby, it boils down to what we feel is appropriate and acceptable to us, and in the best interest of the animals that we keep.

So, stay thoughtful. Stay observant. Stay honest.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 14, 2016

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"Keep calm and tint on!"

Have you ever noticed that part of the "art" of knowing how to respond when something goes wrong in our aquariums is to know what is "right" in the first place?

Yeah, of course you do. However, it's important to think about things this way when working with our aquariums- in particular, our rather unusual blackwater, botanically-influenced ones. That way, when something DOES go awry, you don't have to panic and go off in dozens of directions...you simply "work the problem."

Yes, I'm invoking the old Apollo-era NASA Mission Control "mantra" about what do do when stuff goes wrong. 

Flight controllers needed to be the eyes and ears of the astronauts, not a distraction or deference to completing their missions, so the practice of not panicking and making knee-jerk decisions to relatively small problems kept them from becoming large, potentially devastating ones. 

This is directly applicable to what we do as tropical fish hobbyists. When something goes wrong, you don't want to be bouncing all over the place, doing a little of this and a little of that in a hasty "response" to whatever is happening in your aquarium. I see my fellow reef hobbyists doing this all the time: Anything which looks slightly different in the aquarium often results in the immediate conclusion that something is "wrong", and often, frantic, non-specific measures (like adding a little of "this" or adjusting "that") are taken because, as we all know, when something is wrong...you just have to do SOMETHING-anything- to fix it...fast!

Nope, really, it's best to step back, look at things objectively; for what they are, without getting emotional: "Hmm, white spots on the fishes. They're scratching. What could this be. What could have caused this? What is the optimum solution?"

Okay, that's a fairly common, clear cut one, usually. Most disease issues are.

The difficulty lies when something is "off" in your tank. Although I'm a big fan of regularly testing your basic water parameters, I am also a big fan of not freaking out every time something tests a bit off. Sure, ammonia and nitrite readings in an established tank are an "all hands on deck" moment, requiring immediate, often drastic actions. However, more subtle stuff, like slight fluctuations in pH, alkalinity, or varying nitrate levels require more thoughtful consideration.

Look at trends. That's the beauty of regular water testing and observation. You can spot trends in your aquarium. Once you know the normal "baseline" for your tank, deviations (good or bad) are easy to spot, and potential problems easier to ferret out. Understand what is normal for your tank on a variety of levels. Since blackwater, botanical-influenced aquariums are a bit new to many of us, it's important to understand them on more than just a basic level. 

Blackwater aquariums with soft, acidic water, require attention to alkalinity and pH. You need to make sure that your system remains stable within a range...sure, if you manage to keep rock-solid numbers, that's awesome, but for many of us, simply maintaining some degree of stability is enough to assure the overall health of our system.

You need to familiarize yourself with the other aspects of a blackwater, botanical influenced aquarium- stuff you do with other types of tanks already- yet taking into account some of the more unique attributes of these systems. A few of these items are:

*The color of the water- We've spoken many times about the tint of the water not really being indicative of the ph or alkalinity. However, it can give you some idea as to the "potency" of the botanicals you have in your system, and the amounts you should maintain to keep a given level of color. Remember, going slowly to get to the desired tim is not just an aesthetic consideration- you ARE influencing the water chemistry and boiled when adding materials such as leaves, and this should be taken into consideration at all times.

*The overall clarity of the water- this can vary based on the amount of dissolved materials, and some murkiness is not necessarilly indicative of problems, like bacterial blooms. Often times, it's simply a result of the botanical materials dissolving into the water. I've seen plenty of "murky" blackwater aquariums with rock-solid and healthy chemical parameters. Nonetheless, significant, sudden cloudiness should at least give you cause for further investigation as to what may be causing it.

*The smell- Most blackwater aquariums have an earthy, almost "aromatic" smell, caused by the influence of leaves and wood and such. If you start noticing a foul, rotten smell, it's a pretty good sign that something is off. Often times, these types of issues may be rectified with a simple water change and/or addition of some chemical filtration media, but finding out what the cause of this odor is can be very important.

Biofilms, somewhat murky water, algae, decomposing matter...they all go with the territory here. That's why we talk about this stuff repeatedly, and mention that this type of very natural-looking aquarium may not be for everyone.

And never, ever forget some of the basics of the blackwater, botanical-influenced aquarium. Among the most important are to go slowly when adding botanical materials to an already established aquarium. I can't tell you how many times I cringe when I hear hobbyists describe problems that have arisen in their tanks shortly after adding a large number of botanicals to an established tank! Fortunately, with decisive, calm, and appropriate actions, we've avoided some major tragedies thus far.

But they can happen. They will happen. Yet, they don't have to happen.

Remember- adding leaves and other botanical items to your tank influences the water chemistry and bioload. An influx of a large amount of biological material to an established aquarium can challenge the biological filtration, creating all sorts possible problems- ranging from depleted oxygen levels to ammonia spikes, as bacterial population struggle to adjust to the large amount of organics being added.

Going slowly is the single most important thing you can do when working with botanicals. Taking the time to prepare your botanicals for use, add them slowly and carefully, and to observe their influence on your aquarium's environmental parameters is absolutely critical.

And if something seems off? 

When you take a few minutes (or hours, as the case may be-if you have them) to "work the problem", rather than contribute to it by taking rushed, possibly detrimental "measures" to "solve" it, you're doing the best possible thing for your aquarium. Every time. Because even if you misdiagnose the problem, you're at least putting thought and consideration into it, rather than pure emotion and panic.

Again, you know this already. So even though these types of aquariums may be a bit unfamiliar to some of you, the practices and procedures by which we manage them are probably "old hat" to you.

Work the problem.

Just a quick thought on staying calm when starting your blackwater system...and reacting appropriately- even under the worst possible situations. Like you probably do already...

Until next time.

Keep calm and tint on!

Stay focused. Stay observant.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics.

 

 

 

July 13, 2016

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Re-imagining the "community tank"- Or, you CAN go home again.

Remember back when you got your first aquarium? If you're like most hobbyists, it was a modest-sized aquarium, set up as a "community tank."

I LOVE community tanks! And I LOVE the idea that, even as so-called "advanced" hobbyists, there is something irresistible to us about creating a tank with a variety of cool fishes in it, isn't there?

Right? The term "community tank" is descriptive- albeit a bit quaint. It describes a group of different fishes living together in the same tank in relative harmony. The concept has been the backbone of the aquarium hobby for generations. Community tanks have introduced thousands of people to the wonders of the aquarium hobby.

To the more advanced hobbyist, the community tank holds a different allure; it's a fun way to showcase a bunch of different species that might otherwise not be found together. Ahh, that's the key- "species which might otherwise not be found together." A cool concept, although not particularly "natural" for the fishes from an environmental standpoint. Oh sure, I know the argument can easily be made that simply having fishes living in a glass or acrylic box is not "natural", but that's not the point here.

Have you noticed that, as we evolve as hobbyists, we seem to rationalize that a "real" community tank would be far more interesting, educational, and successful- if it actually contained fishes from the same region, environmental niche, etc.? So, we create "specialiized" community tanks. For example, Rift Lake cichlids, Tetras, Rainbowfshes, etc. We just can't seem to shake the allure of seeing several species living together in the same tank in relative harmony.

And we always seem to "specialize" a bit, right? Yet, even the hobbyists with the 30-50 tank fish room dedicated to say, cichlids or catfishes, always seems to have one or two tanks with a few different species thrown together. It's like it's in our blood. We just can't shake the idea of the community tank. Nor should we.

 

For some reason, this type of setup is seen as "basic", yet it's just as compelling for more  sophisticated hobbyists. And that's what's so col about the hobby. We never seem to lose that "wonder"- that sense of pleasure of seeing a bunch of our favorite fishes all living together- despite how specialized our interests may be.

I remember the fishes of my childhood: The Danios, the Mollies, Flame Tetras, etc. They held- they hold- and allure that goes beyond simple nostalgic yearnings- they piqued my curiosity to learn more about the natural environments from which they come.

Nowadays, I still keep Flame Tetras. However, they are in an aquarium which bares far more resemblance to their natural environment than I ever maintained them in before- and they are far nicer, healthier, and happier than the ones I've maintained in the past. Not a week goes by when hobbyists, seeing pics of my tank on social media, ask me what fishes they are...ann each time, they're like, "Really? Flame Tetras? I used to have those when I was a kid..."

Even the most "bread and butter" fishes seem to do better, look better, breed more readily- when we keep them in conditions similar to their natural environment. This is not a secret, nor is it some mystery concept. We all know this. And that's what's kind of cool. We can still play with the same fishes we had when we were a kid, yet in a more sophisticated manner, and still derive endless enjoyment from them.

Love it.

Ridiculously simple, yet easily overlooked takeaway from today? If you don't already, try keeping some of those fishes from your childhood again. Keep 'em in a community tank if you want- but one that is more similar to their natural environment. See the differences. Enjoy the experience.

Never stop.

Stay enthralled. Stay engaged. Stay filled with wonder.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

 

July 12, 2016

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Aquatic botanical "wear and tear" over the "long haul"

So we're coming up on a year since we've actively marketed our aquatic botanicals to the aquatic community, and we're starting to get good information on experiences from our long-term users. Every day, it seems like we're seeing pics of cool new tanks and ideas that our fellow "tinters" are working with!

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is, "How long does ______ last in the aquarium?"

A very good question, because the answer is subject to a lot of variables. The reality is that many of the botanicals last a surprisingly long time, depending upon how you feel about having them in your system as they start to break down!

Of course, leaves are definitely the most "ephemeral" of the botanicals, with most lasting a few weeks before starting to break down significantly. Catappa leaves are probably the fastest ones to soften, often starting to decompose in about 2-3 weeks, whereas Guava can hang around for a month before it starts to break down. The next most durable leaves are Loquat, followed by Jackfruit leaves, which typically hang on over month or more before breaking down significantly. The long-duration champ to date has been Magnolia- I've had some leaves with me almost intact for 4-6 months before they really start to soften! 

And I think it's important, when considering how long botanicals "last", to think about what you are okay with from an aesthetic standpoint. I mean, I will typically hang on to a given leaf in my aquariums until it's pretty much "compost"- stringy and broken apart. I kind of like the "natural" sort of look, although once it starts dropping off bits and pieces that get scattered around the substrate, many hobbyists "call it" and remove the offending leaf (or leaves) and replace. It's really up to you. 

The leaves will impart their tannins, humic acids, and other organics from day one, yet I honestly couldn't tell you how long they'll keep pushing out tannin into the water. I will look into this and speak to some botanists to see if the tannins are present throughout leaf structure, or only in the dermal layers.

I have a hunch that the bulk of the tannins from leaves are present in the dermal layers. (meaning, that when the dermal tissue is gone, the "skeleton" of the leaf may not impart any significant tannins. At that point, it's providing other organic matter, which you may or may not care to have. At some point, I would imagine that a leaf would essentially become "inert", but I'm merely speculating.

A good rule of thumb for a lot of hobbyists who play with leaves is to replace them when they see the "tint" starting to "fade" a bit...As one who continuously replaces or adds new leaves, I have not really experienced that phenomenon! And, when you think about it, a continued regular addition of new leaves is analogous to what happens in nature, with new leaves falling into the water as older ones decompose.

If you like the aesthetic of freshly fallen, relatively intact leaves, then it's a "no brainer"- you simply replace 'em as they start looking more "weathered" than you care for. Thus, you can have a continuously changing, yet "pristine-looking" leaf litter bed. 

Hobbyists like me who like a mix will simply add new leaves as they see fit. Still others will take different approaches- for a more "maintenance free' leaf litter bed (other than occasionally removing biofilms or any hairy algae if they become too offensive), simply go with one of the longer-lasting leaves, such as Magnolia or Jackfruit as your dominant, if not exclusive leaf. 

From the perspective of the other botanicals, such as seed pods and such, it's kind of a similar mentality: You can continuously replace with pristine pieces, or let them remain until they break down to he point where you no longer find them attractive. Many of the "harder" pods, like "Jungle Pods", "Savu Pods", "Lampada Pods", and "Heart Pods" will hang on for many, many months...I've actually had some specimens for years- before they soften to the point of losing their structure.

Again, removal of these botanicals is more based on your aesthetic sensibilities than any particular necessity. Obviously, if a given piece is going foul in your tank, giving off a noxious, hydrogen sulfide-like smell, then remove it at once. However, the bulk of the botanicals, if properly prepared before use, will last surprisingly long times. You might need to occasionally brush them gently to remove any build up of biofilm and/or algae, but that is typically all you need to do over the long haul.

You can, of course, get some "assistance" in maintaining your botanicals from little fish friends like Otocinculus catfishes, as they seem to love devouring any algal films that crop up on the surfaces of the botanicals!

And of course, many of the cool ornamental shrimp that we keep will also do a great job of both keeping botanicals free of biofilms and algae, as well as helping further break down materials like leaves and "softer" pods and such.

Items like "Coco Curls", "Terra Sorrindo", and "Rio Fruta" last a remarkably long time, given their seemingly not-so-robust structure, and really look fantastic as they age within the aquarium, IMHO. I've had specimens of each of these make it to the one year mark (longer, in the case of "Rio Fruta'), and they still look pretty good.

Again, replacement periodically of any of the more durable botanicals is totally up to you. Since many of these items impart significantly less in the way of tannins (fro ma visual standpoint, particularly), the real consideration would be if you like the look as they break down.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I will implore you once again to follow the two most basic "rules" of using aquatic botanicals in your aquarium:

1) Take the time to prepare everything you add to your tank. Rinse, boil, or soak as necessary and give a quick rinse agin before you place them in your tank.

2) Go SLOWLY and add just a few specimens at a time, particularly in established aquariums with delicate fish and/or heavy bioloads. Adding large quantities of ANYTHING, particularly materials like botanicals, which do break down and do impart tannins and humic acids to the water, can affect the environment, especially in smaller volumes of water, or systems with very soft, acidic conditions.

Testing your water for the basics (ammonia, nitrite, pH, alkalinity, and probably phosphate and nitrate) is always recommended for ANY aquarium- yet I think it's a very good idea for a botanical-influenced one, because you are adding boiled to your tank. You need to assess your environmental conditions regularly regardless of what type of approach you use; in my opinion, it's almost essential when adding materials such as botanicals to your tank. And of course, there is no substitute for simply observing your fishes and seeing how they interact with and react to the environment you've created for them!

In my experience, and in the experience of many other hobbyists who are playing with "New Botanical"-style aquariums, they are no more difficult or challenging to maintain than most other types of systems we play with, such as live planted tanks, Rift Lake cichlid tanks, or reef tanks. You simply need to apply common sense, patience, and good observation. Over time, you'll learn what is "normal" for your aquarium, like you would with any other approach.

You will need to make the "mental adjustment" of seeing brown water, biofilms, some algae on occasion, and decomposing botanicals in your aquarium. Some people find it ugly, preferring the more pristine look of a "traditional" aquarium. Many hobbyists, however, have discovered a whole new aesthetic with these types of aquariums, creating a truly natural-looking aquarium unlike any other. 

Understanding and appreciating the unique environment, interactions, aesthetics, and potential downsides is extremely important. Like any aquarium, a "New Botanical"-style system can provide endless enjoyment and relaxation, once you get a feel for how they operate. If you're "on the fence" about trying an aquarium like this, you should definitely at least give one a try with a small tank, to get a feel for the concept and see if you like it.

One word of warning: If your like many hobbyists who tentatively experimented with a small tank to see if they liked the idea, you might be finding yourself shopping for a new, larger tank as you decide to "scale up" the concept...it's addictive!

Until next time...

Stay inquisitive. Stay open-minded. Stay on top of things.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

 

 

July 10, 2016

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Approaching from a different angle.

Do you tend to try lots of different things in your hobby adventures? In other words, you might be a cichlid girl at heart, but you can't resist the urge to try a cool pair of Bettas. Or, maybe you're a hardcore Rainbowfish lover, but you have this desire to play with breeding Loaches.

You switch stuff up a lot, huh? I mean, I know plenty of hobbyists with 40-50 aquariums, many dedicated to one variety of fishes...but you almost always see them have at least one or two "wildcards" in there- filled with fishes that are totally outside of their area of specialization...just because.

I think that's what's so cool about our hobby. There is endless variety and many options. And the skills that we learn in one are of specialization can often be applied to another, perhaps reaping benefits we haven't even considered yet?

Example: My discipline that I acquired from growing corals and keeping reef aquariums made careful monitoring of water parameters a huge part of my regimen as an overall hobbyist, which translated very well when I started playing with these soft water, lower pH "blackwater" tanks I am so obsessed with. 

And conversely, my highly disciplined approach to husbandry (water exchanges, in particular), gave me a huge edge that reaped many advantages in the saltwater/reefkeeping/coral propagation realm.

In a lot of disciplines (like business, music, art, investing, etc.) people are hesitant to stray very far from their "core competencies"- however; in the aquarium keeping world, it seems that we thrive on the ability to "multitask" and focus on a variety of fishes and aquatic disciplines.

Looking at things from multiple angles is very important for our growth in the hobby. It helps us expand our skills, apply new or different ideas that work in one area to an entirely different aspect of the hobby. And it keeps things fresh and fun!

One of the most rewarding things about starting Tannin has been seeing a lot of hobbyists from various "disciplines" within the aquarium world applying the concepts of "blackwater", botanical-influenced aquarium keeping to their particular areas of interest...and vice-versa.

With new techniques and materials to work with, hobbyists who were perhaps limited previously in their specialized efforts now have the tools to continue "pushing the outside of the envelope", so to speak, in their respective aquatic disciplines.  

And more than one hardcore adherent to one type of aquarium has emailed me or commented in social media after seeing a leaf litter tank with, "That's cool. I want to try one!"

Having different options helps us approach our traditional hobby "work" from a different angle, with different perspectives, and apply our new-found knowledge to what we're already doing well...and that pushes the hobby's "state of the art" along.

Opening minds, hearts, and changing attitudes is the single best antidote to stagnating groupthink that occurs  when dogma dictates that thing are "supposed to be" done a certain way.

Rather, we're seeing people apply a different sense of aesthetic, experience, orientation, and creativity, questioning what was once considered "the only way" to do something, and applying their own unique style, influenced by nature, rather than by initiating others. A very exciting time to be in the hobby!

There are numerous possibilities for enjoyment, expression, and hobby advancement when we simply look up, open our minds, and approach from a different angle.

That was our simple thought for the end of the weekend...

Until tomorrow- 

Stay unique. Stay excited. Stay inspired.

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

July 08, 2016

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Temporary fish-permanent displays...Another approach to enjoying South American annual killies

If you've ever kept killies- and a lot of you have- you're bound to realize that you've probably seen and maintained far more killifish from Africa than you ever have from South America. I found this a bit interesting, myself, because although Africa offers tons of cool killie species, South America has some pretty neat ones as well.  Let's talk about them today.

At the risk of over simplifying it to the point where my killie-keeping friends will definitely smack me, you've essentially got two types- the Rivulus species which tend to be top-dwellers, living in streams and pools, and then you have the "annual" species, like Aphyolebias, Opthalmolebias, Gnatholebias, etc.  And interestingly, we don't usually see many of these fishes in more "permanent" displays...or in display-type tanks at all, which is a bit of a shame, IMHO, because they are attractive and interesting fishes that deserve more attention. 

Now granted, the "annual" species are just that- annual. You'd be hard-pressed to find a specimen pushing two years of age. Being "programmed" for a short life span based on reproduction and fast growth, they are not what you'd normally think of when planning a display, right?

Ahh- right up my contrarian alley! Now, I know I'm not the only person that has ever thought of this idea; it's been done before, so don't get your panties all up in a bunch. Nonetheless, like leaf litter tanks, no one else seems to be talking much about them, so it might as well be me who puts his head on the proverbial chopping block. Besides, I know at least a few of you who are wacky enough to take this not-so-new-yet-oddly-seldom-talked-about idea and run with it!

So, why not take this kind of approach? Keep some of them in a permanent display, to live out their lives and reproduce in a small aquarium that mimics to some extent the natural bodies of water they are found in?

Easy concept., right? Yeah, actually. Right?

Aphyolebias, for example, tend to come from forest-area pools that are shallow, filled with leaves and other botanical debris (!), and are rather still. As the pools dry up, the fish spawn like mad, and the eggs will incubate in the substrate for up to 10 months! Usually, they're ready to hatch in 6 months, but still...it's a long haul with these guys!

So, yeah, the optimum "traditional" breeding setup for these fishes is the old standby of a bare tank filled with peat moss, in which breeders are placed for a designated period (lie 4-5 days or so), then the eggs are collected and packaged in the moist peat for the appropriate incubation period. Cool, efficient...but, well...cool and efficient. I think that to really appreciate these fishes, it would be far more interesting to keep at least a few of 'em in a more permanent situation.

 

How about setting up a 5-20 gallon aquarium, preferably with a shallow footprint, a few delicate-looking branches (like "Spiderwood" or Manzanita), and lots of leaves on the bottom, over a soft substrate, like the coco-fiber-based "Fundo Tropical", which, although far more course than peat moss, would be a kind of cool substrate that the fishes could dive into to lay eggs. You could even rotate through several pairs in the display over the course of several weeks or more. I'll admit- harvesting the eggs out of a mass of leaf litter and "Fundo Tropical" would be a bitch...

However, you could simply do this: When you feel it's appropriate, just remove the fish, siphon out the water, and remove the substrate...or not.  You can just cover it with some plastic wrap to keep things more or less moist.

You remember the old classic killie-keeper instructions to keep peat moss with eggs "like the consistency of fresh pipe tobacco (as if I'd know what that feels like...)." Instead of bagging it, you could be totally ridiculously contrarian and have an empty tank on your shelf with a layer of moist leaves and substrate material for 6-10 months. Then, you'd fill it up again and see what comes up..literally.

You're crazy. But super cool.

Efficient? No. Precise. Absolutely not. Cool? Hell, yes.

Of course, you could always let the substrate dry out to the appropriate consistency and just "bag it" as has been done for decades. Not everyone appreciates an empty tank with a pile of mushy damp leaves and such on the bottom. I was gonna get really stupid and suggest turning it into a vivarium-type thingy for a few months, with plants and frogs and such, before flooding your little rainforest once again...Perhaps fraught with challenges..but an interesting idea, huh?

So you can have your cake and eat it, too. You get to enjoy these magnificent, if not transient fishes for a while in a great-looking display that mimics to some extent the natural bodies of water that they are found in, and you can make a good effort to incubate some of their eggs.

Of course, you could do this with African killies, too. Duh.

Oh, and what of the Rivulus? You can and should keep them in permanent displays, too...They tend to jump from pool to pool as the water dries up...so maybe, you create a row of small tanks, one next to another, and slowly lower the water level in the preceding tank...?

Urrghh.

(Sumer Tiwari, I jacked your cool pic of R. rectocaudatus for this...)

Am I nuts? Yes. I freely admit that. But hey, you gotta think about crazy ideas, right? They just might yield a toned-down, halfway logical one now and again....

Until next time. Think differently. Stay on the "bleeding edge." Stay unique. Stay creative.

And Stay Wet (for at least half a year, anyways...)

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

 

July 05, 2016

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The incredible mental and sensory experience of "blackwater..." Aquarium keeping on a different level.

We've talked a lot about what exactly "blackwater" is, and many of you probably have better-than-average working knowledge of the stuff by now, right? We've talked about many of the chemical parameters, husbandry requirements, potential downsides, challenges, and precautions for maintaining soft, acidic blackwater conditions in our aquariums.

However, I think what we don't always talk about here is how blackwater aquariums give totally different mental and sensory experience to those who experience them. It all starts with that visual experience of the darkly-stained water. I often visit aquascaping and plant forums, and cannot help but occasionally stifle a smile when I read posts from aquarists, desperate to rid their tank of the tannins released by a new piece of driftwood; I think to myself, "Do they realize how cool what they have is? These hobbyists just don't get it."

Of course, it IS a matter of perspective, really... 

From a "degree of darkness" perspective, you can really be sort of creative here- I mean, by utilizing different concentrations and combinations of botanicals, particularly leaves- you can get the water as dark and brown as you'd like, and create a varied aesthetic and environmental impact for you and your livestock.

When you use leaves to create a scape and provide "tint", you can also vary the aesthetics as you like, by simply removing/replacing/adding new leaves to your leaf litter bed. This is sort of the leaf-litter-hardscape equivalent of the planted tank enthusiast ripping up his scape every few months and re-doing it, sans the trimming!

And there is something about that scent...yeah, that invigorating, earthy, woody scent that botanicals add to the water. It's different than any other type of aquarium. It's fragrant, complex, and really adds to the sensory experience of a blackwater aquarium. Sort of the way  the aroma of freshly brewed coffee adds to the whole experience of a "good 'cuppa!"

And a blackwater, botanical-influenced aquarium evokes an almost immediate response in most hobbyists and non-hobbyists alike. You seldom hear statements like, "Oh, that tank is okay, but.." from someone who sees your blackwater aquarium for the first time. Rather, the kinds of responses you'll hear are things like, "Why is the water so dirty looking. Doesn't look healthy!" or "Wow, that looks awesome...there is something about this tank...it looks really natural."

Blackwater aquariums are aesthetically unlike any other form of freshwater aquarium we work with. Not only does the physical "framework" (i.e.; the water) look completely different than what we normally experience- the thought process behind it is different.

Because you're typically "going blackwater" to meet the needs of a specific fish or type of fishes...South American dwarf cichlids and characins, Asian anabantoids, African killies, Discus, etc. A very specific "target market" and thought process are involved.

Oh, yeah. The fish.

Is it the optical effects played by the filtered light and water tint? Or, maybe it's simply the healthy result of providing fishes water that is similar in composition to their native environments?

Regardless, there is something about blackwater that just makes the colors of fishes which hail from these environments pop! Fins look better, scales somehow are more reflective..okay, seriously- the fishes just look...better. You'll have to trust us on that.

And spawning behavior for fishes that tend to be a bit more challenging tends to come a litter easier at times. Instead of going to the trouble to manipulate water chemistry and conditions in preparation for breeding, you can just keep them in the type of conditions they favor year-round. Hardly a novel concept, I admit, but one which we probably tend not to think about in terms of reproductive "strategy."

And of course, there is always something just a bit cool about doing something that most people consider odd, unattractive, counter-culture...whatever. Owning blackwater aquarium will definitely set you apart from the hobby masses- a cool thing, certainly, but obviously this should not be a primary motivator to try one!

Once considered an "oddity" (okay, still considered an oddity..) by many hobbyists, blackwater aquariums bring a new dimension to tropical fish keeping. They provide more than just a different "medium" for you to express yourself in the aquatic world- they offer an opportunity to see fishes and other animals interact with an environment that they have evolved to favor over earns; one that they were only recently adapted and bred to  live without.

Seems like its as good a time as any to "take them home", doesn't it?

Stay tinted. Stay thoughtful. Stay adventurous.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

 

 

 

July 04, 2016

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When things just...happen. What gives?

If you've been in the aquarium game long enough, you start thinking about stuff like just "why things happen the way they do" in our aquariums. And sometimes, there seem to be no answers...at least on the surface.

We saw this a lot in the reef aquarium world: An aquarist would send months and months planning, designing, and constructing the seemingly "ultimate reef system", with  every arcane detail taken care of- often at great expense, in terms of time and money- only to find after just a few months that the aquarium has developed into a seemingly perennial haven for nuisance algae, fish and coral losses, and equipment failures of all sorts. 

How? Why?

Other times, we develop a concept for an aquarium, tweak and test it on small tanks, and build it our based on our encouraging initial results...And for some reason, when we "build it at scale", our carefully-thought out dream tank becomes an unmanageable, unstable, or otherwise untenable haven for assorted aquatic problems. What causes this to happen?

Or, we carefully acclimate, feed, and condition a rare fish, spend the time to finally work it into our community aquarium, where it appears to be thriving for several months...before it inexplicably disappears one day, never to be seen again.

Why does stuff like this happen? What mysterious forces appear to conspire against us as hobbyists to throw all sorts f previously invisible or even unimaginable consequences- despite our best efforts at testing, preparing, and constructing what we feel are fantastic aquarium systems?

Did we overlook something, even in our heady "research and development" phase? Perhaps. It is possible that even the most well thought out aquarium can have glaring oversights, simply because we can't see "the forest for the trees"- or maybe, because we developed a false sense of security because we seemed to be doing everything right..at least on the surface.

There is precedent in other areas of human endeavour. One need only look into the history of the manned space program to see the results of what they used to call "go fever": a fervent desire to hit a target that was so great, an effort so vast, that some glaringly important details were carelessly overlooked.

Remember the Apollo fire? The spacecraft was being tested on the launch pad in a (dangerous) pure oxygen environment, and it was rather defective- with many highly combustible materials, and some pretty shoddy construction details that were previously overlooked. On the surface, it seemed like a good ship, and NASA's test procedures, although dangerous, were used in the past without problems. There was a deadline to meet, and the Russians to beat in the race to the moon. All it took this time was one spark in this pure oxygen environment to cause a tragic fire disaster that resulted in the tragic, avoidable deaths of three astronauts. NASA pushed it too hard, too fast, and overlooked some things- and it came back to bite them. It took a couple of years of introspective searching, questioning, and redesign before the agency emerged from this tragedy, triumphant and wiser for its costly mistakes.

I'm not trying to say that a mistake that we make on aquarium design as a result of our excitement is anything on par with the loss of human life. However, the situational parallels are often similar. We think we have so many things figured out, spend a ton of time, energy, and money- but all it takes is the seemingly most mundane error in judgment, assumption- or complacency...the things that seep into our plans, almost unnoticed, seemingly unimportant- until they end up playing a major role in something going terribly wrong.

It's almost impossible to eliminate any probability of failure in our aquariums, especially when we are dealing with variables like living creatures, dynamic chemical environments, and complex system designs. Even the most simple, "low concept" aquatic display has literally dozens of potential "failure points"- each which could cause consequences ranging from annoying to tragic, depending upon how they manifest themselves.

It's sort of the price we pay when engaging in this hobby. Our "best laid plans" may sometimes simply let us down. Even when we thought we did everything right. Yay, you quarantined that new arrival for 3 weeks...and the deadly disease didn't manifest itself for 4 weeks. You designed that sump to handle all of the "drain down" capacity you thought you needed...but you had a check valve inline that clogged easily and still flooded your living room. You had a spare aquarium available for that unexpected batch of fry...but you forgot that it was the one that had the sick Barbs in it last month...and you never broke it down to sterilize it...simple, seemingly obvious things after the problem strikes. Stuff that you may not have foreseen in your eagerness to get stuff done.

So, what can we do? Is this a depressing assessment of the unavoidable tragedies that await every fish keeper?

Of course not.

It's a friendly reminder that, we simply need to do the very best we can, think through as many of the variables as possible, and prepare for potential problems. As aquarists, the ability to "back engineer" an issue is as important as it is to do something correctly from the start. As mentioned before, more often than not, it's a relatively simple thing that we somehow overlooked which caused the problem. Smoothies, the best we can do is to simply make good decisions, be alert, and act decisively if something goes wrong, while being prepared to think through what occurred.

In the case of mysterious fish losses and such- sometimes, there simply seems to be no immediately obvious reason. Maybe you really have to put all the pieces together, searching your memory for tiny clues that you might have missed along the way. "Hmm, that loach never did appear to eat food...thought he was feeding on the 'leftovers' everyone missed"- when in actuality, the fish was slowly starving to death in front of our very eyes. Sometimes it's about looking at things differently.

The same is true of equipment issues: That weird temperature anomaly wasn't caused by the little heat wave we had last week- after all, the tank was located in an air conditioned room, and none of the other aquarium had this happen. It was only after the thermostat stuck in the "on" position that it became apparent there was a hardware malfunction.

Stuff like that can drive us crazy. It can also drive us to be better aquarists.

Better, more alert, more inquisitive, more self-reliant, more prepared. All fox which are good habits- often borne from tragedies- which will make us better all around hobbyists. So the simple takeaway here? Keep experimenting. Keep trying new things. Keep doing your best. And when something goes wrong...try to work backwards to see what could have went wrong, so that your future is even more successful than your present.

Stay optimistic. Stay alert. Stay inquisitive.

And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics