The Tint

What makes you an "expert", anyways?

The inspiration for today's little piece comes from talking to a bunch of customers over the last few weeks, who have brought up the subject of "experts" and the pursuit of knowledge in the hobby. Often, when I've given talks around the country, I've been occasionally referred to as "EXPERT hobbyist Scott Fellman"- YIKES! That makes me cringe.

The funny thing is, that if anything, I suppose that the term "noted hobbyist" is more accurate...and in the freshwater world, it would probably be best to just say, "Owner of Tannin Aquatics", because even though I've been a hobbyist in FW and SW all my life, and a "rock star" (according to a friend of mine) in the saltwater world, the FW world largely don't know who the hell I am... Regardless, it made me think about what a real "expert" is in this hobby...and the traits they possess which they won't just tell you about.

As a hardcore hobbyist, you’re not easily impressed, are you? I mean, there are a lot of “armchair experts” in this hobby. I’ve encountered more than a few in my time. The real “experts” in our hobby are far fewer and far less commonly encountered.

Yet, you do read a lot of wisdom from aquarium keeping “experts” that can make a lot of sense; really cutting through the clutter of rehashed “ideas” so prevalent everywhere nowadays. In fact, a real “expert” will not call attention to himself by calling himself an "expert." 

“Truly “expert” hobbyists seem to lead by actions, not by words.



Real "experts" can change the world through their actions.

On the other hand, truly “expert” hobbyists are generally not out to impress anyone.

In fact, there is a good chance that the customer standing next to you at the local fish store, gazing into the cichlid  tank, is uber-experienced, with a setup and livestock that could blow you away- but you won’t really even recognize him/her, because he or she does little overtly to call attention to himself/herself. He has no desire to. 

The revelation becomes obvious, however, when he/she asks a question, or comments on something fish-related, and is glaringly obvious when you see his/her aquariums! He won’t be out there, loudly espousing the latest theories and regurgitating what you’ve read on every forum in existence. Rather, the truly “expert” hobbyists do things a certain way because it works for them. They often utilize methods or embrace techniques and philosophies that may leave you scratching your head- until you see the success they’ve achieved. 

A truly “expert” hobbyist know a little about a lot of things, and maybe a lot about one or two things. As an old college professor once said, “An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less…”


(Although long a favorite easy target for abuse by the hobby faithful, you COULD make the argument that these guys are "experts" at building weird aquariums.)

So-called “experts” in our field seem to display an array of surprisingly distinguishable traits that are pretty obvious, once you think about it.

One of the first things you’ll notice when talking to a real “expert” hobbyist is that they have one underlying personality trait: Patience. Yup, they realize that successful aquariums aren’t built in days, weeks, or even months…They take years, and even then, these successful tanks are still considered a “work in progress” by their owners. The true “expert” fish keeper knows that there are no shortcuts to success.

When you check out the “expert” aquarist's tank, odd are that you won’t see it equipped with the very latest gadgetry that you read about on line. Rather, it will generally be equipped with high-quality, high performance gear from reputable manufacturers…and many times, it won’t even be the latest model. That’s because a lot of experts understand one truth: Get the best equipment you can afford, maintain it well, and utilize it to its full potential before you swap it out for the next brand-spanking-new gadget.

That’s not to say that the “expert” only uses last year’s gear and never upgrades or doesn’t have “gear head” tendencies. What it does mean is that the expert aquarist understands that the equipment he/she selects can do certain things for his/her aquarium, and sees no reason to change up just because this year’s model has an additional novel feature…Unless the feature solves some issue that the expert has been grappling with.

Most “expert” aquarists stick to the basics- and stick to them well…We’re talking water changes, careful stocking, environmental control, etc. They are generally not running off on tangents just because they read that someone in France is using _______ to make their Bucephalandra grow better. They’ll study the problem, and make gradual changes as necessary to achieve the desired result. You just won’t see them rush off, headless, in a frantic attempt to solve some problem by looking for the instant miracle.



You’ll find that almost every “expert” hobbyist will avoid shopping for the “trendy named fishes” like the plague. I notice this in reef keeping a lot: You’ll rarely see the "expert" aquarist namedropping and begging about the microchip-sized frag of that hot “LE” Acro or Acan. Rather, you’ll hear them go on and on about the coral that he or she likes, and find out that the reason it’s in his/her tank is because he or she loves the coral!  It's the same in freshwater, of course: It’s the way things should be- keep fishes or plants that you like because you like them.

Not, as is so prevalent in the reef world- hoping that everyone will think that you’re cool because you paid $600 for a 1/2” frag of some “trendy” coral (that, in reality, is probably available from multiple vendors that just haven't named the darned thing yet and don't realize that they have this month’s “flavor of the month.”). Expert aquarists just know that money doesn’t buy happiness, success, or “street creed” in the fishkeeping scene. It just buys...stuff.



The real “expert” aquarist  makes it a point to understand the needs of each animal before it ends up in his or her tank. Sure, they will make mistake along the way, but most “expert” aquarists will seldom make the same mistake twice- especially if it cost the lives of some treasured livestock. A simple, short, sweet lesson that is always appreciated.

The real “expert” realizes that “stuff” just happens in fish keeping Plants develop problems. Fishes fail to thrive, and corals develop “anomolous” bleaching conditions…Equipment fails, accidents happen with additives, et., etc., etc.- He or she knows that you need to insure yourself against loss with backup parts, reduncacies in your system design, and with fry of prized species “vetted out” to other hobbyists- just in case the unthinkable happens. 

In a similar vein, the real power of “paying it forward” becomes obvious in situations like that, believe me. Ever noticed that when something disastrous happens to a generous “expert” aquarist whom fellow hobbyists come out of the woodwork to help? It’s not just because the aquarist is well known- it’s because he or she has taken the time to cultivate relationships and friendships with other aquarists- to nurture them and assist with their developing hobby. The realization that we don’t exist in a vacuum has helped more than one fishkeeper move from rank beginner to “expert”, believe me.

The “expert” aquarist also knows that just being consistent and steadfast in maintenance and husbandry can make up for a lot of mistakes- and that you will make a lot of mistakes in aquarium keeping. It’s inevitable. The “expert” learns from mistakes, rather than quits because of them.

In the end, the “expert” aquarist has an array of skills honed from years of experience in the aquarium-keeping game- the product of numerous successes, jarring failures, and lessons learned by getting his or her hands wet. In short, an “expert” aquarist is a hobbyist who has done far more than he or she has talked about, and who continues to push forward the boundaries of modern aquarium-keeping.

Today's very brief, and hopefully, very useful-to-remember lesson.


Until next time...

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Big and bold...and the case for finesse...

Finesse- fin-esse (verb): To do (something) in a subtle and delicate manner.

Have you ever noticed that, as hobbyists, when we are trying to solve a problem in one of our aquariums, the "solution"- the easy, initial one- is always to "add something" to the aquarium. Be it an additive, piece of gear, or other accessory, it's always about the addition of stuff, right? 

And if it's not about adding more stuff to the aquarium, it's often about doing more "stuff": Big water changes, more extensive maintenance procedures, significant stocking adjustments...BIG moves to affect rapid, significant changes. The aquarium equivalent of brute force. Big moves.

And these occasional big, bold moves cost more, in terms of time, money, and energy, and often have another collateral price attached to them, in terms of animal stress, human aggravation, financial strain, and energy expended, than smaller, more "finessed" practices from Day One do.

Wouldn't finesse make more sense when affecting changes?

Or for that matter, when creating your system, why not incorporate more thought-out, measured, yet easily adjusted practices, better equipment, and long-term philosophies to set you on a proper course? In other words, plan your system with the potential problems already in mind, so that you've sort of "pre-solved" them.

Huh?

For example, if you just KNOW you're ultimately going to want more than 6 assorted Mbuna in that aquarium, and you have the space, financial resources, and energy, wouldn't it simply make sense to start with the 75, 90, or even 120 gallon tank now, rather than go to the time, trouble and expense of building a 50 gallon system, knowing your predilection for expansion? Sure, it might cost more from the start, or even delay the start of the project, but "editing" your system after it's up and running, and then migrating to that inevitable larger tank is almost always way more expensive than just doing it the right way the first time!

It's the same with equipment selection. We see this in the reef world all the time: In our enthusiasm to "get in the game", a smaller tank with perhaps "second tier" components is hastily assembled. Following the usual cycling and adjustment period, the neophyte reefer becomes aware of the shortcomings of the "quick and cheap, I'll upgrade later..." approach, laments the decisions he/she made, and begins to assemble better (and typically pricier) gear, a bigger tank, and so on soon after he or she sets up the initial tank. The realities are usually such that, if the start of the project was delayed just a short time, it could have been executed the first time in a more efficient, sustainable, and satisfying manner.

Maintenance and husbandry also come into play. It's not just about doing bigger water changes and more extensive cleanings and such. It's about planning from the start- from day one- easily accomplished and sustainable husbandry practices that can be incorporated into your routine easily and with minimum stress. By adopting, for example, small, more frequent water changes and maintenance tasks versus once a month, 40%-50% water changes and extensive maintenance sessions, the savings in time, money, and energy is huge...And the "quality of life" these more frequent, smaller, and more easily accomplished practices bring is significant.

Big "corrections" become less necessary, and far less frequent!

It almost seems a bit contrarian, in a way, especially coming from a guy like me, who espouses the Facebook ethos of "move fast and break things" in business, doesn't it? However, in hobby practice, it's a far more logical and beneficial long-term strategy: Delay the smaller tank project in favor of a larger, more thought-out, better-equipped one. Create a system with an eye towards the long-term.

Get your hands wet more frequently, but for less time, and purchase the best  equipment you can from "the get go." All with an eye on expansion, ease of use, and long-term viability/sustainability of your effort, enjoyment, and enthusiasm. The old fable of the Tortoise and the Hare comes to mind, but we're sort of "tweaking" it a bit, aren't we?

Finesse versus brute force. Long-term versus short-term, and an understanding of our own habits and philosophies are valuable tools we can use to create an amazing, lifetime hobby experience.

Look ahead. Plan ahead. Move intelligently, if not more slowly...

Oh- and Stay Wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The common sense guide to common sense- and new hope from the front lines.

I know that there is supposedly "no such thing as a stupid question", but I think that there might be questions which, well, shall we say, might indicate that the person inquiring has not thought through some of the fundamentals first.

Huh?

Well, think of the questions you get when, for example, you're showing off some of your killifish fry or Apisto fry. You'll get some questions like, "Aren't killies kind of difficult? I heard you have to dry out the eggs, right? How do I get started? Do you have to do water changes for them? Where can I find killies?

Look, I like when you get another fish geek excited, and love questions...However, I find it incredibly hard to believe that, in this day and age, the person asking can't at least use this magical free tool called Google to get the most fundamental background on the topic before asking such a seemingly broad and basic question, like "Where can I find them?" (I can see Sergey Brin and Larry Page groaning away when they hear about stuff like that, lol).

It kind of ties in with the desire many hobbyists have for "instant answers" that we've talked about before right here...I mean, in this day and age, there are so many resources to explore before you even have to talk to a more learned hobbyist on a subject. I mean, I can see questions like, "I read that some killies need their eggs to be dried in peat moss. Is that recommended for this species?" Those are questions that shows at least some preliminary research has been done on the topic. They demonstrate that the hobbyist has a basic grasp, and hobby "common sense", which, for want of a better word, "entitles" them to advance in the hobby.

I wandered into one of those "big box" generic pet store chains the other day, and of course, made a beeline for the fish department. Contrary to what I was expecting, the department was clean, well-managed, and the staff actually knew what they were talking about...dispensing good basic advice to what were obviously some new fish hobby hopefuls. And what's even more, the staff members I watched in action went out of their way to suggest that the newbie take home a book (I cannot recall which one, off-hand) on basic aquarium care before purchasing anything!

I was blown away.

This is an extraordinary quantum shift in hobby indoctrination from the sector of the industry that hardcore aquarist love to criticize. Sure, maybe this was just this one store...or maybe, just maybe- it represents an understanding from the "C-suite" corporate executives of the chain that an educated consumer is more loyal, stays in the brand ecosystem longer, and became a more advanced hobbyist, with more and more purchases over the long term as his/her interests progress.

Regardless, it's good stuff to see. And good for us to emulate. 

Always offer a new person help in the hobby...But temper it with a referral to find out some basic stuff as well, preferably before you sell or give away that batch of fry to them. It's not a groundbreaking change in procedure here, but it might just net us a very small percentage of lifelong hobbyists, because they learned to walk before they started attempting to run. 

You and I both know how enjoyable, educational, and rewarding the hobby can be if you approach it correctly. We also know how expensive, difficult, and costly (in terms of animal lives) it can be if approached haphazardly. It's part of our role, as serious aquarists, to temper our advice on obscure topics with reminding beginners to accumulate some basic knowledge- and a healthy dose of common sense- before moving on to more advanced stuff. It helps preserve the lives of innocent animals, educates new hobbyists on the responsibilities associated with fish keeping, and opens up vast educational possibilities.

Your periodic "marching orders" from another lifelong hobbyist.

Stay patient. Stay helpful. Stay solid.

And Stay Wet

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The botanical refugium. Been there. Done That? Or a new idea?

In the course of another blog yesterday, I had this personal epiphany that it might be a cool thing to keep all of your botanicals in a separate aquarium (refugium) to provide many of the benefits (habitat enrichment, a substrate to cultivate biofilms, algae, and even invertebrates/aquatic insects) to our display tanks without the jumble of stuff that some aquarists may not care for.

Of course, you might like the whole botanical aesthetic, yet you want to try something different in the display with blackwater. So, a "refugium" (literally translates into "place of refuge") will support the growth of beneficial life forms outside of the primary display tank. And the cool thing is that you could, in both theory and practice, create a sort of multi-level biotope, with leaf litter, botanicals, wood, etc in a separate vessel from the primary display. 

Refugiums have been used for years in reef and marine aquariums, offering the opportunity to propagate plans, algae, and invertebrates in a protected environment, which supplies some of the benefits (i.e.; nutrient processing capability and the occasional "food animal" being shot into the display for a treat for the fishes) to the display,  Ohh, maybe Daphnia instead of the traditional copepods and amphipods of reef keeping practice. 

This is getting even more interesting.

Again, I know that the concept of a freshwater refugium is not groundbreaking (I've hear, but not seen, Discus aquarium run with an inline refugium.), but the application to a blackwater system is compelling. All of the benefits and none of the "perceived" downsides (like leaves and such "cluttering" the display tank (arghhh, there's that whole aesthetic argument again).

Simple to set up, you'd literally plumb an aquarium in line with the display, or you could even use a sump for this purpose. I can imagine a hardscape or cichlid aquarium with heavy digging, metabolic waste producers having a refugium growing vast quantities of hardy plans like Anacharis, Hair Grass, or Water Sprite, harvested regularly for the sole purpose of nutrient export. Oh, or growing ornamental shrimp safely in a system used for predatory fishes...lots of possibilities, right?

Yeah, maybe it's a been there, done that thing, but I think I might explore the idea further using botanicals...

Any takers?

That's it for today..It's a nice summer Sunday morning here in L.A., and I'm heading to the beach. 

Stay creative. Stay innovative. Stay appreciative.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Too much is, well "too much." Right? Yeah.

I like a good mix of botanicals...I really do. And of course, we offer a big variety of them! 

However, one of the things I realized is that it's never great to have your tank filled with too many different botanicals. Why?

Well, while it's true that in nature, on first examination, you'll see a large amount and variety of plant materials accumulated on the bottom of rivers and streams, upon closer examination, you'll find that there are typically just a few varieties of materials (leaves, usually) that comprise the majority of the litter bed.

So it got me to thinking...In the confines of the the aquarium, would it make more sense to create your bottom litter bed/botanical "accumulation zone" with a smaller variety of items (say, a maximum of 6-10 botanicals, or less)?

I think it would, because not only will it look a lot better- "too much "stuff" is just "too much stuff" in an aquarium. It's kind of distracting to me to see 30 different elements in a 20 gallon tank, you know? In addition to being aesthetically displeasing, having too much diversity in a small area like an aquarium doesn't accurately represent the leaf litter environments as they are found in nature, and provides little other benefit, IMHO.

Now, diversity of materials is one thing, but the diversity of associated benthic life forms within a wild leaf litter bed is quite another!

In one study (Rueda-Delgado, Wantzen, Tolosa, 2006), almost 40 species of invertebrates ( Chironomidae, Trichoptera, and Ephemeroptera) were identified in a small sampling of Amazonian leaf litter from a stream near Leticia, Columbia. Other studies have indicated that both invertebrate and fish population densities and diversity were loosely tied to the diversity, composition, and breakdown rates of the leaf litter bed! The fishes "follow the food", and the insects and invertebrates they feed on follow the leaves!

(Awesome underwater India pic by Sumer Tiwari!)

Interesting, I think!

So, what does this mean to you, the aquarist, who is trying to replicate a leaf litter bed in  your aquarium?

Well, for one thing, it means that if you have a greater diversity of species, you could probably see a greater diversity of botanicals. On the other hand, we're not trying to replicate a leaf litter bed to scientific perfection- we're just talking about what looks good aesthetically. Drawing from nature, it is interesting that, time and again in various studies I found, there are typically only 6-10 different species of leaves and/or seed pods, etc. in given tracts of streams...which seems to correspond well with the variety of materials we provide in our variety packs (that was NOT a coincidence, BTW!)!  

Less is actually more, in this case! Our office tank, which a lot of Tannin fans seem to enjoy, has a surprisingly low diversity of different botanicals...rather, it relies on the variety of the textures and colors within just a few botanicals to provide that interest...which it does to pretty good effect, iMHO!

So, bringing this all together, it has always been my opinion that you shouldn't overdo stuff. I mean, I think you could make a case that a tank with like 15 different botanicals in the mix is a simulation of an Amazonian Igarape or an Asian stream in the rainy season, with a lot of accumulating material. However, for the typical tank, I think it looks better to limit the botanicals just a bit.

We probably aren't going to be releasing water-borne insects and inverts in our display tanks (although I'd love to see the Amazonian shrimp, Pseudopalaemon amazonensis, in our tanks one day!) right now. However,"setting the stage" would be cool...And boy, I am fascinated by the idea of those Amazonian shrimp! In the mean time, the "Amano Shrimp" makes a faithful substitute! 

And, as for species diversity and its relationship to botanicals and the prey items of the fishes...well, it's an interesting study, but probably not something we'll be doing a ton of work with in the near future...

Although, the idea of a freshwater version of a marine "refugium", with leaf litter instead of macroalage, and aquatic insects/inverts instead of copepods and such, is intriguing, and may be worth investigating...Oh, my, now I think I'm on to something, lol!

Here we go again...me chasing down another kooky idea! Who's gonna jump on that one?

Until next time, think about nature, continue providing the best possible environment for your fishes...

And Stay Wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The "Burden Relief Dividend" in Aquarium Keeping.

Stuff changes on like a weekly basis in the aquarium world, doesn't it?

Ever thought about this? Technology and technique are changing rapidly, creating new successes, new challenges, and new opportunities to those who embrace them. 

Think about it for a second. Even though breakthroughs happen, forever changing the way we keep tropical fishes, they yield still further  opportunities for disruption and change. For example, the development of filtration in the aquarium put us at a new crossroads: I imagine that the first time a hobbyist used a filter in an aquarium, it created a very interesting dilemma. 

The hobbyist, relived of at least some of the burden of water quality management on a daily basis, could either use the extra time to improve some other aspect of his/her aquarium, or could simply sit back and watch their (now cleaner) aquarium. I like to think that he/she went to work on other things, like figuring out how to grow plants, spawn the Neon Tetra, improve the way aquariums were heated, etc.- but the breakthrough itself was the key to creating new possibilities.

It's always been that way.

Every time a technological improvement or change in technique comes along, we basically have two options as aquarists: Embrace the technology and technique, kick back and enjoy our aquariums...or, move on to working on the "next" great problem in the aquarium world (while enjoying our aquariums).

Two distinctly different reactions. Each with pleasant possibilities.

However, I for one, am thankful that aquarium technology and technique seem to spur us as a group tor turn our energies and new-found time towards other innovative ideas.

So, not ONLY does adapting new innovations help us accomplish more with less effort, it  gives us the option of doing more with the time we are now afforded.

Using leaves and botanicals and such is not some sort of "breakthrough", on par with the development of the aquarium heater or canister filter. However, I believe that embracing this growing trend towards exploring natural materials in our aquariums is providing hobbyists new opportunities to maintain, spawn and rear fishes that may have been a bit more challenging to work with in more "sterile" or "conventional" aquarium conditions.

In other words, with the ability to create a more natural situation for many species of fishes comes the opportunity to progress on other aspects of their care and breeding.  Or, of course, we can simply enjoy them and their more natural behaviors in their leave new setup and call it a day.

Something simply made easier, better.

That's the beauty- and challenge- of what I call the "Burden Relief Dividend." The benefit of having one challenge or burden relived is that it creates more possibilities for us. 

What we choose to do with them is for us to decide. The benefits of both paths are quite obvious...

Today's brief aquatic musing, brought to you by the hobbyists who have always pushed us towards more and greater successes, for the benefit of the hobby, the human spirit...and of course, the fishes we keep.

Whatever path you take, be sure to stay enthusiastic, appreciative, open-minded...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Botanicals in proper "context."

I'm really excited to see so many people experimenting with the idea of using botanical materials in their aquariums. It's been an interesting ride in Tannin's first year. The idea of using leaves and such in our tanks is definitely not new. We didn't invent it; nor, have we "perfected" it. However, I am rather proud of the fact that we are helping to popularize experimenting with it.

We understand that there are those of you who will purchase some of our botanicals, prepare them pr our instructions (or not, yikes...), toss them into your aquariums, and hate what happens next. You'll hate the look. You might hate the fact that there was no spontaneous miracle with your previously "unspawnable" Apistogramma species suddenly guarding a clutch of eggs two days later (yeah, I've had a couple of people complain about that! Really!). Some of you will be appalled at the fact that the water in your tank is turning a light brown...Some of you will not follow instructions, add everything at once, rapidly change the environment of a stable, long-established aquarium, and kill your fishes. Yeah, I expect that.

Some of you will want to see what all the "fuss" is about, and experiment with adding the botanicals to your tank, and you'll just be unimpressed, uninterested, and otherwise turned off by the results. Still others will be very excited about the idea, with plans to create a cool "Igarape" biotope, carefully select, prepare, and place your botanicals, only to be turned off as soon as the first evidence of biofilm or leaf decay shows itself. Out go the botanicals...back to the white sand, CO2, and plants.

It's okay. I get it.

As I've said to the point of probably turning some of you off- the concept of botanical-dominated aquarium requires you to make a mental shift to a different aesthetic. Some of you are not interested, not excited, or simply not capable of handling it. And that's okay. For the small percentage of you who make that mental "shift" and "get it", the rewards are huge. And the potential for cool results, unlimited!

I think that we've discussed a lot about the concept of using botanicals in your aquarium, but not much about context. Yeah, context.

You know, like using materials that would make sense in certain kinds of situations. For example, if you're trying to replicate an Amazonian stream or a Peruvian Morichal, there are different types of botanicals you'd want to employ, and different ways you'd employ them.

A classic "Igarape" is often replete with branches, seed pods, and a few leaves.

A small forest stream might have a very thick leaf litter bed, and the fish population there might be somewhat different. A morichal would have an accumulation of different materials in a different density than you might find in a flowing stream, river, or other tributary. The water might be clear instead of brown.

Context.

If you're intending to use botanicals to help create a specialized environment for a certain type of fish, then you need to consider context. You need to consider what would be found in the fish's natural environmental niche, and how the fishes would utilize the materials found there. For shelter? Food? Foraging? Or, are the materials simply "there", influencing the water chemistry parameters?

All of these can influence how you might want to incorporate the botanicals in your aquarium.

Context.

And acceptance. Acceptance of the many nuances of a botanical-influenced aquarium. 

I think that, if you can make those mental shifts, and appreciate what botanicals can do for an aquarium in proper context, the potential to create greatness is huge. I really do.

Make the mental adjustments. Think through the context. Make the mental shift.

Create greatness.

And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

"Next level" nuances...subtle changes with dramatic impacts?

I was thinking about this the other day:

We spend a tremendous amount of effort, time, and money at replicating the physical and chemical aspects of natural environments for our fishes. We have amazing water pumps, heaters, water conditioners, and lighting systems.

We use them to replicate, in a broad way, conditions similar to what we encounter in the natural environments where our animals come from. 

However, I'm curious why we never have done much to replicate "seasonal" variations in weather by manipulating lighting conditions (like intensity, spectrum, duration, beam angle), temperature, and water chemistry (I'm sure that the pH, alkalinity, etc. vary slightly in say, the plains region in Africa, or the Pantanal region in Brazil during the rainy season versus the dry season). 

Interesting stuff, especially when you consider the technology, knowledge and information at our disposal which we didn't in have years past. And think about it. Haven't you had situations where a fish spawned spontaneously after say, an accidental temperature dip or an intentional water change, or...? Was it just a coincidence? Sure, we've seen and even played with pH and its relationship to sex ratios in certain fish species, but there seems to be so much more we can do...

I imagine a convergence of technology and practice which addresses some of these more nuanced ideas. As someone who plays with leaf litter and such in his aquariums, I can't help but wonder if, even though they might be obvious, some of these adjustments may make a significant difference in our success with fishes. We've seen this a lot in the reef end of the hobby; trying to manipulate environmental conditions to optimize coral growth.

And of course, we've been doing "blackwater" and "Rift Lake" water condition manipulations for years, with obvious benefits...so the next set of more subtle adjustments might just bring some spectacular results for fishes who's reproduction in captivity has been elusive to date.

Something to ponder...and play with! More on this soon...

Stay curious...Stay inventive.

And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Expectations.

We have written a lot about the "mental shift" that we need to make as quarts when embracing this type of more natural "New Botanical"-style system. It's simply NOT the pristine, "uber-white-sand-and-scrupulously-clean-well-manicured-planted" 'scapes we've been indoctrinated to accept as "natural" over the past decade or two. It's not some sterile-looking artistic representation of nature. (not that there is ANYTHING wrong with that, of course, but I believe that the term "natural" is a slight overstepping of this definition). 

Rather, the truly "natural" aquarium embraces the transitions and processes that occur when you introduce terrestrial materials into the aquatic environment, both to the materials themselves, and to the aquatic environment. This is exactly what has happened for eons in the rivers, streams, and lakes of the world.

There are, of course, expectations that we've developed from a century of looking at aquarium a certain way. Indeed, the "New Botanical"-style aquarium offers a different set of expectations, and those of us who have worked with these types of aquariums have come to expect some things from our aquariums. We know, for example, that these aquariums will create a very different aesthetic, with a completely different set of activities. Any of the following  aesthetic influences can be expected to occur as a result of incorporating these materials into our displays:

Brown Water- The result of tannins being released by botanical materials interacting with the water.

Decomposing Leaves- Caused by microorganisms within the aquarium, resulting in the gradual breakdown of the tissues.

Algal Growth- Resulting from an influx of botanical materials  providing some nutrients and a "substrate" upon which they may grow. These are typically minimal and transient.

Biofilms- Surface accumulations of harmless sugars and bacteria which tend to occur on  submerged botanical materials as the interact with the aquatic environment.

Change- A "New Botanical"-style aquarium is in a constant transition; it's hardly a static environment, as the process of decomposition, growth, and recycling of nutrients creates a dynamic physical and aesthetic environment within the aquarium.

The hardest part of working with this type of aquarium is accepting the fact that these processes and their accompanying aesthetics are normal, predictable, and in most cases, beneficial for the animals which reside in the aquarium. When we have an understanding of what is going to occur, we can then simply enjoy the dynamics of this type of system.

As we've said many times in this blog, these types of systems are not "set and forget", in that you need to monitor water chemistry, be prepared to remove detritus and materials which you feel are aesthetically problematic, or are causing any environmental issues which you feel are detrimental to your livestock (very rare).

Understanding that many fishes and invertebrates actually utilize the botanicals, decomposing leaves, biofilms, and micro-and microorganisms which inhabit them as supplemental foods sources, or forage among them, just like they do in nature, is the key. Sure, you can have botanicals in a system and keep it near pristine. I've done this many times, as have many other hobbyists: You brush the seed pods and such regularly to remove/discourage growth of the biofilms and algae that may be present. You siphon out leaves as they start to break down, and replace them with fresh ones. You can even avoid having the "tint" in your water if you desire through continuous use of chemical filtration media (such as activated carbon, Purigen, Poly Filter, and the like).

There are many ways to successfully manage this type of aquarium from a physical standpoint.

There is only one way to manage a "New Botanical"-style aquarium from a mental standpoint, and that's to accept the dynamics, understand what they are, and how they are beneficial to the animals residing in the system...and appreciating the changes as they occur within the aquarium.

It's a true mental shift. An acceptance of the transient nature of botanical materials in an aquatic environment. An appreciation for the positive impact that they have, and the beauty they convey.

Expectations are truly important. And the understanding of WHAT to expect is equally, if not more, important.

Stay curious. Stay open-minded.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Better.Stronger.Faster. Pricier. What?

Okay, so you see me wax on about over-reliance on technology and lamenting the declining “art” of aquarium keeping…It sounds like a broken record at times, but it’s a valid observation, IMO. So, the latest “malady” I seem to have encountered over the past few days is “over-build syndrome”, a condition that seems to have arisen from a desire to make our systems bigger, bolder, faster, stronger than everyone else’s…I’ve talked to four different people in the last few days, from different parts of the country- that are building or contemplating building- systems that are just ridiculously overbuilt, overthought, and…well, wasteful for what the hobbyist wants to accomplish.

I mean, the amount of high-priced, rather unnecessary gear being assigned to each planned "build" is obscene, IMHO. And the scariest part, at least to me, is that the hobbyists in question cannot explain exactly why they need the particular pieces of equipment that they are contemplating. They were asking for my "blessing" (as if I somehow had this magic capability to "green light" everyone's dream system, lol). The choices seem to have been made based upon what they think you're "supposed" to have for the particular type of aquarium/livestock plan in question, based on...what?



Just what is it about us hobbyists these days? Here we are, a century after the  "modern" hobby was born,  and we’re still as amped as ever. It’s great to be enthusiastic. I love it. However, I get concerned when I see people thinking that we have to throw everything at our tanks to create this biggest, baddest, most powerful system ever! It's even more prevalent in the reef side of the hobby, IMHO. Not only are we hyper-equipping our systems with lots of ultra-high-tech, water-scrubbing, flow inducing, high-intensity light-emitting technology- we’re pushing the limits in stocking our systems: It seems like it’s all about ultra-rare, uber-pricy, “name-drop quality” livestock these days! There is so much intensity that it’s palpable.

Deep breath.

Sure, technological advances have been good to the hobby, and I’ve blabbed on and on about this over the months…But seriously- why all the angst? Why do we make things bigger and badder than they need to be? Three foot high, multi-pump protein skimmers on tanks that require 10% or less of the capability of these behemoths? Tanks with mass water movement provided by banks of electronic pumps and large, over-thought filter syste, automated CO2 injection systems, etc., are popping up everywhere. And in many instances, these technologically-over-the-top systems are being justified by their designers because they feel that this is what you "need" to be "successful."

I touched on this before, but I still wonder- why do we have to build systems based on this kind of thinking? Maybe it’s fun to build overly complex, chest-beating-quality aquariums? Is it the foundation for some future tank? Do we just like to impress our friends with crazy build threads on the message boards? Or, could it be that the "Twitter generation" sees bright and shiny gear and can't resist. Perhaps...perhaps, it's a "crutch"- a replacement for having to learn and practice the art of aquatic husbandry. Maybe the mindset it, "If I throw in all of this fancy gear,  I won't have to (insert basic husbandry task here)." 

I dunno, enlighten me, please.

Is spending obscene amounts of money on crazy new gear for your new tank that you really don't understand considered "progress?"

Are we becoming slaves to our over-built tanks and their expensive equipment? There is a lot of monitoring and maintenance involved with excessive amounts of gear. I know we’ve talked about the fact that a lot of people enjoy the tech- and that’s not what I’m getting at today. I’m talking about overkill. I have literally talked to reefer hobbyists that approach their tanks like a real estate investment, talking about “break-even” and “payoff”…what the #$%#$%^# are they talking about? It’s a hobby! WOW. Where will the fun be when you need to run a spreadsheet to see if you SHOULD be enjoying your hobby at this point.



("According to my modeling, I should be able to enjoy this tank on October 23, 2019!")

I’m NOT saying that you shouldn’t outfit your tank with cool equipment. I love tech. What I am saying is that we need to reign ourselves in and think about what we really need to get the job done. Nothing more. Usually, it’s good equipment and excellent husbandry fundamentals. Oh…husbandry- the “H word again. That’s something that we need to keep thinking about. Please. We have awesome technology now. Use technology to assist! That means restraining yourself from over-spending on too much stuff "just because."

 

“Stuff”, as I have stated ad nauseum of late, will not make yo a better aquarist. And too much stuff will only make you a less financially stable aquarist…one who will not be able to participate in the real “meat” of the hobby- the growing and keeping of animals- because you are still paying off the tank build…Slow down and enjoy! And don’t feel that your system must be filled with only exotic fishes, plants, and corals that have crazy-high prices…we’ve talked about this before, too. Hasn’t sunk in some places, apparently. I don’t know about you, but I’m far more impressed by someone’s healthy, vibrant community tank system than I am by their $850 all titanium needle-wheel pump or over-priced “designer” Discus! 

Yup, time to take the excess out of aquarium keeping! Just enjoy.

Today’s rant…filled with thoughts from the past few months, and much hope for the hobby’s future, of course. 

Till next time,

Stay focused on what's really important. Stay engaged. Stay thoughtful.

And Stay Wet

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics