The Tint

Endless variety. Endless Fascination

A customer recently told me that he felt we had a fairly narrow focus, working with natural products for biotopes and specialty aquariums. My first reaction was...elation! That's exactly what we wanted to achieve. Not being all things to all people. A real validation of our market position and business focus.

To him it seemed a bit "limiting", but to a business person, it's an essential part of creating a niche business. Do a few things really well, as opposed to a whole bunch of stuff average or less.

It made me reflect a bit on the hobby in general. Having recently sold my interest in a coral focused business, it was kind of cool to look at the contrast between the two sides of the aquarium hobby.

One of the interesting things that I noticed about the freshwater aquarium hobby, coming back to it after decades immersed in the reef aquarium "game" as both a hobbyist and business owner, is that the freshwater side is extremely diverse; highly specialized.

Something that's fun for me to ponder, given my rather unique position.

I mean, in the reef world, it's straightforward, IMHO. It's all about keeping corals and fishes. The typical distinction in a reef tank is "SPS" ("Small Polyp Stony") corals, "LPS ("Large Polyp Stony") corals, and Soft Corals. Sure, there are a few others, like Zoanthids, Mushrooms, and non-photosynthetic corals, but these tend to be "heaped" into one of the larger categories.

And that's about it, really, if we're honest with ourselves.

In freshwater, however, it's a totally different ball game! I mean, it was almost overwhelming. We have what you would think would be simple categories; for example, "Cichlids." Well, it's not THAT simple, right? Are you into South American, African Rift Lake, Central American, or African Riverine, just to name a few? Shell Dwellers or rock-dwellers? And which Rift Lake? Tanganyika, Malawi, or Victoria, or...? Oh, and the South Americans- Are we talking miscellaneous ones, Dwarf cichlids, or maybe Apistogramma? Discus? Angelfishes (oh, and which species? P. scalare,P. altum, P. leopoldi? Or Geophagus (hmm, considered "Central American", huh?)

Catfish are not generic by any stretch. Most self-respecting Loricarid keepers are all about "L Number" Plecos, and would typically not have the same obsession as they would with, say, Corydoras, or Brochius...

Anabantoids is such a broad group- I mean, you've got any Betta enthusiasts, Gourami lovers, wild-form Betta lovers, and those "other" members of the group...It goes on and on.

Don't even get me started with livebearers. It's way beyond Guppies, Mollies, Plates, and Swordtails now, isn't it? I mean, some of the obscure wild types, like Goodieds, Xenontaca, Micropoceilia, Limia, Gambusia, etc. ,etc., etc.

The freshwater world is almost stunningly diverse, in terms of habitats, fish varieties, regional variations, endemics, etc. There are so many amazing specialty groups out there it's not even funny. I love that many hobbyists are members of several different speciality groups and indulge i na bunch of different types of fishes. And I haven't even touched on planted aquariums. I mean, you've got the "ADA style", "Dutch", "Dirted", El Natural", etc., etc. etc.

As a marketer, we knew we couldn't and didn't want to try to hit every target. It's impossible to do 'em all well. It was far more beneficial for us as a business to stick to a few categories, and cater to them. Much like in the hobby itself, there is a need to specialize in order to do a good job.

I love the diversity nature affords us. I love the fact that there are hobbyists specializing in virtually every type of fish you could imagine.

And I love the sharing, the crossover curiosity, and the respect hobbyists have for each other.

I know that you do, too.

So appreciate the diversity. Celebrate the craft.

And always...

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Aquatic botanicals getting down and dirty with your planted tank...

It's kind of fun to try different concepts in our aquaria, isn't it?

One of the best thing about working with you- our fellow hobbyists and customers- is that we get hear all about the cool ideas you're working on in your aquariums. One of the questions that we receive more often than you'd expect is, "Are aquatic botanicals compatible with 'dirted' planted tanks?"

An interesting thought, and before we get into it, let's just briefly look at what a "dirted planted tank" is.

As it's name belies, this type of system, tied to plant expert Diane Walstad's concept of "Natural Planted Tanks", utilizes terrestrial soil for the bulk of the plant substrate, and operates off of the premise that aquariums are true ecosystems, where plants and fishes "balance each other's needs." In her book, "Ecology of the Planted Aquarium", Diane suggests that, in this type of system, fishes produce the "fertilizers" for the plants, which function as a natural "filter."- a great idea!

These types of aquariums seem to do well with even low to moderate lighting, which makes a lot of sense, because it eschews the typical "mandatory" CO2 supplementation. Rather, the CO2 is produced via bacteria present in the soil ("dirt") and the respiration of the fishes in the aquarium. And, the decomposition of materials in the soil substrate releases CO2 via natural processes over time, which, of course, plants totally love! Soil substrate tanks can produce awesome results, even on par with some of those "high tech" planted tanks, with relatively minimal effort- although they take longer to "get there."

Ohh, a system that's bit different- sort of a "counterculture approach" to the usual high-testosterone, energy-centric typical planted tank? One that requires a lot of patience... How could we not love this? It seems downright rebellious! Count us in!

So, you're essentially adding quality terrestrial potting soil and covering it with gravel or other heavier substrate material at a depth of like 2"-4", planting it very densely from day one, and letting the plants settle in for a while before adding fishes. Logical, natural, and elegantly simple. The kind of concept that we as aquarists have so much trouble accepting at "face value", because we love to "edit" and make stuff like this more complicated! I mean, there must be a way to incorporate a reactor or some other techno-gear in such a system, right? There must be!

Actually, what's cool about this system is that, if you get the balance right between fishes and plants, you can theoretically avoid using a filter altogether. Old school...Like, really "old school", right? A cool idea in principle, and of course, one of the parts of the concept that I veto from day one, being a stubborn, biased, lover of filters (and being a long time, gear-heavy reef aquarist keeps me stubbornly clinging to the idea...). And, since good circulation is not a bad idea, why not use filtration as well, right?

I mean, there is obviously more to this whole concept than just throwing dirt in and walk-in away, but the general point is that it's yet another way to have success with aquariums...you do need to research the detailed information about this approach, and there is much more detailed information and discussion on the topic, that's all over the inter-webs...

Oh, and you can light the aquarium with your choice of lighting form factors, which is just fine by me. It's even recommended to employ that 2-4 hour "siesta", when you kill the lights in the middle of your designated photoperiod. This helps retain more CO2 within the system, which powers photosynthesis in your plants- outcompeting nasty algal growth.  I always loved that strategy...

The typical 20%-30% weekly water work nicely, with the typical admonition to go with a bigger water change (like 50%) for the first 2-3 weeks to help alleviate some of the excess nutrients released by the soil and prevent algae from getting a "foothold" in the tank.

So, good- I've given you the most cursory rundown of this concept, possibly either piqued your interest or completely turned you off to the idea- and didn't touch one bit about aquatic botanicals! 

So, here's the deal: Sure, you can use aquatic botanicals in a "dirted" tank. I see no reason why not! After all, I've seen many dirted systems with driftwood, so it goes without saying that botanicals should work just fine in there. In fact, some "dirted" tank enthusiasts incorporate peat into their substrate, taking advantage of the humic acids it releases...So botanicals, many with their own capacity to release some of the same compounds, work great!

The best part about such a tank is that you're doing regular water changes, which, especially in the first few weeks, can help alleviate some of the organics released by the botanicals as well. And leaves? Well, I suppose you could use them; however, with their propensity to "tint" the water significantly, and the need for light penetration in the aquarium for the plants' benefit, it's something that you will have to experiment with yourself. 

I like this approach to planted tanks, because- much like the "new botanical" approach we blabber on about so much here, it creates its aesthetic based on embracing natural processes- not fighting them- and accepts some of the limitations- and benefits- that go with it. I love that it requires patience- something every hobbyist should have an excess of, and that it's still a sort of "deviant" way in the eyes of many "mainstream" planted tank people (I just can't help but be attracted to stuff that kicks convention in the knees once in a while...).

In the end, your choice of using botanicals in a darted tank really boils down to aesthetics. I think they will add a relatively negligible "fertilizing" component (with the exception of leaves, which could break down into some sort of "aquatic mulch" over time, I suppose), and far more of a "look" to the tank.

The only question I have is, who's tried/gonna try/is thinking of trying - this approach with botanicals for their next planted tank? And, is "dirted" really a word? :)

Be adventurous. Stay curious. Stay rebellious.

And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Gathering leaves...? Well, "curating" them, actually!

"Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain."-Henry David Thoreau

I had a great discussion with a friend the other day about...leaves. Yep. LEAVES.

If you read my stuff, you pretty much know that I'm obsessed with Catappa, Guava, and other leaves in my 'scapes. And, being the obsessed type, I have learned to appreciate subtle distinctions not only between types of leaves, but between different "specimens" of the same variety.

And I've realized that we're sort of in a different "mind space" about using leaves and botanicals in our aquaria than we have been in previous years. The "New Botanical" movement -yeah, I'd call it a "movement"- embraces the variety and dynamics of leaves and other botanicals in aquatic environments.

What do I mean?

Well, leaves (and to a lesser extent, botanicals) have been utilized in aquariums for some time- typically for environmental enrichment, etc. Nowadays, we're referring to them in the context of aquascaping "props" and legitimate enhancements to hardscape. We realize that, even with their "transient" nature, they can be an integral and dynamic part of a natural aquascape. In fact, part of the "charm", if you will, of using leaves in our aquaecapes is that they decompose, constantly changing the scape.

When we select leaves to send you, we're not just grabbing 10 random large Catappa, or 16 "nano"-sized Catappa, etc. We're taking the time to actually look at the ones we're sending you. We're looking for quality, character, color. Not every leaf is perfect: They have blemishes, imperfections, crinkles, etc. Some are acceptable, because they keep a "look" going. Others are degraded too much for 'scaping, and we wouldn't want to use them in our own display, so they are rejected.

We're looking for great leaves; specimens which stand on their own as singular examples of nature's beauty.

Yeah, we actually are "curating" your leaves. Because we're trying to drive an aesthetic appreciation and "movement" to utilize them for more than just tinting the water a golden brown hue. If you've taken the journey- the leap of faith- with us this far, and realized that we're all about creating unique experiences with botanicals- then you can appreciate that there is a process driving something seemingly as "banal" as leaf selection!

One of our future ambitions is to offer a very carefully curated selection of Catappa from various locales around the world. Don't think there is a difference? Think again. You only need look quickly at our "XL" Catappa from Raja Ampat, Indonesia. These leaves were carefully and painstakingly collected and processed by my dear friend, Jake Adams (Sr. Editor of the wildly popular Reef Builders blog) on a trip to Indonesia some months back. The quality, color, size is immediately apparent. They are far, far different from the other leaves we offer. For an enthusiast- the aquascaper, the creative person who understands what a leaf can really DO to a 'scape- these are like little treasures. 

So, yeah- we plan on tightening up..."curating" more carefully, to offer you the most varied, high quality selection of leaves "fit for purpose" for aquascaping. You can buy Catappa leaves from a ton of places on eBay, Amazon, etc., and you'll receive a bag of leaves that's simply been collated and packed. There might be some great specimens in there..then again, there might not be. If you're looking to "tint" your better or Discus tank, sure, they'll work just fine.

If, on the other hand, you're looking for leaves that have been selected by people that understand and appreciate all of their attributes, then you'll want to get your leaves from Tannin Aquatics.

More on this in a future blog...However, I hope that by now I've pounded into your head the fact that all leaves are NOT the same, and that the level of care, curation, and- passion that goes into ours will make a big difference in your next aquascaping project.

And I only touched on Catappa. Don't get me started on Guava!

Stay creative. Stay excited. Stay contemplative.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Which botanicals your shrimp really like (spoiler: pretty much all of 'em)...

We periodically go through our inventory and review what's proven to be popular, unpopular, and just plain...well, dull. We tend to remove the "dull" stuff from the inventory...We may get excited about a certain botanical item, but if you don't, well- it doesn't really matter, huh?

And we receive a lot of questions about various botanicals and how to utilize them, which is a lot of fun for us, because we're full of ideas about them!

One of the questions we're asked a lot is, "Will this botanical work with_________?"

And the reality is, most of these botanicals will work with fishes that are accustomed to having submerged materials in their environments (hmm, that's like, ALL fishes, right?). Granted, it's not really appropriate (particularly from a chemical standpoint) for say, Catappa leaves to be included in your Mbuna tank, or for a brackish water system, but you could probably how in some of the harder, less "reactive" items, like "Jungle Pods", "Savu Pods", etc.

Other fishes, like my beloved Characins, Apistos, Plecos, etc., are perfectly fine with almost any of the botanicals you'd want to use, taking into account aesthetics and such!

You could. I'm not sure that you'd necessarily want to.

One group of hobbyists who are very much into using botanicals in a wide variety of situations is shrimp keepers. Those of you who keep the colorful Caridina, Neocaridina, etc. have realized for a long time that shrimp are not particularly fussy when it comes to what they eat and graze on!

The real "limiting factor", in my opinion, with the use of aquatic botanicals in a shrimp aquarium is the issue of creating stable environmental parameters and maintaining high water quality. In smaller aquarium, such as are typical for shrimp, the impact of ANYTHING we place in them on the environment is potentially critical. It's not secret that, under certain chemical parameters, (i.e.; very soft, already acidic water) aquatic botanicals can influence pH more significantly than in more alkaline, more "hard" conditions, so you'd want to do what we recommend for any situation: Go slowly and monitor.

In a small shrimp aquarium, the influx of a large amount of organic material into a small, but established, stable environment can degrade water quality rapidly, and create a possible ammonia spike or other nasty problems! Again, it's about going SLOWLY!

As far as what shrimp will consume, my experience with my own shrimp and aquatic botanicals is that they will graze on ANYTHING that recruits biofilm and/or algae, and actually physically consume many of the botanicals which have softer internal components to them. 

There are literally dozens and dozens of products, including things like dried leaves and other botanicals (some of which we carry), marketed as (supplemental) shrimp feeds...and I think it's entirely correct and accurate to label them as such. Now granted, it's hard to say what exactly the shrimp are consuming of the actual botanicals, and what nutrition they're deriving from the various seed pods, etc. that we offer. 

I did some research online (that internet thing just might catch on...) and learned that in aquaculture of shrimp, a tremendous variety of vegetables, fruits, etc. are utilized, and many offer good nutritional profiles for shrimp, in terms of protein, amen acids, etc. In fact, other than sorting through mind-numbing numbers ( .08664, etc) on various amino acid concentration of say, Mulberry leaves versus say, Sugar Beets, or whatever, there are not huge differences making any one food superior to all others, at least from my very cursory examination!

What is interesting is that some foodstuffs, such as various seeds, root vegetables, etc. DO have different levels of elements such as calcium and phosphorous, and widely varying crude protein. Now, I have no idea what some of the seed pods we offer as aquatic botanicals contain in terms of protein or amino acids, but one can make some huge generalizations that one seed/fruit is somewhat similar to others, in terms of basic amino acids, vitamins, trace elements, etc. 

What that tells me, the over-caffeinated, under-educated armchair "scientist"-wannabe, is that most of the botanicals we offer here at Tannin have nutritional values that are acceptable for shrimp health, when not their sole "diet."

In other words, one botanicals is pretty much as good as any other, so use whichever ones you prefer to 'scape your tank...perhaps with a bit of an eye towards the ones that we know from experience that shrimp seem to be particularly attracted to. Which ones are those?

Well, in no particular order, here are the ones that we've noticed (along with our customers) that shrimp seem to really go for:

"CAPSULA PODS"

"TEARDROP PODS"

"FLOR RIO" PODS

"CONCHA PODS"

"HELIX PODS"

LOQUAT LEAVES

"RA CAMA" PODS

MISC WOOD AND PODS

"MANTA PODS" (COMING SOON!)

So, the bottom line is that,  if you're into shrimp, you'd be in pretty good shape to utilize most any of the above botanicals- or just about any of the many we offer, as long as you go slowly, prepare them for use, and apply a healthy dose of common sense and environmental parameter monitoring during their use.

It's fun to look to new supplemental feed sources that provide natural grazing and foraging opportunities for our shrimp; and if they happen to look cool in your aquarium- well, that's a real bonus!

Stay enthusiastic. Stay informed. Stay experimental...

And Stay Wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

"Litter-ally" a most fascinating environment...

Ever heard of the term, "benthic", in reference to tropical fishes?

This term refers to the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water such as a stream, river or a lake, including the sediment surface and some sub-surface layers. The so-called "leaf litter" zone in tropical streams is the prototypical "benthic" zone.

For many years, scientists thought that blackwater leaf litter communities were not very productive, lacking much in the way of food sources (insects) and fish diversity. This was later disproven by a bunch of studies of this benthic region in streams, with the discovery that they are home to a diverse assemblage of fishes, insects, and even crustaceans in some areas.

Interesting....

In one study, conducted in the blackwater river, Trauma-Mirim, near Manaus, Brazil, researchers identified over 20 different species of fishes residing in a benthic leaf litter zone less than 200 square feet in size (Henderson & Walker, 1986). Almost all preyed upon small invertebrates living within the leaf litter. Interestingly, the fishes that resided in these areas never strayed far from them, remaining in an area as small as 1 square meter for weeks at a time!  That's like "aquarium-sized!"

With food, protection, and companionship, who would argue with them for staying put?

The food chain in a leaf litter community is surprisingly simple, yet not surprisingly, quite productive. At the bottom of the chain are fungi which decompose wood, leaves, and other botanical materials (hmm, sounds familiar, right?). These decomposing fungi are fed upon by insects and crustaceans, such as chironomids (sorta like the insects which produce "Blood Worms"), and other small organisms. 

The fish population in the study referred to above consisted of a range of species from different families, some familiar to us as hobbyists: Apistogramma cf. regani, Nannostomus beckfordi, Pyrrhulina brevis, Elachocharax pulcher, and various Amydorus species.

This is an interesting assemblage of fishes which have adapted perfectly to this unique ecological niche- a testimony to the dynamics of the leaf litter community.

The Apistos reside on the surface of the leaf litter in small groups, retreating to it when disturbed. The Eleachocharax lives within the litter itself, seldom leaving it, along with some Knifefishes and catfishes, while the Pencilfishes tend to stay in the upper area of the water column, along with some Rivulus species as well.

This interesting diversity and distribution in the leaf litter community can easily be replicated within the aquarium, either with the species above, or with representative species of similar fishes. By creating a diverse assemblage of fishes in this aquarium, you'll not only be utilizing all layers of the water column, you'll be realistically representing this unique and surprisingly dynamic biotope!

As we've written about many times, it's a totally different concept and aesthetic than the more mainstream, so-called "natural" aquarium we see in contests and the aquarium media. We're talking about a world dominated by decomposing leaves, seed pods, driftwood, and overhanging roots.

Biofilms, algae, and some bits and pieces of leaves and such are the norm. Indeed, they're not "sloppy", as armchair critics of this type of aquarium would have you believe. Rather, they are a natural, essential part of the ecological niche that you're trying to replicate.

It's never been easier to replicate and study a leaf litter zone in your own aquarium! We have the fishes, the equipment, and of course, the botanical materials to do the job. For the intrepid hobbyist (hey, that's YOU!) who is willing to try something a little different, the leaf litter zone holds the promise of great fascination, discovery, and the chance to observe our fishes in an environmental niche that has rarely been replicated in captivity.

Think differently. Expand your horizons. Stay curious.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Leaves in the long term...Should the stay or should they go?

How is your "New Botanical" style aquarium progressing?

Well, I hope!

By now, you've probably realized that this type of aquarium is quite different from ones that you've managed in the past, both from a functional and aesthetic standpoint.

After a few weeks, you start noticing a few things happening in your aquarium that weren't before. Primarily, your leaves, which you no doubt careful arranged on the bottom of your tank, are starting to look a bit, well, "weathered"- kind of curled up,their color is darkening; they're just generally starting to break down a bit. 

Do you take them out? Leave them in? What, exactly is going on?

If you have some idea of what happens to leaves and other botanical materials in nature after a period of time underwater, you'll be able better informed to determine what, if any course of action you wish to take. Let's take a quick look at what happens in nature.

After a leaf is shed from a tree and has entered the aquatic environment, it is subject to physical abrasion, microbial degradation and invertebrate fragmentation. Initially, the leaves are colonized by bacteria and fungi. As these populations grow, the leaves may begin to physically get smaller, both from their activity, and from the physical actions of water flow/breakup from fish activity. This is what we call "decomposition."

Simply put, decomposition is the initial stage in the recycling of nutrients that have been used by an organism (in this case, a tree) to build its structure, and are returned to the ecosystem upon its death. It is the process in which the dead tissues break down and are converted into more simple organic forms (phosphorous, tannin, lignin, etc.) that are utilized as the food source for many of the species at the literal "bottom" of the aquatic ecosystem. (Detritivores) 

The rate of physical breakdown of the leaves is highly variable. Some tree leaves contain proportionately large amounts of tougher structural compounds (lignin and cellulose, typically) which render them difficult for microorganisms to break down, and less likely to be consumed by grazing or detritivorous fishes as well. In general, leaves physically break down over time when submerged, and function as habitat and/or substrate for invertebrates and microorganisms. It's also a source of dissolved nutrients that are utilized by aquatic communities.

In the aquarium, similar processes occur. However, being a closed system, and aquarium requires management from us aquarists in order to function properly in the long term. Having significant quantities of decomposing leaves in an aquarium can affect pH, nitrate levels, and dissolved oxygen. In a well managed system, which has proper filtration, incorporates regular water exchanges, and is not overcrowded, the affect of this "leaf litter" is positive, from both an aesthetic and environmental standpoint.

However, in a system that is subject to, shall we say, more "relaxed" husbandry, the affects of decomposing leaf litter and botanicals can ultimately prove to be more challenging to stability.

A system with leaf litter and botanicals is not "set and forget." It requires regular maintenance and care, like any other aquarium. Unlike a more "sterile" system that we are accustomed to, a system containing quantities of leaf litter and botanicals will accumulate fungi, biofilms, and some algae, adding to the richness of the aquatic environment. In short, it's what we'd definitely call a "dynamic" system!

If you're conducing regular water exchanges, removing some of the accumulations of detritus and debris in the process, and providing reasonable water movement within the confines of your aquarium, then that is what I'd call "well-managed", and you shouldn't have many problems.

Yes, your water will accrue a "tint" caused by the humic/tannic acids, and the pH may be influenced somewhat (more significantly in softer water). However, the overall water quality in a well-maintained system with these components should be high. I personally have not noticed significant differences in nitrate accumulation, for example, between well-managed systems containing quantities of leaf litter, and those which don't. 

So, to get to the main point of this discussion one again...Do you remove the leaves as they break down in your aquarium, or leave them in? I think it all boils down to water quality. If you regularly monitor pH and nitrate, for example, you'll be able to spot any trends over the short to medium term. If there is a correlation between accumulating nitrate, decreasing pH, and other annoyances, such as excessive nuisance algae, etc., then you should probably remove some of the decomposing biomass and replace it with fresh material.

On the other hand, if you are not noticing any detrimental environmental effects by leaving the decomposing leaf material in your tank, and if the aesthetics don't bother you, there is no harm in leaving it in your aquarium, and simply replacing the decomposing leaves with freshly prepared ones. We freely acknowledge that the aesthetics of these types of aquarium are NOT for everyone!

In summary, you need to "manage" a "New Botanical" style aquarium. It accepts the occurrence of dynamic natural processes that can affect the closed environment of an aquarium, and you simply need to monitor the system, as you would any other. It's no more difficult than a planted aquarium, reef system, or African Cichlid aquarium. More than anything else, observation, patience, and a good deal of intuition are just as important as the water testing which you should be performing on a regular basis in any aquatic system.

Enjoy, question, and discuss what you've learned about managing this type of aquarium with fellow hobbyists. There is a lot to learn about the dynamics of such systems, and by  having a basic understanding of the processes which occur in them, you are in a unique position to add to the body of knowledge about this fascinating underwater environment!

The "artisanal" quality of staying focused

Do you ever hear that expression about time flying when you're having fun? 

Yeah, that's been me...Hard to believe that in August it will be a year since Tannin began operations.We've had so much happen; building a concept, awareness, and a following. It's pretty crazy and satisfying. Seems like now day goes by when we don't have some new opportunity or idea staring us in the face.

I was talking with a friend about our business the other day, in particular how we planned to "scale" Tannin as it evolves, and I had to reflect for a moment. Earlier in the year, I sold my ownership interest in my other aquatics industry company, Unique Corals. We started out three years before with an idea and a mission- to import, propagate, and market sustainably sourced corals and other marine livestock the retail consumer. We built it up with a singular focus on quality and service, and an almost militant "manifesto" about sustainability.

And we accomplished that. Unique became a real powerhouse in the reef aquarium world. A destination for reef enthusiasts from all over the world. All of the 'big names" in the hobby were devoted UC fans and customers. People excitedly dropped in to visit when they were in Los Angeles. We were featured in aquatic media worldwide. We built out a 6,000 square foot, more-or-less "state-of-the-art" facility to grow corals, and had a staff of 7 great people. It was a busy, productive, fast-paced, trendy, and "big" environment. We developed a robust wholesale market and helped launch some cool speciality products as well. In short, it was quite the success. And very different from what we do at Tannin.

When I parted ways to focus on my "hyper-niche" with Tannin, I realized that this would be different than my Unique Corals experience. With Tannin, we're dealing with a very tightly targeted concept, aesthetic, and "product line"- which right away limits the market somewhat. We launched with an extreme focus on educating people wrote the idea of "aquatic botanicals", more natural setups, blackwater aquariums, and creating a "one-stop-shop" for aquatic enthusiasts integrated in this different aesthetic and "methodology", if you will, that we were proffering.

I knew that it would take a long time to position ourselves in the market (hell, we were creating one from scratch!), find customers, and win acceptance from the much larger, much more established freshwater community. I was what would be considered a "rock star" in the reef world, speaking at club and conferences worldwide. My name had a lot of credibility that I could draw upon for our business. It was cool. In the freshwater world, I'm a complete unknown; a wildcard, an outsider...Some guy that came in slinging leaves, seed pods, an opinionated blog, and an affection for brown water, detritus, and biofilm!

To my surprise, we gained some fans immediately. Aquarists, who, perhaps like yourself, were looking for something a little different; a bit more "natural" than what is commonplace. Aquarists who dabbled in the same stuff we do, and were hungry for an accessible source for materials, ideas, and inspiration to play with. Happily, we found each other, and the growth has been mutual.

We're slowly and organically building up a strong, friendly community of people with all sorts of creative ideas. A place where we discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly about using our own products! A place to belong. We've learned from each other, and you can almost feel the rumblings of a...movement. What we half-jokingly call the "New Botanical" style aquarium is slowly gaining some traction among adventurous hobbyists. And it's not just "blackwater" fans. It's fish breeders, Apisto lovers, Betta breeders, Frog and vivarium fans, Shrimp enthusiasts...

Back to the whole idea of "scaling" Tannin- it sort of goes without saying that we'll always be a niche marketer. Sorry, Petco. Let's face it, not everyone likes brown water, decaying leaves, and seed pods all over the bottom of their tank. Some think it's crazy, ugly, sloppy. Good. They don't get it. Don't want to get it, and are not who we are trying to reach. A fact. trying to please everyone ultimately means you'll please no one.

We're asked a lot if we'll carry more dry goods like __________. The short answer is that  I don't ever want to be like those "big guys" or "mass market" aquarium supply companies, offering every conceivable aquarium product. Rather, we'll carry dry goods and such that fit the needs of our customers. Some might be the same stuff you see elsewhere, but they are hear because they fit the need of our customers.

We're not intended to be the place you go to find that part for your old canister filter, or a bottle of dechlorinator. You can get that stuff inexpensively from a lot of places- and you should. Rather, we're the place you go for products that can help you create that cool Amazonian Igarape aquarium, or Southeast Asian Betta biotope you're scheming in your head.

Our botanicals are individually hand-picked to order. Every specimen is evaluated before we place it in the package, with the same level of scrutiny that we'd give it if we were using it in our own aquarium. It's slow, tedious process, and fraught with what a lot of business people would call "inefficiencies." Yes. But it's the only way to do this. We've been asked about wholesale, and all sorts of other distribution, and it's tempting, interesting to jump at every opportunity. But it's not the right way for us at this juncture. 

You can buy a cup of coffee from the big chain place on every street corner in the city and get a decent cup of coffee and a predictable experience. Or, you can go into that small, independent, neighborhood coffeehouse, pay about the same, and have a better, more individualized experience, savor the vibe, the passion, and the "craft" of the coffee. The same basic commodity- with two considerably different customer experiences. 

Tannin products are unique, just like the people who use them. They help create experiences, aesthetics, and bring ideas to life. We are hear to take the time to answer questions, work with you at picking the right stuff for your concept aquarium. We get what you're looking for. We're interested and engaged. We're refining, tweaking, enhancing. You are the center of what we do, and we can't create that type of personalized experience if we become a big, scaled-up warehouse-style operation.

 It's more akin to an "artisanal" process than anything else.

Even if it means growing more slowly, limiting the amount of stuff we offer, and the way we offer it, that's okay. What we are trying to offer you here is more than just some cool stuff for your next aquarium project. We're trying to offer you an experience, support, inspiration, a place to...be. A canvass for you to express yourself creatively in the aquatic world.

And we can't do that be being an all-encompassing, cater-to-every-need business. 

We do it by focusing on the ideas we've conceived, the processes involved, and most important- YOU- our valued customers and fans. You're at the center of everything we do here, and we're always open to suggestions. As busy as we might be, we're never to busy to kick around some fun ideas with a fellow hobbyist.

And you just can't "scale" that up!

Until next time. 

Stay creative. Stay focused. Stay engaged.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Straight to the bottom..

So as usual, I've been thinking about aquarium stuff; in this instance, stuff that we seem to take for granted. I was thinking about how much stuff has evolved over the last decade or so, which has made it easier than ever to create amazing aquariums.

You know, like...substrate materials. 

Sand. Gravel. That kind of stuff.

It wasn't all that many years ago that the only choice we had was "#3 gravel", the gold standard for aquatic substrates. Useful stuff which pretty much any fish store on the planet carries to this day.

Oh, and maybe a few "out there" epoxy-coated colored gravels, like black (my fave) and the venerable "Rainbow" gravel, which graced more than one lifelong fish geek's first 10-gallon tank all of those years ago.

What's really cool right now is that, not only can you find the tacky numbers from yesteryear- a sort of buzz are "throwback"- but you can find a ton of speciality substrates for just about every type of aquarium- every aesthetic taste; every utilitarian function.

Growing live plants? Which refined clay, low-pH substrate do you want? One with 0.5mm grain size, or larger? In a deep brown color, or "natural?" Keeping African cichlids? Oh, which rift lake- Tanganyika or Malawi? And fine sand, or a more "mixed bed" look? Doing a river tank from the Amazon region? Orinoco, or Rio Xingu? 

Yeah, there's a substrate for that.

It's pretty cool.

And a testament to where the hobby is at right now. We're not satisfied with "adaptable" or "close enough", even when it comes to stuff as seemingly innocuous and arcane as what goes on the bottom of our aquariums. We want materials that are very remeniscen, or representative, of what's really on the bottom in the natural aquatic environment that we're trying to replicate in our aquarium, and that, luckily, extends to leaves, seed pods, and other materials.

It's a very cool time to be an aquarist- especially when what goes on the bottom of our tanks is near the top of what interests some of us.

Simple thought for a Saturday.

Stay excited. Stay creative.

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Unshakable belief and the practice of quarantine...

It's funny how we, as fish people, want very badly to "trust" others.

Huh? 

I bring up the topic of quarantine once again because I just talked to a friend who lost almost all of the fish in his beautiful tank because he wanted so badly to believe that his fish were from a great source who would never sell him a sick fish, and..

Well, you get the picture. And the thing is, the supplier IS a great guy. The issue is not the supplier being a "bad guy" because the fish were sick...it's that the fish were sick and not quarantined before being introduced into my friend's tank.

Simple as that.

Quarantine is a very polarizing thing. And it reveals a lot about our "fishy personalities", IMHO. Well, for example, I was skimming a forum I participate in not too long ago, and the topic of the conversation was "How long do you quarantine new fish?" A good topic, which usually creates a fair amount of invigorating discussion from multiple viewpoints. There is a definite faction of hobbyists that steadfastly refuse to quarantine anything they buy for any reason.

And, there is that segment which absolutely quarantines everything, regardless of who or where they purchase the fish from.

Those are sort of the fringes, interestingly. Because (well, at least on this thread, but it seems fairly common in threads and discussions I've seen on this topic) that the vast majority of hobbyists are in this middle ground, where their default setting is, "Well, if the fish are from a source I trust, I typically won't quarantine them."

Shocking? Well, to me, kinda. Because the hobbyists in group 1 are typically the "high roller" type, who "go big or go home" when it comes to fish buys, tank setups, whatever. They just sort of "go for it" and whatever the consequences of their actions are, they generally don't complain. They simply accept them as part of the game. Strange, because they don't have to "accept" these consequences, but whatever.

The hobbyists who quarantine everything without exception, curiously enough, are typically the ones who you see breeding all of the crazy fish, having 30 tank fish rooms, and generally being the "go to" hobbyists in their area. It just always seems to be that way.

Sure, you have the "crossover anomalies"- the super successful breeder-type who seldom quarantines, flies in the face of convention, and still manages to breed and rear tons of fishes successfully.

However, guys like that are usually the exceptions.

The vast majority of hobbyists seem to just want to believe that "everything will be ok" if they choose the right fish, buy from the right place, pay enough money...It's like many hobbyists simply wish that there was this "thing" that would make it all okay. 

It's a human behavioral sort of thing, I think. We want to believe in the overriding good of people.

Or maybe we're just lazy.

Could be.

Bottom line- just because someone's fish get yours sick doesn't mean that your supplier is not "good people." It just means that the fish were sick, and that you didn't take proper preventative measures.

Please take the time to quarantine new fish before adding them to your system.

That's all.

Stay on top of things. Stay vigilant.

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The inevitable result of...?

Recently, it seems like we have had a "rash" of spawning of characins in our tanks that have historically proven to be somewhat challenging (at least, for us!). First, it was the Pencilfish Nannostomus beckfordi, with a spontaneous and seemingly out-of-the-blue spawning event one evening last week. 

The fish had been eating ravenously, coloring up dramatically, and "sparring" was occurring between what were obviously rival males for the first time in the many months since I obtained the fish. In the back of my mind, I was thinking to myself, "At some point, these guys are gonna spawn..."

Well, they did, but the "at some point" came a lot sooner than I expected!

Several days back, it was my Rummynose Tetras (Hemigrammus bleheri), which provided an unexpected treat one evening.

Wow, two fishes that I have deliberately attempted to spawn over the years without success, and they spontaneously engaged in this behavior on their own. What was I doing differently this time?

Well, obviously, the most obvious thing was that the fishes live in an environment that is much more reminiscent of the ones from which they came. That is to say, soft, acidic water, richly stained with humic and tannic acids from driftwood, leaves, and some seed pods on the substrate. 

As an obsessive water change fan, I am devotedly changing 10 gallons of water weekly from their 50-gallon aquarium, with water conditioned in a similar manner as that in the display tank (i.e.; soft, acid water and influence of botanical-derived tannins). Their environment is nothing if not consistent. 

It would be easy for me to give all the credit to the botanicals...I mean, offering them is what I do for a living, so I could hardly be blamed for making that claim...but I think it would be incomplete, at best.

The reality is, I am providing my fishes with a stable chemical environment, consistent with the conditions that these wild fishes came from. I'm keeping dissolved organics in the water to a minimum by using chemical filtration (activated carbon, Poly Filter, and Purigen) on a continuous basis and conducing the aforementioned water changes like clockwork. The fishes are feed extremely high quality food daily, and I take the time to make sure each one gets his or her fair share.

In short, I'm doing nothing differently than any other hobbyist who has ever bred fishes has done. The only different thing is that I am not providing these conditions for the expressed benefit of spawning the fishes. 

The fishes are simply doing what comes natural. They're reacting to proper environment and nutritional parameters. If they had slightly different requirements, these spawnings would likely not have taken place. This happy result is simply the combination of selecting fishes carefully for the environment that was prepared for them and consistent husbandry. If's not "rocket science" by any stretch. 

I profess, as I have for many years, that it's practically inevitable that animals will reproduce- or attempt to reproduce- when presented with environmental conditions that are appropriate for them. The "skill" part for the hobbyist comes in when we do what it takes to analyze, select, and provide these conditions for our fishes. Oh, and include a healthy dose of patience.

As a reef aquarium enthusiast, I often reflected on this when a reef tank was "cranking", with corals growing, and fishes like Clownfish spawning regularly. I knew that other fishes, like bennies, gobies, etc. would be "doing there thing" as well- and they were-when conditions were right-in my reef, and in thousands of other hobbyist's reef tank around the world. It was less about my brilliance as an aquarist than it was about my making the wise choice to engage in practices that offered optimum conditions for my animals.

The aquatic botanical thing? Well, yeah, it makes sense that fishes from an environment with soft, acid water rich in humic acids and tannins would spawn in an aquarium which had a diverse and significant assemblage of materials that provide these substances. In decades past, it would have been the same if I used peat moss in my filters and conducted the same water changes, etc. So yeah, credit to the botanicals for "doing their thing", but an equal part could be given to consistent, traditional methods of husbandry.

In short, if you find yourself stuck, wondering why you can't get those stubborn fishes to breed...Do the obvious: research where they came from in nature, attempt as closely as possible to recreate those conditions, and engage in consistent, fundamental husbandry technique, and the result is almost a forgone conclusion. of course, getting the fishes to spawn is one thing. Collecting the eggs, rearing the fry, etc., is quite another. That requires an additional skill set, patience, and time, which not everyone can provide on the first- or even the fifth-try. The procedures are a bit more complex, less forgiving, and more labor-intensive.

So why not make the "easy" part of the equation, well...easy, and at least focus on providing your fishes-even if they're just in a display- with the conditions they would need if you were attempting to spawn them intentionally? It's one of those "no-brainer" things in fish keeping that should be immediately obvious, but we tend to overlook in our busy, daily lives and the many other commitments besides our aquariums that fill them.

Give this idea a shot. The results just might surprise you.

Then again, maybe they won't.

Stay curious. Stay excited. Stay consistent.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics