March 19, 2016

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Catching a glimpse of those enigmatic "mystery fishes..."

Ever own one of those fishes that you had been trying to find for years, only to realize that it's one of those that tends to live a cryptic. nocturnal, or otherwise hidden existence one added to your tank?

Yeah, I've had my share of 'em over the years. Fishes for which, in reality, your best glimpses of them come when you first add them to your tank, or when you break it down in the future, only to discover it's twice as large as when you got it, somehow finding enough food while maintaining its "deep cover"

It started wit ha Black Ghost Kinfefish when I was a kid. This was the fish I had longed for forever: Alluring, mysterious, and beautiful. I remember the excitement when I added him to my tank. He swam into the perfect driftwood cave I created for him...and that was the last time I saw him for MONTHS!

Eventually, I adjusted the lighting in the tank to make it a bit more comfortable for the Black Ghost to emerge during the day time, and he gradually appeared more and more, finally emerging every time feeding or other interesting activities occurred in the aquarium. But it took a couple of years for this to occur!

I remember keeping fishes like Bassletts" in my reef tanks. You'd literally add these brightly colored fishes to your reefy, and wouldn't see them for months and months, save an occasional "surprise" appearance when the lights just went on for the day, or by accidentally turning on the light in the room where the tank was at 2AM...or seeing them slip through the rocks.

And yet, as an aquarist- you accept this. You understand, frustrating though it may be, that the "price" of owning such a cool fish is that you may only occasionally get to visually enjoy them.

However, there is something cool about knowing. Knowing that you set up the right environment, tank mates...situation- for the fish in question. Knowing, that it's in there. Comfortable...Ready at any moment to make its big appearance.

And it's THOSE moments- those exciting, unexpected, yet profoundly satisfying moments that make owning a cryptic, nocturnal, or otherwise very shy fish worth owning.

Just a thought for today as I hope to catch a glimpse of my "L134 Leopard Frog" (Peckolotia compta), as he pops out of his "Jungle Pod" for a snack...

Set the right "mood", and hope for a sighting.

Stay optimistic. Stay ready.

Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

 

March 18, 2016

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Packaging up coolness. Yup. We mean it.

Do you like the idea of a "jump start" for your aquaecapes?

We realize that we have a lot of stuff to choose from, and it can be a bit overwhelming at times, trying to decide what you want to use in a given 'scape. So, we decided it would be kind of fun to develop some WYSIWYG "packages" of materials that were selected to work together to form either entire aquaecapes, or just the basis for them. Judging by how quickly the initial packages flew off our page, we think it's a good idea to come up with some more!

We're pretty confident that you'll be able to "run with" these packages and either create a cool aquascape with just them, or use the pieces as the basis for something bigger and more complex!

We think it will be kind of fun to see what you come up with when you play with our selections. And, we figure there is a lot more we can offer this way. Huh? Well, as we begin producing more and more videos of different aquariums we build, we'll offer packages of the same botanicals and materials utilized in them, so that you can build your own version!

We're looking forward to offering you some cool packages to help you build ever cool 'scares! If you're looking for a package to replicate a specific biotope, be sure to let us know, and we'll scout out the inventory and build a cool package to help accomplish just that!

In the end, it's all about fun- and we hope to keep improving our offerings to make your experiences even more fun and creative!

 

As always...let us know your thoughts. Stay creative! Stay busy...

And stay wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

March 16, 2016

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Free your mind...and the fish will follow...

So, did you ever try a fish that you resisted for years and years for some reason, and then fall in love with it?

Yeah. That was me. That IS me.

Those of you that follow the blog closely know that for a while I was considering my first Loracariid, a Peckolotia compta, the L134 "Leopard Frog", as a candidate. This was after a lot of research, a long series of discussions with my Pleco-loving friends, and much searching for a suitable specimen. I finally secured an F1 juvenile, and couldn't be happier! 

 

In fact, I was wondering why it took me so long to get to the party.

I think when I started my latest tank, I was still coming down from a mild case of the "reefer's high"- that think that those of us who spend/spent/think about spending a lot of time in the saltwater community get. That feeling of "NOTHING is cooler than a reef tank and corals.." A misguided sense of superiority; that somehow, reef keeping is the pinnacle of aquaristic endeavors (it most certainly is not).

I would look at Pleco lovers and cichlid lovers for the longest time and, despite my longstanding love of freshwater fish, couldn't understand what was so compelling about stuff that didn't come from the ocean, and didn't have some exotic and ridiculously exclusive connotation to it. Mind you, I had a very, very mild "case" of this "reefer's high" thing, because I always straddled both worlds.

Yet, I somehow was thinking about how cool it would be to have some of these fishes in my collection! The whole fun and "culture" surrounding those who obsess about them is irresistible to me!

Nonetheless, I hung with a lot of reef people over the years that were of the opinion that all freshwater fishes were grey and brown. They totally didn't get it. Now, much of their absurdly misguided superficial "disdain" washed right over my shoulders, as I laughed off their groupthink stupidity. However, a tiny, annoying part somehow got through the logic, and I was harboring a sort of opinion that there were few, if any, freshwater fishes deserving of the apparent accolades they receive from so many.

Boy, was I wrong!

When I began stocking my tank, I turned to my fave fishes, characins (take that, refereeing world!), and began collecting a bunch of species I'd admired for some time. Of course, at some point,  I wanted a "star" fish in my tank (I think that is a definite saltwater mindset, because other than say, Chromis, there aren't a lot of "generic schooling fishes" that are kept in SW tanks. We usually are looking for that "personality fish" or "Show Specimen" to round out the collection.

Well, it turns out, the freshwater world is filled with tons of fishes that fit the bill. And of course, Plecos and their allies are like the perfect (or should I say, "purrfect") fish for this? And it's not just catfish, of course. It's cichlids. And Knifefish. And Mormyrids. And Loaches, and so on..

So I guess the moral of this story is that it's never to late to "lower your guard" and discover what the rest of the fish world already knows- there are some really cool fishes out there if you just give them a chance. Free you mind from the preconceptions or fears that you might have...and enjoy.

Simple takeaway here?

Stay open minded. Stay adventurous.

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

 

March 15, 2016

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The "secret second lives" of aquatic botanicals...

After you've been working with aquatic botanicals for a while with your aquariums, you'll not only become more comfortable with them- you'll find uses for them that you never even contemplated before!

If you're like me, once you get a taste for "the tint", you'll want to make sure that you consistently provide your fishes with the "blackwater" conditions that they're used to.

And that starts with the source water.

One of the easiest ways we've found over the years is to simply steep some Catappa leaves in your water preparation and storage containers. Through much trial and error, I've found that 3 medium-sized Catappa leaves will do the trick in a 5-gallon "carboy" container. You may want more- or less- depending upon how much "tint" you want.

Like most hobbyists, I have a series of these containers for both top-off and water change water. Every other week, I replace the leaves, or, depending upon how accessible they are, I'll simply leave 'em in and add new ones, because they lose quite a bit of their "tint potency" after a couple of weeks of continuous submersion.

"Jungle Pods" are rather easy to get to sink. It takes anywhere from one hour to an hour and a half to get them to sink initially, followed by a "soak" of a couple of days in fresh, room temperature water. I did discover a rather annoying tendency that these botanicals have: Once they've been removed from water for even as little as a day, you'll typically have to re-boil them to get them to sink again. 

So, if you're using them as a "spawning cave" and need to remove them from your breeding tank, I'd give them a good rinse, and put them in a bucket or other container of fresh water, and leave them there until you need them next...So you'll have "on demand" pre-sunk "Jungle Pods" next time you are ready to use 'em!

Coco Curls are quietly becoming one of our most popular botanicals! They sink pretty easily, impart a significant amount of tannins into the water early on, and last a good long time after submersion. In fact, they last almost indefinitely, in my experience, unless chewed up by a playful Pleco or Ancistrus!

One interesting think about these botanicals is that, after they've been submerged for a period of time (a couple of weeks or so), they soften to the point where you can flex them into a variety of shapes. Also, you can "shred" them by pulling the fibers apart, and utilize the fibers for a spawning substrate for killies, Rainbow fFshes, and even some egg-scattering Danios and Characins! 

 

We love Catappa Bark! It's versatile, looks really cool, and can be used for a number of things. Such as, you ask? Well, to start, you can use it as a water conditioner in your top-off or make-up water containers, much as you would the leaves. They tend to last much longer, in my experience, retaining both their tannin-producing capabilities, and their unique aesthetics!

After you've decided to "retire" your bark from water conditioning duties, it can begin a new lifetime as a simple aesthetic complement to your aquarium. Scattered on the bottom, it creates a very natural-looking environment for your substrate. I've found that it also makes a really good....biological filtration media! Huh? Yeah, if you leave the bark pieces intact, or even if you chose 'em up- simply place them in your canister or power filter in a filter "bag", and you'll be surprised at how long they remain in solid form (like, indefinitely!). They will begin to recruit a nice coating of bacteria, with their porous structure and massive surface area. And, if a few more tannins leach out into your system while in this capacity- all the better, right?

There are many creative "secondary uses" for almost all of our aquatic botanicals. We've discovered a bunch over the years, and you- our customers have given us plenty of new ideas to keep utilizing them in ways we never even imagined! Keep 'em coming!

Stay "tinted!"

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

 

 

March 14, 2016

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Making the BIG jump...and accepting the realities...

I was talking to a customer over the weekend, and he was excitedly relating to me the plans for his newest aquarium, a 300 gallon mega fish and plant display. Of course, he wanted to load it with our botanicals. He told me all about the cool lighting, the crazy pumps, the fancy gear and water change systems and all kinds of cool technical aspects of his upcoming mega-budget super tank. Yeah, he was reef aquarium guy making the "big switch  to freshwater...And thinking that freshwater was gonna be some kind of joke compared to a reef tank (and let's call it like it is- he was a lousy reefer...). 

I think I have dealt with two or three customers with the same mindset since Tannin started operations, and it's always the same...

As I listened, I couldn't help but reflect that the basis for the phone call was an issue he was having with keeping some very basic fishes alive. In fact, the customer said that almost everything he bought for his 29 gallon freshwater "test tank" died within a few weeks after getting the animals in his system. He performed "some" water changes, and tested "some" parameters (most of his water parameters were "perfect", according to him...oh man!). Apparently, his theory was that the quality of the fishes he was getting from various sources were, in his words, "sub par." Yeah.

And this guy was about to embark on a five-figure, mutli-hundred gallon mega freshwater system. "Does he have a clue at all?", I thought. I mean, his assumption was that his troubles with fishes and plants would simply vanish if he built a larger tank. Magically, all of the skills and experience he lacked in 29 gallons would be remedied by increasing his water volume by 271 gallons! 

I did what any responsible seasoned aquarium geek would do: After I told him how cool all his gear sounded, thenI asked him if he was up to the challenge. Well, the retort was a bit angry, actually. I mean, the guy was ready to drop around 15 grand on the tank, and he was a "bight" reefer, so therefore, he felt that this meant he knew exactly what he was doing. "I've been researching this tank for MONTHS!", he proudly retorted.

I was like, "Seriously? But you can't keep a darned Tetra alive?" 

Somehow, in his head, he felt like he felt like he "paid his dues" with his smaller "reef aquarium" and all of its fancy gear- that he accomplished all there was to accomplish in that realm- and that he was ready to go "to the next level" (his exact words) and apply all of his "success" from reef keeping to this sparkling new mega freshwater tank. As if keeping a freshwater tank was some kind of picnic to begin with- let alone, at a mega size like he was contemplating. I did my best to gently dissuade him from making such a huge commitment with his limited experience and skills (and not to laugh- really). I've seen this type of looming disaster before- we all have.

 

And the ensuing train wreck that is likely to emerge will not be pretty. It will suck mostly for the animals that will die because of his incompetence and arrogance. It will suck for the people that built the fine quality components that he will no doubt misapply. It will especially suck for him, because he will not get the joy you get from progressing naturally in the hobby and building carefully upon successes. It will suck for the hobby in general, because, although he'll add to the hobby economy for a short time, his failure will cost it in the long-term. It will NOT suck for the predators on the forums that will snatch up his equipment at volume prices when he calls it quits and sells everything at a huge loss.

All of this seemingly negative talk about the challenges of setting up a large aquarium is not presented to discourage you from setting one up. However, it is presented to give you a sort of "reality check" as you contemplate a large system. It's easy to fantasize about the huge aquarium that you're going to build when you win the lottery. It's quite another to actually set it up if you're of more modest means- or skills. In reality, it's usually necessary to compromise somewhat based on budget, space, time, etc.

They became a big part of your life, just like a dog, cat, or a child (I can't believe I'm putting all of them in the same sentence, but you get the idea). You don't just fire 'em up and forget about 'em.



Remember, despite what you might see and hear, having a large aquarium does not brand you as a "success" in our hobby, any more than maintaining a smaller system brands you as a novice. It's not like you crossed over some imaginary barrier and arrived as a "serious" hobbyist. Success in the hobby is about creating and maintaining a vibrant, healthy aquarium, regardless of size, for the long term growth and prosperity of its inhabitants.

Yes, large aquariums are impressive. But I've seen plenty of large aquariums that were downright unremarkable (in fact, I've set up a few, myself). Many hobbyists set up huge systems as the "next phase" in their aquarium career, and some end in disappointment- or even disaster. If you're not able to master the art and science of aquarium keeping with a small system, a large tank will likely not be any different for you. Think before you leap.


Large aquariums can be visually arresting, beneficial to their inhabitants, and just generally add a new dimension of fun to your hobby. However, the time, money and commitment to maintain them are a serious consideration. Keeping a large aquarium is not an endeavor that you enter into lightly.



Sure, I'm preaching to the choir here, but you'd be surprised how often seemingly solid aquarists literally go off the deep end and chart a course for hobby destruction.

Bigger isn't always better. It's just bigger.

So, before you make that leap, please PLEASE do a reality check and, if you're not certain if your up for the challenge...wait. There is no "law" that says you have to have a humongous tank after 2, 3- or even 27 years in the hobby. There is no label of "success" just because your tank is 500 gallons instead of 50.

 

Like everything else, be yourself, do it YOUR way, and enjoy!

But I think most of you get that already...However, when you encounter people like this customer, please remember to tell it like it is!

Stay helpful. Stay humble. Stay supportive. Stay real.


And Stay Wet.


Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

March 13, 2016

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Rethinking aesthetics- from the bottom up!

Have you ever looked at the bottom of a stream bed, creek, river, or lake?

Depending upon factors like the time of year, locale, water depth, current, etc., you're likely to see a lot more than just mud or sand on the bottom. The bottom of a body of water is a fascinating, surprisingly dynamic place within the natural ecosystem. The bottom (substrate) composition not only influences the types of fishes, plants, and animals that reside there- it influences the environment itself.

 When I began my obsession with aquatic botanicals and wood in aquaecapes, I was influence heavily by my observations of these natural ecosystems. It seemed that, although the aquarium world embraces lots of different substrate materials (different types of sands and gravels), rocks, wood, and plants, little attention has been paid to the other materials often present in this biotope.

In the Amazon, for example, you'll find seed pods, leaves, fruits, nuts, twigs, branches- all sorts of botanical materials- which accumulate on the bottom as they fall from surrounding trees, and are swept by currents into pockets and bends with the water courses. 

These accumulations in the substrate create surprisingly dynamic, ecologically rich biotopes. Many, many fishes reside in these "benthic" areas for part or all of their lives, deriving food, shelter, and spawning refuges within the matrix of materials that accumulate on the bottom.

So I always wondered why, as hobbyists, we simply were content to do a "rough representation" of the bottom of a natural aquatic environment with just plants, wood, and rocks. I mean, don't get me wrong-you can create many gorgeous underwater scenes with these materials only, but to truly attempt to replicate the aquatic environment in the most natural way possible, it seemed only proper that you'd want to include the aforementioned botanical materials.

So, I set about studying the natural environments and sourcing materials that provided a reasonable facsimile of those you'd find in the wild. I began playing with the aesthetic of placing prepared botanicals on and in the more traditional substrate materials, such as gravel and sand. The result was aquarium substrates that not only looked more like the ones encountered in the natural environment- they behaved much like them, as well.

I realized that there is a dynamic interplay between the water, substrate, and materials which accumulate in and on it. As these materials soften and break down, the enrich the surrounding aquatic environment with organic materials, tannins, and other substances which contribute to the biodiversity and functionality of the aquascape. l loosely refer to this as "substrate enrichment."

I noticed that many of my fishes which came from these types of biotopes, such as characins, dwarf cichlids, Cyprinids, etc., began looking better, behaving more calmly, and even reproducing more readily.

It was not uncommon to find clouds of fish fry of various species swimming about in the matrix of materials on the bottom of aquarium 'scaped in this manner.

Plus, I found the aesthetic quite attractive! Now, I realize it's not for everyone: Decomposing leaves, biofilms. crumbling botanicals, even a matrix of algae- is not every aquarist's idea of a cool-looking substrate. However, for those adventurous aquarists who embrace this new aesthetic, an entirely new experience and possibilities await!

I know many are skeptical. I know many more are downright frightened of the idea of stuff slowly breaking down on the bottom of the aquarium. It's sort of contrary to what we've been "acculturated" to in more "conventional" aquatic husbandry: You need to keep aquarium neat and tidy, with not accumulation of materials on the bottom. In my opinion, fear of what they think might be degrading water quality caused by such activity frightens a lot of aquarists off from trying this. 

The facts are, I've not seen degrading water quality as a result of using botanicals in otherwise well-managed systems. Ever.

Yeah, if you're not dumping a ton of food into a tank, over-stocking it, and allowing dead fish to accumulate in the tank, you're likely to see no real difference in water quality in a "New Botanical" style aquarium that you are in a more "conventional" system. The main difference is the aesthetic - Tinted water, lots of materials on the bottom, and even the occasional clumps of algae- just like in nature.

One you make that "mental leap" to this aesthetic, you might just find that it's one of the most dynamic, easy-to-manage aquarium systems you've ever worked with.

Give it a shot. Try "substrate enrichment" on a small scale in a small, specialized aquarium. See if you can handle the look, feel, and results...I'll bet that not only can you "handle" it- I'm willing to bet you'll fall in love with the idea!

More on this stuff to follow. In the mean time:

Stay open minded. Stay creative. 

Stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

 

March 12, 2016

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An old enemy. Different mindset.

I think we've all had to deal with the nasty topic of nuisance algae at one point or another in our fishy careers, huh?

Seems like there is not a fish geek on the planet who hasn't had to deal with this yucky stuff at one point or another.

There are countless forum threads, magazine and online articles, and lectures all about algae and algae control. The causes and techniques for control seem to be pretty well known, and covered in intimate detail by experts far more learned than I.

However, my simple Saturday though on algae comes to us from...the "reef side" of my hobby experience. Simple stuff, that in the rush to find an answer, we often seem to forget about. Its easier, it seems, to toss lots of money at different things sometimes. I get it.

Algae is super opportunitstic. That's why it's been around for billions of years. It waits for the proper conditions, and takes off when it's needs are met. In a closed system aquarium, algae blooms are simply caused by excess nutrients accumulating or being made available somewhere in the system.

Simple as that. And the solution is not fancy additives, manual removal, etc. It's isolating the cause of the nutrient excess and discontinuing or eliminating whatever practices, additions, or factors are contributing to it. So the enemy- the problem is really not the algae itself (it's not attractive to everyone- I give you that.)- It's the circumstances that lead to its proliferation in our systems. That's the enemy!

Think about it- algae are merely exploiting what is there to exploit. take that away, and the excess of algae go "buh-bye!"

Nutrient control and export- be it through checking the source water quality, controlling feeding, filtration, or use of chemical media- is the key. In reef aquariums, for a generation we've used the "macro algae refugium", run on a "reverse daylight" lighting schedule, which the macro algae (Chaetomorpha, typically) can utilize to consume the excess nutrients in a system that would otherwise be used by the nasty algae in the display. Since higher algae an plants are more efficient and require more nutrient to thrive, the nuisance algae lose out.

So, perhaps one could consider constructing a freshwater versions of a macro algae refugium, but with highly efficient and fast growing plants, like Anacharis, Cabomba, Java Moss, etc. When you harvest the plants from the refugium, you're also permanently removing the nutrients bound up in them from your display, right? 

Yup.

Out hustle. Outcompete. Outwit. Outlast. Sounds like a the format of a successful reality TV show, but it's the key to algae control. Simple as that. Beat it at its own game with a life form that is more efficient at doing what the algae is doing.

Just think a bit differently about the problem. Easy.

Think about that simple idea before you reach for the bottle of algaecide or other exotic, complicated control technique.

That's my quick thought for today. 

Stay creative. Stay logical. Stay focused.

And stay wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

 

March 11, 2016

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Rituals...

Do you engage in some "daily rituals" with your aquariums?

Yeah, I will almost GUARANTEE that you do! I was musing about this today as I went about my early morning "procedures" around my tank...

I have my morning ritual down. Walk in room where aquarium is. Smell. Quick visual leak scan. Everything sounds normal? When the room lighting is sufficient to see inside, quick visual inspection of aquascape..Nothing fell over? Good! No massive nasty algae breakout? Excellent. Temp okay? Great.

Ahh, all of my Spotted Headstanders are up and around...Okay, Apistos doing their thing...No fry yet...? Grr. How many Pencilfish are around? All present and accounted for. Good. As for the other Tetras- damn, they're so fast, quick census is the best i can do for now...Looks good...

 

 

And so on.

Kind of like making coffee, right? I mean, yes, lots of people drink a cup of coffee in the morning- but it's way more than that, when you think about it...It's the preparation, right? Grinding the beans, filling the coffee maker...the sights, the sounds, the aroma...all part of the package.

Just like aquarium rituals. A complete sensory experience, for sure! Way more than just a glance at your tank. No matter how rushed you are.

An of course, then there are the procedures, right? Water level need topping off? Easy. lighting coming up. Check. Need to change out a filter sock? Super easy. 

Time to feed. That's the fun part, when it's time to "interact" with my fishes. And of course, feeding involves several "sub-rituals", including selection of the feed, preparation (thawing or sorting), etc.

This goes on in fish-geek households around the world, every day. Kind of interesting, when you take into account that we all general do things pretty much the same, with a few personal variations, of course. I mean, I fish geek with a 50-tank fish room will start the day far different than me with my paltry two display tanks...

It's part of our "culture", for sure!

When you think about it, hobbyists in general are very ritualistic, right? Almost every aspect of what we do, from setting up an aquarium, to adding fishes, to cleaning, is based on time-honored "rituals" and procedures that we've developed based on our personal needs. And , if you ask me, the daily aquarium rituals in which we engage not only become enjoyable and beneficial to us and our fishes- they add to the body of knowledge of aquarium science, and perpetuate our "culture", for the benefit of all.

Now, where did I put that spoon? You know, the one I use every day to feed frozen Daphnia?

Until next time...

Stay consistent. Stay focused.

And stay wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

March 10, 2016

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Keeping it all in perspective...

Ever get in one of those "moods" where things are just not enjoyable with your hobby? For those of us who are "lifers", it doesn't happen often, but it's bound to once in a while. I mean, something gets you "burnt"- perhaps it's an algae struggle, a failed spawning attempt...or perhaps just a little bit of indifference to your hobby after  a long period of intensive activity.

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



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

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

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



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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Deep breath..namaste.

Until next time, 

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

And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

March 08, 2016

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The lengths you'll go to...

Ever thought about the lengths we'll go to in order to create a great environment for our fishes?

I mean, think about it: As aquarists, we'll spend many hours and thousands of dollars on the right setup, equipment, foods, even water- to create great outcomes. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, really.

I know many hobbyists who go further, cultivating phytoplankton, meal worms, Grindal worms, mircorworms, etc. in their fish rooms. And many others who will go out to ponds, creeks, etc. to collect Daphnia, Fairy Shrimp, mosquito larvae, etc. for their fishes...A dedication to their animals that rivals many cat and dog owners...in fact, on a deeper level, eclipses them- as aquarists have to not only provide food, and husbandry for their animals- they have to build and maintain their homes, as well!

The interesting thing to me is that we don't even see these efforts as "work" in any way, shape, or form. We simply see them as an extension of the responsibilities of keeping and breeding tropical fishes. 

This is an extraordinary example of deaccession to a craft- a science- a lifestyle, for that matter, that trenscends educational, economic, and ethnic boundaries. A dedication to a pursuit that is engaging, educational, and even valuable.

I just wanted to take a few minutes today to than each and every one of you for the amazing work that you do every day without reflection.

And thank you for selecting Tannin Aquatics as your purveyor of speciality items to enjoy your hobby and practice your craft. 

Lots of cool stuff going on today- looking forward to sharing it with you tomorrow!

Stay engaged. Stay involved. Stay dedicated.

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics