Only a fish geek knows...

Ever noticed that, as a hardcore fish geek, you have a certain outlook on stuff- and a certain way of reacting to things that sort of affects everything else you do?

Yeah, you do.

For example, only a real fish geek understands the incredible emotional satisfaction of waking up to discover , say- that the pair of Plecos that he or she has painstakingly conditioned and nurtured  for months has delivered...A spawning event yielded a nice clutch of eggs...A cause for rejoicing on par with the emotions of a promotion at work; news of a friend's engagement, or your birthday.

Crazy?

Not really. We put so much of ourselves into this hobby. An aquarium becomes the fish embodiment of our souls...an expression of who we are. 

We run the full gamut of emotions, and we share them with others who understand what we're feeling.

When something goes wrong, there is a palpable sense of disappointment that we sense...and that we can sense from others. You've seen it before: A fish geeks experiences a setback, like an algae bloom or an inch infestation. You see the desperate, emotional pleas on the fishy forums, asking for any grain of hope to overcome the problem. And you understand exactly what the fellow hobbyist is feeling. They reach out, and the community of fish geeks, who totally get this- reach back to help find answers. And the collective sense of accomplishment- even, rejoicing- when the problem is solved, is immediately apparent, spontaneous, and, well- beautiful to see.

And fish geeks act on their emotions a bit differently than a lot of people- but other fish geeks understand it.

I recall, a few years back, when I was giving a talk to a reef club on the East Coast. After the meeting, everyone went to the home of a prominent reefer who had some amazing tanks and a cool fish room. We were sitting around admiring the tanks, when someone tripped over a plumbing connection to an imported calcium reactor, which served an amazing reef tank that had been established for years. It was an accident, and the reefer was not at all angry.

But he was emotionally "traumatized"- the reactor was critical to the stability of this  long-established reef tank with a priceless trove of rare corals...And suddenly, like that- the tank was in peril. Everyone present felt the sense of concern, and outright horror- at what had just unfolded. And of course, it was after 11PM on a Saturday night, and to obtain the replacement part needed to affect a repair would require ordering it on line- at least a 4-5 turnaround time at best. Everyone sat around, as fish geeks do, tossing around potential solutions to the problem.

Finally, one of the hobbyists in attendance remembered that his buddy had a similar reactor, and kept some spare parts for it. He promptly called his friend (by now it was after midnight), who immediately did what a true fish geek does- offered it right up...After midnight, to a perfect stranger. Of course, the only catch was that he lived an hour and a half away. And it was in the middle of a significant rainstorm.

What did the reefer do? He did what any serious fish geek would do.

Right then and there, he jumped in his car and drove to the guys' house, picked up the part, and drove right back- a three hour plus round trip under challenging driving conditions. Immediately upon his return (about 4 AM), he began to affect the repairs to his reactor, completing the work, exhausted but satisfied at around 6AM, ready to attend a family function later than morning, secure in the thought that he had saved his aquarium. He repaid the other reefer's kindness with a ton of coral frags- only accepted after much duress by the other reefer, who asked for nothing in return.

Not an uncommon story, right? I've heard many a tale of hardcore fish geeks going to great lengths not only to help their own systems, but to assist other hobbyists- often asking for no compensation at all for their kindness.

It's this kind of attitude, feeling, generosity- which permeates the culture of fish keeping. It's this kid of feeling that only a fish geek knows. An unwritten "norm" in our "culture", which makes this wonderful hobby all that more satisfying.

So, the next time you're devastated because you heater failed in the dead of winter, or because your rare Apistos ate their first clutch of eggs- feel what you feel- and reach out to other members of the aquarium community...They are there to offer support, reassurance, wisdom- and occasionally, even a spare part or two.

Stay generous. Stay involved.

And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Eyes open- and hands wet...

If you’ve been in the hobby for more than a few years, you’ve definitely started noticing a trend about the way we do things. 

We have, in my opinion, developed a sort of dependency on technology. Ok, maybe not a dependency, but an excessive reliance on technology, and, for some fish geeks, particularly on the "reef" side of things, their ability to identify and interpret a problem that isn’t verified by one of their monitored parameters has, well- atrophied…

What exactly do I mean? Well, over the years, I have had many hobbyists  who contact me because their aquarium is just not doing well- fishes aren’t feeding well, plants are not looking so hot, colors are off, etc., despite the presence of an advanced lighting system, controllers, high end reactors, etc. Some of these hobbyists will rattle off water parameters taken by either their controller or a test kits, and long-winded descriptions of the expensive equipment they have in place to run their tank, with more than just a little annoyance that, despite the alkalinity being “X”, or the pH reading “Y”, that things don’t look good. In fact, their is often a sense of bewilderment that there could even BE a problem, because seemingly, every contingency has been covered by their equipment and high-tech accessories.

The common thread in many of these complaints is that the aquarist, despite his reliance on advanced technology and a seemingly higher-than-average understanding of the water parameters ( or should I say, the numbers involved), has no real clue what’s going on. Rattling off pH, Dkh, phosphate and nitrate readings is cool, but if you don't know what they mean in real terms to your inhabitants, what's the point of monitoring them? Many times, the aquarist will downplay some seemingly innocuous system change, such as the fact that the makeup water, which was always RO/DI from a home system, was suddenly changed to the “better and less expensive” water purchased from the LFS or other source  last week, or that recent upgrade to “better” lighting should not have damaged his “high-light loving” plant. Rather, I’ll hear things like, “That shouldn't be a problem, because_______.”

Well, um- YEAH, it SHOULD be a problem. Change is good, but not always easy. Fishes have adapted over eons to inhabit some of the most stable environments on earth, the rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans of the world. I mean, why do you think the wild reefs and rivers are reacting so poorly to some of the recent mankind-inflicted changes upon them? These animals, despite their toughness, are not evolved to handle rapid changes to their environments all that well. They’ll demonstrate this by showing lots of overt signs of stress, trust me. 

When you change fish or plant foods, for example, it IS a big deal to your plants and fishes. Every manufacturer follow a more or-less standard “recipe”; however, each one also has proprietary formulations of things like trace elements, mineral additions, etc., or might use ingredients of varying purity or origin, all of which are perceptible to the animals or plants that utilize them. Something may be in a greeter or lesser concentration, which, despite being a relatively minor component, is a change that an animal must adapt to. Bran Flakes and Lucky Charms are both cereals, supposedly with “whole grains” in them. But trust me, your waist line will show wether you’ve been chowing on the Bran Flakes or the Lucky Charms for breakfast after a few weeks! Read the ingredients and look at the calories and sugar content of each…

“Light is light” is not an entirely accurate statement. When you switch from T5 to LED, for example, despite the fact that the LED system has advanced ability to control the color balance and intensity, the emitters focus light differently, perhaps concentrating it where it was not previously concentrated before. One of the best examples I can think of is the effects of sun when you go to the beach versus when you are out in the backyard. Sure, hanging out in your backyard you’ll get some sun, but it’s always different at the beach, with different atmospheric qualities, etc. that can result in you getting a deeper tan (or even a sunburn) when you lay out there versus push a lawnmower at home. 

A controller cannot monitor judgment. OR should I say, BAD judgement. Placing an Acara in the middle of your docile Tetra collection and then wondering why the Neons are getting whacked every night is not something that can be identified by your controller. Disease caused by not quarantining that new Pleco is not detectible on a test kit, iPhone app, or monitoring system. Overstocking, poor husbandry, and ineffective maintenance regimens cannot be detected directly by electronic equipment or testing. You’ll see things like declining pH and alkalinity, increasing phosphate or nitrate, but in the end, you’ll have to know how to interpret what these things mean. You’ll need to know the visual cues as well, such as increased algae growth, poor animal health, etc.

It’s great that we have all the technology at our fingertips. It’s not only progressive, it’s important. I’m not bashing technology, and I’m not downplaying water testing or having information at your fingertips. What I am concerned about is that, as hobbyists, we must not forget the powers of observation. We must not forget the “art” of aquarium keeping as we become more and more reliant on technology to monitor and control our aquariums.

Remember, probes need to be calibrated, and test kit reagents expire. There is no substitute for simply looking at your aquarium critically every day. Many very experienced aquarists are only half joking when they can tell you that they can take a quick glance at their tank and know that something is not right, or even a whiff of the tank to know their is a problem (trust me, you’ll never forget the smell of coral death, in a reef, for example…). This is borne of experience gained by observing their tank every day, not just staring at their iPhone display from their controller and assuming that everything is perfect because the numbers are “right.”

Don’t get me wrong. We need to use test kits and controllers to assist with operation and monitoring. We need information to know what’s going on in our tanks. The hobby has benefitted magnificently from the application of technology. What I’m asserting is that we cannot depend upon them to manage every aspect of our system. Remember, aquarium keeping is much an “art” as it is a science, and we can’t forget the “art”, or we might do so at the expense of our animals.

That’s precisely why the guys up in the control tower at your local airport have windows at their disposal in addition to their radar displays. There is just no replacement for visual assessment of a situation in most cases. Take their lead and use the technology as an assist, but RELY on your personal skills, honed by rigorous daily observation and understanding gained by intimately knowing your aquarium.

The need to become a “tank whisperer” and to develop the skills to “listen” to your aquarium has never been more relevant or useful. As technology improves and becomes more integrated into the daily routines of aquarium keeping, we as hobbyists must continue to develop the basic skills that you can only acquire by “getting your hands wet.”

Which makes my traditional sign-off more relevant than ever, doesn’t it?

As always, I implore you to…

Stay Wet,

Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics

Find your geeky bliss...

Seems like the longer we're around, the more insane it gets each day...

I always said I'd never want to be "that guy" who is a hardcore hobbyist then starts a company, and gets "too busy" to do the things he likes to do- like interacting with fellow fish geeks...Well, some days, I must admit, it feels like I've become "that guy..." I mean, there literally aren't enough hours in the day sometimes to do everything that you want.

Between setting photographing products, packing shipments, answering customer questions, dealing with the business needs, and all of the other minutiae of running a company, it CAN get a little hectic. I guess it's a good "problem" to have. But I think it's a problem nonetheless. Self help gurus will tell you that not being able to do the things you want to do is a function of "poor time management" or "not being kind to yourself", or...whatever! 

Anyways, I'm happy to be here to interact with you cool people- as you're what it's all about. In the mad frenzy of a busy day, I remembered to acknowledge the things that really make me love this hobby- an exercise we should all do from time to time. And one of the things I enjoy ruminating on is the fact that we as fish geeks are into the most obscure stuff! Think about it. If you've entertained the idea of playing with, say, propagating Bucephalandra- there's probably some hobbyist out there who's not only had the idea, but who's built out a propagation system just for that purpose in her basement!

Want to grow Daphnia and create an automatic feeder for your fish room? There are actually "experts" on that. Creating a system for "crack spawning" killifish? There's a guy who actually wrote a whole series of articles on that back in 1980! I mean, there are so many cool things that you can do in the hobby, and so many cool resources at our disposal! Our "tribe" has insanely good knowledge of many, many things, ranging from the basic to the downright obscure. 

That's totally cool.

Thanks to the internet and the general geekiness of hobbyists worldwide, this stuff doesn't stay obscure that long. We talk, brag, share, assist, and just generally let the information we've gleaned percolate into our culture, which enriches us all. And it's fun to get into these seemingly obscure things, isn't it?

Lately, I've been getting really back into my long term love affair (sounds sordid, doesn't it?) with Tetras. I used to play with all different types, but just kinda ran out of time and resources to keep going. Well, flash forward a few years and I had a 16,000 gallon saltwater facility with all kinds of toys to play with! It kept me pretty busy.

After selling my interest in Unique Corals, I was once again able to focus my mental energies on freshwater with the launch of Tannin Aquatics.

So, when the opportunity came up to acquire some cool Pencilfishes from an awesome source, and curate the collection I've been dreaming of for over a decade, I jumped on it. So, much to the chagrin of some of my colleagues, on any given day you'll find me doting over my little section in my newly set-up Amazonian-themed biotope aquarium. In addition to a geeky obsession, it's been just fun doing something that I sort of lost track of over the years...the fun and excitement of doing something that's interesting, "new", and weekly obsessive is a sublime delight for the hobbyist!

Okay, so the point of all of this rambling is quite simple: If you have one of those geeky and obscure obsessions, indulge yourself and play! Do the geeky stuff to your heart's content...and remember to share your passion for it with other hobbyists. It's the kind of stuff that makes things really fun. The kind of stuff that makes a hobby more than just a pleasant diversion...It becomes a lifelong obsession- a rich and rewarding passion.

Find your geeky bliss.

What geeky hobby obsession do YOU indulge in?

Stay tuned for more of the usual absurdity from yours truly.

Stay Wet

Scott Fellman

The (sweet) smell of success in aquarium keeping?

Ever noticed that "scent" that a healthy aquarium or fish room has?

Yeah, the "scent."

A healthy aquarium, particularly one with wood, plants, aquatic botanicals, etc. has that earthy, alive scent that makes you realize that you're working with a living organism; a microcosm, rather, that has all sorts of biological activity occurring. This is true in both freshwater and marine aquariums. 

I remember many days walking into our facility at Unique Corals, and you'd smell this fresh, "ocean" scent. It was invigorating, actually. My reef aquariums have always had that same kind of scent when they were cranking...

Of course, as a seasoned aquarist, you recognize the "right" kind of smell for your aquarium, don't you?

When things are not going right, the water has that sort of...well, "stinky" smell, doesn't it? Upon further inspection, you'll discover 9 times out of 10 that something is amiss- maybe there is some plant decay, a clogged filter. In a marine tank, maybe it's the protein skimmer that's overflowing? Maybe a coral is dying. Perhaps the water level dropped dramatically in your sump, exposing corals and live rock? The dreaded "rapid tissue necrosis" (RTN)?

You just know...it's an experience thing, I suppose.

I remember the unmistakable smell of what we'd call "coral death." It's a sickening, almost "glue like" smell that seems to accompany the die-off of stony corals like Acropora. You'd come into the facility and know something was not right...

On a much happier note, a lot of people tell me that, upon "brewing" their aquatic botanicals (actually, preparing them by boiling), that the room takes on that same earth, fresh "it just rained" smell. Kinda nice. Get's them excited, realizing that they are doing something very different for their fishes.

Natural materials just sort of bring that out.

Even fresh gravel, sand, and clean rocks have that smell that you just kind of "know" is all good. And, have you noticed that a brand new aquarium has a very distinctive smell when you first fill it up? 

I throw a couple of Catappa leaves in my 5-gallon RO/DI water storage containers, which not only "pre-tint" the water, but impart that "earthy" scent that we keep mentioning. I love it.

There is something great about allowing yourself the joy of taking in every sensory aspect of an aquarium...sights, sounds, and scents!

Enjoy each one or what it represents- an appreciation...rather, a celebration- of the joys and the experience of aquarium keeping. Perhaps you never really gave this more than a passing thought?

Worth pausing to think about.

A very brief, simple thought to kick off the week...

Take it all in, savor it.

And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatcs

Big thoughts on tiny fish. Setting the "stage" for an effective Characin display...

Did you ever think about why certain fishes are more popular than others?

I mean, sure, beyond the fact that say, that cool Placidochromis is rare and attractive, or the fact that the Neon Tetra is way nicer looking to most people than the Silver Tip Tetra, there must be more.

Perhaps it's personality. I know based on my experiences with Apistogramma and other dwarf cichlids, that they are downright "charming", with comical behaviors and engaging personalities...and they happen to be attractive!

Fishes like Discus and Fancy guppies alloy have that "it factor" which makes them more attractive. I get it.

A guy like me, coming from the reef aquarium world, where the fishes are generally very colorful and distinctive, who also has an infatuation with Characins, is in a strange place. I love my Tetras and other characins. To me, creating a cool community of these little fishes is exciting and enjoyable. But the thing is, they don't really have individual "personalities" in the way that cichlids or Gouramis, etc. do.

I mean, they are shoaling fishes, much in the way an anchovy or smelt is; part of a "collective", with no individual "personality", although as  species, many are quite attractive. Have you noticed that a solitary tetra will never show the same chromatic brilliance as one kept in a group?

So here I am, midway into stocking my South American-themed Characin display, looking for something with a little more "personality"- sort of a "standout fish"- and the choices in this group are somewhat (arguably) limited. Sure, If I had a huge tank, Chalceus, Distichodus, Metynnis, or Hemiodus species would work,but they get pretty large and/or have boisterous personalities. I adore Abramites and Leporinus, but they're kind of little...bastards- and would play havoc among my tiny tots..

So where does that leave me and my 50-gallon peaceful small Characin tank?

I look to smaller members of the group known collectively as "Headstanders", specifically, the "Spotted Headstander", Chilodus punctuatus. Yeah, I'm pinning my hopes for a "feature fish" for this tank on a group of these gentle, odd-looking fishes. I love the way they swim, and the way they tend to hide among the wood, picking at algae and such in a most "marine-fish-like" manner! I think they'll prove an interesting addition to my little menagerie!

And the whole "I'm looking for a "standout fish" mindset also has me thinking about how many of each group of fishes I want in my tank. I mean, the "collector's mentality" for a Characin lover will say, "Get like 6-10 of each variety", which is consistent with the desire to bring about natural behavior and appearance. However, a modest sized tank with 6 different groups of 6 fiefs is...well, not very relaxing..All of those different colors and shapes...too much variety in too small a space, IMHO. Better to narrow it down to larger shoals of a few species, right?

Yeah, that's my thinking...But which ones?

In my situation, I like kind of odd-looking, small, and subtly colored fishes that you have to sort of "look for" in the scape. I have Rummynose Tetras and Flame Tetras in there, which, of course, scream "Look at me!" So, why not have a larger number of the more subdued Pencilfishes that I keep...this will really help "pop" the colorful guys, and better set the stage for the headstanders to have impact as they swim about...

So, that's my stocking mindset..It's as much about creating an aesthetically pleasing "staging" of the fish as it is for creating a proper environment and community balance. Once you've narrowed down the fishes that you WANT to keep, it' important to simply figure out the ratios!

We'll see where this goes...

Just my thoughts for today...I'm sure you have many of your own on the idea of stocking and "staging" as well!

Stay interested. Stay creative...

And stay wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquaitcs.

As the water darkens...

Last week, I took a little time to really check out my latest tank. The botanicals are really starting to have an impact- the water is darkening nicely, pH is holding steady at 6.8. It's looking great.

One day, I really noticed my Rummynose Tetras- they were as red in the nose as any I've ever seen, and the silver grey color on their flanks was popping with some flecks of blue. And my Pencilfishes (whatever species they are), suddenly developed red anal and ventral fins, with streaks of red in the tails and body...Could they be N. beckfordi? We'll see!

I had occasion to visit the tank of a good friend; a real master of the "ADA style" planted aquarium. His tanks are beautiful. One, in particular, had a stunning array of Tetras (in case you didn't know, they're like my faves). His fish were healthy; beautiful.

However, HIS Rummynoses were not quite as intense in the flanks, and the red- well, it was way more washed out in comparison to mine. In fact, in my unbiased (LOL) opinion, I'd say that ALL his fishes, healthy and beautiful though they were, just didn't have the same chromatic vibrance as mine.

Anecdotally, I'd chalk it up to environment. Of course, one could take into account food, overall husbandry, etc.). Could this whole "blackwater thing" really be making the difference? 

Well, we he came by my house to check out my tanks, my friend was blown away by the color intensity of...my Rummynose Tetras...and virtually every other fish in the tank. Being an experienced, knowledgable hobbyist, the brownish water didn't phase him a bit, and he left with some botanicals and a pledge to set up a tank "New Botanical" style to see for himself.

Now, the point of this brief post is not to say how running a blackwater tank is the best way to keep tetras, or that my tank is better than my friends. No. The point is that, there is some merit to running a system under conditions that at least partially replicate some aspects of the natural environment of the subject fishes. 

I realize that dark brown water and a pile of "twigs and nuts" is not everyone's "cup of tea" (pun intended), but the reason you see me keep singing the praises of this approach, along with plenty of others, is that it does create just another option to create a beautiful aquarium with healthy, active fishes.

If you're looking for something a bit different, give a "blackwater" system a try..You might just like it!

Stay open minded as the water darkens...become "enlightened!"

And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Mo' on Mopani!

Are you a big fan of using wood in your aquaecapes?

Apart from some specialized situations (like African Rift Lake cichlid tanks), it seems like almost EVERY freshwater hobbyists incorporates wood of some sort into his/her aquascape at some point! 

One of our favorite woods (and among the most sought after by fellow hobbyists) used in 'scaping is Mopani. Also called "Mopane", it comes from a species of tree, Colophspermum mopane, found in hot, dry parts of Africa- specifically, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Angola and Malawi. In fact, the tree only occurs in Africa, which gives you some idea as to its relative scarcity in the aquarium trade.

(Image by Roger Culos, used under  CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Mopane tree only grows in hot, arid climates and surprisingly alkaline soils, further restricting its range. An economically important tree to its native nations, it offers many characteristics that make it unique for a range of uses. 

It's a surprisingly heavy wood, and is termite resistant (really important in Africa!), and has been used by man to build everything from houses to flooring. From an aquarist's standpoint, we love this wood, not for it's intricate shapes, but for its rich, gnarled texture, and distinct "two-tone" color, not to mention its durability...the stuff can last for years and years in an aquarium!

It's a very dense wood, and sinks really easily. Preparation required is pretty simple: A good rinse and maybe a light scrub with a soft bristle brush, to remove debris and such, followed by immersion in fresh water. Like any wood, Mopani will impart some tannins into the water after it's submerged, so if you're not into "the tint", you probably want to soak it in freshwater for a week or two to "crack off" some of the initial burst of tannins and other organics contained in the wood structure. You could also boil smaller pieces, followed by a soak in fresh water for a few days, but I'm more of a "soak and wait" kind of guy with this wood, myself. Regardless, it's still gonna leach tannins for a long time...just part of the game with any wood.

Mopani is really about aesthetics. Occasionally, I'll get an inquiry from a catfish enthusiast, asking me if this is one of the woods these fish will gnaw on. The answer, according to my many Pleco friends is that, yeah, in the absence of other, softer woods, they may pick at it; however, for all practical purposes, your Panaque L204, Ancistrus, or other cat would prefer something softer as a chew toy!

One of the biggest concerns a lot of aquarists have about Mopani is the price. Yup, this stuff is kind of expensive relative to other woods used in the aquarium. Why is this? Well, first off, it has that restricted range- Africa. Ever import something from an African nation? It's expensive, fraught with economic risk, and subject to a lot of paperwork hassles to legally obtain goods from this region. Plus, it's kind of heavy, as we've stated before, which adds to the transportation and shipping costs. You're generally not going to see huge pieces of Mopani wood offered for sale in the aquarium trade. Typically, it's more common to see pieces from 5"-25" in length. We tend to offer pieces ranging from 5"-12" or so in size.

Because it's a commercially important wood in its native region, and is increasingly being used in things like flooring and furniture, there is concern about the sustainability of Mopani harvest on this species. There are several African nations that have commissioned sustainability studies regarding harvest of Mopani and other woods, and these are ongoing.

As we are always concerned about the ecological impact and sustainability in regards to the sourcing of our botanicals, we'll be monitoring these studies and will make sure that we continue to obtain our wood from sources and suppliers operating in nations that support the sustainable and ethical harvest of this wood, and we'll discontinue offering it should the ecological impact be threatened by its continued harvest. While the impact of the aquarium trade on the wood may be statistically undetectible- it still counts, and every little conservation effort helps. We want to do our part to help preserve this resource for generations to come, and if that means discontinuing offering this product, rest assured, we will.

In the mean time, we can all continue to enjoy this unique wood, and the aesthetics it brings to our aquariums. We're excited to offer some beautiful pieces, each one with a character and texture all its own!

There are many creative possibilities with this wood, and we hope that you and your aquatic animals enjoy it as much as we do! We'd love to see what cool 'scares you've developed featuring this unique wood!

Stay creative. Stay excited..

And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Embracing the evolution in a "New Botanical Style" Aquarium...

Did you ever think about how an aquarium "evolves" over time?

I mean, when you first set up a tank, it starts out as this semi-sterile acrylic or glass box, and slowly but surely evolves into a living, functioning ecosystem...if, of course, we let it!

Like many of you, I've set up hundreds and hundreds of aquariums in my lifetime, each one was somehow different; an independent, unique little system with its own quirks, norms, and surprises. However, my last several freshwater aquariums have embraced what I've half-jokingly referred to as the "New Botanical Style"- systems which utilize multiple forms of aquatic botanicals and wood as the basis of the aquascape- and the aquatic environment. 

Sure, I'm absolutely not the first person to through leaves and such into an aquarium. Of course, it would be incredibly arrogant and just plain wrong to take such a viewpoint! However, I think that I might be one of perhaps a much smaller number of aquarists who has really taken the time to sit down and embrace what is actually occurring in his "botanical-heavy" system, realizing that everything is operating as part of a greater "whole", contributing to the richness of the aquatic environment as the system evolves biologically, chemically, and aesthetically.

As such, these "New Botanical Style" tanks have a diverse assemblage of organic materials in the form of wood, seed pods, leaves, etc. Each item was selected not only for aesthetics, but for certain "capabilities" it brings to the environment. I believe that a "New Botanical Style" system embraces the evolving processes which occur when these materials interact with their aquatic environment, imparting tannins, humic acids, etc. to the water, for the benefit of the life forms contained within. Embracing the breakdown, decomposition- the change which occurs within the system- physically, aesthetically, and chemically, as at evolves.

In my most recent aquarium, a fabulous Innovative Marine "Fusion Lagoon 50", which I've been sharing with you on these pages and in social media, was set up with the intention of allowing the tannins and such contained in the wood and botanicals to be released "in their own time", and in as natural a fashion as possible. I also made the "command decision" to "soak" my Manzanita wood inside the display aquarium rather than in an external vessel of some sort- something I am always hesitant to do. 

Why? Because the wood will release a lot of bound-up organic material, in addition to tannins and other chemicals, not to mention good old fashion detritus and such- bound up on and within its structure. This has a direct impact in the water in a number of ways- not the least of which is the "bloom" of bacteria which arise as the wood becomes saturated.

Couple this with the breakdown of a significant number of other botanicals as well, and the result was about 3 weeks of pretty cloudy water, which is never a fun thing to deal with. However, with patience, frequent small water changes with prepared RO/DI water, and the use of modest amounts of chemical filtration media (I love SeaChem Purigen), I "endured" this cloudiness and began to see the wonderful brown color, clarity  and richness that I've come to expect from a blackwater system.

Yes, I had to endure the "yucky biofilm phase" with my botanicals, just like many of you do. I had to remove a few pieces that got that nasty, hydrogen sulfide smell. I did some "aesthetic edits", removing what I felt were pieces that either detracted from the appearance I was trying to achieve, or were otherwise incongruous with the rest of the 'scape. 

What I never did- in fact, what I never DO- is to make knee-jerk "panic decisions" and take extraordinary measures to "correct" what appear to be "problems" in the system. It pays to reevaluate and analyize just what made these "problems" arise in the first place, so you can decide what, if any- action you SHOULD take. In my case, I knew what I was in for: Cloudiness caused by my decision to "cure" the wood in the aquarium proper, and  the biofilms and such that you see from using large quantities of aquatic botanicals in the system from the outset. 

Rather than panic, I did water testing, which revealed no detectible nitrite, phosphate, or ammonia during this period. The pH was stable and the fishes that were present were perfectly fine. I decided to embrace all of the process that were occurring within my system, and understood that the aquatic environment was evolving.

That being said, did I enjoy the "yucky biofilm phase" or cloudy water? Of course not. However, I DID understand why they were occurring, and appreciated the natural processes, helped by my regular maintenance procedures (standard weekly 10% water changes) that were letting the system "do its thing." Perhaps that patience, borne from decades of reef keeping, where you simply have to let things evolve if you want long-term success- has become the key ingredient in my aquarium management philosophy.

Here we are, about five weeks after the aquarium was set up, and things have truly "evolved" past what I call the "Initial Phase" (where everything is still kinda new and sterile) and evolved into the "Living Phase", when an aquarium starts to literally take on a life of its own, becoming less dependent upon the "management" of its owner to overcome issues like nuisance algae, cloudiness, etc. We're now seeing the richness of the aquatic environment starting to emerge: The botanicals have softened and saturated,  the wood has a minimal coverage of biofilm or nuisance algae of any kind, and the water has that clarity and clean, "earthy" smell of a healthy aquarium.  Environmental parameters are stable. And of course, the "tint" caused by the release of tannins is increasingly evident!

The fish population has, of course, increased gradually (I'm a FISH GEEK, for goodness sake!), and with it, the biological demand on the system. However, I've learned a thing or two over the years, like most of you- the most important lesson being to be patient and add fishes slowly. In a "New Botanical Style" system, with little or no higher plants to help uptake the nutrients released into the system by the botanicals, wood, and fishes, it's more important than ever to go slowly and take that "it's a Marathon, not a sprint" mentality of tank management.

This embracing of what is happening in the aquarium, and taking it all into consideration as part of the evolution of this ecosystem, has made the experience of starting this tank more enjoyable than virtually any freshwater or reef system I've set up previously. As I see and hear from more and more of you working with this "New Botanical Style" system, I realize that we are actually at a sort of interesting time in the hobby: We have all of these amazing technical advantages, yet we are at a point where we can sit back, embrace, and appreciate all of the amazing work that nature does.

I very much enjoy hearing from all of you as you gain more an more experience working with aquatic botanicals and being part of the exciting "moment" of creating "New Botanical Style" aquariums!

Stay excited. Stay experimental. Stay open minded...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

A new way to "get your tint on", courtesy of the Innovative Marine" MiniMax!"

Perhaps you like the idea of a blackwater tank, but the idea of botanicals in your aquascape doesn't cut it for some reason? We get, it...not everyone likes that look. Or, maybe you're running a breeding tank and want to keep a completely bare aquarium. We can imagine a lot of reasons why you might not want the botanicals in the aquarium proper.

 So, we've long thought about other "delivery methods" to get the benefits of botanicals into your water without the need to drop all of the "twigs and nuts" that we offer into your tank. Filter bags are one immediate solution. However, they suffer from one inefficiency: A lot of the media in the filter bag isn't well exposed to water flow.

What about a more "technological "solution?

Coming from the reef aquarium world, you're pretty much issued exotic pieces of equipment the minute you sign on to the gig. Reefers love to make easy stuff more difficult. However, one of the many gadgets reefers use to maximize the usefulness of activated carbon, phosphate removal resins, organic scavenger exchange resins, and other geeky stuff is the simple, yet effective "fluidized reactor."

This is essentially an acrylic tube that provides a sufficient turbulent flow within its reaction chamber to keep the media in suspension. It really maximizes the effectiveness of stuff like carbon, as it exposes all sides of the media to water, without concerns over it packing down, etc.

We have been big fans of the Innovative Marine product line, as they offer quality, function, and features at an affordable price. When IM came out with their "MiniMax Fluidized Reactor, we immediately checked it out, and immediately became fans!

And of course, we realized that we can use its "fluidization ability" with some of our small, lightweight, ph-affecting botanicals, like Alder Cones, "Frita Pods", "Fundo Tropical", or "Carambola Lixo"!

Yeah, they're lightweight, will easily roll around in the chamber under modest flow, and will gradually dissolve, imparting their beneficial tannins and humic acids into the water column. Sponge pads on both sides of the reactor keep debris out of the tank.

This device is ridiculously easy to use ("Fellman-proof", as one of my fishy friends called it), and super efficient. It uses only 8 watts of electricity to do its magic, and doesn't have all of the annoying external plumbing, tubes, ball valves, and other paraphernalia that makes a typical reactor just another pain in the rear to use!

You just anchor this baby on to the side of your aquarium (or in the rear chamber of one of Innovative Marine's cool "all in one" aquariums, like my "Fusion Lagoon 50") with the novel screw-on bracket, plug it in, and you're good to go!

It's so easy-to-use, and so convenient, that you could place the "MiniMax" pretty much wherever it's needed, either on a full-time or temporary basis. Its reaction chamber is more than adequately sized to accommodate a variety of filter media, or your favorite small botanicals! (Be sure to take the stems off of your Alder Cones first, so they tumble better!)

We can think of all sorts of uses for this cool little reactor, but of course, we're a little partial to the idea of using it as a "tint delivery vehicle" for aquatic botanicals!

Check it out today!

Stay creative...

And stay wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The art of stocking an aquarium revisited...again.

Man, I hope I'm not insulting your intelligence with this post about a so-called "beginner's topic."

I am writing today about what seems to be a pretty obvious concept- stocking you aquarium. I'm looking at this seemingly worn-out topic yet again simply because in the past week, I've dealt with two different customers who had major issues with their aquariums because of what were really "basic" stocking mistakes- which could have been easily avoided. Both were what I'd consider pretty advanced hobbyists, too!

I've screwed up enough times to recognize the signs that the "bridge ahead is washed out" and I need to apply the brakes.

Of course, I've went full speed ahead into that washed out bridge before, with predictable results... Perhaps we can all use another "refresher "here! I'll throw in my two cents worth.

You ever hear that expression about "stocking an aquarium requires compromise?"

Yeah, it goes something like that. I mean, the main idea is that you can't have everything that you want in one tank. Well, duh...we get that.

You need to stock your aquarium based on the needs of the animals, the ability of you and your system to handle them, and the physical size of the system, the types of fishes, etc. We all know that if your intent is to keep big, predatory cichlids, you're unlikely to be keeping small Hyphessobrycon species characins in the same tank.

You can't keep predator and prey together without the excpected unfortunate results. Again, we get that.

However, when "the rubber hits the road", and it's time to actually put this theory into practice, it's not always quite so simple. Consider this:

I'm doing a 50 gallon Amazonian-themed blackwater tank in my home office.

Right off the bat, the loose commitment to an "Amazonian theme", regardless of how "authentically biopic" I want to make it, whittles down my choices of fish significantly. No Gouramis, Platys, Pelvicachromis, Botia, or Danios in there! Nope. But that's pretty obvious, right?

I like characins. Specifically, the ones we collectively refer to as "Tetras" and "Pencilfishes", which, although is roughly a few hundred species as far as the scientific world is concerned, really boils down to several dozen commercially available species at any given time. 

Now, most of us regard Tetras as small, peaceful little fish- which by and large, they are. However, they still have some habits which can make choosing the right combination a make or break event for a new tank. 

For example, I love Pencilfishes. Most are pretty darned peaceful, keeping their squabbles to themselves. If you keep them in a group of the same species, as I have, you have little issues with them. However, when you combine them with some of the more active little guys, like Cardinal Tetras, Neon Tetras, Rummy Noses, and the like, you can have some difficulty getting your Pencils to settle in and feel comfortable enough eating.

Yeah, right? Have you ever really observed a group of "peaceful" Neons, Pristella, or the like feeding? They "spas out", and go into a frenzy. Yeah, these little "Piranha Precursors" are pretty darned aggressive feeders, meaning that "chill" fishes like Pencilfishes will have to up their game a bit if they want to get their fare share at feeding time. Some of the more docile species might simply not adjust to the "pace" that the Tetras lay down.

I always laugh when I hear some of the smaller Tetras recommended as "dither" fishes, to bring out allegedly shy Apistos and such into feeding and socializing. Really? Would YOU jump into the middle of a frenzy at feeding time in a tank with etras? I mean, it's like those videos you see of discount stores having $50 plasma TV's on "Black Friday"- you've seen the videos- you know what happens when the doors open at midnight...

Yeah.

And of course, even within the Tetras, there are some that are not so nice. For example, the gorgeous Serpae Tetra is a little S.O.B. to other Tetras. They see little fishes, some with attractively-flowing fins- and can't wait to nip. Yup, they are not the nicest fishes around, despite their small size and relatively passive behavior as compared to say, a Pike Cichlid or something. 

I'm only using Tetras in these examples because they are the fishes I'm working with at the moment, but the same theories apply to virtually any community. As fans of African Rift Lake cichlids know all too well, stocking is a very important and critical part of the process, and involves taking into consideration multiple factors to assure success.

You need to take these "compromises" into consideration at almost every level of the stocking process, in my opinion. To overlook a fish's reputation for having not-so-nice manners in a"community tank" is putting everyone at risk. Not good.

So what is a hobbyist to do? Well, you need to really to consider a lot more factors in the stocking process than just "will this one fit into the other's mouth?"

You need to look at the behavior of fishes, regardless of size, right? It's pretty important to take into account the temperament of the fish on any given day. Just because a fish is "relatively peaceful doesn't necessarily mean it will work in your community tank, right? I mean, "peaceful" relative to what?

It is a seemingly simple, even obvious analysis, but I see many issues that aquarists have with their tanks- even very advanced hobbyists- which could have been avoided if only a bit more time were spent on the simple "multi-level suitability analysis" of each potential inhabitant. We often are involved in the other minutiae when setting up a new system, so that even the most seemingly "obvious" thing are occasionally overlooked!

In the end, the goal of virtually every level-headed aquarist is a harmonious tank full of beautiful fishes. The best way to achieve this is to just keep things as basic and simple as possible. Research the nuances of each fish from a variety of levels before making you stocking decisions.

I think you already know this...but I can't help but bring it up one more time!

Have fun. Be aware. Enjoy yourself.

And stay wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics