The Tint

Another "New Years Resolution"- Or Just an attitude change?

Another Holiday Season has come and is headed for the rear view mirror quickly.

As the new year breaks , I'm getting ready for that most exciting of times for a fish geek: A new tank build! And, with every build comes the usual considerations: theme, budget constraints, equipment choices, aesthetics, power consumption, etc., etc. And, with every build, us fish geeks tend to look at things as if this is our new chance to "get it right", as if all of the previous tanks we've built were part of a buildup to this ultimate achievement. A lot of pressure, huh?  Now, that's not an entirely unhealthy thing; I mean, we always strive to improve, to learn from past mistakes, and to constantly work at perfecting our craft. There is nothing wrong with self improvement.

The problem, as I see it, is that we tend to overreach at times in our attempts to create perfection. We sometimes tend to push too hard in terms of how we do things, the equipment we select, and the methods we choose. We put too much pressure on achieving some prescribed result, and overlook the fun of this whole thing. I know that I have done this over the years- sometimes with good results, but also with unintended, less-than-favorable effects. 

This time, rather than pushing myself to the limits of capability, technology, and budget just because it's what's "expected by "everyone" , I'm spending more time enjoying the process; thinking about what gives me the most pleasure in aquarium keeping, and how I can design my system to provide that experience for me-and health for my animals. I mean, it's a hobby, right? It's supposed to be fun. Aquarium keeping is not like any other hobby- it's an obsession for many, an expression of ourselves, and often a lifestyle as well. 

That's all well and good, but, after 40 plus years in the game, I'm finally able to reflect back on my experiences in the hobby and truly put my mind into a mode of "I can really enjoy this for the right reasons." A personal breakthrough, if nothing else. I figured I'd share my little epiphany with you, as I actually concluded some things during my planning phases that have helped me enjoy the hobby more than ever; perhaps they will benefit you. Or, perhaps they'l demonstrate just how far off the deep end this particular fish geek has went! 

Either way, as always, I'll share my experiences/thoughts/ideas with you in the hope that it might just touch a few of you who occasionally (like me) tend to take this stuff a bit too seriously, and risk losing the enjoyment that we're supposed to have from the fish keeping hobby. I've broken this little personal discovery down into a few points about things I know I have to to differently to have a successful, enjoyable tank. These are written to myself, from a third person point of view, so if it comes across a bit preachy, that was unintended...



Of course, we might need to think about what "successful" actually means in this context. to some of us, just having a tank that holds water in our home without leaking is a "plus one!" For others, it needs to hit on a whole litany of points. For still others, a "successful" aquarium experience means to win accolades and peer approval- you know, the whole "Tank of The Millennium  prize that more than one hobbyist I know has coveted. The term "successful" is really a personal context, I suppose.

So, without further pomp and circumstance, here are my conclusions about things I've found that I need to do differently this time in order to achieve the results I want with my tank:

Stop trying to create the perfect tank from the start. It will evolve- Yeah, it does happen. You don't need a "finished product" worthy of peer accolades and compliments right from the start (or ever, but that's a different point). Great tanks evolve over time. Wood doesn't even get a little "patina" for months, plans take a long time to settle in, and water chemistry parameters take some time to get dialed in. In short, you can't rush nature- nor would you want to. Part of the fun is watching things evolve over time. 

Yet, we often like to accelerate this pace, for reasons not easily defined.

For many aquarists, we get into this "collector's mode", obsessively acquiring as many different fishes (or corals, if you're a reefer) as we can find- sometimes because we love them, and other times, because they are the "hot thing" at the time. For many, if you honestly assess your motives, you may find that you're source of enjoyment in the hobby is simply the process of acquiring stuff- the "thrill of the hunt." Nothing wrong with that, but something worth noting. For others, it's a about growing the fishes, plants, or corals; evolving the system. 

For all of us, it should be about letting nature run its course, as it has for eons, and helping it along a bit in our closed systems. 

See challenges like algae issues, parameter control, etc as opportunities to improve your skills- It may seem utterly ridiculous when there is green slime on your sand, green filamentous algae clogging your overflow, and diatoms all over the aquarium walls, but if you actually take the mindset of "Here is a chance to figure out what I'm doing wrong and how to keep it from happening again," you may just come out of challenges with a better attitude and greater skill.

Yeah, really, the old "when life gives you lemons" mindset works well in aquarium keeping. Because it's not a matter of IF you'll have some challenges- it's a matter of WHEN. They come with the territory; living creatures in closed systems and such always throw us the proverbial curveballs. Everyone freaks out- it's human nature. However, the TRULY successful hobbyists is the one who gathers his/her wits, observes what's going on and how it occurred, and tries to figure out what to do about it so that it doesn't happen again. Don't just go "through the experience" with a problem- LEARN from it and use it as a skill enhancer. And share it with others for the big win!

 Don't over analyze everything- That's almost laughable, coming from a guy who has become an 'evangelist" for the replicating natural water conditions in the aquarium.  Well, yes, I can see how one can easily be caught up in "analysis paralysis", spending tons of time chasing every parameter and freaking out over the slightest deviation. That's not a good attitude. In fact, it's nuts. Let's be honest- I think information about our water parameters is important- even vital. However, it's what you DO with the information that has the most impact. 

Chasing numbers is a maddening obsession, and not the key to success. Fanatically keeping your aquarium's environment within your chosen parameters is not. Creating a beautiful, healthy aquarium is an amalgamation of many skills and factors. Obsessing over every single aspect of your tank is going to drive you nuts- if not out of the hobby- in record time. It's far better to set target ranges for aspects of your system's function, appearance, and environment, than it is to force yourself into rigid parameters.

And, for goodness sake, don't freak out over every weird noise, white spot on your Gourami, and bit of brownon your Amazon Sword. Sure, there are reasons for almost everything that happens in an aquarium, but you don't need to worry about every single one. I know aquarists that think the world is coming to an end every time their filter flow goes out of whack- convinced that this is a sign of the "great tank apocalypse." Typically, it's just a sign that they just fed some extra food or got to excited with an additive. Not worth worrying about, unless you see signs of overt distress.

We try to relax- yet we watch, and we worry, and we ponder. Pondering is fine. Worrying is not good for your hobby experience-or your health. Don't worry so much! Enjoy.

Stop worrying about what everyone else thinks- This is a tough one for many hobbyists, in this internet-enabled, Instagram-fueled, Twitterized, forum-driven "postmodern era" of aquarium keeping, we're literally besieged hourly by dozens of examples of "amazing" tank build threads, DIY projects, animal acquisition success stories, and assertions that "THIS" is the way to succeed at keeping a successful aquarium. And, with the aquarium forum "community" elevating various actively-posting hobbyist to near divine status daily, we can easily feel not only humbled, but downright insignificant or irrelevant as aquarists. This is a really bad thing to get sucked into. 

I can't stress it enough: If you have a vision, and idea- a theory- and the ability to act upon it- do it! Don't listen to the naysayers, the followers, the sheep. There are always plenty of self-appointed critics hiding behind the security of their keyboards and a window with Google open- ready to show you a dozen reasons why what you're proposing is not going to work. I see this daily. It's nuts.

Yeah, there are always plenty of people heaping adoration on the hobbyists that seem to be doing "cool" stuff, tried and true, but maybe not the direction that your heart tells you to go. You're not in the aquarium keeping hobby to impress anyone- let alone, the masses. You're probably in this hobby simply because you love keeping fishes, plants, corals, and aquariums. These are the right reasons. Just because you may have a contrarian bent- an idea that seems to go against "conventional aquarium-thinking" (whatever that may be), doesn't mean that it's wrong, or no good, or not worth pursuing. In fact, that's all the more reason to go with your gut! So what if you may not be "popular..." so what if you take a few hits from naysayers. You're following your own road. The irony is, that by being successful at something radically different or previously out of fashion- you might just end up with the adoration that you previously scorned. Weird, huh?

 Grit, passion, and determination can take you farther than style, money, and gadgets- Anyone can throw together an uber-pricy tank with all the latest gadgets, name-drop-able fishes, plants, or corals, and crazy "collector's" fishes. Anyone can hire "experts" to make it for them. Anyone can talk a good game, get "likes" on social media, and play the hype game. Not everyone can create a great aquarium; one that takes time, patience, and the occasional dose of failure. Not everyone can rise from setbacks, mistakes, and outright catastrophes- and create an amazing reef tank, propagate that awesome coral, or breed that fish once though impossible. Only those who have the conviction, perseverance, and determination to follow through can do these things.

Don't for one minute think that your little tank with a pair of Apistos and a well-tended Anubias is any less amazing or interesting than the 2,500 gallon reef tank that some well-heeled hobbyist somewhere is building and splashing all over the forums. Your effort, your drive- your love for the animals under your care is every bit as impressive- if not more so- than anything that all of the cash and flash can achieve. 

As we start a new year, pause for just a moment to reflect how awesome this hobby really is, and how fortunate that we are to enjoy the gorgeous animals that we love so much. Always remember the amazing responsibility we shoulder as aquarists to provide the best possible life for the animals under our care, and for their well-being.

And then, remember how fun this whole game really is- when you let your self enjoy it!

Have fun. Don't take the hobby too seriously.

And most important of all...


Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Leave no stone unturned...

What is it about this hobby that inspires us to go to incredible lengths to get that "one" fish for our collection? You know, the one that really gets your heart pumping. THAT fish- the one from the magazine articles and blogs?

Some of those fishes just excite us in ways that we cannot even explain to others...Like, there are fishes that- let's be honest- are basically grey/brown...but incredibly cool to us fish geeks for  so many reasons. Perhaps it's a behavior that they engage in..maybe it's an unusual spawning activity. Quite possibly, it's a combination of factors. 

As dedicated fish geeks, we'll go to great lengths to secure that fish, won't we?

I love that about us.

Stay geeky.

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Now you see it...Now you don't! (Hiding the EcoTech Marine VorTech Pump)

If you haven't noticed, I really hate seeing technical "props" (filter intakes, returns, pumps, heaters, etc.) in my tanks. I mean, sometimes it's just unavoidable- you can't disguise or hide them easily.

One of my real favorite pieces of equipment is the VorTech pump from EcoTech Marine. It's a great water movement "weapon"-IMHO possibly the best internal pump available. Coming from the reef side of the fence, getting great water flow with minimal hassle and aesthetic disruption goes with the territory! This pump is perfect for the job. However, like many internal pumps, it suffers from one drawback: Part of it has to be in the tank...which means you can typically see it..

Well, you don't HAVE to see it. It consists of a "wet" side, which is essentially the propeller assembly, and a "dry" side, which is the motor. The "dry" side is placed outside the aquarium, with the propeller side inside the tank (duh). The two are coupled via strong magnets that hold them in place through the glass or acrylic. This arrangement effectively keeps the heat-transferring motor out of the tank entirely, which is not only efficient, but it makes accessing the pump a snap! This is a super efficient way to go, but you're still sort of limited in terms of mounting options. You'll typically see part of it on one side of your tank:

My fave trick for hiding this pump? Go through the bottom of your tank! 

Yup- you heard me. Because when you go from the bottom, you can easily hide the wet side in rock work, wood work, or, I suppose, a dense thicket of plants. And, you can create all-over water movement in a vertical "gyre"-type flow arrangement, ranging from gentle to rip-roaring!

Of course, it requires a little elbow grease and preplanning.

You have to use a hole saw to drill a hole in the bottom of your aquarium stand (around 3-4 inches in diameter, depending upon which pump you're using) in order to accommodate the "dry" side and its need to couple magnetically through the glass to the "wet" side.. The obvious caveats here are that you can't compromise the structural integrity of your stand, so you can only do this if there is obvious support provided by your stand! And, if you're adverse to drilling the hole in your stand, it's not for you!

The above pic is a shot of the "dry side", shot from underneath the aquarium stand. You also need to notch out about 1.25" long by about 1/2" wide or so with a jigsaw to accommodate the power cable that comes from the dry side, so that it seats cleanly in the hole you drilled. It goes without saying that you need to determine exactly where on the bottom of the tank you want to position the pump before you drill the hole!

On the bottom of the tank, you mount the "wet" side over the dry side. Since the pump, even at low settings (and it has amazingly precise flow settings and programs, BTW) can pull in sand, debris- even unsuspecting fishes and snails- you need to create a sort of protective "shell" around it. This is easily accomplished by using a section of large diameter ABS or PVC drain coupling, with a slightly larger diameter than the pump. Use a bead of aquarium sealer to secure the pipe section to the bottom glass of the aquarium.

The end result is a perfectly positioned, well protected pump, ready to rock in your tank. Now, you will have to carefully hide the pipe section with some well-placed rock work, which is not at all difficult for the typical aquarist.

Leave a section of the rock work open at the top, in order to allow the water to flow upwards and allow easy access to the "wet" section for cleaning. Obviously, you'll have to adjust the settings on the flow, because this pump can easily blow water right out of your tank at high flow rates!

The end result of this little process is the creation of a strong vertical gyre that can (invisibly!) add incredibly efficient, precisely controllable "intelligent" water movement to your tank!

Have fun with this idea..

And stay wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The joy of plastic containers and such...

Ok, maybe it's me.

Having been a lifelong aquarium geek, it seems that, no matter where I am- if I see some sort of plastic (or glass) container that looks like it could hold water...well, you know what I'm thinking!

"Couldn't that make an insane little killifish tank?" Or, when pondering the wide assortment of refrigerator storage containers at Bed, Bath and Beyond- "OMG- that would be the coolest microhabitat for Sparkling Gouramis!"

You know what I mean, right?

I mean, no container is off limits. Vases, flower bowls, plastic shoe boxes, sweater storage units...you name it- if it can hold water-literally- it has some potential for aquatic hobby use!

When I was a kid, I remember having to be resourceful to get a lot of "tanks" into my bedroom shelves to keep up with my ever-growing collection of killies, betas, tetras, etc., and a quick trip to the local Target or discount type store almost always yielded some cool container that would make a great aquarium! Especially important when your income is essentially zilch.

To this day, when I wander about the local hardware stores, variety stores, supermarkets even thrift shops (a great source for vases that can be repurposed for aquarium stuff!), I can't help but notice suitable stuff..and of course, I get excited and my mind wanders a bit:

"What if I just drilled the bottom of that vase...it's perfect for a________."

I am glad I've never lost that geeky fish thrill.

Do you ever do that?

Stay geeky. Stay connected to the endless possibilities for fun that this hobby offers at every turn...

And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The spark.

I had the occasion to wander into a "big box" pet store the other day, and was of course, drawn quickly to the fish section. And I left my "greater than thou" hobbyist attitude at the door...And saw a lot of kids and adults starting at the aquariums, with the typical "Mom, I want this!" pleas...

It's was cool...It reminded me of the power of an aquarium to ignite wonder, awe, imagination- learning. How many journeys of a lifetime start with a "Wow- check this out!" from a kid in a pet shop.

I found it fascinating as a social study.

And you know what?

I was actually pretty encouraged. Aquariums still have a sort of magic power to draw us in. Sure, good advice, clean tanks and such not withstanding, I suppose it is not as important WHERE the initial spark to get into the hobby comes from, as opposed to what the child or adult DOES with the spark.

Agree or disagree? I'm curious!

Remember to excite a kid- or an adult- about our wonderful hobby.

And stay wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Minding the store: The art and science of great customer service...our thoughts on the matter...

Periodically, I'll take a break from writing about stuff like leaves, wood, and read pods to touch on matters related to Tannin, the hobby, or the industry in general. Occasionally, I'll give you a sort of "inside view" of how we think in our operational philosophy. Today is one of those days!

I read an article the other day that cable TV companies are among the most hated businesses in the U.S. 

Consumer confidence, satisfaction, and loyalty have plummeted, citing poor service, inflexibility, arrogance, mediocre quality, and high prices. Did I forget to mention, poor service? The article that I read suggested that cable companies advise that one of the best ways to get customer support from your cable company was to engage in “self service†by going on websites and consumer forums to get help and advice from fellow subscribers, etc.

Really? When you have a problem, the best way is to contact fellow subscribers? Talk about "out sourcing"- that's insane! I couldn't imagine telling a customer who is having trouble with a product I sent him to go out on the forums to get help, making the shirking of my responsibility to help paying customers a "practice."

Wow.

It made me reflect on the way our industry works in general, and more specifically, about the efforts that we have made at Tannin Aquatics to providing an excellent customer experience. Based on your feedback, and the exponential growth that we've experienced. I'd say that we're on the right track. However, I think there is a LOT of room for improvement. As we've grown, we've tried to keep the customer at the forefront of everything. And for the most part, we've gotten it right.  I can't recall any spectacular fails on our part during the first several months that we've been in operation.

As a business owner, I'm constantly reviewing our practices and procedures, and trying to tweak things whenever possible to create a better consumer experience. When you deal with many customers, there are bound to be good, bad, and awesome experiences. Obviously, the goal is to create a perfect customer experience, without exception. We're obviously not there yet, but it's nice to have a goal!

 Managing consumer expectation is a two-edged sword: On one hand, a paying customer should receive stellar service every time, with great communication and perfect products. That's our goal. However, the other side of the coin is that consumers (rightfully) come to expect such service each and every time, and sometimes, variables beyond anyone's control affect the experience. Our job as online vendors is to take control of some of the variables, removing some of the concerns and risks from ordering stuff online. Sure, once the order leaves us en route to you, we're kind of at the mercy of the shipper to get it to you...which, 99.999% of the time works fine...but there's always that one time when stuff goes wrong. 

A vendor really has a chance to shine when something goes wrong, regardless of what happened. I cringe when I see or hear of nasty vendor-customer exchanges on forums about stuff that went wrong. In the beginning, it was kind of funny to see some vendors implode when confronted publicly with an irate customer. Now, it just makes me cringe. It hurts everyone when things aren't handled well. That's why I dedicate this next part to all of my fellow vendors, who are working as hard as we are to do a great job for you. 

And yes, inevitably, I'll get a PM from someone- customer, vendor, interested bystander, telling me to "get off of my high horse" and stop flattering myself and fancying my company as the saviors of the industry or me as some pillar of fish world philosophy. To those people I'll say right now that I'm merely communicating my philosophies about how the consumer experience should be managed. Not the only way. And, yeah, I've screwed it up plenty of times, just like anyone who is in this sector has. I/we have made mistakes that ticked off customers, damaged product, and wasted money. We're not proud of it. But we own it. We're human. We work on things. That's how we improve. 

With that out of the way, let's talk a bit about what our responsibility is to you as our customers.

Look, there will be times when we will disagree on something. As a vendor, I might be right, or totally wrong. Regardless, it's my responsibility to make sure that you're happy. Part of being in biz. Sometimes there is a compromise required on both sides; sometimes, just on our side to make things right. And that's ok. I mean, if you're not prepared to lose a few short-term dollars to keep a customer for the long term, play in a different sandbox. 

Oh, I've made some wrong calls before; occasionally, I let a customer take advantage of my "customer first" philosophy. My thought has always been that it's better to make things right for the customer regardless. I've had just a very, very few people repeatedly take questionable advantage of this policy. Once I figured out their M.O., they didn't get the benefit of the doubt any more, and mysteriously stopped doing business with us.

Why am I telling you this stuff? Why am I sharing some "dirty laundry" with you? 

Because when you know how the guys on the other side of the keyboard approach things, you'll have a much higher level of comfort in dealing with our company. Communication is super important. It helps everyone. It helps the industry as a whole. We all benefit. There is nothing super proprietary being discussed here. Most vendors get this-or should.



In the end, it's as much about people as it is about products...I firmly believe that- and "personal service" is not just an expression. It's how we do business.

So, when something goes wrong-and it will- 'cause that's the nature of the aquarium  trade- just contact us. We'll work it out. 

In fact, when something goes wrong with ANY vendor, call them first. Talk to them. Give feedback. Let us know what we can do better, and why. 

So, I'm rambling now.

The point of this whole thing is to let you know that we have no intention of "going cable" on you! I don't think that any legit vendor does. The customer experience is flat-out, the most important thing we do -and I think everyone in this crazy industry can agree on that.

How can we do better? What do we as an industry, and/or Tannin as a company need to do better to kick things up a notch? Since it's been pointed out to me that this blog is read by a lot of vendors as well as hobbyists, you can reach a lot of industry people. Here is your chance to give wide feedback to multiple vendors. I think everyone could pick up something from your feedback here!

Have a great day, a great week, and most of all...

Stay Wet

Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics

A (wet) holiday wish...

As the Holiday season zips up on us and roars away rapidly, it's interesting for me to pause and reflect a bit on how the tropical fish hobby seems somehow tied to Holidays.

Like many fish people, I received my first aquarium as a gift. I associate the aquarium hobby with that wonderful excitement that comes with the Season! Many kids get their start in this way, and the gift of an aquarium forever influences their sentiment towards the hobby.

What a gift an aquarium is!

But unlike many gifts, like the game console, new bike, and hover boards, an aquarium opens doors...opens possibilities, challenges, and pathways to the future. 

How many careers in sciences were started because a kid embraced the challenges and wonders of being a steward of living creatures in an aquarium? How many kids passed this love of aquatic life on to their kids over the years?

I'm willing to wager- quite a few.

There is much wonder, challenge, much enjoyment, and much learning that an aquarium brings...If only those who have never experienced the excitement and pleasure of owning an aquarium could get that feeling, I could imagine how enriched their lives could be.

An aquarium- this hobby- are truly gifts which keep on giving, enriching our lives, and adding to the joys of living. We know that. Our kids probably know that. 

My wish to all of you this Holiday season is that you continue to enjoy the hobby, and, when feasible, share your love of all things aquatic with all those who will listen, so that they might get the same feeling.

Thank you for supporting Tannin during our first months of existence. We look forward to growing, evolving, and supporting our fellow hobbyists during 2016 and beyond.

Happy Holidays, and may the blessings that this season brings stay with you throughout the year!

Stay in touch. Stay focused on your family, and what's really important in life. And of course...

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

First look at "Rio Fruta", our newest aquatic botanical.

It's always exciting when we get ready to release some new botanicals!

For us, it's not just a launch of something new- it's the culmination of months of experimenting, seeing how the botanicals in question will work in a variety of aquatic situations. Studying and observing their "handling" characteristics- how they respond to boiling, soaking, and long-term submergence.

Sometimes, we work with seemingly promising botanicals that end up not useable for our purposes. Maybe they don't sink at all. Or Perhaps they simply rot away or disintegrate super quickly, rendering them unsuitable for aquatic use. Maybe they just don't "work" for some other reason.

It doesn't matter. What does matter to us is to bring you botanicals that work under a wide variety of aquatic situations. Not just any leaf, head pod, or branch will do. That's why we consider a lot of factors when we release a new botanical for sale on our site.

Our newest botanical, coming next week, is "Rio Fruta", a beautiful Nypa palm-derived botanical that has some cool characteristics, rendering it useful and attractive for our purposes. First off, it's got a really great "tropical river" look that will definitely enhance any biotope aquarium it's added to. In addition, it has a size and shape that make it really good for fishes, ornamental shrimp, and even frogs to hide around. 

"Rio Fruta" has the benefit of being fairly long-lasting, and will give off some tint to you water over time. It's relatively easy to prepare, with a longer boil and a few days of soaking in fresh water, which will ensure easier sinking and get out some of the initial tannins. All in all, you've got a cool botanical with a beautiful marriage of aesthetic and utility, with a wide variety of applications for aquatic use.

We think you'll like this one, as it brings a certain look and feel to a variety of setups. In the vivarium, it creates a very nice "boundary" for plants and other 'scaping materials, and provides areas of interest. In the aquarium, it will serve as a more permanent component of a stream-bottom biotope, where it provides shelter, foraging areas, and territory for a variety of fishes.

All in all, we're pretty excited to bring you "Rio Fruta", as it will definitely become a favorite  "prop" for biotope enthusiasts and lovers of cool natural aquascaping!

What do you do when stuff goes south?

Okay, you're an experienced hobbyist...you've been around the block, experienced  algae problems, ich outbreaks, cloudy water- everything...You've been on a sort of "cruise control" in recent years, right? I mean, you're learning new stuff, pushing yourself...You don't make many mistakes these days, or so it seems.

Then one day, something goes wrong. Like, you can't figure out what happened... and your ego might be a little bruised.

You get totally frustrated, because this kind of stuff shouldn't be happening to YOU, right?

I've been there before, and you know what? The "anomalous problem" is almost always traceable to some lapse in my judgement- or a decision I made based on thinking "I've got this covered..."

In other words, when i get complacent, I screw stuff up. Or, when I let foolish pride get in the way of my better judgement. I mean, there is a REASON why things were going so well up to that point...It's because what I was doing really worked.

And once you start tempting fate- thinking you have the upper hand- or you can "squeak by this one time..."- that's when stuff goes South.

S0, my quick and dirty advise to you- If it's working- keep doing what you're doing. Period.

Easiest advice I've ever given- and the most certain rule for success I've ever followed. 

So, when stuff goes wrong out of the blue, trace the problem out, and correct it by doing what you were doing before!

Sure, this isn't ALWAYS the only reason or solution, for example, if a heater sticks in the "on" position, your water company starts tripling the dose of chloramines in the water, or you get a batch of contaminated food- stuff like that. But many times, sudden problems in an otherwise perfect fish keeping experience almost always seem to have a "human" origin...

Never get too complacent in fish-keeping. 

You've got this.

Just something to think about, right?

Have a good day..Stay the course...

And Stay Wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

On finding that perfect___________.

I'm not sure what it is, but it seems like every time I find that perfect fish, rock, piece of wood- whatever it is, aquarium related- I seem to blow it somehow.

Yeah, like I can never get that perfect piece of driftwood positioned just right, or that perfect fish to not chase all of the other fishes around the tank...

I guess the bottom line is that the concept of "perfect" is just that- perfect...Perhaps, it's not even attainable. Maybe it's just expectations, fantasies, etc.

Perhaps what we have already is "perfect."

Not sure, but that search for perfection keeps a lot of hobbyists moving forward, so why fight it?

Weird thoughts on a flu-tarnished  Saturday morning.

Stay healthy. Keep seeking "perfection", whatever that is.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics