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Replicate, or represent? And does it matter which?
The other day, I had an interesting discussion with a hobbyist, who enters some of those online aquscaping competitions, and is really into the whole scene. He was a bit bent because some of the authorities in that world were telling him and other entrants in no uncertain terms that their entries were not true “biotope” aquariums, because they did not use the exact plants, fish combinations, or other aquscaping components that were exact and specific to the location being represented.
It made me think about this..I mean, to a certain extent, the judges were spot-on, but the argument could also be made that they need to “lighten up” a bit, I think. We're a bit too serious, IMHO. It's about fun, remember?
Here I go, playing with semantics again...and to what avail, I'm not certain, lol.
From everything I’ve read, when we create a “biotope aquarium”, it’s supposed to be a representation of a specific locale or environmental niche…that’s generally agreed with little debate. Notice the key word here- “representation”- which seems to give some uber-orthodox purists a headache. By definition, a representation is “..the description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way or as being of a certain nature.” Nowhere in that definition do you see the word “replication,” which is defined as “…the action of copying or reproducing something.”- a far more rigid definition, wouldn’t you agree?
And I think both sides in this debate have valid points. I mean, if you’re in a competition to see who can most closely replicate the Rio Negro Biotope, it goes without saying that you should utilize only plants, animals, and materials native to that specific locale. On the other hand, if you’re trying to see who can create the nicest representation of the Rio Negro, that leaves the door open for certain “artistic liberties” on behalf of the aquarist. He or she could use materials that evoke the biotope in question, and suggest a specific environment.
So, I think that it boils down to this: If you’re going to hold a contest and critique entrants based on their authenticity, you need to be rather specific in your entry requirements, and explain if you’re looking for a representation or a replication- because, as we’ve seen- there is a significant difference. And of course, if you’re going to enter such a competition, make sure that you know what’s expected of you!
As a company, we love to offer stuff for hobbyists to use to create beautiful representations of natural locales. Since we can’t know the exact locale in which every single aquatic botanical, wood piece, or rock was collected, it would be easy for us to say that our botanicals and such are great for creating representations- not “replications!”
Does it really matter? And haven’t I used the terms almost interchangeably in my ramblings and website copy?
No and Yes, respectively..LOL
So as a closing argument, I submit to you a little though on the Rio Negro, one of my favorite biotopes to replicate- er, represent, er…Well…
The Rio Negro’s water is extremely poor in mineral content, with conductivity as low as 8 µS, and is extremely acidic, with pH’s ranging from 2.9 to 4.5. The largest blackwater river in the world, the Rio Negro basin is home to over 685 described species Characiformes and Siluriformes represent nearly 74% of the species in the region. More than 90 species are considered endemic to the Rio Negro basin. Cool stuff.
In other words, if you love Tetras, this is the biotope to replicate. But guess what? “Replicating” would be kind of impractical, right? We’re pretty certain that no one out there is looking to create a 2.9pH biotope aquarium, but you might want to get “in the ballpark”, so to speak, by creating a system with say, a 5.8-6.8 pH that’s pretty damn good, and far more manageable from a hobby standpoint.
So in the end, does it matter to you as a hobbyist wether or not you’re creating the EXACT conditions, down to the last detail, of a specific biotope- or simply creating a really cool representation of said biotope?
Your call.
Until next time...Relax, and enjoy the hobby...in a way that makes you happy!
And Stay wet.
Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics
For the love of the game...
Returning from yet another weekend of fish-geek speaking gig not too long ago, I was reminded of that one truism in aquarium circles: We simply love what it is we do. Not only love it…we’re nuts about it. We live, eat, breath, and sleep “aquariums”, and it’s simply evident to anyone who talks to us.
I realized a bunch of things- about the hobby, the animals, the industry that we’ve created. I learned a lot about the people who work in this amazing hobby sector.
Yeah, I know, I spend a lot of time criticizing various practices and (indirectly) the people who engage in unethical, misleading, and downright criminal behaviors, particularly in the "reef" sector of the hobby, where my other company, Unique Corals, operates. And there are a few, let me tell ya'.
Fortunately, they represent the tiniest smattering- a pitiful few- of the worst of what goes on in this hobby. The problem for me has been that these characters have always gotten the lion's share of the spotlight, especially form external observers not connected to the hobby/business, which draws the wrong kind of scrutiny from ill-informed masses.
Yeah, after spending another weekend with some honest, hard-working, “blue collar” aquatics vendors, I was actually going to take a little shot at the very few people in the coral-selling game that operate in that most ridiculous sector of selling over-hyped, photo-enhanced,“named”, and “designer” stuff at breathtaking prices to people who simply don’t grasp that the same stuff is typically available elsewhere, from down-to-earth vendors at realistic prices. Yeah, it happens a lot in the reef aquarium world, and I see it in some sectors of the FW world, too.
I was going to go off…but I realized that a)these people will ultimately extinct themselves, and b)there are a certain number of hobbyists who simply get joy out of the pursuit of these “high-end” coral microchips from auctions, strange sources, and what I call “high market” vendors. In the freshwater world, you have vendors that come up with absurdly high prices for the same damn fish you can get from another source for half the price...
And that’s okay. It’s not for me to judge. I can criticize if I want, but it serves little purpose, other than reinforcing the awareness to those of you who “get it” already, and maybe to catch a few newbies who have jumped into our little hobby world. (I guess it’s like those billboards that you see for airlines as you arrive at the airport. What service do they perform? I mean, you already bought your ticket and are heading to your flight..Oh, maybe next time, right? I’m digressing here…)
Being an unabashed capitalist, I actually think it’s good that there are people who serve this market space. I mean, someone has to do it. It’s a strange space, where the definitions of “loyalty” and “customer service” are slightly different than the interpretation the majority of us in the industry understand these terms to be. There will always be these kinds of people, and for most of us, they are simply mild entertainment (okay, for SOME of us, they’re mildly irritating..LOL), but they are as entitled to run their businesses as anyone else. I just choose to be amused by them and their followers, but that’s MY personal issue, I suppose. Trying to pass generic, over-priced stuff off as "premium" is laughable in any industry, IMHO.
The majority of the aquarium hobbyists who read my stuff already “get it”, and those that don’t are probably the very people that need the “- - - - - slap” anyways. So I’ll just let it go this time.
Instead, I’d like to focus on something super encouraging: The many, many vendors in the aquarium world who are working every day to acquire, propagate, breed and grow great fishes and corals. Yeah, they're doing it for a living. And yeah, they charge what they feel are appropriate prices for what they sell. And guess what? Each and every one of these guys and gals gives you one additional thing at no extra cost: love.
Love of the fish. Love of the process. Love of the hobby. A certain, indefinable characteristic that the hype-mongering, photoshop-abusing, self-aggrandizing crowd and their misinformed followers don’t get.
In sports, they call it “love of the game.”
This is what compels many of these small, passionate, garage-based vendors to lovingly pack up their fishes, plants, and corals, and drive them off to parts unknown, spending the weekend trying to sell the fruits of their labor to other crazy hobbyists. It’s what compels them to attempt to make a small supplemental living doing something that they love. It’s why these vendors only offer you their best- all the time. They get it. It’s for the good of the fish and corals; the industry, their business and families- and their fellow hobbyists.
For the love of the game.
I’ve been fortunate to speak at shows and club events all over the world for the last decade, and I can tell you that the hobby is filled with these amazing people. Some of them scale up, forming amazing organizations that become "household names" in hobby circles. Some are names only locals in your area will ever know. Others are slowly scaling up their once part-time, garage-based operations as they aspire for something greater. All are amazing people with a love for this hobby that goes beyond anything the E-Bay hyping, auction-mongering crowd and their shilling “fanboys” could ever hope to comprehend.
These people are an active part of the hobby community, and they don’t just see you- the hobbyist- as a wallet to be opened. They see fellow hobbyists who are as in love with this crazy aquarium world as they are. People they want to share their ideas and love with. They’re people who derive enormous enjoyment and satisfaction from the art and science of aquarium keeping. They’ve taken the bold steps to try to make a go of this as a business; to channel their passion into a life’s work. People who’s deep understanding of the rich culture of our hobby transcends all socio-economic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. People who see us all as one thing:
Aquarists.
So I suppose the point of this whole piece is that you should share your love of the hobby with others, and choose to spend your hard-earned money with vendors- people- who share similar values about the animals, art, and science of aquarium keeping. People who see fish, plants and corals not as just a commodity- but as a little extension of themselves- of their passion, effort, blood, sweat, and tears.
Their love of the game.
Until next time, support those who support the hobby, stoke a kid with some free fish, plants, eggs, or coral frags, share your knowledge, and grow your passion.
And Stay Wet
Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics
What IS it about this hobby..?
How to hide a cannister filter...or- making an aesthetic statement...calmly.
Yeah, let's face it...I love what canister filters do...I just strongly dislike...I mean- I hate- looking at them...Unacceptable, in my aesthetic world! In my office at Unique Corals, I have a ridiculously simple 20 gallon blackwater aquarium.
And here is the typical IAPLC-type pic my friend Johnny Ciotti took of the tank, sans blackwater and filter components, so as not to offend the sensibilities of the competitive aquascaping world! (we'd call this a "sanitized" shot for the heathens who cannot handle looking at a blackwater-type display):
Of course, the aquarium is not just a "stand-alone" item in my world; it is part of an overall aesthetic. My office is an earthy, organic, and calming place, and everything that goes in it has to impart that sense of belonging to a larger whole.
And that includes...the filter.
I have seen hundreds and hundreds of aquarium in my travels around the world. Many are amazing. Some are downright spectacular. Yet very, very few are truly...memorable. I say this with the utmost respect, because it's hard achieve. And creating a memorable aquarium goes beyond what's inside the for walls. It's about how the aquarium interacts with its environment.
I love my aquarium for the simple reason that it says something about me and my aesthetic.It seems oddly in conflict with the high-octane, ultra-colored saltwater world we have at UC...yet it just...works. Brown fish! Crazy. And it seems to have an amazing calming effect on visitors, who will stop in and just...stare. Of course, a lot of my reef-keeping visitors will stop in and say, "Dude, your filter needs changing- the water is so brown!" Ugh. And then, there are those who just get it without the need for a lengthy discourse on blackwater...
I hate looking at plumbing. And the simple fact is, other than drilling through the bottom, the modern aquarist still has a limited number of ways to discreetly get water from the tank to the filter and back. All involve tubing and returns into the aquarium.
Fortunately, the good folks at ADA make those amazing glass return and intake components, with an aesthetic that is as pleasing as it is distinctive- so the part that's in the tank is as good as it can be. The Eheim surface skimmer is another story. It is a &*^% to hide in this tank...Since I don't run it 24/7/365, I have to "just deal with it' when it's in the tank. Sure, I could have built some sort of woodwork or rock around it to hide it, but that would change the character of the whole 'scape...I had to compromise...
The real adventure is hiding the filter itself in an open shelf like I use in my office. With a minimum of sleepless nights, this was rather easily solved by going to my local import store (Pier 1) and looking at wicker baskets large enough to hide my Eheim 2213. After a little searching, I found a beauty that fit perfectly into my color and texture palette, and, with a little careful maneuvering, I was able to plop that 'ol filter right in!
I drilled two discreet holes in the table for the tubing (assuring that the table will forever house an aquarium on its surface!), and ran the tubing from the canister straight up into the glassware. Quick disconnects very close to the filter assure easy maintenance- you just pull the whole basket out from under the table, remove the filter, and get your maintenance on!
To hide the quick disconnects at the top of the basket, I utilized some very cool recycled cardboard "mesh" from something I ordered online...It just had a certain "look" that worked! And I used this cool "Platypus" brand duck tape in a simulated leather texture to wrap around the filter tubing to evoke a feeling of jungle vines...or at least, to get rid of the awful green of the Eheim tubing and compliment the overall aesthetic a bit more.
The end result was an aquarium that not only fits my aesthetic, but compliments the space with a minimum of intrusion, while being completely functional and easy to access for maintenance.
In the end, an aquarium should be whatever you want it to be. To me, an aquarium is not just a hobby, or a piece of decor- it's a statement- part of my life- and I want it to provide visitors to my home or office not only an enjoyable experience, but just perhaps- a little piece of insight into my world.
Simple things can help accomplish just that.
Stay creative. Stay true to yourself.
And stay wet!
Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics
How long do aquatic botanicals "do their thing" in the aquarium?
I was having a discussion with a customer a few days back, and we were talking about how long some of these aquatic botanicals will last in the aquarium environment. It's a good question, and a great topic for discussion!
Almost the minute you submerge an aquatic botanical, it begins to break down. Like anything else in aqueous environment, seed pods, leaves, and even wood are affected by constant exposure- and the speed of the breakdown and the amount of materials released into the water is dependent upon a variety of factors, including temperature, pH, and water movement, among others.
This release of organic materials from aquatic botanicals is natural and normal, yet it's also why we constantly admonish you to properly prepare them before use, and to go slowly when adding botanicals to an established system for the first time, so as not to overwhelm your tank with a burst of organics and bacteria, which can compete for oxygen with your fishes. And of course, rapidly changing a stable environment through any means is not a good thing for your animals, so common sense should prevail when experimenting with aquatic botanicals. We always recommend that you keep a supply of activated carbon on hand to help remove some of these substances should you find your system being overwhelmed if you "push it" to far to quickly and put your animals into distress.
Tannins and humic acids are released into the water as the cell walls break down, along with other organics. Often times, a "biofilm" of bacteria will form on the surfaces of a botanical after it's submerged for some period of time. In the case of materials like seed pods, the thick outer layers last a pretty long time, while the softer, inner layers tend to decompose more quickly, fostering bacteria and other microfauna in their structure.
It's long been known that "blackwater" seem to have a lower count of dissolved heavy metals, and the humic and tannic acids released into the water column appear to have some anti parasitic/antibacterial properties, in terms of fish diseases. This is obviously a great advantage for fishes that hail from blackwater environments, such as The Amazon and Southeast Asia. For years, better and Discus breeders have exploited this by utilizing Catappa leaves in their systems. It's thought that fishes recover from fin damage, skin lesions, and other maladies more quickly in this environment with a lower parasite count. Studies of wild blackwater systems appear to corroborate this with lower protozoa, insect, and micro invertebrate counts per square meter than other aquatic systems.
Having a mix of materials in your system assures that you'll have a continuous presence of botanicals, releasing some tannins, as well as fostering the development of biofilms and bacteria, which are a food source for many other animals, including fishes and ornamental shrimp, which graze on both the biofilms and the other life forms which subsist on them.
A leaf litter layer in an aquarium performs a variety of functions, including aesthetic, biological, and chemical affects. A blackwater biotope aquarium with a diverse assemblage of botanical materials performs much in the same ways as a "refugium" does in a reef aquarium environment, providing a haven for many life forms and processes, which impacting the display aquarium by providing biological support/diversity, supplemental food production, and chemical enrichment. Blackwater is also known to reduce the amount of micro algae in an aquarium, as a result of the chemical properties imparted into the water, reduced nitrates and phosphates, as well as the brownish tint, which serves as a natural "light diffuser."
Getting back to the first question- just how long do these materials last in the aquarium?
Well, the short answer is "It depends."
It is a function of the aforementioned aquarium environment. In my experience, the materials will last slightly longer in aquariums with higher pH (7.4 and above) than they will in a more acidic environment (like 5.5-6.0). The "sweet spot", in my experience, is around 6.5-6.8, which seems to provide optimum benefits (cleaner environment, low nuisance algae growth, and healthier, more colorful fishes). In this type of environment, it's not uncommon for the more "durable" pods that we offer, such as "Jungle Pods", "Savu Pods", "Tapete Pods","Encontro Pods", etc. to last up to 6-9 months before they break down significantly, although they will begin to degrade substantially in most cases around 4 months.
The less "durable" botanicals, such as Catappa, Guava, and Oak, tend to break down more quickly, becoming essentially inert (from a tannin standpoint) after anywhere from 3 weeks to a month after being added to the aquarium. We've found that the more brittle, yet durable Guava leaves tend to last just a bit longer, although they seem to be an irresistible treat for many shrimp! In general, as leaves break down, fishes such as Plecostomus, as well as a large variety of ornamental shrimp will tend to consume them.
Therefore, it's important to look at aquatic botanicals as "consumable" items, which need to be replaced/replenished from time to time. It's all part of creating a dynamic environment, and is actually analogous to what happens in nature: New fallen leaves and other materials enter the water on a continuous basis as a result of leaf fall, wind, storm activity, etc, an continuously enrich the aquatic environment. This is easily simulated in the closed aquarium environment by replacing these items on a regular basis.
Part of the reason we offer our "variety packs" of botanicals is to give you the opportunity to incorporate a number of carefully selected materials into your blackwater biotope aquarium, while creating a noticeable chemical, biological, and aesthetic impact on your aquatic environment over a period of time. Some will last much, much longer than others, yielding chemical and biological benefits before ultimately becoming more inert. Others, such as leaves, will break down more quickly. Like anything else in the aquatic environment, it will take a little experimenting on your part to find the correct mix of materials that work for your aquarium inhabitants.
We're sure that after some experience, you'll see for yourself the noticeable positive impact that using aquatic botanicals can have on your fishes, with better color, health, natural behavior, and spawning being influenced as a result! The use of these beautiful and interesting natural materials is slowly becoming more widespread in the aquarium hobby as the manyfold benefits become known to aquarists worldwide. We welcome your feedback and observations as you experiment for yourself with the growing array of aquatic botanicals we offer for aquarium use.
Go slowly, observe carefully...
And stay wet.
Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics
Getting- and keeping- your hands wet!
I had a friend call me the other day regarding some issues that she was having with her fabulously-equipped, obscenely expensive 300 gallon planted community tank. She’s got the usual littany of tech toys- high end German canister filter, CO2 reactors, turbo-charged external powerheads, and a killer electronic controller that would make NASA jealous. Â Seemed like all was good and that she should be at the top of her game with her 10k plus investment. Yet, for some reason, her system just didn’t look right. Plants seemed off-color, fish were listless, and the system just didn’t look “right."
We went through the usual questions: “Any new fishes added recently?” , “Dose any additives?”, “When was the last time you did a water change?”….As it turned out, she felt that her super high-tech system made her exempt from basic husbandry practices…Not only had it been literally months since she did a water change, it had been an equal number of months since she checked the probes on her controller! One of the controller’s probes cracked, and the pH probe was not even submersed in the water! For all of her techno-props, my friend overlooked some basic tenants of aquarium-keeping: 1) You can’t blindly rely on gadgets to control your system without glancing at them occasionally to ascertain if they are working or not, and 2) You need to adhere to some very basic husbandry practices- such as water changes, to dilute metabolic waste products.
Basic stuff, yes- but vital if we are to enjoy long-term success with captive animals. I’m frequently blown away how seemingly "advanced" hobbyists tend to overlook the most basic aspects of aquariology- observation of their systems and attention to regular husbandry. Spend less time shopping for that crazy rare fish and some more time looking at your aquarium! Return to the basic “core” experience of keeping an aquarium, and get involved with your system on a more intimate level.
Get your hands wet!
Today's simple discussion of discipline, growth, and doing the obvious.
Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics
How much? How Fast? Thoughts on adding aquatic botanicals to your aquarium.
A lot of customers ask us, "How many leaves, pods, etc. should I start with?"
Great question, and one for which there is no real one clear-cut answer.
Like anything else in the aquarium hobby, patience and taking the time to observe, measure, and evaluate are crucial. If you're starting a new aquarium, with no fishes which have to acclimate to the rapidly changing environment, you could probably go a bit heavier and add more botanicals from the get go. Obviously, the acclimation of the fishes will be important, but you're adding them to the environment, not changing it while they're already in residence, so you can go a bit 'faster', if you will.
In practice, many of you have existing aquariums that you probably want to enrich, or gradually evolve towards a natural, "blackwater" environment. This should take time. I'd add just a few botanicals- like a handful of pods, leaves, etc. for every 10-15 gallons. Granted, botanicals like Alder Cones add a significantly greater amount of tannins and humid substances to the water than items such as: Heart Pods", Lampada Pods, or even "Teardrop Pods" can. Evaluate your water with a "before and after" pH test, to evaluate the impact the botanicals are having. You might be surprised how little pH impact some of the botanicals might have, despite the water appearing very dark by the tannins released! Notice the qualifier "some"- because many of the botanicals- like the aforementioned Alder Cones and even Catappa leaves, can decrease pH when added in sufficient quantities.
Regardless, taking the time to prepare the botanicals for use is a crucial step. You simply don't want to just dump them into the tank...rather, you want to rinse, boil, and soak them before use...not just to sink them, but to help leach out some of the initial tannins and other substances bound up in these dry materials.
If you're using one of our packs, and want to enrich an existing, fully populated aquarium- do it over a period of weeks. Yeah, weeks. Go slow. Not only will many of these botanicals release tannins and other substances over a period of time, they will begin to decompose slowly, as well. Adding a huge bunch of this stuff into your existing, fully-populated aquarium from the get go seems like a recipe for trouble, IMHO.
Why? Let me elaborate:
You're not only making rapid changes to the aquatic environment, but you're releasing significant quantities of organic materials into a stable environment that may not have the biological "capacity" to handle it...In theory, setting up the possibility for actually polluting your tank as the beneficial bacteria race to multiply fast enough to assimilate all of the influx of organics caused by a big load of botanicals! In fact, this might be a good case for using one of those "bacteria in a bottle" products to help handle the possible increase in organics more efficiently.
Again, common sense is the key. Botanicals are dynamic, because they're releasing substances into the water, as well as providing forage for micro and microfauna, all of which contribute to the boiled of your system. And, as every experienced hobbyist knows, nothing good ever happens quickly in an aquarium- only the bad stuff! So, we admonish you yet again to go slowly in an existing tank, letting your animals, plants and microfauna make the adjustment to a new and beneficial environment.
If used carefully, with thought, aquatic botanicals can help you replicate an amazing environment in your aquarium; one which will provide numerous benefits for your fishes, and stimulate color, growth, and reproduction. And that's just some of the biological benefits! The beauty and intrigue created by natural botanicals in your aquatic environment will present an aesthetic feast for the eyes, and delight your senses!
We're extremely excited to offer a large variety of these fascinating materials to help you enhance your aquarium, or replicate one of the aquatic world's most unique environments.
Stay wet...and enjoy "the tint!"
Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics
What is there to be thankful for this Holiday Season? A LOT!
With the American Thanksgiving holiday upon us, it’s only fitting that we pause and reflect upon the blessings and advantages that we enjoy. This is not just applicable to life in general, but to our hobby experience in general. Of course, we are all grateful for the freedom that we enjoy, as well as for the sacrifices of our military men and women who secure those freedoms. Like it or not, we take for granted the liberties bestowed upon us by our democracy, and the opportunity to control our own destinies. And of course, we are all thankful for the loved ones we have in our lives.
Okay, with the more generic stuff taken care of, it’s time to look at the Thanksgiving holiday, from a fishkeeper’s perspective. Here are my top 6 things I’m thankful for as an aquarist this year:
Livestock availability and selection: Can you believe the sheer number of choices that we have available to us as hobbyists now? I mean, when you have dozens of color variants of Mbuna, Discus, and even variations on the Neon Tetra, it’s a great time to be in the hobby! Less than 10 years ago, our selections were so much more limited, and the amount of cool livestock was comparatively small. This is really noticeable in the saltwater hobby. For example, captive-bred Anemonefish were a novelty at best; today they are pretty much the industry/hobby standard. Amazing.
Forums and Social Media: The fact that I can wake up each day and share my thoughts and opinions about aquarium keeping with each one of you is awesome! The hobby has become, thanks to the pervasiveness of social media, a more “open source” endeavor, with anyone being able to share his or her experiences with fellow hobbyists around the world instantly. Feedback is available 24/7, in real time. Hobby breakthroughs, disasters, and trends are instantly disseminated for the benefit of everyone. When a hobbyist has a breakthrough and announces the first successful spawning of a new species, for example- we’ll all know about it within hours! So what if we have weird usernames on the forums- at least we’re communicating!
“Old School” fishes are still available and enjoyed: In fact, many of the fishes that were popular 5 or more years ago are not just available, but highly sought after by hobbyists, who actively purchase and trade them. For example, many of the beautiful Betta, Livebearer, and Discus variations are as popular as they ever were, with legions of hobbyists searching for the “true” versions of them, and paying good money for them, too! Although our hobby changes literally by the hour, we haven’t forgotten the fishes that we enjoyed in years past!
Lighting is better than ever: Thanks to the literal explosion in LED technology, super high-quality, ultra-effcient lighting is available to every fish geek at pretty much every price point. This year alone, there have been amazing breakthroughs that will change the way we light aquariums forever! With highly specialized optics, custom spectrum colors, and dozens upon dozens of control options, it’s possible for even the most non-tech-savvy hobbyist to create lighting that can faithfully replicate say, the seasonal lighting conditions on the Great Barrier Reef or in the Orinoco River. When coupled with other aspects of aquarium husbandry that have improved, who knows what breakthroughs will be occurring over the next few years in fish and plant propagation?
Hobbyists are looking at aquariums as an aesthetic compliment to their living space: Sure, you’ll still find plenty of jury-rigged “project” aquariums around the nation, but, more than ever, your far more likely to find a beautiful tank with awesome aquascaping and the the equipment tucked neatly into a cabinet, garage, basement, or dedicated “fish room”, where it won’t damage the aesthetics of the display. Some of the top “builds” in the hobby are ones that embrace a design ethic that actually enhances the too in which they are located, rather than detracts from the overall design. What do we owe this to? Well, a variety of factors: First, manufacturers seem to get it- we like stuff that makes our homes look good! Second, smart aquarists realize that if it looks good, their formerly disapproving spouse might actually enjoy the reef. Finally, I think we’re just “maturing” as hobbyists, realizing that the impact of an aquarium is far greater if the whole system is appealing to everyone. Sure, it’s cool to see filters, controllers and reactors - but not in your living room!
Fishkeeping knows no racial, social, or gender barriers: Regardless of race, creed, age, color, gender, physical limitation, or sexual orientation, aquarium keeping is not discriminatory. What counts to an aquarist is the aquarium, the animals, and the skills of the hobbyist who created it. This is one of the most amazing phenomenon I have noticed in my many hobby speaking trips around the nation: A tank is a tank to an aquarist- and we are united by our common love for the hobby, the animals, and the lifestyle it encompasses. A fish geek is a fish geek, regardless of what religion he or she practices, who her or she sleeps with, or what color his or her skin is. And THAT is the single greatest thing in our hobby that I am thankful for in aquarium keeping. We are all part of one fantastic, highly-integrated community which treasures and enjoys the same thing.
May the blessings of the Holiday Season bring joy, peace, and freedom from want to you and your family this year, and may those of you who are facing health or other personal challenges take comfort in your hobby and the community that surrounds it. Be thankful for what we have accomplished, for the sacrifices that others have made so that we can enjoy our endeavors, and never lose sight of the fact that we are all sharing the same planet. Share and learn from each other about aquarium keeping - and life. Embrace our differences and savor how they help create stronger and more satisfying bonds between each other. Most important, let’s never forget that the people who comprise the hobby community are the number one reason why we enjoy the greatest hobby on earth!
And above all...
Stay Wet.
Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics
Time to stop monkeying around...The "Monkey Pot" makes it's debut at Tannin!
We've made it no secret that we want to dominate the market for "aquatic botanicals.." Yeah, we want to offer the aquatic hobbyist the widest range of natural aquascaping products for the broadest number of applications!
Our frog and herp friends patiently pleaded with us for months to source the cool, elusive, but highly coveted "Monkey Pot!" After months of searching, we found a great sustainable source for these awesome botanicals! And boy, these frog and herp guys know what they're talking about!
Bring on the "Monkey Pots!"
A what? I can hear you ask!
The "Monkey Pot" is a nut that comes from the abundant Lecythis tree, native to Amazonia.
The name for the tree actually comes from an old South American proverb, "a wise old monkey doesn't stick its hand into a pot." According to the story, young monkeys would stick their paw into an almost ripe fruit and would be unable to get it back out because their paws were filled with nuts, while old monkeys would learn to be patient and pull out the nuts one by one. Native hunters would allegedly bait young monkeys with tempting food items placed in the empty shell.
(A wiser, older Capuchin monkey. Pic by David M. Jensen-cc-by-sa-3.0)
Wow, what a downer, huh? Especially if you're a monkey!
Let's think about happier uses for them!
For the fish or frog geek, they're great looking and have plenty of uses: In the vivarium, you can use 'em as a water vessel, or even a little planter. In the aquarium, the uses are manyfold: Hiding space, breeding cave, etc., etc., etc.
This is one you're really gonna love...And they last a really, really long time, which makes them a great value, too!
Don't get your paws stuck in them...Ok, bad joke.
But do try one out!
Stay Wet,
Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics
A few notes on wood in the aquarium...
As you know, at Tannin, we’re big fans of using natural materials in aquariums for aquascaping, habitat enrichment, shelter for fishes, and as spawning substrates. Perhaps the most commonly used natural material in aquariums is wood. Now, you’ve probably seen a bunch of different types of wood during your aquatic career, and maybe you never really gave much thought as to what driftwood is all about. With all of the cool varieties now available to the hobby, we’ve searched and come to our own conclusions about which types are best for aquatic use.
Interesting thing about wood in the aquarium? There's a fair amount of misconceptions and misinformation out there about what can work and what is not safe, etc.
Believe it or not, if properly prepared, almost (I say…ALMOST) any type of dried wood can be utilized in aquariums. The important thing is that the wood must be…well, DRY! It can’t be “live”, or have any greenwood or sap present, as these may have toxic affects on fishes when submerged. Sap can be toxic, even when dry, so if you see a piece of wood- even dry- that’s displaying some sap- it might be a good idea to take a pass. In our experience, it’s a better idea to purchase your wood from sources known to offer “aquarium safe” wood, and not worry about suitability, toxic concerns, etc.
Driftwood is wood that has been dried over time, generally free of bark, (which, other than containing tannins and polyphenols, that are largely non-toxic in reasonable concentrations- is not that problematic, actually) and greenwood as outlined above. In most trees, the real chemically active substances are found in the leaves, live “greenwood”, and the sap. So, a dry, bark-stripped piece of wood, free from sap, dried or otherwise, is generally pretty good to go, and is relatively stable and neutral.
Of course, we don’t offer wood that has bark, sap or “greenwood” present (We do offer Catappa bark- but that’s a different story altogether!), so you need not worry about that stuff.
Some of the cool wood that we now offer at Tannin includes the much-loved “Mopani” wood from South Africa, as well as “Spider Wood”, “Star Wood”, and Manzanita…These are terrific, easy-to use woods that can really add a special “something to any tank! Each has a distinctive "personality", aesthetic, and utility. All are safe, affordable wood, suitable for a variety of aquatic uses.
In future columns, we'll take a look at the specific types of wood that we offer, and how best to use them in your aquarium!
Until then...
Stay Wet.
Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics
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