The Tint

Natural Habitats we should replicate more in aquariums

From time to time, I like to think about creating aquariums based on some of those seldom-replicated habitats and ecological niches. I find that there is something oddly compelling about recreating the function and form of some rather exotic habitats.

I wonder why they haven't been replicated more in the past, and then I realize it's likely because we don't really understand all that much about how they function. Perhaps, we haven't done much with some of these unusual niches for the most absurd of all reasons: Because no one else has tried it before!

It's time to be brave, and try a few of these. I'll give you a little cover and tell you that I've tried various versions of each one of these over the years; much more needs to be done with them, however. 

What insights could we gain by learning more about them? Let's look at a few of my personal faves, and give some thought to recreating them in our aquariums...

African Temporal Pools

Africa is a veritable treasure trove of amazing ecological niches for aquarists to study and replicate in the aquarium in form and function. Vernal or temporal pools are typically found in areas comprised of various soil types that contain clays, sediments and silts. They can develop into what geologists call "hydric soils", which  are defined as, “...a soil that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part.”

Well, that's interesting! 

A unique part of the vernal pools is what is an essentially impermeable layer of substrate called "clay pan."  These substrates are hugely important to the formation of these habitats, as the clay soils bind so closely together that they become impermeable to water.  Thus, when it rains, the water percolates until it reaches the "claypan" and just sits there, filling up with decaying plant material, loose soils, and water.

So, yeah- the substrate is of critical importance to the aquatic life forms which reside in these pools! Let's talk killies for a second!  One study of the much-loved African genus Nothobranchius indicated that the soils are "the primary drivers of habitat suitability" for these fish, and that the eggs can only survive the embryonic period and develop in specific soil types containing alkaline clay minerals, known as "smectites", which create the proper soil conditions for this in desiccated pool substrates.

The resulting "mud-rich" substrate in these pools has a low degree of permeability, which enables water to remain in a given vernal pool even after the surrounding water table may have receded! And, of course, a lot of decaying materials, like plant parts and leaf litter is present in the water, which would impact the pH and other characteristics of the aquatic habitat.

Why do fishes even live in these rather harsh environments?

I mean, they're typically small, isolated, and prone to weather disturbances and extreme temperatures. There ARE some interesting advantages that these habitats offer. First, they have significant food resources, because they're a favorable environment for many small invertebrates and insects. In addition, they are home to fewer spaces, reducing competitive pressures on the fish. (Most ephemeral pools are populated by a single species, or perhaps two or three, utilizing different food resources within the pool)

Interestingly, it is known by ecologists that the water in ephemeral pools may stay alkaline despite all of the leaves and other botanical materials present, because of the buffering capacity of the alkaline clay present in the sediments!

And, to literally "cap it off"- if this impermeable layer were not present, the vernal pools would desiccate too rapidly to permit the critical early phases of embryonic development of the Nothobranchius eggs to occur. Yes, these fishes are tied intimately to their environment.

(Image by Andrew Bogott, used under CC BY-S.A. 4.0)

The fascinating concept of embryonic diapause ( a form of prolonged, yet reversible developmental arrest) is well-known to scientists and lovers of annual killies. The occurrence and length of time of diapause varies from species to species, yet is considered by scientists to be an evolutionary adaptation and ecological trait in various populations of Nothobranchius, tied directly into the characteristics of the ephemeral habitats in which these fish reside!

Diapause assures species survival by enabling the annual life cycle of these fish to be completed, and can even be affected by the presence of adult fishes in the habitat (not a good idea to hatch if potential predators are around, right?)- a fascinating adaptation! Since the embryonic phase of most Nothobranchius is a relatively long period of their lives- and in some species- the longest phase of their life, factors which impact embryonic development are extremely important. 

Okay, my head is about to explode here with this really interesting stuff! 

(Image by Kils- used under CC BY-S.A. 3.0)

So, we tend to use peat as the substrate and incubation media for annual killifishes. It's worked great for many decades in this capacity. I can't help but wonder if using hydric soils; clay-rich materials- in order to more realistically replicate the function of the substrates found in the wild African habitats-could yield better, more consistent egg development in annual killies?

In general, sediments and mud, in conjunction with botanical materials, are things that we as hobbyists should do more experimentation with.

I could imagine an aquarium designed simply to replicate a temporal pool, mud hole, or flooded field. A substrate only tank would be incredibly different...and I can only imagine what discoveries could be made by recreating the function and look of such a habitat in the aquarium.

Peat Swamp Forests

The island of Borneo is widely known as one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth, and the peat swamp forests there cover around 12% of the land in Southeast Asia! Peat swamp forests are a form of tropical forest in which very saturated soils (called "histosols" by geologists) inhibit the decomposition of organic materials, such as leaves and other parts of trees and forest vegetation, which leads to the formation over time of peat.

In areas with poor drainage, peat can accumulate over long periods of time until it rises above normal groundwater levels, which creates raised bogs, known to ecologists as "ombrogenous" bogs, which are fed only by rain, and thus have their own water table. The peat retains water via capillary action. These bogs can be as much as 60 feet (20 meters) deep(!), and are largely deficient in nutrients because of the lack of input of mineral input. The leaching of organic compounds from the peat causes the water contained in these bogs to be extremely acidic (like pH4 or lower!).

These "omborgoenous" peat swamps can develop in in areas between rivers in locales with year-round rainfall, as well. They're fascinating structures, home to an enormous diversity of life. Here's where it gets interesting to us fish geeks:

Studies have shown that approximately 219 species of fishes have been found in peat swamps, with approximately 80 of these species restricted to this habitat alone! And 31 are what are known as "point endemic" species, found only in single locations!

That's a LOT of species in a very unique habitat, huh?

Some scientists suggest that the conditions in peat swamps have favored the evolution of smaller, specialized fish species, and that each area of peat swamp could support its own  group of endemic species. This is interesting and important...Some species (17 have been identified at the moment) from these habitats are classified as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.

Species from the genera Sphaerichthys, Desmopuntius, Rasbora, Betta, and Channa are well-represented in these habitats.

Average water depth in these swamp habitats ranges from about 1/2" to as much as 3 feet (approx. 0.1 meters to 0.9 meters).  Researchers have found that these peat swamp fish communities are typically more species rich in habitats which offered higher levels of dissolved oxygen, interesting because we tend to think of swamp fish as being found typically in low oxygen environments, right?

That being said, there are plenty of fishes which have evolved to thrive in these habitats. For example, Betta hendra, one of the betta species, is only known to be found in the Sebangau forest! These are also specially adapted for life in the peat-swamp environment, with its lower dissolved oxygen levels. According to Fish Base, it's found in Found in, "...peat swamps with depth of about 5 to 50 cm and with no water current. The water was shaded by trees and bushes. Collected among the aquatic and marsh plants..."

(A great pic of B. hendra by our friend, Sumer TIwari)

Another gem from my research about dissolved oxygen levels and their impact on fish populations:

"Forest pools and canals in these regions have consistently lower dissolved oxygen levels the rivers and streams in the region do. This is probably due to the inherent nature ofthe aquatic habitat in peat swamp forests, where DO levels are kept low due to the high amount of tannins in the water (from the high organic matter content of the peat), with the accumulation of decaying organic matter depleting DO levels.

Additionally, there is low or no water flow (especially in the pools) which further ensure low levels of DO regardless of the lower surface temperatures of forest water bodies(Yule & Gomez 2009). Low concentrations of DO can make water uninhabitable for certain fish species, therefore the forest is likely to be a more challenging environment for fish survival."

Did you see the part about the tannins keeping dissolved oxygen levels lower? That's the first time I've heard that correlation made. Although, the next sentence clarified it for me, when it touched on the high level of organic matter depleting dissolved oxygen levels. So, my thinking is that the tannin is the result of the organic matter, but the organic matter itself is responsible for the lower oxygen levels.

This makes perfect sense, right?

We all know by now that too much botanical material added to the water in your aquarium in a short time period can result in depleted oxygen levels, leaving fishes gasping at the surface! If there is one "common botanical-style aquarium disaster trigger", that would be it. See- that happens in Nature happens in our aquariums. You can push it, but you can't hide from the consequences of trying to beat Nature's rules!

Now, many of us have mixed feelings about utilizing peat in our aquariums; however, there ARE some sources of sustainably-harvested peat available, but you'll have to do your homework to find them. We've covered this conundrum a couple of years back right here in "The Tint."

Are there alternatives? 

Well, sure. I think so.

In peat swamps, the peat layers may be well in excess of  3 feet (1m) deep. The floodplain forests are found along rivers, streams, coasts, and lakes. The seasonal flooding inundating the forests for short periods leads to an influx of sediment and mineral enrichment during high water periods. 

These soils are best replicated by using "non-traditional" substrates, like...coconut-based materials, finely-crushed botanicals, mud, sediments, etc...

(If you're thinking that we should come out with a "NatureBase" substrate inspired by this habitat, your correct!I've already formulated a version, and have been testing it for some time. We'll definitely release it as a "limited release" substrate in the coming months! 

There are some characteristics of these soils which will make them challenging in aquariums. For one thing, the physical characteristics of these materials will make them "behave differently" in water than traditional sands and other aquarium substrates. Peat, in its natural state, contains excessive amounts of water and is not exactly "sturdy" like sand or gravel because of its high permeability and has very low shear strength. And of course, it has a really low pH.

If we're trying to replicate the habitat as faithfully as possible, we'd want to use reverse osmosis/deionized water, or water with minimal carbonate hardness, and a soil with properties similar to peat. This could be challenging to manage for many hobbyists, because of the resulting pH. Not impossible- simply challenging.

We're going to have much, MUCH more to talk about with this unique habitat in coming months...stay tuned!

Flooded Pantanal Grassland

Thanks to our friend, Tai Strietman, we've seen some really interesting and inspiring images of this unique habitat. 

The Pantanal (derived from the Portuguese word "pantano"- meaning "swamp", "wetland", or "marsh") is the largest wetlands region Earth. Full stop. Primarily located within the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, it also extends into the state of Mato Grosso, and the nations of Paraguay and Boliva as well! We're talking about region estimated to be as large as 75,00 square miles/195,000 square kilometers!  

It's freakin' huge! 

Essentially a large depression in the earth's crust, the Pantanal constitutes a huge river delta, into which a number of rivers converge, depositing sediments and other biological materials. Now of course, with a habitat this large, there are multiple ecosystems contained in it- as many as 12 have been defined by scientists! 

(Image by Alicia Yo- used under CC BY-SA 3.0)

Now, our main focus is, of course, fishes- and the Pantanal offers plenty of places for fishes to reside in! The cool thing about the Pantanal is that as much as 80% of it is floodplains submerged during the rainy seasons (in which up to 59inches/1,500mm of rainfall have been recorded! That corresponds to water depths which can fluctuate up to 15'/5 meters in some areas!), and is home to an astonishing diversity of fishes and aquatic plants!

With it's enormous expanse of shallow, slowly-flowing water (velocities of no more than 4"/10cm per second are typical), dense vegetation-terrestrial and aquatic- tends to be the norm here. 

The water itself tends to be turbid, and perhaps even a bit anoxic at times. And, interestingly, the highest levels of pH and dissolved oxygen in these habitats tend to occur when the water decreases and plant growth is stimulated. Curiously, however, scientists are not 100% certain if this is because of the plants going crazy with photosynthesis, or mixing of the water column due to influx of water. 

Macrophytes (aquatic plants that grow in or near water and are either emergent, submergent, or floating) supply shelter, food resources and cover for the resident fishes. Still other fishes consume the aquatic insects and microorganisms/biofilms that are recruited in this habitat. Most are well-adapted to the relatively oxygen-poor waters of this vast flood plain.

So, it goes without saying that this is a remarkably complex habitat, with multiple options for replication in the aquarium! I think your first decision is to decide what, if any aquatic plants you'd use. Aquatic plants found in Pantanal habitats include such popular aquarium species as Polygonum, Salviania, Pistia, Ludwigia, and more. You could also incorporate some marginal plants, like Acorus, Papyrus, and other "sedges", to represent the flooded or emergent terrestrial plant component found in these habitats.

Personally, for substrate, I'd utilize a fine sand, perhaps with a powdered form of aquatic plant substrates mixed in. On the surface, you'd certainly want to incorporate some leaves. They're ubiquitous in this habitat. Specifically, leaves like Jackfruit, Guava, and Texas Live Oak leaf litter would work well to represent the appearance and function of the leaf litter component.

In addition to leaves, you could certainly incorporate some other botanical materials, like seed pods. If it were me, I'd be inclined to use a scattering of smaller seed pods, like Dregea, Mokha, and Parviflora - admittedly, none of which are "geographically correct" and actually found in this habitat- all of which replicate the look of the materials found in it, however!

(that whole "Generic Tropical" concept I rant on and on about...)

And of course, with all of that vegetation, you're bound to find some roots, branches, and twigs...So what better way to represent this than with a group of oak twigs scattered about the substrate. Our recommendation, of course, is our "Twenty Twigs" product, which gives you a nice little variety of twigs to fill in some details! You could go with the "regular" or "Large" size, depending upon your preferences.

How would you 'scape your Pantanal tank? 

This habitat is just FILLED with possibilities for replication! You could represent a nice, flat field, or get a little more daring, and do a sort of "shoreline" feature, with sloping substrate, terrestrial, and aquatic vegetation mixed together.

With so few representations of this amazing habitat in the natural aquarium hobby, and see many opportunities to express it with botanicals, it tells me that not only is The Pantanal simply ripe for replication- it's a perfect "ground-floor" opportunity for studying, learning, discovering, and creating evolutions and breakthroughs in the hobby!

I could go on and on and on, but these are a few ecological niches that I think we should do more work with in our aquariums.

The idea of turning to Nature for inspiration is as old as aquarium keeping itself; however, in recent years, we seem to have moved a bit away from that, drawing more inspiration from other aquarist's work. Again, this is wonderful, and a great thing- symbolic of the interconnected global hobby we're in. However, with so much emphasis on replicating the fine work of other hobbyists, it's nice to gain a fresh perspective from Nature one in a while, incorporating it into our "toolbox" of ideas- in our own way, to create something that we enjoy-something that is truly unique, and which gives us a real "slice of the bottom" as well.

Stay creative. Stay curious. Stay innovative. Stay bold...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Blackwater in theory and in practice...

The term "blackwater" is becoming super-common in the aquarium world these days, isn't it?

The idea of blackwater aquariums, with their tinted color and mysterious aesthetic is hardly "new" to the hobby world. No one really "invented" this. No one was the person who said, "We should all throw leaves and seed pods in our tanks..." It just sort of...evolved.

Yep. And evolution is what we're going though now; at scale.

We're seeing hobbyists going beyond yesterday's "blackwater tanks look dirty" mindset, and embracing the aesthetic for what it is: A very natural-appearing "vibe" that replicates conditions found in certain natural environments around the world.

And with this acceptance of the "look" and ephemeral nature of botanicals in aquariums, a definite "mental shift" has occurred.  This to me is most significant and important. Many hobbyists who have previously bought into the prevailing "brown is dirty" mindset are giving blackwater, botanical-influenced tanks a try, rather than flat-out dismissing the idea and (in our opinion) antiquated notions pushed around on the web that these aquariums are difficult to manage, unstable, and otherwise simply "fringe" novelties, rather than a legitimate specialty within the hobby.

We're also seeing a growing body of science-backed evidence that humic substances, a key component of "blackwater" have significant health benefits for fishes, and may be among the most important factors which contribute to their health in both the wild and in captivity.

This revelation backs up what many aquarists who dabbled with catappa leaves and bark and other stuff in botanical-influenced aquariums, particularly Betta breeders in Southeast Asia, have asserted for years. In particular, it's thought that these compounds, derived from botanicals, have anti-fungal and anti-parastic properties, and offer protection against oxidative DNA damage and from physiological stressors. With these health benefits now more clearly understood, there are more reasons than ever to appreciate the role that an environment which accumulates these humic substances can play in overall fish health.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the idea of creating a deep, dark, mysterious blackwater aquarium utilizing botanical materials has become a sort of “thing.” Now, in all fairness, hobbyists have been experimenting with blackwater aquariums for decades.

The whole concept of utilizing these materials to create not only healthy  environments for ort fishes, but to create aesthetically fascinating, remarkably faithful functional replications of wild habitats is being given some new life. The idea of blackwater aquariums being seen as a "side show" curiosity is falling by the wayside, as hobbyists are utilizing these types of tanks to keep even fishes which have been with us for decades, and achieving remarkable results...and discovering a new aesthetic and enjoyment in the process. 

And, for almost as long as hobbyists have been playing around with them, there has been confusion, fear, misunderstanding, and downright misinformation on almost every aspect of them! We’re still seeing a lot of that confusion. It’s important to really understand the most simple of questions- like, what exactly is “blackwater”, anyways?

A scientist will tell you that blackwater is created by draining from older rocks and soils (in Amazonia, look up the “Guyana Shield”), which result in dissolved fulvic and humic substances, present small amounts of suspended sediment, and characterized by lower pH (4.0 to 6.0) and dissolved elements, yet higher SiO₂ contents. Tannins are imparted into the water by leaves and other botanical materials which accumulate in these habitats.

The action of water upon fallen leaves and other botanical-derived materials leaches various compounds out of them, creating “black-water.” Indeed, this leaching process is analogous to boiling leaves for tea. The leached compounds are both organic and inorganic, and include things like tannin, carbohydrates, organic acids, pectic compounds, minerals, growth hormones, alkaloids, and phenolic compounds.

In summary, natural black waters typically arise from highly leached tropical environments where most of the soluble elements are rapidly removed by heavy rainfall. Materials such as soils are the primary influence on the composition of blackwater. Leaves and other materials contribute to the process in Nature, but are NOT the primary “drivers” of its creation and composition.

So, right from the start, it’s evident that natural blackwater is “all about the soils…” Yeah, it’s more a product of geology than just about anything else. 

More confusing, recent studies have found that most of the acidity in black waters can be attributed to dissolved organic substances, and not to dissolved carbonic acid. In other words, organic acids from compounds found in soil and decomposing plant material, as opposed to inorganic sources. Blackwaters are almost always characterized by high percentages of organic acids.

Interestingly, however, these waters are surprisingly low in dissolved organic compounds (DOC). In fact, Rio Negro black waters are theorized to have low DOC concentrations because of the diluting effect of significant amounts of rainfall, and because they are diluted by clear waters from nearby systems low in dissolved organic compounds.

Sort of  self-regulating, to an extent, right?

In the podzolic soil where blackwater originates, most of the of the extractable substances in the surface litter layer are humic acids, typically coming from decaying plant material. Scientists have concluded that greater input of plant litter leads to greater input of humic substances into ground water.

In other words, those leaves that accumulate on the substrate are putting out significant amounts of humic acids, as we've talked about previously! And although humic substances, like fulvic acid, are found in both blackwater and clear water habitats, the organic detritus (you know, from leaves and such) in blackwater contains more extractable fulvic acid than in clearwater habitats, as one might suspect!

The Rio Negro, for example, contains mostly humic acids, indicating that suspended sediment selectively adsorbs humic acids from black water.  The low concentration of suspended sediments in rivers like the Rio Negro is one of the main reasons why high concentrations of humic acids are maintained. With little to no suspended sediment, there is no "adsorbent surface" (other than the substrate of the river, upon which these acids can be taken hold of (adsorb).

When you think about it, all of this this kind of contributes to why blackwater has the color that it does, too. Blackwater in the Amazon basin is colored reddish-brown. Why? Well, it has  those organic compounds dissolved in it, of course. And most light absorbtion is in the blue region of the spectrum, and the water is almost transparent to red light, which explains the red coloration of the water!

As aquarists, we tend to over-emphasize the role of leaves and botanicals in creating “blackwater”, because we approach things a bit differently than Nature does.  In an aquarium, we can use a slightly different technique to achieve the same results as Nature. It starts by utilizing water with little to no carbonate hardness (that’s sort of equivalent to what you get in Nature when the water drains over those weathered rocks and soils).

That’s why you will hear us constantly recommend that you purchase a reverse osmosis/deionization (RO/DI) unit to prepare water. The product water produced by an RO/DI unit is more “malleable” to creating lower pH blackwater with a few different approaches. 

We impart color-producing tannins into the water in our aquariums by utilizing leaves and other botanical materials, like seed pods, cones, bark, and even wood. Confusingly, you can achieve the look of blackwater habitats even with relatively hard, alkaline water. Of course, there is more than just the aesthetics, right? Many of these materials will also impart complex compounds, like polyphenols, polysaccharides, lignin, and other substances into the water as well, which can have positive influences on fish health, and the overall aquarium environment. 

So, the approach to create “aquarium quality” blackwater is surprisingly simple, really. Start with high quality RO/DO water, add some botanical materials like leaves, bark or seed pods, and in theory, you’ve created the aquarium equivalent of “blackwater.”  I mean, it’s not quite that simple, as the easy process belies the complex chemical interactions that take place in the water to create these conditions, but for most of us, that’s kind of how it works on a superficial level.

We've talked a lot about the many cautions and even "myths" surrounding keeping fishes in low-pH environments. We've learned that by simply not being afraid because "they" have made them seem so scary and unmanageable for years. Rather, we're revisiting these parameters and trying to learn exactly what happens. We're starting to discover that the low pH aquarium is entirely functional, if one learns the dynamics. Much like the previous generations' discoveries about the aquarium "functionality" of African Rift Lake habitats and coral reefs, we're discovering that these are simply different types of environments which can be replicated and managed long term in the aquarium.

Our understanding of the nitrogen cycle and the toxicity of ammonia versus ammonium, and the importance of "stability within a range" is starting to yield some results. I firmly believe that the next few years will bring about significant change-and even breakthroughs- in the way we as a hobby manage, care for, and spawn fishes such as Altum Angelfish, which have long been though "problematic" and "difficult" because of their specialized needs.

Like so many things in nature, the complexity of blackwater habitats is more than what meets the eye. Chemically, biologically, and ecologically, blackwater habitats are a weave of interdependencies- with soil, water, and surrounding forest all functioning together to influence the lives of the fishes which reside within them. No single factor could provide all of the necessary components for fish populations to thrive.

To damage or destroy any one of them could spell disaster for the fishes- and the ecosystem which supports them. It is therefore incumbent upon us to understand, protect, and cherish these precious habitats, for the benefit of future generations. 

It's not only vital for us to understand how these habitats work in Nature- it's important for us to be able to replicate some of its functions if we want to be able to keep and breed the fishes that we keep which hail from these habitats.

It's as much about accepting a different way of thinking as it is about actually learning what's going on and attempting to replicate the function of these unique habitats.  It's always been there for us to examine...we've just been approaching it with a jaded mindset. Now, we're looking at them for what they are, the benefits they provide our fishes, and just how to replicate them properly in the aquarium.

The key takeaway here is to not simply accept everything you read about this type of aquarium (even in our blog!) without giving it a more detailed look yourself, and consulting with those of us who have a lot of personal experience with them. A healthy dose of open-mindedness, coupled with some knowledge and skepticism go a long way towards success! 

Obviously, we can't cover every detail about every misunderstood aspect of the blackwater, botanical-style aquarium in the scope of this blog piece/podcast. Those of you who visit our web site frequently know that we literally have hundreds of articles on these topics, many of which comprise a sort of "living document" and demonstrate the evolution of the practices that we use and the experiences that we accumulated with this unique hobby niche. 

Aquarium Yoga Session #5...

For some reason, I receive a huge number of those, "I've been so burned out with the hobby lately, then I stumbled on your podcast and your site, and now, I've discovered this different way of doing aquariums and it's been so much fun..! You're amazing! You've saved my hobby" kind of emails.

They're cool. Flattering, even.

Yet, I can't help but wonder what it was that put the writer in such a 'funk" to begin with? I hate seeing fellow hobbyists so down on stuff. I am grateful that they found something here to help re-ignite that love of the hobby, though! I'm just not sure what "it" is.

Look, I'm no hobby "guru." I haven't cracked some mythical hobby "code" that gives me answers to everything.

You can search YouTube for hundreds of self-professed hobby "gurus" that probably are just that. You'll even find that some of them actually have original ideas, too, if you look hard enough. As for me- I'm just a normal hobbyist. I've killed way more fish than you out of sheer ignorance; screwed up more tanks, and tried more weird ideas than most...

But that's about it. 

Yet, people turn to me for some reason with their aquarium hobby "blues.." 

Maybe it's because I write a daily blog and speak my truth. Maybe it's because Tannin does stuff a bit differently than the rest of the hobby. Maybe it's because we don't give a crap what the "cool people" are doing. Maybe it's because...

Or, as one of my best fish-geek friends lovingly says, "Maybe it's 'cause you're full of shit...."

Maybe..Maybe. 🤔 

That could be it.

After receiving yet another one of those flattering, yet oddly perplexing "you've changed my life!" kind of emails yesterday, I suppose I needed to think about this more. Maybe I AM  projecting something which is helping others, so I need to drill down on it to see what it is. Yeah, I'm in one of those weird reflective moods, which means I'm probably going to write something really cerebral today. 

Let's get to it.

Mental health is really important in the aquarium hobby, and I'll give you a bit of POV from where I put that may actually help some of you.

Time for more "aquarium yoga." Yeah, we've done this over the years, haven't we?

"Lokah samastha sukhino bhavanthu." ("May this world be established with a sense of well-being and happiness.")

Yeah, you won't get this kind of stuff  anywhere else in the fish world, I'm certain...I mean, you may not WANT to, either! But it's not gonna be "in the hobby forums." So you're here. Just stay with me a bit longer, okay? Maybe we can sort this out.

You know, the aquarium hobby IS really fun.

Despite all of the bullshit you see on Instagram and elsewhere, there is genuine enjoyment that doesn't involve perfect social captions, "Amano-esque" hashtags,  highly staged shots of your tank, complete with houseplants, well-placed hobby books and packages (product placement, no doubt...) antiqued hardwood floors, a steaming cup of coffee, and your cat in prominent display in the pic. 

No staging...No "aquascaping dojo" (it's called an empty tank, for goodness sakes! WTF do we call it a "dojo?"), no bullshit. Just genuine, real-deal aquarium hobby stuff. The sheer joy of being a fish geek on your own terms.

Sharing your little world to inspire others. Your original, imperfect, utterly beautiful world.

You know- you have the power within you to truly enjoy the hobby, and it doesn’t just take a ton of money, the eye of an Instagram influencer, or anyone else to tell you how to do it.

You shouldn't listen to them, and do what THEY say to do if you don't hear that "inner voice."

Because you have one, regardless of wether or not you listen to it. It's there. Find it....

Be YOU.

Don't be someone else. 

Now, let me clarify: I’m not saying NOT  to try to replicate someone else’s work who you admire. I’m not saying that you’re a loser if you discuss or repost the ideas of others which resonate in you. What I AM saying is to make sure that it’s for the right reason:

Because it’s what you believe in and love. 

Don't do what you don't want, create a tank to satisfy someone else, or re-post bullshit ideas if that's not what really makes your heart sing.

Sure, it might get you more likes if you copy the popular guy on the 'Gram, or buy the "right fish", use the "right rock", repeat "cargo cult" mantras from some other aquarist.

And then you can be accepted, because your tank will be just like everyone else's!!! You'll get tons of reposts by social media "content aggregators!" You've "arrived!"

Right?

Now, you'll be part of...a collective of...what?

Of comfortable "sameness?" 

Wow. Cool.

Is that fun? IS it what you really WANTED to do? Or is it something completely different?

Don't get caught up in regurgitating old Amano quotes as if they mean something to you, when both your philosophies and your aquariums don't reflect anything about them.  It serves no one. From what I know about the guy, I'll bet that Amano himself would have called you out if you pulled off that crap. Who gives a shit if your tank doesn't reflect someone else's philosophies-anyone's- or what's trending at the moment, except other people who are more caught in trying to be cool than they are in finding enjoyment in the hobby the way they want to.

THAT shit...THAT is what's wrong.

#totalbullshit

You're not being YOU.

There's way, way WAY too much of that going around.

Yeah, people keep coming to me telling me that they've been so "burned out" pursuing this stuff and they're so thrilled to find Tannin, because it pulled them out of the "hobby hamster wheel" and...

Yeah, cool. I'm honored and happy to have helped you somehow.

But look:

You don't need "permission" from me or the guy with 186,000 followers, or the famous 'scaper or YouTuber, or ANYONE  to enjoy the aquarium hobby the way you want to!  You don't need to adapt their way of writing, posting, 'scaping, etc. You don't need to religiously subscribe to somebody else's philosophies as if doing so is the only way you'll succeed in the hobby. NOT mine. Not the guy on YouTube...NOBODY'S.

Because not being you sucks. In the hobby, and in life.

BE YOU.

I guess (besides the fact that it's straight-up lame and a crime) that the reason I get so worked up when I see someone trying to rip off Tannin's branding and our "vibe" is that it's pathetic. Like, you can't do better? Of course you can! 

Be yourself.

If you’re not 100% content with your hobby, remind yourself that it’s not all about going out and buying the latest gadget, obtaining the most unusual fish, or tearing your aquascape apart, or following some other new idea you just saw on IGTV or whatever. Or for that matter, about trying to be some hobby thought leader.

Get inspired, sure. Listen to other ideas- yeah...

But do what makes YOU feel good! 

"Authenticity" isn't how closely you can copy the look of that famous 'scapers tank, or the idiotic name you give your work. (It's a goddam fish tank, not the fucking Mona Lisa...get over it.  Just enjoy the tank. You'll feel better, trust me.)

Feeling good is about being in tune with yourself, your work, and the animals you love. Despite what anyone says or thinks.

And, to would-be "thought leaders" and "influencers" out there: People seem so desperate to "earn" this title from the aquarium world. It seems so important to many. You don't need to be obsessed with this. I've been called a "thought leader" many times. Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not. It doesn't matter. I just do what I do and share it. Sometimes, people think I've got cool ideas. Other times, they couldn't give a rat's ass. I could care less either way, really. I'm just having fun doing my "thing."

Sure, it feels cool and all to know you're inspiring others, but it's not something that you consciously try to become. 

There is no need to. Trust me.

It's this simple: If people dig what you do, they'll do it, too. Not because you've followed some "formula"- but because you're simply doing something inspiring and unique that you love, which makes others want to do it, too. You become a "thought leader" by leading...by inspiring. It's not something you wake up one day and tell yourself, "I'm gonna be a thought leader!" 

Just be YOU. Do what you do because you love it.

Happiness in the fish world- and life- doesn't mean that you need the "stamp of approval" from everyone.

Nope.

It’s about having confidence in your aquarium keeping skills, managing your system with a sense of purpose, and sharing. No matter what ANYONE says. Repeat my hobby mantra: "I don't give a FUCK what ANYONE else thinks!"

I just don't. Really. You shouldn't, either. 

Don't hear the attacks, and don't get high on the accolades. Keep doing what you do and helping others. 

Now, I DO think there are truly attitudes, actions and mental practices in aquarium keeping that can make you not only a better aquarist- but can help you enjoy the hobby more and inspire others in the process. Here are just a few that you may or may not agree with...The result of practicing and observing the aquarium hobby for decades.

They might be a bit "off" to some of you, or maybe they're spot-on, but I present them to you regardless for your consideration:

Don’t pin the success of your tank on the “approval” of your fellow hobbyists.  Yeah, I'm repeating AGAIN! It's that important. Enjoy what you enjoy- because YOU enjoy it.In our society, we apparently place great stock in believing that a large part of our happiness comes from the outside- something that happens to us. In the reef world, you see a lot of people putting out these “build threads” about their tanks on forums worldwide, typically done in the spirit of sharing and growing in the hobby- that's terrific!

However, if you read carefully, you might agree with this theory:

I submit that a fair number of these “build threads” are almost solicitations for “approval” from the aquarium keeping community. Cries for approval  You can almost tell by the way the hobbyist posting goes out of his/her way to impress or even appease fellow hobbyists by showing off the tremendously expensive gear he/she is accumulating, the trendiest rocks to be placed in the tank (TRENDY ROCKS? REALLY?!?!), or the over-the-top modifications being made to the room the aquarium is housed in.

I get a lot of DM's on social with people begging me to share their pics in my Instagram Stories feed or elsewhere. Sometimes I do, if I feel that it helps share an idea that I believe in. Other times, I don't. I feel bad to see how desperate soem people seem to be "validated" by us. They don't need to. They need to share their work repeatedly because they love it, believe in it, and think it will bring value to others.

It’s one thing to be “aspirational.” It’s quite another to be seeking the tacit acceptance for those we interact with. Life is too short to live for others- and that applies to aquarium keeping as well!

Take a few minutes every day to simply chill out in front of your tanks.  I can't believe I need to even say this, but it's true!

I mean, we spend enormous amounts of time, money, and energy working on our aquariums, taking pictures of them, tweaking systems, etc., which are indeed part of the fun of the hobby. However, they are “part” of the fun! How about just spending some quality time every day just chilling out in front of your tank, actually enjoying it- not thinking of the next fish you’re gonna add, or the dose of "Culture" you need to throw in later. (subtle commercial pitch...did you see that?😎)

You might just love the hobby that much more!

I can’t tell you how many hobbyists I visit worldwide who spend so much time concentrating on actually doing stuff with their tanks that they seem to never spend time simply enjoying them. I know it seems ridiculous, but ask yourself when the last time was that you simply stared into your tank without the intent of modifying, cleaning, or tweaking something? You might surprise yourself!

Look for the good stuff in your aquarium. As hobbyists, we seem to be a very self-critiquing lot, don’t we? We’re always finding something in our tank that we think needs tweaking, fixing, or outright replacement.

We never are satisfied, huh?

I submit that, rather than constantly evaluating the things that we need to “fix” in our systems, we should spend some time appreciating and complimenting ourselves (internally, at least) about the cool things that are going on in our aquariums. Sure, your “HC garden” may not be full and lush as you envision it will be yet, or your leaf litter isn't exactly where you want it to stay- but why not give yourself a pat on the back and realize that you’ve gotten a great start on creating this beautiful thing?

You may be critical of the less-than-perfect-appearing plumbing job you did on your central filtration system, but take pleasure in knowing that not only does it work, but it was your own scheme- and that, most important- it doesn’t leak! Little affirmations about the thing you put so much time and love into are never bad.


Treat your self once in a while- just because. Okay, there are definitely those of you out there who will say that I included this one because I’m an aquatic supplies vendor. The reality is that I’m including this section because I’m a hobbyist! You work hard, and you probably work hard on your tanks. So, if getting that new gadget or acquiring that new fish gives you some pleasure, why NOT indulge yourself from time to time?

Part of the fun of being in the hobby is that you can call the shots, and if you feel like you need a “treat” from time to time, you should go for it. Pay close attention to your desire- and your budget- and toss yourself a little reward once in a while- just because. Part of what makes the hobby so fun is that it’s OURS- and we are perfectly capable of knowing when we need to give ourselves a little boost now and then, right?




Share your tank with other hobbyists. Huh? Why keep it to yourself? Invite some of your fishkeeping buddies over to just hang out in front of your tank one afternoon. Do you need some help figuring out how to install that new gadget? Ask a fish keeping buddy over! Or, just give away some fry of your "Lake Tang" shellie- just because. The hobby, and your aquariums- are wonderful social “props”, and the common interest that you share with fellow hobbyists when you check out someone’s tank is very satisfying.

Many strong friendships (and at least a few aquarium clubs) have formed over a few hobbyists getting together at someone’s house to check out the new coral, Mbuna pair, or help hang the new LED lighting system. Don’t have any fish keeping friends? Not a problem! Create some by posting on social media, and flat out ask for help, or invite local aquarists over to check your tank out. You’d be shocked how many fish geeks will drive for miles and miles just to check out that 40-gallon blackwater aquarium  that you've been working on, once they’re invited!

Play to your strengths. Huh? Think about the stuff that you do well as an aquarium keeper, and what sorts of fishkeeping activities bring you the most enjoyment. Cleaning your tank? Aquascaping? Programming your controller? Just what is it that puts you in your “happy place” while working on your tank? Indulge in those things more often…

Or better yet, offer your skill set and services to fellow hobbyists, either by interacting on forums, or by visiting aquarists who need your help. Take it even farther by giving a lecture at the local club about the topic or topic(s) you know best..Not only will you help others enjoy the hobby- you’ll enjoy the hobby even more yourself as you share and interact with fellow fish geeks…A great sense of satisfaction arises when you help others with something that they love, too.

Sure, work on skills for things that are important to your work, and grow as a hobbyists, but don't try to do that crazy-ass "thing" just because everyone says to. DO what works for you. The right reasons, remember?

Yeah...common themes here.

Okay, that concludes todays rather high-octane "aquarium yoga" session today! 

Probably was just a passing phase today…I'm sure I'll be ornery as hell later. But it did feel good to get this out…I’ll be back next time with...likely, a more practical, "nuts-and-bolts" topic that will still probably piss you off or (hopefully) make you think differently in some way…that’s what you’ve come to expect, right? 😎

Deep breath...namaste.

Until next time, 

Love yourself. You deserve it.

Laugh at yourself- and the hobby once in a while...It's pretty funny!

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

Stay unique. Stay thoughtful. Stay resourceful. Stay creative...Stay unstoppable...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Degrees of difficulty: Working with "Challenging" Fishes.

I suppose that, if you pressed me, I’d tell you that I think that one of the best things in the  aquarium hobby is taking on a task, acting on an idea, or attempting to do something that “everyone” feels is “hard.”

Of course, there is a lot of room for interpretation here. Every hobbyist has their own list of stuff that’s “hard" to do in the aquarium world.

I've always been fascinated by the idea that certain fishes are "difficult to keep." Over the years, I've spent a lot of time considering what the factors are which lead to some of these fishes receiving this label.

First, it starts with where the fish comes from.

Some species come from ecological niches which are significantly different than those which the typical hobbyist in say, suburban Atlanta, Lisbon, or Seul could easily provide. Perhaps they don't easily or quickly adapt to hard, alkaline water, fluctuating temperatures, etc. We need to recreate the environmental conditions from which they come if we want to keep them in aquariums.

Sometimes, those conditions aren't simply pH/alkalinity/temperature, of course. Perhaps, they're more subtle factors, like the humidity of the atmosphere surrounding the aquarium water. Maybe it's the type of substrate materials which are incorporated into their displays. Perhaps, it's water movement. Maybe some missing trace element, which is best provided by incorporating certain botanical materials or rocks?

Maybe it's a combination of factors? 

Other times, it's about food.

Some species are very specific feeders. For example, certain marine Butterflyfishes are what are known as "obligate coralivores", only feeding on live coral polyps.

This "obligate coralivore business" used to be a non-starter for keeping Buterflyfishes. You had no access to live coral. Well, now, we grow coral easily. While one can debate the ethics of doing so, we could keep these fishes- if we are willing to sacrifice our Acropora, or whatever species of coral we grow.

Some fishes, like Hatchetfishes, are used to feeding on live insects. You need to understand how to culture fruit flies, ants, etc in order to keep them successfully...or should I say, in order to get them to acclimate successfully to captive foods and life.

The other factor is sort of related to the first one...Where the fish comes from.

Some fishes come from very remote areas, with limited access to collection and distribution points, and challenging air freight logistics. Even today, places like Papua New Guinea or Borneo are challenging places to get live fishes out of.

And of course, there are other factors, too. And combinations. In recent years, mass breeding in certain nations has resulted in an influx of inbred, weak, low-genetic quality stock which, for any number of reasons, simply aren't as robust as those produced on a smaller scale, or via the work of hobbyist breeders. Some are so low quality and predictably bad, that you'd be better off dealing with wild-caught specimens of the same species in your tank!

Of course, one of the interesting and humbling things about dealing with Nature's creations is that, even if you think you're knowledgeable, prepared, etc...up for the challenge- you might still fall way short of the mark. 

I remember, like 19 years ago, I really wanted to keep a group of Alligator Pipefish (Syngnathoides biaculeatus) in a marine aquarium. It's a nice sized pipefish, too, typically around 8"or so in size.

And of course, after coveting this fish for some time, and doing some research, I thought I was ready. I realized that the big hurdle to keeping this fish in captivity was feeding it. In the wild, they feed on planktonic organisms, something that at the time was considered difficult to obtain in the aquarium hobby.

Now, this was what I thought was my Ace in the hole! I figured I could just get the fish to eat the newly-available frozen mysis shrimp, spend a few weeks hand-feeding them, and blam! Cool show fish in my new aquarium! 

I was so wrong on so many levels. First, obtaining specimens that weren't already half-starved to death was challenging enough. These fish need to eat on a near-constant basis, and usually they're almost gone by the time they arrive in the LFS. And then, placing them in an aquarium and attempting to feed them a strange, non-living food was yet another challenge.

I lost all 5 of the specimens I obtained.

Interestingly, about 3 months after my Pipefish debacle, I was at the Marine Aquarium Conference of North America, where I ended up hanging out with some Seahorse and Pipefish geeks (these people were the aquarium world's equivalent of the "crazy cat person"- but they did party pretty hard, so..).

Turns out, S. biaculeatus is a bit challenging, but the secret was to feed them live foods first. I also was given some great advice by one very experienced hobbyist: Consider the habitat from which they come...In this instance, seagrass beds-unique marine habitats which are bursting with life at many levels. 

And, with effort, seagrasses can be grown and maintained in the aquarium.

That advice not only changed the course of my Alligator Pipefish project- it may very well have changed the course of my aquarium hobby "life's work!"

Design the aquarium around the fish- not "adapt the fish to your aquarium." 

A few months later, after much research and effort, I had delved into the world of seagrasses and set up an aquarium to grow them. And I was able to get them to grow. My research about this habitat led me to try the idea- suggested by another friend- of "pre-stocking" the aquarium with all sorts of organisms (marine rotifers, amphipods, sipunculid worms, copepods, etc.) and to let the seagrasses establish before adding any fishes.

I learned to develop a microcosm-one which could provide as much supplemental food as possible for the fishes while they acclimated to prepared foods. An environment as close as possible to the one from which my fishes came from.

It worked.

I was able to maintain three specimen for about 2 years, before I needed to break the tank down. Strangely, the idea was pretty simple. The execution wasn't as much "difficult" as it was demanding of patience- something I already had as a fish keeper. I learned a lot, like how to keep seagrasses, how to cultivate amphipods, and other interesting practices.

Lessons learned. Hobby direction formed.

This "Pipefish thing" was a pivotal lesson- one that made me fundamentally reconsider how to create aquariums, manage them, and work with all sorts of fishes.

Meet their needs. Not yours.

It's pretty straightforward.

Despite all of this, and after a lifetime in the hobby, I say, somewhat confidently that there are no difficult fish.

WTF? After all that, you make this brash and seemingly ignorant statement, Fellman?

Well, yeah. Here's why:

It's not that a fish is inherently difficult...It simply means that we as hobbyists, if we want to be successful with a species, need to meet its needs. We need to make the effort to study its specific requirements, the habitat from which it comes from, and it's life cycle.  

We need to find out how to obtain the fish from sources which have properly handled it along the chain of custody from stream to store. We have to do a little research- and that sometimes means bypassing the fish-world drivel (like this blog!) and slugging it out on Google scholar, Fishbase, ResearchGate, and other academic sources.

To many hobbyists, that's difficult.

The fish, however, is not.

Difficult tasks, like, I don't know, landing a man on the fucking moon, require us to solve literally thousands of problems and challenges, accumulate resources, and to create hardware, practices, and procedures to accomplish the goal.

And as we know, even landing man on the moon isn't impossible, right?

We landed a man on the moon back in 1969 because we decided that we wanted to do it, broke it down into a series tasks and stages (projects Mercury, Gemini, Apollo), put the effort in, overcame our mistakes and failures...and went for it.

So, while trying to keep and breed, say, Indostomus paradoxus might seem like a real problem, is there a problem here, really?  Sure, on the surface, it seems like a "poster child" for "difficult", right? It's a tough to obtain, small, relatively timid fish with a tiny mouth and "specialized" feeding requirements.

Yet, break it down for a second:

It's hard to find, because there isn't a ton of demand for it. Yet, lots of people have kept and bred them over the years...Want some? Hound your suppliers, leave posts on the forums, hit up Google. DO the work. You'll find SOME, trust me. It might take a while, but you WILL find them.

The fish comes from swamps and places with muddy, soft clay-filled substrates filled with decaying leaf litter and such. Well, shit, we make a damn good soft, clay-filled muddy substrate, right?

Check.

And I sure as HELL know where you can get leaves! And you do, too. 😆

These substrates are are home to small crustaceans, worms, etc. So, like, why is THAT a problem? Pre-stock the tank with copepods, Daphnia, Gammarus, etc for a month or two before you add the fish. We've done that before, right?

We know how to build the "microbiome" of our aquariums, don't we? Yeah, we do.

And not a lot of water movement, and likely a species-only tank...Just get a tank for them. Problem solved.

So sure, not every fish "problem" will have "off-the-shelf" solutions to utilize, but you can use this same "break-down" approach to figure out how to make it happen.

And yeah, I know, some fish will have 13 different considerations to figure out  instead of 5, but you get the idea.

And yeah, landing men on the moon had about 14 million considerations. And they did THAT.

You can even breed the world's smallest fish, Paedocypris- if you figure out it's needs, provide for them, and are patient and persistent as hell.

You can. 

It's a simple- and as "difficult"- as that.

To me, "degree of difficulty" simply means "how much do you want it?"

How much do you want it? How many challenges do you want to meet? How patient are you? How far will you push?

Are you up for the challenge? 

You've got this.

Stay persistent. Stay diligent. Stay tenacious. Stay patient...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The aquarium as an Ecosystem: An old idea that somehow always seems new..

Over the century and a half or so in which the "modern" aquarium hobby has been around, the idea of an aquarium as a miniature ecosystem has long been suggested. It's certainly a valid one, which is as hard to dispute as it is to fathom why it always seems to be this "amazing new concept" to some every time it's mentioned in the aquarium world.

I think it's because we've been a bit too insular at times in our hobby work. it's like it hasn't dawned on us that this idea is kind of fundamental to our aquariums.

Ecosystems are fascinating dynamics which embrace life and death, reproduction and predation, and growth and decomposition. The tiniest, least sophisticated of organisms, and larger, more complex ones. Aquariums are the epitome of this. The definition of an ecosystem is "a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment."

An aquarium ecosystem is set of interdependencies; in other words, it has different organisms living in it that interact and depend on each other. They can’t survive without the ecosystem. If any part of the system fails, the whole thing fails. The mythical, yet sort of half-grounded-in-truth hobby nightmare of the "tank crash" is typically caused by a failure at some level, within the ecosystem.

Of course, as aquarium industry vendors, manufacturers, and thought leaders, us humans love to apply descriptors to the type of aquarium approach we favor: You know, "botanical-style aquarium", "biotope aquarium", "Nature Aquarium", "reef aquarium"... all somewhat different in their orientation, yet all essentially the same:

A collection of interdependent organisms existing together in a closed system.

Every aquarium that we set up is an ecosystem.

In fact, it's almost unavoidable. 

And yeah, some approaches do facilitate the development and maintenance of an ecosystem better than others.

They're all ecosystems.

Planted aquariums and botanical-style aquariums are systems which, at their very foundation, are configured to recruit, develop, grow and multiply microorganisms and other life forms to form the basis of the system.

The botanical-style aquarium depends upon botanical materials to impact the environment. I think it's an approach which does an even better job than most at creating an ecosystem.

This type of aquarium embraces a microbiome of life forms at all levels and of all sizes, ranging from our fishes, to small crustaceans, worms, and countless microorganisms. These little guys, the bacteria and Paramecium, Daphina and the like, comprise what is known as the "microbiome" of our aquariums.

A "microbiome", by definition, is defined as "...a community of microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses) that inhabit a particular environment." (according to Merriam-Webster)

Now, sure, every aquarium has a microbiome to a certain extent:

We have the beneficial bacteria which facilitate the nitrogen cycle, and play an indespensible role in the function of our little worlds. The botanical-style aquarium is no different; in fact, this is where I start wondering...It's the place where my basic high school and college elective-course biology falls away, and you get into more complex aspects of aquatic ecology in aquariums.

Yet, it's important to at least understand this concept as it can relate to aquariums. It's worth doing a bit of research and pondering. It'll educate you, challenge you, and make you a better overall aquarist.

So much of this process-and our understanding- starts with...botanicals. 

With botanicals breaking down in the aquarium as a result of the growth of fungi and microorganisms, I can't help but wonder if they perform, to some extent, a role in the management-or enhancement-of the nitrogen cycle.

Yeah, you understand the nitrogen cycle, right?

Okay, I know that you do.

If you really understand how it works, you won't try to beat it; circumvent it.

Aquarium hobbyists have (by and large) collectively spent the better part of the century trying to create "workarounds" or "hacks", or to work on ways to circumvent what we perceive as "unattractive", "uninteresting", or "detrimental." And I have a theory that many of these things- these processes- that we try to "edit", "polish", or skip altogether, are often the most important and foundational aspects of botanical-style aquarium keeping!

It's why we literally pound it into your head over and over here that you not only shouldn't try to circumvent these processes and occurrences- you should embrace them and attempt to understand exactly what they mean for the fishes that we keep. They're a key part of the functionality.

Now, I've had a sort of approach to creating and managing botanical-style aquariums that has drawn from a lifetime of experience in my other aquarium hobby  "disciplines", such as reef keeping, breeding killifish and other more "conventional" hobby  areas of interest. And my approach has always been a bit of an extension of the stuff I've learned in those areas.

I've always been fanatical about NOT taking shortcuts in the hobby. In fact, I've probably avoided shortcuts- to the point of making things more difficult for myself at times! Over the years, I have thought a lot about how we as botanical-style aquarium enthusiasts gradually build up our systems, and how the entire approach is about creating a biome- a little closed ecosystem, which requires us to support the organisms which comprise it at every level.

Just like what Nature does.

The aquarium is 

Staring at natural aquatic habitats and trying to understand how they formed, why the formed, and what factors influence their ecology keep me constantly inspired. Studying the igapo of South America has given me real inspiration and ideas to try in order to create more unique, highly functional aquarium systems.

Aquariums which are more than just aesthetic representations of these wild habitats. They're functional ecosystems, representative of the habitats in multiple ways.

So, we shouldn't be surprised at all by the idea that every aquarium can and should be viewed as a closed ecosystem...one which mimics the wild ecosystems on a level which we've previously not considered.

Yet, when hobbyists create a botanical-style aquarium for the first time, we see this incredible excitement about the "life" in the system...excitement 

I wonder if it's because we have been so indoctrinated to the idea that we need to scrub and polish out all of that undesirable stuff that, when we finally embrace the botanical-style aquarium philosophy of "let it be", that the amazing burst of life and the responses of our fishes to their environment is truly astonishing. It's so different than what we're used to.

The front row seat that we as botanical-style aquarium lovers have is quite unique in the aquarium hobby. Creating the aquarium with the intention of assembling a full-tilt, functional ecosystem is tremendous.

No other hobby speciality is poised to study, appreciate, and embrace the vast diversity and process of Nature like we are in the aquarium world. It's incredibly exciting and humbling to realize that the mental shifts that our community has taken- going beyond just the aesthetics- and really working with Nature, as opposed to fighting Her- will likely yield some of the most important breakthroughs in the history of the aquarium hobby.

Yeah, the idea of an aquarium as an ecosystem is not new...But the idea of embracing the "ecosystem" part of the equation is

Stay fascinated. Stay studious. Stay excited. Stay open-minded...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Cool Places.

As you know, we receive a lot of questions around here about all sorts of aquarium-related topics. Usually, my answer is directly to the individual who asked, in the form of an email or DM. Sometimes, however, the answer is such that it is best addressed in the form of a blog post! 

Recently, a hobbyist asked me what my opinion was of the botanical-style aquarium as a type of "aquascaping approach", and how it fits in the overall aquascaping "universe." Exactly what our "thing" is...

First, I start with my assertion that the botanical-style aquarium is NOT an aquascaping "style"- it's a methodology to create a more natural-functioning aquarium by utilizing botanical materials to "fuel" the process. The look is a "collateral benefit" of the methodology.

I admit, I've never really been much of an "aquascaper."

You know- those hobbyists who can take a few rocks and a piece or two of wood and turn them into some sort of amazing design. That takes amazing talent and vision. And I made peace with that decades ago! I greatly admire those true artists who can employ all sorts of technique, color-coordination, and ratio and such snd come up with some incredible stuff with seeming ease.

On the other hand, I look at a lot of aquascaping work, admire the effort and talent  and such, and then get this feeling in my gut that I can't always explain. Well, I can, but it's not always...nice. Like, I look at many "modern scapes" and just kind of...yawn.

Ouch, I'm sounding like a proper asshole, I know.

But seriously, it's not that I think their work is shitty or something...I just find the "styles" of many of the beautiful tanks out there which the world goes crazy over to be just a bit..boring. Or, should I say- not my taste. Yeah, that's better.

It's weird, I do like certain planted tanks that just blow me away. Our friend, George Farmer, does amazing planted 'scapes which I would happily have in my own home if I had the talent. I love the work of our own Johnny Ciotti- a guy who was trained as a classic "Nature Aquarium Style" 'scaper, yet, a true artist who can take botanical elements and create stunning botanical-style aquariums with ease. Jeff Sense of Aquarium Design Group is another person who can work with just about any "media" you give him- rocks, wood, plants- and crank out something that is unmistakingly original, dynamic, and gorgeous.

I'll never be as talented as those guys. And I'm perfectly okay with that. I'm comfortable in my own skin. And it's largely because, a long time ago, I found what I truly love, and work with that. I think we should all have that degree of comfort with what we love. Sadly, many hobbyists don't- and feel that-in order to be considered "talented" or whatever- that they have to embrace a certain style or technique.

That's absurd.

I often think about the so-called "diorama style" tanks that pop up in contests, and are all over Instagram or whatever. They require enormous talent to execute, but they're far more "art" than they are "natural aquariums", I suppose. And I guess that's what gets me- these weird fantasy scapes have live plants and glued-together rock and wood and stuff, but they are anything but "natural", IMHO.

I guess what gets me is that the aquascaping world lauds these scapes as "the shit"- and sure, they are fantastic- amazing work. When they're called "natural", that sends shivers down my spine...I mean, doesn't Nature offer scenes that are equally as complex, interesting, and challenging to pull off? And, with the added bonus that you can replicate the function of these habitats, I can't see why you don't see more representations of flooded forests, vernal pools, Pantanal meadows, etc. in the major aquascaping contests.

I imagine how amazing a tank one of those diorama-style 'scapers could pull off if he/she tried to replicate an actual aquatic habitat as found in Nature. With there talent and ability to bring a vision to life....wow! I mean, sure, such a tank won't have a beach scene, winding road into a forest, or a mountain range, or any of that other cliche stuff- but it will have all of the amazing vibrancy and intricate structure of natural aquatic habitats. The possibilities are endless.

I've postulated about why we don't see more of these things in contests..

However,  the benefits of entering tanks like this would be many, including calling attention to the wonders of the natural world, and the precious wild habitats which are often threatened by human activities.

I think that a good part of the reason is that these natural habitats aren't "tight" from a design standpoint. They don't -on the surface, at least-seem to require any "discipline" in order to replicate. You have to cede a certain amount of your work to Nature. I think that freaks out a lot of artistic aquascapers.

Nature, and Her many ecological niches and features, provides an endless array of habitats to recreate in the home aquarium. And my "POV" has always been to look at these niches, figure out how and why they formed, and why they look the way that they do. By researching the processes which helped create the habitat, I'm challenged to create an aquarium which attempts to replicate both the form and the function of it.

Some of these habitats are not what you'd expect to see in an aquairum. They look- and function- fundamentally different from what we've worked with before.

Some of the aesthetics of these wild habitats freaks people out. They look so...random...so...undisciplined, if we were to ascribe artistic terms to them. It's a world where we set up the system to allow Nature to do the "finishing" work. It require s a certain trust in natural processes, and the ability to let go. The ability to realize that what we see is a "finished product" is only the very beginning.

"The Delta at the intersection between science and art.” 

That's where I play. 

I like it here. A lot of you do, too.

This "not quite a biotope aquarium" and "not quite an artistic aquascape" thing is the perfect "sweet spot" for my interest, attention, and skills. And I think it's the place where I can be most useful to the hobby. Biotope-inspired, I suppose. A more forgiving, easygoing "style" which places function over aesthetics, yet somehow always leads to something that I find aesthetically pleasing.

It's a strange, yet wonderful place, where I've made the many "mental shifts" that allow me to enjoy the beauty and elegance of stuff like decomposing leaves, sediment, biofilms, fungal growths, random aggregations of leaves, etc. A place where much of the attraction is because the aquariums I create are intended to let Nature do some of the work. 

If I were forced (and yeah, "forced" is the right word, because there are no defining "rules" here...no way) to offer some defining characteristics of the  "botanical-style" aquarium, I'd say that a certain "randomness", actually, is it.

I mean, we're all about replicating what happens in Nature, NOT about perfectly proportioned placements and such. Now, I must admit, some of the world-class aquascapers that have worked with our botanicals have applied these concepts to these types of aquariums and have produced stunning results.

However, I think the "raw" botanical aquarium "essence" is about a certain degree of randomness.

In celebration of the ephemeral...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: There is remarkable beauty in the ephemeral.

Botanicals are most definitely ephemeral in nature, having finite "life spans" when submerged. They soften, recruit fungal growths and biofilms on their surfaces, and slowly begin their inexorable march towards decomposition and physical breakdown.

We value this. Indeed, we celebrate this. 

To understand and appreciate this is key to grasping the philosophy behind the botanical-style aquarium.

Those of us who play with botanical-style blackwater/brackish aquariums find out in the earliest stages that each aquarium moves at its own pace. Each one establishes itself, evolves, and matures differently than any other one. There is a real "pace", a process- to what occurs when they are utilized in our aquariums.

And a good part of it is dictated by the natural degradation, change, and decomposition of the materials we utilize in our tanks. From the minute you prepare a leaf, seed pod, stem, or other botanical for use in the aquarium, it begins to soften and break down.

It's definitely the embodiment of "ephemeral." 

The processes of hot water steeping, boiling, or prolonged soaking start to soften the tissues of the leaves or seed pods, release bound-up surface pollutants, and begin the gradual, inevitable, and irreversible process of breaking them down, at a pace, which nature determines.

As botanical materials break down, more and more compounds (tannins, humic substances, lignin, bound-up organic matter) begin leaching into the water column in your aquarium, influencing the water chemistry and overall environment.

They "power" the biome of the aquarium, providing sustenance to numerous organisms which reside there.

In the wild, there are numerous aquatic habitats which are ephemeral in nature- lasting only for a season or two before drying up; only to begin the cycle anew the following year.

An example is the "vernal pool", a surprisingly rich, and very interesting habitat.

Vernal pools are classified by ecologists as a type of wetland, although they are, as their name implies, temporary aquatic habitats. Certain fishes, such as annual killifish, have evolved to adapt and thrive in these environments over eons. This, of course, makes these unique aquatic ecosystems all the more fascinating to us as tropical fish hobbyists!

Understanding this type of habitat has lots of implications for creating very cool biotope-inspired aquariums. 

And why not make 'em for killifish?

And maybe, just maybe- they might help make killifish, and the killifish hobby, more interesting, appealing, and relevant to a new group of hobbyists- long a topic of concern among the killie-keeping "establishment!"

A big win, if you ask me!

And it can start with considering these pools another ephemeral habitats which these fishes reside in.

These pools are surprisingly productive, with significant crustacean and insect life- a truly remarkableabundance of life- which helps sustain the fishes which reside in the vernal pools. Most Nothobranchius species are what ecologists classify as "generalized carnivores", feeding on a range of planktonic and benthic invertebrates and insects found in these habitats.

Typical vernal pools in the tropical locales mentioned above are dry for at least part of the year, and typically, but not always, fill with water during seasonal rain/flooding events. Some of these pools may stay partially filled with water during a given year- or longer- but all vernal pools dry up periodically. Sometimes, these pools empty and fill several times during the wet season. Movement of water between vernal pools also occurs. 

Vernal pools are typically associated with plains or grasslands, and are typically small bodies of water- often just a few meters wide. The origin of the name, "vernal" refers to  the Spring season. And, this makes a lot of sense, because most of these ephemeral habitats are at their maximum water depth during the Spring!

After studying these vernal pools for some time now, I can't help but be drawn to the idea we've played with in our "Urban Igapo" tanks- utilizing soil/sediment mixes and playing with "seasonal" cycles of inundation and desiccation, which simulate, to the most realistic extent possible, the cycles of the vernal pools, grasslands, and flooded forests of the tropical world.

Vernal pools and flooded forests are perhaps the ultimate expression of the close relationship between the terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Decomposition, accumulation of epiphytic growth, and colonization of various life forms is continuous and impactful.

Every terrestrial botanical eventually breaks down completely underwater, imparting organics, tannins, lignin, and other compounds into the water. It could take a few weeks, a month, or even years. However, complete breakdown eventually occurs.

When it occurs is dictated entirely by Nature, of course.

That, to me, is the charm of what we do as aquarists who embrace this. We celebrate the process. We celebrate the process because we understand how it positively impacts the environment of our aquariums and the fishes which reside in them.

Those of us who look at Nature as it is, and choose to embrace it in our tanks, instead of some sanitized, stylized representation, find true beauty in this ephemeral characteristic that botanicals bring. Just like in the wild, the way terrestrial materials break down and "devolve" under water is fascinating, biologically useful...and beautiful.

Some hobbyists find the fact that we allow materials to break down in our tanks like they do in Nature to be undisciplined, even "messy."

However, I've learned what many of you have over your fish keeping careers: The so-called "mess" is- or often leads to -something beautiful, permanent, and utterly engrossing. So the term "mess", as we might commonly use it, should not be viewed as negative. It's more of a "transition", IMHO!

"Mess" is actually a vehicle to propel us in different aquascaping/experimental directions. It actually is the embodiment of Amano's wabi-sabi philosophy, which embraces the transience of nature- and celebrates it. It appreciates and understands the beauty in the ephemeral aspects of Nature.

It requires some study, appreciation, and yes- mental shifts.

Mental shifts which allow us to appreciate the process in Nature as much as we do in our tanks. Somehow, I think that seeing these processes play out in the wild aquatic habitats gives some of us "permission" to allow it to happen in our aquariums!

We can take comfort in seeing that these habitats thrive despite what appears to be contrary to our hobby interpretation of how we think they're "supposed" to look and function.

And that's okay. It's part of the game. It's how Nature teaches us. And what Nature teaches us is, in my opinion, every bit as valuable- if not more so- than the latest aquascape contest winner who's "diorama 'scape" is all the rage on Instagram, or wherever.

Nature plays by her own rules, developed over eons. When we accept here rule, embrace her aesthetics...and make a mental shift to something that the rest of the world might call messy- we can truly appreciate it's real beauty.

There is much to learn from this process.

And the patience, understanding, and knowledge that we gain from observing Nature do her thing in our tanks is a priceless experience.

Nothing lasts forever, but the enjoyment of the process lasts a lifetime.

Todays quick thought.

Stay curious. Stay reflective. Stay thoughtful. Stay observant. Stay enthralled...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

"The Scavenger Syndrome." It's about the "Otos"- and more.

Well, it comes up a every once in a while...That lovely aquarist debate about stuff like "scavengers"- a polarizing thing, filled with lots of opinions and dissenting views. The other day, a hobbyist asked me to join in on a vigorous group discussion about  best "scavenger" for botanical-style aquariums...and we were off to the races. 

First off- I believe that the idea of a "scavenger" fish in our botanical-style aquariums is outmoded, incorrect, and frankly, irrelevant. Yes. I feel that way. Because every single fish in a properly set-up botanical-style aquarium spends a large part of its day foraging in and among the botanicals for food sources. The microfauna and small crustaceans which make their home there also feed off of the abundant food available in the system.

So the whole idea of the need for "designated scavengers" is kind of silly, IMHO. The fishes are not "scavenging" off of uneaten food and such- they are foraging among the botanicals- like they do in Nature- to supplement the food which you provide to them.

One of those things that we as fish keepers seem to have to contend with is that decision between keeping fishes or other creatures that we in the aquarium world tend to view as "utilitarian" (i.e.; intended to be kept for a  specific purpose such as "algae eating"), or those that we want to keep for pure enjoyment, interest, or breeding work.

I call it the "Scavenger Syndrome." 

Nowhere is this more apparent than when we focus on that old "scourge" of hobbyists everywhere- algae.

The lovable, popular, but seemingly mis-perceived as "disposable", Otocinculus species is the "poster child" for this phenomenon. These are comical, endearing fish that are both misunderstood and shockingly disrespected, in my opinion.

They are not alone, of course. It's a shame that, for whatever reason over the years, we've tended to heap a lot of small. bottom-dwelling fishes as "scavengers" or assigned them the ridiculous moniker of "cleanup crew" or "janitors" or whatever, somehow simultaneously devaluing the fish and relegating them to an arbitrary  algae-eating "role" in our tanks that is both underserved and quite frankly, often inappropriate.

Sure, fishes like the Otocinculus are about as good a consumer of algal films as "they" make- but to purchase the fish solely for this role not only "commoditizes" the fish- it feeds the perception that its sole "purpose" is to "clean the tank." I'll say it one more time:

These small, seemingly non-descript fish are actually quite fascinating and engaging, and worthy of much more attention and respect than merely being regarded as "cleanup crew" by hobbyists.  They are remarkably "social" fish, with interesting interactions and group dynamics that are enjoyable and fascinating to watch.

That is, if we're not adding them to our tanks for the sole purpose of cleaning up "the mess."

Now, I suppose that the popular term "catfish" to the hobby at large over the decades probably instantly brought to mind a picture of a non-descript "bottom-feeding scavenger fish", patiently sifting through the substrate for uneaten food or algae; going about its business as members of it's group had done for eons, blissfully unaware that this was the only shot at sustenance they would get.

Nobody was going out of their way to target feed the "scavengers", right?

Urghh..

Back to the Otocinculus for a bit.

There are about 16 different species of these easily-recognizable (at the genus level, at least!) fish, several of which find there way into the hobby on a regular basis. Telling the individual species apart is challenging at best, so we (unfortunately) sort of lump them together, from a standpoint of needs and care.

Remarkably, when offered for sale in the aquarium trade, many unsuspecting neophyte hobbyists are advised to purchase "one or two" as cheap "algae eaters" for their new tank. And of course, being small, gregarious, social creatures, they can be very shy when kept singly, yet display surpsingly interesting social behaviors when kept in groups of 6 or more.

Interestingly, their dietary preference creates a strange sort of "paradox" for many hobbyists who treat them simply as humble "algae eaters", placed in a tank for the sole purpose of consuming unwanted algal films (which they do an amazing job at, BTW):

They are so good at consuming algae that, in an aquarium without sufficient algal growth, a population of these fishes could literally "eat themselves to death" by consuming all of the available natural food resource rapidly. This is why it's important: 1) not to keep too many in a small tank  and 2) to understand that they can and will consume other foods, like frozen brine shrimp, etc., and 3) to make sure that food is made available to them.

Because of their shy, retiring nature, when you supplement their natural algae diet, you need to make sure that food reaches them, and that the other tank inhabitants don't beat them to the food. It may take a little more time, but these endearing little fishes certainly are worthy of the attention!

It's an extra act of kindness that is most definitely not misspent, in my opinion. Now, "shy and retiring" typically applies to them when they're new. They will often become far more comfortable and be out in the open much more when they've adapted to their new home. And, since they really are found in groups in nature, we feel that keeping a small group of them in the aquarium helps to "socialize" them more quickly.

As stated above, "Otos" are really interesting fishes in and of themselves, and should, in our opinion, be treated like any other fish in the aquarium. That is, you should accommodate their need for food by never adding them to an "immature" aquarium that doesn't have some algal growth present, and making sure that they get their fair share of prepared, aquarist-fed food as well.

And obtaining food is really the main battle these fishes face, and the by-product of poor handling along the chain of custody from capture to aquarist leads to weakened fish with a poor survival record, further reinforcing the negative perception that they are somehow "expendable" creatures...

And as a sort of "confession", I know that for many years, my approach to keeping them was just totally wrong.

These are relatively inexpensive fish, and that often brings about a very cavalier attitude about keeping them. Ironically, they have that reputation of being a bit "touchy", not lasting long periods of time in the aquarium for a lot of hobbyists-suddenly "checking out" for no apparent reason. This unfortunately has given them the undeserved title of a "expendable" fish that you just "replace as needed" (i.e., when the fish "croak")- a horrible moniker for any animal, IMHO. When we look into the way they are handled, their requirements and feeding habits, it become a bit more apparent why they can go so quickly.

First off, from a water standpoint- they are pretty adaptable fish, but being from the Amazon region, they're typically at home in soft, neutral to acidic water. Although the pH and hardness are not super critical, STABILITY is very important to these fish.

Like, this should be the goal for most aquariums containing fishes, but once again, I theorize that, because we've assigned these fish the unfortunate role of "utility players", they're brought in to solve a problem (i.e.; algae) and any specialized needs they might have are viewed as secondary...

Oh, the aquarium. Let's think about that for a second.

I admit, in my less experienced hobby days, I'd unleash a few of these guys in a relatively new, rather unstable aquarium as a "preventative" against algae outbreaks.  I know I used to watch them, convincing myself that they were seemingly continuously "eating" algae (even though I couldn't see it with the naked eye), when the reality was, they were frantically looking for something- anything- to sustain themselves.

I was literally watching my Otos starving to death.  If we're honest with ourselves, we realize that a typical new aquarium seldom has any significant amounts of  algae, right? And if it does, it can be handled by one of two of these guys until it's gone. Yet we (and I include myself in this...) will often add a few as part of the "package" of fishes we consider "necessary" in our new tanks.

Oh, and this brings up yet another problem to the approach we take: These fish are quite gregarious in nature, occurring in large groups with dynamic social structure. The weird sort of paradox here is that it's important to keep them in groups for their well being. They fare far better, and are far more interesting in groups.

Yet, how can you really do this? The problem is, if you don't have enough algae or other food sources available to them on a continuous basis, a group will simply "eat itself to death" faster as the algae are consumed...unless you make an effort to supplement their diet with other foods.

We keep purchasing them for a "role", and nothing more. Or, at least that's the way it's perceived in the hobby.

Our friend Mike Tuccinardi, well-respected author and tropical fish importer, will be the first to tell you that these fishes suffer from that horrible "commoditization" which tends to overtake many small, bottom-dwelling fishes in the hobby. To that end, he suggests that we all consider the challenges the fish face on the way to us, and understand the extra steps that, in a perfect world, should be to assure that they remain healthy before they get to you:

"...it just takes a little TLC along the supply chain to keep these interesting and useful little fish happy and healthy. The primary issue with this fish is access to food – as mentioned earlier they tend to arrive half-starved and weak, which usually traces back to the conditions they were held in immediately after collection.

Sadly, some Otocinclus in the trade may not be fed between that point and the time they reach a store (which can be a week or more), so they are in far from ideal condition on arrival.

They need food. They need a continuous supply of food. They need to be fed directly in systems which don't have sufficient natural food production.

"Okay, really? So now I have to 'target feed' my Otos?" Well, yeah, it makes sense, right? And if you think it's a pain in the ass to do this, you're right. Let's be honest: In an active community tank, have you ever been able to target feed a tiny catfish effectively and regularly, as many authors suggest?

You'll have to spend a fairly significant amount of time trying to deliver foods to these little guys, trying to beat out the more aggressive feeders, all the while hoping that these fish will even show a remote interest unfamiliar foods items, like pellets, zucchini, or spinach, as is often recommended. Flitting over them with active mouths is NOT the same as consuming them.

It's easy to delude ourselves that they are deriving sustenance from these foods sometimes, much in the way we are convinced that they are finding "something" in a new aquarium because they are so "busy." Again, it's not at all impossible- but it requires patience, observation, and a tiny bit of luck...any of which you may not have- or may not want to expend on these fish- if you're honest with yourself.

Gut content analysis of these fishes in the wild shows pretty much two things: algae and the less defined "organic matter" (i.e.; detritus probably bound up in an algal matrix). So, this is a clue that getting them to eat other foods is not gonna be super easy. Not impossible, but certainly not the easiest thing you'll do. And if you take the (unfortunately and widely held)  position that this is a "role playing" fish, destined to be an algae-eating "janitor"- then you really have to be honest with yourself and consider if these fish are for you.

Yet, here is the good news: As we have discussed hundreds of times here, the botanical-style aquarium, when properly set up and operating, provides a near continuous supply of organic detritus, as well as some algal films which are not unusual in this type of aquarium. Perfect for these guys, assuming they're not getting out-competed for it.

Personally, I feel that these fishes should simply not be thought of as "cleanup crews", period.

If you have an algae problem in your aquarium, you need to explore and embrace more advanced nutrient control and export techniques to stop it, as well as the least popular method to control it- manual removal.

We really need to re-think our "relationship" with these little fishes.

Like so many things in our hobby, it involves a "mental shift", a re-alignment of our perceptions, and a greater appreciation for the needs and challenges of the amazing animals that we treasure so much. So please- the next time you're thinking about purchasing one or more of these fishes for the sole purpose of being "algae eaters" in your "high-concept planted aquarium", consider their needs...and if you aren't convinced that this is worthwhile, I'd implore you to consider honing your algae-scraping skills instead, and leaving these little guys to the care of someone who appreciates them for more than just "utility."

Tough love. Yes.

 We have simply not kept these fishes in a "fair" manner for many years, IMHO.

Yeah, they are amazing consumers of algae. I've seen a pair literally strip a 20 gallon tank with modest algae growth completely in 48 hours. And then struggle to survive until the algae returns. Hardly a life for an animal that seems to fare wonderfully in the wild.

I think we lean a bit too much on various animals to perform some of the "roles" that we need to have a better grasp of...This is in stark contrast to setting up an aquarium which accommodates the specific needs of certain fishes or animals. 

This is a pretty common thing in the reef aquarium world, where you see vendors selling packages of snail, crabs, shrimp, and starfishes as "cleanup crews." At first it seems innocent, but beneath the shiny veneer, it's actually kind of dark and sad: We consider these animals a sort of "disposable" and "temporary" commodity- using them for their "cleaning services" until we have no more algae or detritus or uneaten food or whatever in our tanks. Then, if they live, great. IF they perish- well, we can always get more, right?

Yuck.

The "commoditization" of life forms for our tank maintenance...great...

Yep, I see this in the reef aquarium world all the time:  Recommendations for large numbers of animals like Brittle Stars and various snails to handle "detritus"...

One of the big problems I have with some of the more “traditional” detritivorous “cleanup crew” members is that they are often animals that consume detritus as a part of their diet, and make a greater part of their diet the micro and/or macrofauna that you are so carefully trying to cultivate for your biodiveristy and nutrient export processes in your aquarium. They do an excellent job at it, too.

Oops.

To make matters worse, hobbyists are often advised to keep stupidly large numbers of these animals in their reef aquariums, which assures that not only will they decimate beneficial infauna, but they’ll probably starve to death more rapidly as a result of their own "efficiency."

It's no different in freshwater, really. The "cast of characters" is slightly different, but that's it. The "mission" we've assigned these animals is the same: It's all about eliminating algae and "detritus" in what we consider a "natural" way.

It's the same with snails...

Everyone has their opinions of what animals are best, and how many you should have. “X” number of this-or-that per gallon/liter, or some such nonsense. I think it’s absurd. I mean, really, who has done studies on how much algae an individual snail will consume in Nature? Yet, we as vendors and hobbyists come up with exotic formulae…based on…what, exactly? And how much algae can support “X” number of snails in an aquarium, and for how long? At some point, food supplies will be exhausted with a large population of these animals in residence.

Then what?

I mean, if I were a snail, I wouldn’t want to share my 30-gallon tank with 15 other hungry neighbors. I’d just want the space for myself, or maybe a few friends of the opposite sex. More food, more fun…If you can call a snail’s life “fun”, that is.

We're so worried about algae and detritus that we will do just about anything to rid oursleves of it...including, unfortunately- devaluing animals' lives in the process.

 And we know my position on detritus, right?

I suppose my position sounds harsh, and could possibly be viewed as cynical, or even a bit hypocritical by some.

Yet, without sounding like a judgmental asshole "buzz killer", I think that we should carefully consider the implications and responsibility that goes with these "5 for $10" fishes or cheap snails that we've unfairly assigned the role of "consumable", much like we would a box of carbon or a filter pad.

Sure, It goes against the grain of what we might typically think about when considering these fishes and animals, and brings up some ugly, difficult-to-face truths about our position on the matter, yet it does deserve lots of consideration.

The reality is that every fish which resides in a botanical-style aquarium will forage on stuff like detritus, biofilms, fungal growths, and even algae. Having these in the aquarium is actually a benefit. Few fishes will function as the sole means of "control" of these items.

That's not their "role."

It's ours.

Choices. Responsibility. Morals.

All things that we need to utilize when we think about purchasing this fish- or any other life form which we designate as a "scavenger."

Look, I'm not trying to occupy the moral "high ground", preaching to you that I'm the guy with the answers...I don't pretend to be that person. I find it a tough call, myself. I've killed to many of these fishes over the years needlessly, basking in my ignorance, stubbornness, and denial, and I'm merely telling you how I see it now.

You may have an entirely different viewpoint, capability, situation...Like so many things in the hobby, it boils down making thoughtful, informed decisions. To do what we feel is appropriate and acceptable to us, and in the best interest of the animals that we keep.  A challenging balance. 

So, stay thoughtful. Stay observant. Stay considerate. Stay honest. Stay compassionate...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

What our fishes eat...The wonder of food webs.

Yes, I admit that we talk about some rather obscure topics around here. Yet, many of these topics are actually pretty well known, and even well-understood by science. We just haven't consciously applied them to our aquarium work...yet.

One of the topics that we talk about a lot are food webs. To me, these are fascinating, fundamental constructs which can truly have important influence on our aquariums.

So, what exactly is a food web?

A food web is defined by aquatic ecologists as a series of "trophic connections" (ie; feeding and nutritional resources in a given habitat) among various species in an aquatic community. 

All food chains and webs have at least two or three of these trophic levels. Generally, there are a maximum of four trophic levels. Many consumers feed at more than one trophic level.

So, a trophic level in our case would go something like this: Leaf litter, bacteria/fungal growth, crustaceans...

In the wild aquatic habitats we love so much, food webs are vital to the organisms which live in them. They are an absolute model for ecological interdependencies and processes which encompass the relationship between the terrestrial and aquatic environments.

In many of the blackwater aquatic habitats that we're so obsessed with around here, like the Rio Negro, for example, studies by ecologists have determined that the main sources of autotrophic sources are the igapo, along with aquatic vegetation and various types of algae. (For reference, autotrophs are defined as organisms that produce complex organic compounds using carbon from simple substances, such as CO2, and using energy from light (photosynthesis) or inorganic chemical reactions.)

Hmm. examples would be phytoplankton!

Now, I was under the impression that phytoplankton was rather scarce in blackwater habitats. However, this indicates to scientists is that phytoplankton in blackwater trophic food webs might be more important than originally thought! 

Now, lets get back to algae and macrophytes for a minute. Most of these life forms enter into food webs in the region in the form of...wait for it...detritus! Yup, both fine and course particular organic matter are a main source of these materials. I suppose this explains why heavy accumulations of detritus and algal growth in aquaria go hand in hand, right? Detritus is "fuel" for life forms of many kinds.

In Amazonian blackwater rivers, studies have determined that the aquatic insect abundance is rather low, with most species concentrated in leaf litter and wood debris, which are important habitats.  Yet, here's how a food web looks in some blackwater habitats : Studies of blackwater fish assemblages indicated that many fishes feed primarily on burrowing midge larvae (chironomids, aka "Bloodworms" ) which feed mainly with organic matter derived from terrestrial plants!

And of course, allochtonous inputs (food items from outside of the ecosystem), like fruits, seeds, insects, and plant parts, are important food sources to many fishes.  Many midwater characins consume fruits and seeds of terrestrial plants, as well as terrestrial insects.

Insects in general are really important to fishes in blackwater ecosystems. In fact, it's been concluded that the the first link in the food web during the flooding of forests is terrestrial arthropods, which provide a highly important primary food for many fishes.

These systems are so intimately tied to the surrounding terrestrial environment. Even the permanent rivers have a strong, very predictable "seasonality", which  provides fruits, seeds, and other terrestrial-originated food resources for the fishes which reside in them. It's long been known by ecologists that rivers with predictable annual floods have a higher richness of fish species tied to this elevated rate of food produced by the surrounding forests.

 

 

And of course, fungal growths and bacterial biofilms are also extremely valuable as food sources for life forms at many levels, including fishes. The growth of these organisms is powered by...decomposing leaf litter! 

Sounds familiar, huh?

So, how does a leaf break down? It's a multi-stage process which helps liberate its constituent compounds for use in the overall ecosystem. And one that is vital to the construction of a food web.

The first step in the process is known as leaching, in which nutrients and organic compounds, such as sugars, potassium, and amino acids dissolve into the water and move into the soil.The next phase is a form of fragmentation, in which various organisms, from termites (in the terrestrial forests) to aquatic insects and shrimps (in the flooded forests) physically break down the leaves into smaller pieces. 

As the leaves become more fragmented, they provide more and more surfaces for bacteria and fungi to attach and grow upon, and more feeding opportunities for fishes!

Okay, okay, this is all very cool and hopefully, a bit interesting- but what are the implications for our aquariums? How can we apply lessons from wild aquatic habitats vis a vis food production to our tanks? 

This is one of the most interesting aspects of a botanical-style aquarium: We have the opportunity to create an aquatic microcosm which provides not only unique aesthetics- it provides nutrient processing, and to some degree, a self-generating population of creatures with nutritional value for our fishes, on a more-or-less continuous basis.

Incorporating botanical materials in our aquariums for the purpose of creating the foundation for biological activity is the starting point. Leaves, seed pods, twigs and the like are not only "attachment points" for bacterial biofilms and fungal growths to colonize, they are physical location for the sequestration of the resulting detritus, which serves as a food source for many organisms, including our fishes.

Think about it this way: Every botanical, every leaf, every piece of wood, every substrate material that we utilize in our aquariums is a potential component of food production!

The initial setup of your botanical-style aquarium will rather easily accomplish the task of facilitating the growth of said biofilms and fungal growths. There isn't all that much we have to do as aquarists to facilitate this but to simply add these materials to our tanks, and allow the appearance of these organisms to happen. 

 

You could add pure cultures of organisms such as Paramecium, Daphnia, species of copepods (like Cyclops), etc. to help "jump start" the process, and to add that "next trophic level" to your burgeoning food web. 

In a perfect world, you'd allow the tank to "run in" for a few weeks, or even months if you could handle it, before adding your fishes- to really let these organisms establish themselves. And regardless of how you allow the "biome" of your tank to establish itself, don't go crazy "editing" the process by fanatically removing every trace of detritus or fragmented botanicals.

When you do that, you're removing vital "links" in the food chain, which also provide the basis for the microbiome of our aquariums, along with important nutrient processing.

So, to facilitate these aquarium food webs, we need to avoid going crazy with the siphon hose! Simple as that, really!

Yeah, the idea of embracing the production of natural food sources in our aquariums is elegant, remarkable, and really not all that surprising. They will virtually spontaneously arise in botanical-style aquariums almost as a matter of course, with us not having to do too much to facilitate it.

It's something that we as a hobby haven't really put a lot of energy in to over the years. I mean, we have spectacular prepared foods, and our understanding of our fishes' nutritional needs is better than ever.

Yet, there is something tantalizing to me about the idea of our fishes being able to supplement what we feed. In particular, fry of fishes being able to sustain themselves or supplement their diets with what is produced inside the habitat we've created in our tanks!

 

A true gift from Nature. 

I think that we as botanical-style aquarium enthusiasts really have to get it into our heads that we are creating more than just an aesthetic display. We need to focus on the fact that we are creating functional microcosms for our fishes, complete with physical, environmental, and nutritional aspects.

Food production- supplementary or otherwise- is something that not only is possible in our tanks; it's inevitable.

I firmly believe that the idea of embracing the construction (or nurturing) of a "food web" within our aquariums goes hand-in-hand with the concept of the botanical-style aquarium. With the abundance of leaves and other botanical materials to "fuel" the fungal and microbial growth readily available, and the attentive husbandry and intellectual curiosity of the typical "tinter", the practical execution of such a concept is not too difficult to create.

We are truly positioned well to explore and further develop the concept of a "food web" in our own systems, and the potential benefits are enticing! 

Work the web- in your own aquarium!

Stay curious. Stay observant. Stay creative. Stay diligent. Stay open-minded...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Just read the instructions...sort of.

One of the absolute "givens" in the aquarium hobby is the necessity of doing some stuff your self- figuring out and executing ways to fix things, set stuff up, accomplish all sorts of aquarium-related tasks, ranging from the most mundane to the highest-level practices, and everything in-between.

Now, there is a significant body of hobby knowledge about all sorts of stuff out there- I mean, we've been at this for a while now.

The aquarium hobby as we know it has really been around for about 100 plus years (Okay, nerd- I know that the Ancient Greeks and Chinese kept carp, or whatever-but we're talking about the "modern" aquarium hobby, okay? That's really like the last century.). During that time, lots of stuff has been figured out- the nitrogen cycle, many of the critical environmental needs of our fishes, husbandry practices, heater and filter technology, etc...

All well and good, but there is a lot of information out there- and a lot of ways to do things...And no real "central clearing house" for information, right? You have to dig for it sometimes  You have to use your brain, ask around, utilize Google, read blogs and magazine articles, haunt forums, etc. And even then, you literally have to sort the B.S. and drivel from the real, useful information.

No one said this shit was easy...But it's not difficult, either.

Take for example, gadgets.

Unlike many of you, I am one of those aquarists who barely has the "Quasi-DIY Gene", and I know it. I can scheme out and plumb my reef aquarium, set up a canister filter, coordinate a flow pattern with off-the-shelf electronic pumps, dial in a CO2 regulator, etc. I can almost program a controller without throwing it at the wall, so I suppose that's progress. But that's the outer limits of my hobby mechanical skill set.

In the "serious" aquarium hobby, this is considered fairly basic stuff. However, when it comes to the hardcore stuff, like building a reliable and safe auto top off system, constructing a custom stand, or assembling my own LED lighting array, that's where I beg off and seek the guidance of fellow fish geeks that love that kind of stuff.

I know my limits.

Like most of you, I've acquired a fairly extensive set of rather obscure skills, like understanding the nuances of ball valves, re-starting a canister filter, culturing Daphnia, adjusting a CO2 solenoid, etc. These are skills you sort of accumulate by either observing other fish geeks, or just by jumping in and doing them.

And, occasionally you'll figure out how to get something like a calcium reactor or doser going on the first try, be it through luck or just having the skills required. However, if you're like most fish geeks, more often than not, you'll get it about 80% right the first try.

Not bad.

Just read the instructions...er, sort of...

Have you ever noticed that there is really no "instruction manual" for aquarium projects, or even for many of the pieces of equipment that we use? Okay, yeah, there are some famous You Tubers who do have videos on some of that kind of stuff...There are resources out there for almost everything. If you look really hard.

That's the key. Even in this hyper-searchable era, you still need to dig for stuff you want to find out more about. That's life. Decades ago, it was time to go to the library, go to a fish club meeting, or hang out at the LFS and pick the brains of some hardcore hobbyists. Those things still work, btw.

We as a group are pretty damn impatient, though! I will literally have times when I share a link on Instagram or Facebook to an article I wrote on a specific topic, like, preparing botanicals or whatever- and in the comments on the post, someone will inevitably ask, "Cool! How do you prepare those things before you add them to your tank? Do you have to boil them?"

Like, WTF? JUST CLICK ON THE FUCKING LINK!

I mean, it gets me sort of cranky. Like, how lazy are we?

I suppose, in all fairness, it's the desire to obtain more exact, more concise, or more immediate information that results in these bizarrely annoying questions. Like, "Just cut to the chase. How long do I have to boil my Cariniana pods for?"

That's why infographics exist, right?

Ok, you get my drift. 

I mean, why should they? There are so many variations on how to do stuff, what exact components to use, and how long it takes (ie; how difficult it is) that anything more than generalities about many topics is not only hard to share- it's likely irresponsible.

Yeah, you kind of need to research what you can,  roll up your sleeves, take a deep breath, and just go for it. Or, you can pay someone to do it for you, right? There are many great aquarium service people out there who do just that!

Many aquarium products do come with a diagram, maybe some basic introductory stuff about why it's good to have the piece of equipment (C'mon, you KNOW that already, or you wouldn't have purchased it, right? You STILL need to be sold on why a calcium reactor is a good thing for your reef aquarium after you bought it? That sort of stuff always makes me laugh), and if you’'re lucky, a decent set of instructions- or an exploded diagram.

Yeah, I agree- in some instances with some products, the manufacturers would be far better off providing a very detailed assembly and placement information for the purchaser, IMHO. Oh, sure, there are many manufacturers who do this, but not all.  I know, it sometimes seems like it's "expected" that, as a fish geek, you have this "hidden knowledge database" programmed in your head to figure out how to assemble everything. 

And in some ways, a lot of it makes sense. One of my buddies takes the hard stance that, if you can't figure out how to set up a piece of gear you purchased, you're probably not ready for it.

Hard to argue with that, right? 

Again, we need to educate ourselves as hobbyists. If you're into this game, you'll WANT to research and learn, right? You're not just getting some gadget "because they say to do it!" -right? If you are, you need to re-think it. 

Yeah, skills and experiences do go hand in hand. You sometimes DO need to do stuff to understand it...However, what you don't have "programmed", you can always find by tapping into the "matrix" (sorry, had to borrow the term) of hobby knowledge that is "out there." Have you noticed that?  Often times, you must acquire the arcane knowledge that you need by internet search, listening to podcasts, watching You Tube, haunting the LFS, or hanging with your fish-keeping buddies and visiting their setups?

Fun, yes, but often frustrating for some.

There is really no formal "aquarium construction guide" out there. None. Yes, lots of books talk about the theoretical and broad implementation of this gadget or another, but no one has really written a treatise with turnkey information about how to construct a perfect aquarium. 

Weird, huh?

Not really.  There is no ONE perfect way.

We all know this- regardless of if we want to admit it or not. And yeah, some stuff you just need to "work through", understand the rationale for, and go for it. You need to learn for yourself. And you DO know by now that having a collection of the best and most expensive trendy gadgets and stuff won't make you a better aquarist.  You need to understand the basics of the hobby. I've seen plenty of tanks quipped with the best and baddest of everything which positively sucked.

You know this, however.

Now, I suppose,  if you have the DIY thing in your game, you hate this state of affairs, and you can write a bit, there's your calling- write a book on how to equip a modern aquarium system, with detailed diagrams and step-by-step instructions on how to assemble it. Woah! That would upset the entire balance of the universe, because suddenly, hobbyists would have a single resource to turn to for reference on how to do_______! You'd no longer have to go though painful trial and error while building what you feel is a properly-equipped aquarium!

Oh sure, there are some of you who would scoff at the idea, saying that the painful accumulation of this knowledge and the skills to pull of these projects SHOULD be gained through blood, sweat, and tears- you've gotta "pay your dues" by searching for obscure information and failing a few times on the way.

I mean, I understand that. In the end, it makes you a better hobbyist- assuming you don't quit along the way. Don't quit. 

And I suppose, one could make an argument for having everything concisely presented on every possible aquarium topic, right? I mean, how would you feel the next time you fly from say, LA to New York, if the two guys up front were "paying their dues" during YOUR flight? Or, if the guy in the surgical scrubs patting your arm as you fall asleep on the operating table is "figuring out your procedure as he goes?"

Yeah, not so good, huh?

Okay, those are a bit extreme.

The answer is likely somewhere in between. 

We need to learn most things by learning, studying, researching, and executing. You can always ask questions of a more advanced or experienced hobbyist if you're stuck. However, don't always take the easy way out and just ask for the entire answer for a topic that's widely discussed everywhere, and then get all bummed out because no one is giving you every single concise answer. 

Don't be lazy. Do some of the work yourself. Avail yourself to the tons of hobby resources out there. But don't expect that the exact answer to your exact question is always easy to find. You need to dig. You might just learn more than you expected to!

Yes, we all get a bit frustrated looking for answers.

Like, I get it. I can't be totally without compassion on this topic!

Sometimes, we are excited and perhaps a bit overwhelmed at the apparent complexity of a new subject, but we're eager to learn. We just need a push in the right direction. I get that, and that's why, in our area of expertise, I'm always here to help. You'll find that most hobbyists and industry people will do the same....TO a point. And I encourage you to make use of such hobby resources when necessary.

However, for a small but noticeable sliver of the aquarium hobbyist population, there is this "thing" about taking even the slightest initiative to do some research. 

"C'mon Scott, it's hard. There's so much stuff out there. Besides, you understand this stuff. And I didn't grow up doing this..."

That's literally a "mashup" of some of the "feedback" I've received from people who asked tons of questions for which the answers were readily available. It makes me scratch my head.

I mean, Google, for example, is one of the greatest resources we've ever had as a species. It's so easy to use and so powerful that it can literally make one wonder if the library as we know it is simply a relic of a gentler, kinder era, perhaps having outlived some of it's usefulness as a "go-to" resource for knowledge (It hasn't IMHO, but you could argue that it has diminished just a bit in value for some...). To not use it is almost absurd in today's era.

Laziness is a shitty trait, IMHO. Don;'t be lazy. You're supposed to enjoy a hobby, right? You should WANT to do some research! 

The scariest things are when someone who appears to be operating in a more "advanced" area of the hobby asks a question about something frighteningly basic, like pH, water exchanges, the value of quarantining new fishes, etc. Stuff that's "Aquarium Keeping 101."  Like, ask yourself-why are you in the deep end of the pool if you can't even float?

You can do this. You can learn the fundamentals of the hobby, build upon them, and progress to more complex stuff. It's a matter of putting in some time and work. It doesn't have to be drudgery. 

Sure, people are there to help along the way. Resources are available...Yet you can't expect a grand "Aquarium Instruction Manual" with answers to 400,000 possible obscure questions on every single aspect of the hobby to just appear for you (Not yet, anyways...perhaps some day!).

And that's okay. The acquisition of knowledge  in the hobby is a journey to be enjoyed and savored- not reviled and loathed. Just take a deep breath, and read beyond the cute pic in that Instagram post...Dig to page 3 of a Google search if you haven't found the answer you're looking for just yet. It's there.

And  of course- always share what you know when you do figure it all out. Add to the body of knowledge in the hobby.

Win-win.

Just read the instructions...sort of-before you jump. It kind of works. Really!

So, I say to you: Search for knowledge. Ask questions. Execute. Learn from the experience. Share said acquired knowledge. Complain more, if you want, but you might actually find that you'll complain less when you just try stuff.

Stay courageous. Stay diligent. Stay curious. Stay studious. Stay persistent...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics