The Tint

The Best Version of Yourself.

As you know by now, I'm pretty much obsessed with the "cultural" aspect of aquarium-keeping. I'm fascinated by what makes us do what we do, cling to other beliefs that we have, create and/or follow techniques, and embrace the styles and trends that we do.

It has me studying the work, ideas, and aquarium "cultural trends" that permeate our existence on a non-stop basis. And of course, I have plenty of fellow hobbyists ask me why I'm so taken with this world of brown water, earthy patinas, decomposing leaves, seed pods, biofilms, and fungal growth. Like, what makes an aquarist so enthralled by this stuff which much of the fish world seems to revile?

Just what is it that is so alluring to me? Maybe you've asked yourself this question before?

It's likely a few things, really. Yet, in the end, it really boils down to one thing: An appreciation for Nature as it is.

 

It's really a desire to "reconnect" with Nature in some way. Yeah, I personally kind of think that we as hobbyists in general tend to over-complicate things a bit and sort of "polish" out and "edit" the true beauty of Nature. It's not that we "ruin" stuff- it's just that many of us seem married to an interpretation of Nature that is unyielding and bound up by a lot of "rules" and "guidelines in pursuit of what we call a "natural" look.

As you might imagine, I am not fond of rules in aquascaping. And there are many "natural looks" in the aquarium world. It's not just one type of interpretation. It never was, yet to many hobbyists, there is only one...

Ergo...

There are no rules in rediscovering the unfiltered "art" that exists naturally beneath the surface.

Repeat that to yourself the next time you're "stuck"; or the next time a "fanboy" of some "school" of aquarium technique tells you otherwise.

The only "rules" that exist in our interpretation of Nature vis a vis aquascaping are those which Nature imparts to dictate how materials accumulate, interact with, and decompose in water.

My peers in the reef-keeping world often ask me why I "gave up" the splashy and exotic color palette that accompanies the reef aquarium for the organic, earth-tone-influenced world of natural freshwater aquascaping, particularly "blackwater" environments.

I find the question amusing, because I didn't "give up" anything.

I love both.

However, to some of my reef-keeping acquaintances who were sort of "set in their ways", seeing me evolve a different path was perhaps disconcerting, frightening, or just plain confusing. And that's okay. I have my own tastes- as everyone should- and they encompass a variety of things. I poke my head out of the bubble from time to time. We all should.

Aim to be the best version of yourself. 

And yeah, I do see this same kind of "resistance to change" in various corners of the freshwater world in which I operate now. Like, I wonder why so few hobbyists tend to question many of the "rules" or "guidelines" that have been imposed upon our hobby practice for decades. There is a lot of resistance to even considering that these things might be outmoded or unnecessary.

Although it's sad to see hostility to different ways of thinking, I can't help but feel that it's changing a bit.

Slowly, but it's changing. 

Yet, you still see a lot of attitudes out there which make you scratch your head sometimes...

A lot of it is obvious when you hear some people who are in a position to influence others giving- well- I'll just say it- lame advice.

Some of the most revealing aquascaping advice I've ever seen deterred out socially was also some of the worst: "Copy an existing work that you like- exactly. Work with it for a long time and gain confidence with it before moving on to a design of your own"

Awful. 

I mean, shit. Really? Copy someone else's work before thinking for yourself at all?

WTF?

I mean, I suppose it could be interpreted as good because we all aspire to create stuff that pleases us, and if you need to copy others' work because you love it, so be it.

Nothing wrong with that. Inspiration is one thing. It's what we're all about here.

But, "don't attempt your own until you've successfully replicated someone else's work first?"

That's lousy, IMHO. 

I realize that, for many hobbyists, that might mean recreating an aquascape that we saw online, at the LFS, a fellow hobbyist's tank, or one of those international competitions. Gaining inspiration from the work of others is great...It gives us a "guideline", so to speak, for creating our own version of the word. 

Artists have been doing it for centuries- drawing inspiration from others, then sort of "tweaking" their own versions. Nothing inherently wrong with this. 

However...

When it starts becoming a "paint by numbers" thing, with everyone trying to create an aquascape that meets someone else's rigid "formula" for theme, layout, composition, stocking, etc., it's "unhealthy", in my opinion.

Like, this typically gets me lambasted throughout the competitive aquascaping world, but I, for one, have made it no secret that I'm a bit tired of aquascapes that contain sand waterfalls, floating cities, "beach scenes", "enchanted forests", etc. 

I mean, it seems to me that to place highly in one of those contests, an aquarium has to look like something out of "Lord of The Rings" -some weird fantasy with an underwater twist. 'Scapes that employ these things are studied, analyzed- revered as THE way to 'scape. Anything that seems to deviate from this is just sort of shrugged off as a "nice try", "too niche-y",  or something equally dismissive. And yet, the term "Nature" permeates the entire scene. It's bizzare.

If you look at this objectively, I'm kind of right...

And it need not be this way.

From the outside- especially to someone like me who comes from the reef aquarium world, which has went through similar "Copy this exactly in order to have a successful attractive tank..." periods, its all too familiar- and all too disappointing.

I suppose that it's even kind of funny, too.

A sort of "paint by numbers" approach to 'scaping, quantifying, and looking at the aquatic world. Trying to conform to what we see elsewhere; offering up what others "approve" of. Perhaps not even what we feel in our hearts. That can't be a "positive" for the hobby and art of aquascaping.

Look, I have no problem with different styles of aquascaping. If you're into floating forests and stuff, Mazel Tov. Good for you. Keep doing them. Because you love them.

Where I have problems is when we (and I mean "we" generically and collectively) are resistant to any deviation from what we as a group  feel is "the way."

And worse, when we are afraid to do what resonates within ourselves because we don't want to piss off "the establishment."

Now, again, let me make myself clear- just because I'm advocating utilizing materials and adopting an interpretation of Nature as it really appears in some areas, doesn't mean that every other way sucks. Although I'm not the only one who thinks this way, I always hear from at least one or two persons, who, after reading a piece like this, will tell me that I'm doing the same thing as those I question, and am "nothing but a hypocrite."

No. I'm not. Read this again.

All I'm saying is that no one should "hijack" the art of aquascaping and aquarium keeping  and dictate what is the accepted "style" or "practice" and what isn't. Trust me, I'm well aware that many people find the "style"  and interpretation we advocate here as aesthetically ugly, "dirty", messy, etc. 

And that's okay. Opinions- and tastes- vary.

Yet, I just can't help but wonder why so many aquascapers worldwide seem to be "held hostage" by a mindset that proffers that "you have to do it like everyone else" in order for your work to be "taken seriously", and how it arose. What is the reason for this attitude?

To be "cool?" To belong? Because we want so badly to be like the great aquascapers that we'll forcibly subscribe to some rigid style to appease the masses? Would the great Takashi Amano want this?

I don't think so.

His greatest works were those that embraced the concept of "wabi-sabi", in which Nature guided them. Scapes which evolved over time. Scapes in which Nature herself dictated the way this occurred, and how they look. There are no "floating cities", "floating forests" and underwater waterfalls in Nature. So how did all of this weird stuff become the accepted norm?

Where did the "aquascaping hegemony" decide to take this weird turn? Why is it considered better to "edit" the look of Nature?

I have no idea.

I merely suggest that we consider the absurdity of this close-minded thinking when choosing to precisely replicate the work of others- no matter where they are from or who they are. And you know what? I am pretty confident that most of the creators of these beautiful 'scapes will be flattered that others are inspired by their work, but they'll also be the first to tell you that you should not feel that you have to exactly replicate their work in order for it to be considered "great."

Don't get me wrong.

There is enormous discipline and talent that goes into the creation and maintenance of these "fantasy-inspired" aquascaping works, and many are achingly beautiful. I wish I had 1/10th the talent of some of these people. That's not the problem! The problem, as I see it, is that many of the high-placing and winning aquascapes in these competitions are crushingly "formulaic"- simply trying to "one up" or play off of the creations of others, and not really forging truly new paths- and this directly influences the larger aquarium-keeping world.

I suppose that, to some extent, this is how inspiration and "movements" work, but its the sort of closed mindset and shitty attitudes which often accompany it that sort of concerns me. There is some downright nastiness that runs in some of these circles. It stifles creative thought, IMHO. I hate stuff that stifles creativity or discourages innovation outside a given set of "rules" that others arbitrarily set.

This is supposed to be fun- right?

Again, there's nothing "wrong" at all with the brilliant work that people are doing in the big international aquascaping competitions.

Funny, but if it was viewed in the same fashion that we view concept cars at auto shows- you know, the absurdly futuristically styled ones with glass domes, hologram instrument panels, etc.- stuff that might eventually "trickle down" to production vehicles in terms of style or technology- then I totally get it. 

But it's not that way. The message sent is that in order to be taken seriously as an "aquascape artist", you need to do it THIS way. 

Why do I find this so problematic? What's the bug up my ass?

It's just that, well- it all starts looking the same after a while, and we continue to force ourselves to view every single one of these derivative works as "aspirational", as if our own stuff is just sort of..there.

There are talented aquascapers all over the world who do amazing work, with their own sense of style, without the influence of others- simply based on what pleases them- what's in their heads, or based on what they see in the natural world.

The natural world. Blemishes, chaos, and all. Cool.

Since starting Tannin, we've been blessed to have struck a chord with hobbyists who are looking for a slightly different direction. A direction that looks to Nature for its ultimate inspiration.

It's fun to see people take the botanicals we offer and "run with them", so to speak- creating aquascapes and aquariums that speak to their own tastes. A new palette of materials for a hungry, extremely talented aquascaping crowd eager to try something a bit different. We're honored to offer something a bit different to play with.

There is no "right or wrong" in expressing aquatic creativity. Only in the attitude which accompanies it.

Ok, deep breath, Scott.

The big takeaway of this op-ed today? 

Just be yourself. The best version of YOU. No matter what anyone says. No matter what everyone else thinks is "the way." If you think you have a better way- or just a better way to enjoy the hobby- execute it.

There are lots of "ways." None of them "wrong."

And you can always turn to Nature- unedited Nature- as your muse. She's been doing this for eons, without our input or "advice." She's really good.

I leave you with what I think is one of the greatest, most inspiring advertising passages ever written, the famous Apple "Think Different." passage- an advertising narrative, which perhaps speaks to this very school of thought:

"Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

It's hard to imagine this said any better than that.

Don't allow yourself to be beaten down by prevailing thought or "convention." Be the best version of yourself. Allow yourself to stand in awe of Nature, and to learn from Her processes and influences.  

Stay thougthful. Stay open-minded. Stay true to yourself. Stay supportive. Stay bold. Stay innovative. Stay YOU...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

"Pushing twigs."

I have to admit, occasionally I will write a post that is, well, overtly commercial. You know, those kinds of posts where there is little I could do other than to discuss something that is about our business. 

Well, today is one of those days, but I think it's about something that you've really enjoyed, so maybe we get a "pass" for that? Well, maybe not, but here we go anyways!

I want to talk a bit about a few things related to purchasing from us. Now, it's hard to talk about this sort of stuff without sounding a bit "smarmy" at times...I mean, I'm talking about how we roll, so..yeah...

Now, one of the things we talk about the most amongst ourselves is "expectation management." I mean, every consumer-facing company does, of course. When I started Tannin, it was about one thing- okay, maybe two things- or, three, actually: Having Fun. Doing Cool Stuff. Treating fellow hobbyists like friends. If I do say so, we've generally hit on all three quite consistently over the years!

F---- You, Amazon!

That felt good to say...I mean, therapeutic!

Yeah, those bastards have really changed the game. I actually love them. But the expectations of "millisecond turnarounds" on orders has percolated into our consciousness as consumers, and it's simply not realistic for a company like Tannin to hit those metrics.

And I wouldn't want to.

Yes, there are some things that we would do well explaining to you- in all of their uncomfortable ugliness. I'll just tell it like it is, and not attempt to "sugar coat" them. The most important thing is to give you an idea of what to expect when ordering from us. And it starts with an understanding of how we do our curating, packing, and shipping.

One of the questions we will occasionally receive- usually from new customers- is, "When will my order ship? It's been like 24 hours. I ordered Saturday night and it's now Sunday and I haven't received a shipping confirmation..."

Now, I totally get it. You've read about this stuff in our blogs...Heard customer reviews of Tannin Aquatics and the cool botanicals and all. You're ready to roll! You're used to hyper-fast service from Amazon, the "other guy on eBay", "--- Aquarium Supplies", or...whatever.

So, let me explain, at the risk of sounding a bit stubborn:

We're not them.

(Yeah, the jute bags are coming BACK soon! BY popular demand, no less!)

We're Tannin Aquatics. 

I don't ever, ever, EVER want to be like "x". And you shouldn't want us to be, either.

We are uniquely "us", and we operating in a way that delivers the best possible experience for the largest number of our customers. And that means it may take longer than, oh, 12 hours to ship your order! I know, sounds a bit crass, but why would I couch this in some marketing "double-talk?" I want to be open about this. 

Just like not everyone loves brown water, biofilms, and decomposition- not everyone will like this way of doing business. We get that. But we're being honest here about how we work. I'm sure that you appreciate that.

Now, look- it doesn't mean that we are inflexible and will never adapt or change or modify our processes to be more efficient or improve. It just means that we won't compromise our core premises of giving you the best quality and care.

We don't have some cold, sterile warehouse of pre-packed seed pods and such. We never intended to do business that way, and we never will. No bar-coded, scanned computerized collating system, or impersonal stuff like that. Nope. Fish geeks selecting stuff for fellow fish geeks. Would-be competitors could see that as a "weakness" of sorts, but I beg to differ. It's our strength. It's why we have grown so steadily over the past few years.

We are here for YOU!

Our process IS radically inefficient, tough to "scale", often challenging for us, and slower than perhaps you'd wish...By design. Yeah. Yet, it assures you that you'll receive the best stuff in the best possible fashion from people who love this stuff as much as you do. Old fashioned. Not modern at all, in that respect. But it's the right way to do business, IMHO. It's how we like to do business. Really.  And we're honored if you elect to do business with us.

We are always striving to get your botanicals and other items to you as quickly, efficiently, and safely as possible. We turn around most orders within 4-5 after they're received. This time frame may vary during holidays, weekends, and during busy sales! Once items leave our hands, we're at the mercy of the carrier, of course.

Now, again- we're not inflexible. In fact- just reach out to me or our staff and we'll do our best to accommodate almost anything that we can! This is where we really excel- those hands-on "extra touches." That, and the quality of our botanicals and the attention you'll receive are part of the reason why we have grown some rapidly.

And yeah, that's part of why we're not the cheapest guys on the block.

Oh, another thing. Don't forget that our aquarium prices and our rock prices INCLUDE the shipping. No surprises. On first glance, you might think that we're way out of line with the rest of the market, until you go to check out on the other guy's site, and...BLAM! Shipping! We're not going to "price match"- that's a game we won't play. However, we will offer you a fair price.

Again, we're being honest with you here...

Above all, we're a bunch of fish geeks- working for our fellow fish geeks. We get you! Yeah- there is a reason why your fellow hobbyists, aquarium clubs, hobby personalities, influencers, researchers, and public aquariums choose to do business with us. 

Of course, if you absolutely need to have your botanicals and stuff on a specific day, we can arrange (at your expense) Fed Ex or UPS overnight shipping, which, unfortunately is pretty expensive- but it is an option. Contact us if you want to make such an arrangement and we can look up pricing for you. 

The most important thing to remember is that every botanical item is hand-picked and packaged to order. It's not a "pre-packaged, mass-produced" kind of thing. Think of it almost like you would an "artisanal" product. 

This is precisely why we really dislike wholesale, for the most part, BTW. It's cold, impersonal, bottom-line-driven, and just not how we choose to do business. We're honored to do a very limited wholesale business for some select businesses, but we're never going to be that brand that's in every fish store or online shop everywhere.  We adore the LFS...However, it's not what I started Tannin for. Honestly, that would be soul-sucking and awful and simply go against everything that we stand for. We love dealing directly with our customers- YOU!

And it wouldn't be fun for us, either, to be this big, fancy prepackaged thing.

Honestly, if I had a choice between writing another blog or doing another  "Tint" podcast for you, or getting our products into one more store- I'd choose the podcast or blog each and every time. And quite frankly, I'm as excited about getting people into this idea of botanical-style aquariums as I am about selling a few extra orders.

It's bigger than that.

So yeah- we aren't the most efficient aquatics business out there. And I'm really proud of that!

As such, we respectfully ask for- and totally appreciate- your patience, especially during busier times of the year. ( Although I admit, it's busy all the time now, lol) Despite our large presence and global reach, we're a small company at heart. We hope you will appreciate the care and uncompromising attention which goes into each order, large or small.

From a single pack of leaves to the most specialized "Enigma Pack", each order received our utmost care and attention. Obviously, if you have special needs that we should accommodate (a birthday or something), do let us know and we'll do our best to expedite your order! 

Oh, let's talk about the most annoying part of our business. It annoys the hell out of us- I KNOW it will annoy you. So let's address it:

We occasionally run out of stuff.

We try our best to keep a healthy inventory of all of our botanicals at all times, and our top priority is to send you exactly what you ordered in a timely fashion. However, sometimes stuff just conspires against us and we don't have enough of what you ordered to fill the order.

Totally sucks.

And there are plenty of reasons for this: With a global network of suppliers, all sorts of things can go wrong, like customs delays at the point of origin, weather, seasonal limited availability of some items, shipping delays, etc. Stuff sells quickly, too! A product get's "hot" and all the sudden, it goes in a day. Or, a supplier can't collect any at the moment. And yeah, we do screw up on our inventory from time to time. I admit it. Sorry! 😐 

If we have to substitute an item, we will always use a botanical of equal or greater value. This occasionally happens with leaves and some seasonally-scarce botanicals. We'll usually simply take an item out of inventory if we're out. However, it does happen from time to time. Stuff slips though. If we do have to substitute in this instance, we'll either contact you regarding some alternatives, or note it on the pack.

We appreciate your patience and understanding! 

Again- talk to us if you are not happy with something. If you ask a fellow hobbyist how their issue was handled by us- I'm confident that every time, they'll tell you we took care of them well. That's my goal- and my promise to you. We want your business and I want you to be happy- so I'll do whatever I can to help.

Sure, we occasionally screw up. You know, just send the wrong stuff, have a package lost...even (gulp) forget (yeah, it's happened) to ship something in an order. I fully admit it. We're human, we get a bit crazed, and we mess up once in a while. It sucks, but it happens. And of course, when we do that, we promptly correct the issue as soon as we're aware of it.

I mean, that stuff is totally inexcusable- but when you're dealing with humans I na sort of "curated process" of hand-selecting stuff, we screw up now and then. It just happens. 😂 So, feel free to contact us when we do...you can even admonish us...We deserve it. But give us the chance to make things right, okay? 

Occasionally, other stuff happens, like someone won't like the particular Monkey Pot we selected, or whatever. I mean, we do our best, but it's understandable that you may not like something. Oh, and with wood...we occasionally hear fro ma customer that hoped to get something a bit wider, or smaller, or less "branchy", or whatever. Again, I understand that it's a tough one to reconcile. However, let's just talk if you're unhappy.

(Oh, we're bringing back WYSIWYG wood! Stay tuned!)

We try to do our best and ship you stuff that we'd want to use in our own tanks...but everyone is different. And everyone has different expectations. Again, it's one of those things that we need to talk about when you are less than excited with what you receive. We can always try to work something out. 

Okay, the "dark underbelly" sort of stuff covered- let's talk about something happier! 

One of the best things about Tannin (if I say so myself) is that we have a variety of botanical materials which we can all combine in an almost unlimited number of combinations for a wide variety of aquatic applications. When we first began, I knew that the almost bewildering variety of stuff necessitated some curated "variety packs", intended to create certain effects, or suited for specific applications; even inspired by types of fish or habitats.

It was cool!

("OG" botanical pack shot, for our homies!)

And of course, after things started really taking off, the realization hit that not only would we drive ourselves bat-shit crazy making 14 different variety packs, each with 11 different "ingredients"- we'd deny our customers the ability to curate their own selections! Nervously, in October of 2018, we nixed them...to way, way, way fewer grumbles than we expected.

Like, practically none! 

It's turned out to be way better for YOU- because maybe you don't want "6 of this or 4 of that", or whatever, in your pack. Maybe you want "32 of this, and 10 of that..." Self-curation was empowerment, and you- and we- haven't looked back, since. Of course, now we have "themes" that you can use as guidelines for various self-curated "exursions" in the botanical-style aquarium world.

And yeah, when the occasional self-proclaimed "competitor" comes on the scene offering ga few "variety packs", I have to contain the laughter a bit. I mean, good luck to you, buddy- Enjoy trying to track all that when (if) you get busy! Maybe you can...

That being said- and the hearty dig at other "competitors" aside, we realized that there is a certain joy in offering fellow aquatic hobbyists a variety of custom-curated botanicals tailored to their specific needs...and thus, the "Enigma Pack" was born! And of course, a big part of the fun of this pack is that you kind of never know what you're getting until you receive it!

Everyone loves a good mystery, now and again, right?

One thing that you are guaranteed is that your "Enigma Pack" will contain an assortment of cool stuff selected from our website collection...but you won't know exactly WHAT until you receive it! We get to geek out and "deep dive" into whatever it is that you're into, and select stuff that WE would want for your stated purposes if it was for our own tanks! 

Yeah, it's as much fun for us to select your stuff as we think it will be for you to work with it! Like, we spend a lot of time telling ourselves, "Hey- this combo would be cool in OUR tank..."

And the beauty of it is that we will customize your pack for your specific needs! Looking to keep that cool Apisto from that unique environmental niche? We'll select stuff for that! Trying to develop a 'scape that only features botanicals which can also serve as hiding places for fishes? We can do that! Need a selection of stuff for your Axolotls? We'll select the stuff which works best for them. Want to build a botanical variety around Cariniana Pods?

On it.

Maybe, you are totally into botanicals, and are simply looking for a little "gift" for yourself- a surprise for a new project...Or, maybe a gift for your fish geek buddy or an item for the aquarium club raffle... Maybe you just want a hat, some stickers, and a beanie- or a blanket...Got it.

So, yeah, we can do THAT. Whatever "that" might be! 

Our thinking is that you likely know the overall idea or need that you have, and we're privileged to do some custom curation for you within our extensive botanical collection. 

So, what are some things you can do to help us curate the best possible "Enigma Pack" for you? Here's are a few more questions that you might want to consider when advising us about yours:

1) Let us know the size of the aquarium(s) you're working with. Are the botanicals intended to compliment or provide foraging, shelter, or spawning sites for specific fishes?

2) Are you looking for the botanicals to be the "dominant" role in your tank, or just be part of the "supporting cast?"

3) Are your trying to adhere specifically to materials found in a given biotope, or are you okay with a "biotope-inspired" selection? (Remember, while many of our materials have their origin in a specific region, they might not all find their way into aquatic habitats in said region...)

4) Are there items that you DON'T want included in your pack?

5) Are you attempting to create a very "tinted" look, or to influence the water chemistry in your tank, or is your intent simply to have botanicals in the aquarium, with "tint" being a secondary consideration?

6) Do you want larger or smaller botanical items in your pack? Specific colors? 

7) Did you want only items from a specific geographical region? 

8) Is your intent to use all the materials in the "initial installation", or do you need to have enough materials to replenish those that break down?

9) Are you only looking for botanicals, or would you like us to include some other, non-botanical "stuff" in your pack? (stickers, gear...coffee?)

10) Is this pack a gift for someone else, or just for you? 

Obviously, these are merely a few of the many questions that you might want to consider when you order your "Enigma Pack", as it's really all about YOU, er, your fishes... 😆

Just let us know what you need.

It's really as much fun for us to create these packs as we hope it is for you to receive and work with them!

It's all about fun, trying something different; inspiring creativity! And we admit, we LOVE seeing your pics and videos on Facebook and Instagram, (we love when you use the hashtags #enigmapack, or #tanninenigmapack , by the way!) showing the "unboxing" and those sexy "arrangements" you do before you utilize them in your tanks! Oh, and no one ever gets tired of those prep pics, and of course, the aquatic displays you create!  

So, okay- I imagine that some parts of today's piece may come across like a bunch of excuses or even sound whiny a bit. However, I want to be 100% authentic and honest with you about how we do business. We're growing at a rate that I never expected- and I'm grateful for that.

Of course, I also don't want lose sight of why I started Tannin Aquatics: To share my love of the process, the beauty, and the joy of natural, botanical-style aquariums. To help educate and inspire my fellow hobbyists. To support clubs, the hobby, and conservation organizations. To be authentic, human, irreverent- and occasionally, a bit of a pain in the ass...

I think we've achieved at least some of those goals! 

Thanks for sticking with us! We look forward to working with you more as a lot of cool new stuff emerges in 2020!

Remember, it's all about fun, creativity...and sharing.

Stay excited. Stay imaginative. Stay bold. Stay unique...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

Yes you can.Should you?

Pretty much every day, I spend a lot of time thinking about how to create better, more natural environments for our fishes. This involves studying not only their wild habitats, but techniques to successfully recreate many of they characteristics of these habitats in our aquariums.

And of course, these often involve some experimentation and even some risk. In the earlier days of my botanical-style aquarium work, I took a lot of risk as I played with different types of materials and ways to recreate some of the aspects of the natural habitats of my fishes in my tanks- and it didn't always go perfectly. It took time to perfect- or develop techniques that created better outcomes for the fishes.

I think it's a safe bet to say that no lover of aquariums ever wants to put his/her animals' lives in danger. However, when you're traveling into uncharted waters (literally!) and trying things that you and few other aquarists have ever done before, the element of risk comes into play.

The degree to which we as aquarists take risks is, of course, variable, and a personal thing. However, the idea that the aquarium hobby is completely without risk to our animals sort of overlooks the fundamentals by which we operate.

Just removing fishes from a stable, wild habitat and "acclimating" them to the conditions that we provide in a glass or acrylic box of water in our suburban living room is a significant risk, right? Fishes have evolved for eons to live their lives in a specific set of environmental characteristics. For example, characins and such from soft, acidic blackwater habitats.

And when we "force acclimate" them to the environmental conditions which are most convenient for us to provide, it's clear to me that we are adding a layer of stress to their existence.

Now, as we all know, many fishes have bred and reared for quite a few generations in environmental conditions that are dramatically different from those in which they evolved. Now, when we are able to breed, for example, a Cardinal Tetra or whatever- a fish which evolved in soft, acid water- in our hard, alkaline tap water, we hail the achievement and make the observation that these fishes are adaptable and have been "acclimated" to our conditions.

And it's hard to argue that point on the surface.

Spawning any fish is an achievement to be proud of; to be celebrated. We've helped a fish become some comfortable; so adapted the environment that we provided that it responds to our efforts by initiating eons-old "programming" to start reproducing....Amazing!

However, I can't help but wonder if there is a difference between "adaptable" and "stress free" or whatever. I mean, just because the fish lives, and even breeds, in conditions far different than it was evolved to live in doesn't necessarily indicate that the fish is "acclimated" to them.

Sure, the fact that a fish are spawning indicates that it's more or less "comfortable" with your conditions- yet, if you take the approach that spawning is an almost "automatic" thing for many fishes- a necessary survival strategy that assures that the population continues, it's as much a testimony to their tenacity as it is to our skills, right? 

Not to diminish the effort of talented breeders around the world- that's not the point here...

What I am getting at is the question of whether or not many fishes truly as hardy and happy in our "forced acclimation" conditions as they would be if maintained and spawned in the conditions to which they have evolved to live in. Have we been really able to "undo" millions of years of natural evolution in a mere few decades of (commercial) breeding?

Is the breeding a "survival-induced" stress response, as opposed to a grand tribute to our skills?

Perhaps it's a bit of both.

I realize that this theory will not go down well with pretty much everyone who breeds tropical fishes...and I want to reiterate that I am not questioning our practices. It's not, "Congrats! You've bred the rare Wild Discus in hard, alkaline water because the fish is fearing for its very survival! You were LUCKY! It's NOT about YOU!" I'm just curious what is physiologically happening to species of fishes over the long term, which live their lives in conditions significantly different than those they were evolved to live under.

Yes, my ignorance of genetics and physiology are showing. But it IS something to at least consider, right?

I mean, yes, you can absolutely "acclimate" a Neon Tetra to hard, alkaline water.  I won't argue that. Over time, however, will this reduce the overall hardiness or disease-resistance of the captive population? Will different genetic selectors come into play, essentially "modifying" the species from its wild form, in terms of it's ability to function as "designed" by Nature?

Would it be such a crime to provide more natural conditions for the fish, as opposed to forcing the fish to adapt to the conditions which we want to, or are are easily capable of providing?

Yes, this calls into question the practice of a century of fish keeping.

It goes against the grain of the "keeping fishes is easy" mantra that the industry needs. So Im totally aware of the skepticism and unpopularity that this idea might foster. I'm not saying that what we've been doing is wrong. And I know that the hobby has been able to expand and grow as much as it has because not everyone wants to keep animals that require dirty-brown water and 5.7pH.

I just wonder if, in our century-long efforts to make all sorts of fishes "more accessible", if we've added an extra layer of stress to their lives?

Bringing this all home, I am no longer amazed by the many, many reports and pictures of all sorts of fishes which come from soft, acidic, blackwater conditions thriving, showing awesome color, and reproducing freely when kept in these conditions in aquariums. I mean, it SHOULDN'T be a surprise, right? The strange dichotomy of the last several decades is that many (not all...) hobbyists have been successful in keeping and breeding fishes in "tap water" conditions- so much so that reports of hearing how well they're doing under more natural conditions are the big news!

Funny. It wasn't always like this...If you read classic aquarium literature (like Innes, etc.), you see what great efforts hobbyists went to in decades past to provide more natural conditions for their fishes in order to get them to thrive and spawn. As the hobby exploded, it seems to me like it became more about making the fish work in the conditions that were easiest for the bulk of hobbyists to provide!

Yet, the reports of interesting results keep trickling in from our community. Even though we're not hitting every single environmental touch point, we are checking a lot of boxes off, right?

I don't think it's a coincidence.

"Repatriating" blackwater fishes to the natural conditions under which they have evolved for many millions of years just makes sense, right? Is its the humic substances and Tannins, and the lower ph? I think so. Sure, most of us cannot possibly maintain the 3.9-4.6pH that some species are found under- but keeping them in a pH of 5.8-6.6 certainly must be better for the fishes long term than say, a pH of 7.8-8.2, right?

This argument can be made for all sorts of fishes which come from specific environmental conditions- like brackish water fishes, African Rift Lake cichlids, marine fishes, etc.

Something to ponder as you plan your next (or first!) blackwater, botanical-style aquarium. It's more than just a pretty display or a unique setup. It's far beyond throwing in some leaves and seed pods and watching the water color up, isn't it?

Now sure, an argument could be made that captive-bred fishes which we keep in more easy-to-provide" tap water conditions could evolve through selection to be better equipped to survive in a variety of conditions than their wild brethren, who hail from a very specific set of parameters, right?

Maybe? I'm still not 100% certain that a few generations of captivitve breeding can erase millions of years of evolution in specific environmental conditions...

It's an argument that can go many ways.

It's very much the art and science of providing fishes with conditions far more representative of those under which they have evolved than we typically have done. To us, it's a voyage of discovery- a grand experiment filled with surprises and challenges.It's not as easy as it looks. To us, it's a new experience, like doing something in a different way than we've taken for granted for so long.

To our fishes, perhaps-maybe- it's like...going home. Sort of?

Enjoy YOUR Journey, while facilitating theirs.

Stay creative. Stay resourceful. Stay bold. Stay experimental. Stay dedicated...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

 

Crossing the "salinity line", breaking barriers...and blurring the lines...

As usual, when I complete a presentation at a club, I leave with an insane amount of ideas, motivation, and inspiration.

The other day, I was fortunate enough to give a talk at a Reef Aquarium Club- one I've spoken at several times over the years. However, this was my first time retiring to the club since I've dived full-time into Tannin Aquatics after having spent several decades immersed in both the hobby and business side of the reef aquarium world.

I have to admit, I put together a rather ambitious presentation- one which I intended to sort of bridge the splashy world of reef aquariums to our tinted, earthy world of botanical-style/blackwater aquariums. Now, it wasn't like this was some "high concept" thing- it was a simple idea...I wanted to show a sort of "commonality" of ideas, practices, and inspirations between the fresh and saltwater worlds.

And I have to tell you, it was likely the choppiest, hardest-to-pull-off presentation I've ever given. Like, how do you inspire or excite people who have tons of money (often tens of thousands of dollars) and sweat and time invested in seriously complex reef aquariums sand show them that our world of brown water and decomposing leaves is somehow relevant to their work?

It's a tough topic even to talk about without standing up in front of dozens of people and sharing slides. It was the first time in like 18 years of talking to clubs and conferences (including the 7 times as a featured speaker at the "Super Bowl" of the reef world, the Marine Aquarium Conference of North America) that I was actually a bit nervous.

Like,  I was self-reflecting as I was starting out the talk- not even fully convinced myself that I could somehow formulate the idea.

Then, like a little over the halfway point (sorry guys) it kind of hit...And I was jamming.

What I realized that is the most significant "commonality" between the reef and the freshwater speciality world is that we deal with Nature. Sure, it might be a different side of the "salinity line", but the philosophy is the same.

And hobbyists are the same on both sides of the line. We all can benefit from "mental shifts." Reefers are obsessed with coral growth and having a perfectly pristine tank stocked with all sorts of corals...And they are all convinced that if their tank doesn't fall into a very tight set of parameters and have a certain "look", that they're somehow not successful.

The thing I realized a long time ago in reef keeping was the same thing that I've learned in our botanical-style aquarium world: Nature is not a crystal-clear, spotless, and pristine place. It doesn't have perfect order, symmetry, or even anything resembling many of the carefully ordered, "garden-style" reefs that many hobbyists strive for.

Sound familiar?

Yeah, I"ll bet it does... 

As hobbyists, we tend to get caught up in stuff like chasing numbers, following the dogmatic ideas of "influencers", and, for many- an acceptance of "stuff" without questioning why we do it.

Now, don't get me wrong- I have immense respect for the reef community and the hobbyists which comprise it. However, the reef world, IMHO- especially in the last few years- has been the epitome of "chasing numbers"- you know, trying to hit well- defined, very specific alkalinity, phosphate, and trace element levels in our tanks.

As someone coming who's been a sort of "semi-outsider" to the community recently, and is now coming back to this world more thoughtfully once again, this was really apparent to me!

Reef hobbyists are almost obsessed with this. It's the same thing that we have talked about many times here in "The Tint"- doing things just "because" the "ill-defined "they" say you need to in order to be successful.

Grr..

Don't get me wrong- there is an abundance of amazing reef tanks out there. The talent pool in the reef hobby is immense- just as it is in the FW side. I just think that we in the reef aquarium world can use those skills to...push out a bit. Break convention. Breathe...

You know- you can push the boundaries.

You can question practices...experiment with new approaches. Follow up on hunches...

You're not bound to convention, someone else's opinion, or some absurdly rigid methodology. You're bound only to the laws of Nature.

And I think that's perhaps the most important lesson that we can learn from our aquariums- fresh, salt, or brackish. As aquarists, we can do a lot- we can change the equipment, correct initial mistakes or shortcomings the system might have had from the beginning.

We set the stage, so to speak.

However, in the end..it's Nature which does most of the real "heavy lifting" here. Nature rewards us for our good decisions, kicks our asses for our bad ones, and provides "cues" on what future decisions we need to make.

And Nature does it all indifferently...without judgement. It reacts positively or negatively to our attempts to control it. 

Which is why the reality of a blackwater/botanical-style aquarium or a well-thought-out reef aquarium is that it's perhaps one of the best ways to bring Nature into our home. To help recreate the dynamics of what we see in the wild. The form and the function.

To blur the lines between Nature and aquarium.

Sure, planted aquariums give us a similar challenge...but the botanical-style aquarium, and the reef aquarium challenge us in different ways. They task us to accept Nature in all of its beauty. And yeah, it makes us accept that there IS beauty in things like decomposition, biofilm, and algal growth. Even the ebb and flow of life- corals, macro algae, and other life forms...Things which we as aquarists might have been "indoctrinated" to loathe over the years..

Yet, when viewed as a "whole", the macro view of an aquarium is that it challenges us to look at the big picture- to not get too caught up in any one aspect of managing our aquarium...and to appreciate all of the process by which nature does its work. 

We can work with Nature's cues. Follow Her lead...but we also need to accept- and let go of our extreme desire to control everything...

And to make a "mental shift" to understand that everything we see in the aquarium is exactly what Nature intends. A definite homage to Amano's idea of wabi-wabi, which treasures some of the transience and "process" which occurs in nature, without our intervention.

One need only study the wild aquatic systems of the world to realize that it's not all "crystal clear and sterile" out there- and that our aquariums in all of their tinted, murky glory will reflect this. Nature "calls the shots" here.

And that it's totally okay.

Midway during the talk...I realized that exactly what I was trying to express has been foremost on my mind for decades...Regardless of what side of the "salinity line" I was playing with.

Yeah, it wen't pretty well from there! Touched a few hobbyists...Light bulbs were going off in their heads. People were starting to question convention, "traditional approaches", and all that we take for granted.

I couldn't imagine a better outcome than that! 

Until next time...

Push the limits. Stay bold. Stay thoughtful. Stay unchained. Stay inspired...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

Bending the rules?

If there is one thing that I find endearing about the botanical-style aquarium, it's that the practices and procedures which we employ are still very much evolving. There are no "absolute rules" that have been imposed upon those of us who play with leaves and botanicals. We haven't gotten that stubborn.

Well, I guess I should be a bit more precise...

There are no "rules" which we as practitioners of this style of aquarium have created. Nature does that for us; provides us the "guardrails" which keep us in line and prevent us from doing stupid things and getting away with them. Rather, we have developed procedures and "best practices" based on Nature's rules.

And procedures are always subject to individual "customization", aren't they?

Sure, Nature will dictate how stuff works, yet we have an ability to adapt and "iterate" practices within Her guidelines. It's part of what makes us unique as hobbyists (and people) is the way each and every one of us seems to approach stuff in the aquarium hobby in our own slightly personalized way.

Over time, and with enough personal experience, we often develop our own  "rules" for how to do things in the hobby.

Much like rules or "best practices" that we've created for ourselves in our everyday lives ("..always log out of your PayPal account when using your iPad, never get your sushi from a supermarket", etc.), the way we approach our aquarium practice is as individual as we are.

I know that I have a few "hard-and-fast" hobby "rules"/practices that I have personally developed over the years...And when I reflect upon them, I realize that many of them were simply as a result of my "socialization" within the hobby when I was younger and more impressionable, or something like that, lol! 

Like, I have this thing about never feeding dry/prepared foods to my fishes... I just don't. I mean, like, EVER. I'd literally sooner swat houseflies or collect ants from the backyard by hand before I'd throw in some flakes...It's that ingrained in me.

I know, it's a bit ridiculous. It is.

I think I have an idea why/how this sort of weird practice evolved, too:

"Back in the day" (like, during my pre-teenage years) I was obsessed with killifishes. The prevailing hobby wisdom at the time was that you should feed them "exclusively with live and (maybe) frozen foods." It was almost like there was a "taboo" about dry food- especially if you were serious about keeping and breeding them.

And there were plenty of "experts" who said that killies wouldn't even eat prepared foods! As if the fishes felt that these foods were somehow harmful or detrimental to them!

And this thinking, of course, was not limited to killies.

I've seen evidence that this same sort of dogma has been floating around the hobby since before I was born! The guppy-breeding reference books from the 1950's and 1960's which my dad accumulated in his hobby library (and which formed the much of the basis of my aquarium hobby "indoctrination") eschewed dried foods insisted upon feeding your breeders "newly-hatched baby brine shrimp" and "frozen adult brine shrimp" almost exclusively.

Dried food was not even considered! Yet oddly, weird food like "finely-scraped frozen beef heart" (WTF) was considered good stuff... Yuck.

I think that there was an interesting dichotomy going on in the hobby during the so-called "Golden Era." Even though technology was starting to impact the practices and procedures that were prevalent during the day, there seemed to be a distrust among hobbyists about abandoning, or even evolving practices long held dear. Like feeding dried foods in place of- or even in addition to- live and frozen foods.

Umm, I call B.S. on that...

Now, in all fairness, this was at the "dawn" of the high-tech influence on the hobby, with all of the insanely scientifically-derived dried foods we take for granted now just starting to really appear, so hobbyists from my generation were still strongly influenced by the "old-school" hobbyists who collected/grew their own Daphnia, Brine Shrimp, White Worms, Glass Worms, etc., and were perhaps a bit spooked about the idea that you could provide your fishes with "high quality nutrition in a can."  

I suppose it makes a lot of sense, given typical norms of human behavior- not to mention, the way hobbyists think!

And being a really young guy in a very hardcore hobbyist group like the AKA at the time (the 1980's), where I'd hazard a guess that the average age was like 55, I couldn't help but be influenced by this crowd. Some of these people were even serious hobbyists in the pre WWII era, and pretty much "invented" many of the practices that formed the basis of our hobby for a generation! 

It was pretty rad, actually.

Live food was just considered "what you do" when you bred killies. If you weren't into "growing your own", frozen was THE ONLY option to fall back on. And of course, even the use of frozen foods would cause a few murmurs and hushed comments about your "skill and devotion" (or lack thereof) to the hobby. I mean, how lazy ARE you if you use frozen food?  

Yeah, it was a tough crowd! :)

And using dried food was almost seen as a "shortcut" that "not-so-serious" hobbyists would take. Shame.

I mean, if you couldn't even be "bothered" even to thaw out some frozen food, let alone culture your own fruit flies or whatever, your skill set and dedication were highly questioned. And of course, there was the widely-accepted opinion that dried/prepared foods were not as "nutritionally sound" as the live foods we grew and collected (which, at the time, probably wasn't that far from the truth!).

Obviously, that's completely outmoded thinking these days. The technology behind the development and manufacturing of dried (and frozen!) foods has evolved so much, that even the cheapest, most "generic" mass-market can of flake food is probably better than 90% of the most "premium" prepared foods available in the 1960's.

Stuff has, thankfully, evolved.

In fact, nowadays, I suppose some hobbyists might even question why you'd even go to the effort to collect your own or culture food yourself...Your exotic wild-caught fishes can be fed near-natural-quality foods from a can, a premix, or the freezer daily.

So yeah, this sort of "tribal influence" from the hobby elders really set me into my habit, which to this day I almost never deviate from. I feed virtually 100% frozen and live for all my fishes, as a matter of practice. In fact, other than those occasional samples you receive at hobby conferences and as raffle prizes, you'll pretty much never see dried or freeze dried food in my house.

I know. Crazy. Stupid. Stubborn...and entirely outmoded thinking, because todays's prepared foods are probably 10X better than the frozen foods of 30 years ago! 

But hell, I'm stubborn.

Yet, it's rather ironic that bending the rules I've subscribed to have generally worked out just fine for me!  And you know Im rather fond of bending hobby rules, right? So, yeah..It's a bit "interesting."

And it's actually kind of funny- absurd, even..Because there are some insanely good foods out there. Like some that you'd be just stupid (my thinking) NOT to try! (hint, hint...)

Yet, in my own weird way, over the years, I'd convinced myself that live (and by extension, my "lazy" use of frozen) foods was just "how I do it..." I have all of the stubbornness of my predecessors (without the judgmental part, however)!

Yikes.

Yet I"m not completely stubborn and unyielding in my thinking, however. 

Now, I admit I have tried one of the new, insect-based dried foods, which I was REALLY excited to use...and was profoundly disappointed by the results. My fishes showed like ZERO interest in them...which was weird, because- well, flies! I mean, HELLO! It's their natural food...yet...

Can fishes be stubborn? Maybe? Well, maybe MY fishes can be stubborn? Yeah, probably.

However, I'll keep trying. I promise. 

Yes, "fish food" is one of those things that we take for granted...stuff that becomes a habit, and then a sort of "rule" in our hobby practices. Now, unlike my predecessors, I wouldn't look down on anyone who keeps a pack of flakes in her home and swears by high-tech, scientifically-formulated pellet foods...Our lifestyle as humans has changed so much over the decades, and these foods offer not just convenience- they offer overall practicality and cost effectiveness. 

And, let's just be honest: Convincing your significant other that it's "just fine" to keep a container of wriggly worms in the refrigerator, right next to the leftover lasagne from last night is increasingly difficult!

The good news is that ideas, practices, and "rules" once considered beyond question are open for conversation, analysis...and evolution! The speed with which information spreads in the hobby enables rapid evolution of ideas, practices, and procedures.

Look at how our little hobby niche has evolved and spread...

Yet, even with the rapid dissemination of ideas and information, human stubbornness and laziness still win out more often than you'd think!

I mean, yeah, we're in a world where tweets and hashtags have replaced long-form conversations and such, and where many hobbyists won't read the massive amount of information that's readily available to them with a simple click. Even though many hobbyists are interested in what we discuss in "The Tint" blog, a higher percentage would rather listen to the podcast. And that's cool, as long as they absorb the information!

Time is apparently more precious than ever. So we try to get information out in a means that's easy to digest, and in a variety of formats to keep us informed during our busy days.

And yet, there is still a shockingly large number of hobbyists who just won't absorb all but the most superficial information. Even if it's right in front of them. Don't believe me? I get at least 2-3 emails every week from customers who order botanicals from me and ask, "Okay, I received my botanicals. Do I prepare them for use, or can I just add them to my tank?"

I mean, I literally want to slap myself sometimes...

I've spent hours and hours developing and sharing "best practices" right here, creating instructions on how to prepare botanicals, the justification for why we do it, and the benefits of engaging in a preparation "protocol." It's formed the foundation of what we do. Not a set of "rules", but definitely a recommended set of "best practices" that we want to make as obvious to as many hobbyists as humanly possible.

We even went as far as to develop an easy-to-digest "infographic" that summarizes this important process ( with a minimum of verbiage) that we include with every first and second-time order. It's important to impart as much information to hobbyists as humanly possible about basic practices of our speciality. 

The apparent lack of desire to read or research stuff that one would think should be fun- ('cause it's a beloved hobby... you should WANT to find stuff out) might just be a "thing" with culture...A shift of sorts...

I suppose it makes sense.

Time and convenience tend to relegate stuff like culturing live foods (and even reading INSTRUCTIONS!) to the hardcore DIY-type hobbyist crowd. Hatching brine shrimp eggs for our baby fishes SHOULD be "Aquarium Keeping 101", yet the reality is that it might just become one of these interesting, charming, yet essentially largely extinct skills.

You know, like horseshoe-making, subsistence farming, grinding our own coffee beans, and changing the oil in our cars ourselves. Stuff which simply become "unnecessary" or "incbecause of the developments in our world.

Cool stuff to know- a novelty, even- but not "necessary."

I suppose that I can't fault this shift. I mean, our culture has evolved.

We stream movies to our iPads, use websites to deliver food from local restaurants, and let total strangers drive our 14-year-old daughters around town in their own vehicles with a simple smart phone app and no concerns whatsoever- something that would have freaked out any parent just a decade ago.

Yeah, cultural changes.

Look at the explosion in so-called "meal kits" targeted at a growing segment of consumers who apparently need a "paint-by-numbers" approach to preparing meals for their families. Order online and it's delivered to your door, complete with instructions! It's easier than planning out a meal, shopping for the readily-available ingredients, and preparing it from scratch- right? Maybe?

I can't entirely diss the idea. It goes with this cultural shift. Most people will tell you that they have less free time than ever, and that the demands on their leisure time are many. Time is more valuable than ever to us.

We value different stuff now than we did even 10 years ago, let alone, several decades ago...

Times change. It's cool. 

And it's probably for the better, right?

I mean, I know that my mom would not have been all that disappointed if I fed lots of freeze-dried Tubifex worms, instead of laying out cantaloupe rinds in containers of water in the backyard to bait mosquitoes into laying their eggs so I could collect larvae! 

Sure, we could romanticize stuff like collecting and growing Daphnia and Tubifex worms..

We could lament and think it's sad that,"Most  people don't do it that way any more..." Yet, it's kind of silly to do that. Culture, people, and the hobby- evolve and change over time, and that's a great thing.Yet, there are all sorts of interesting signs that things are changing yet again! "Growing your own" is enjoying a sort of rebirth of sorts, with culturing live foods becoming more and more prevalent among even less than totally hardcore hobbyists!

Live food culture is almost becoming a "sub-hobby" of sorts! It's starting to come full circle, I suppose. Much like home brewing of beer or whatever. You don't have to- but it's sort of fun! A great skill to acquire, and an homage to the "craft" of our hobby.

Yeah, times do change.

Sort of. 

And there is nothing wrong with bending our own rules from time to time.

Gotta run...thawning out some frozen bloodworms for my fishes. No time for netting Daphnia today...You know what, maybe I'll just try that can of new pelletized Soldier Flies. I've heard good stuff about it...

Stay unique. Stay stubborn- sort of. Stay progressive. Stay open-minded. Stay skilled. Stay relentless in your pursuit of hobby knowledge...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Mulm's the word." Or, is it "detritus?" Or, is it food, or...?

As a "student of all things aquatic", and a lifelong aquarist, like most of you, I've formulated a lot of opinions about hobby stuff over the years. I suppose, much of my "indoctrination" into the hobby was based on the time-honored traditions and mindsets that we took for granted for so long.

I remember as a kid reading fish books. Like, I read all of the ones I could get my hands on. And I read every word. In fact, those books taught me to be a better reader!

Some were my dad's (yeah, he was a fish geek, too..it's genetic!), others were from the public library, or my own growing collection that I purchased at pet shops and fish stores. Most were "vintage", re-issues from the late 1950s and 1960's, because that was when the bulk of the major, amazing books on tropical fishes were published up until that point.

And of course, the classics, like Innes' "Exotic Aquarium Fishes" rang just as true then as they do now!

They were magical.

They reflected the time that they were published. A time of burgeoning popularity for the tropical fish hobby. A time when technology and technique were starting to really "meld" together to coalesce into the modern aquarium practices we work with today.

It was a "Golden Age" for the tropical fish hobby, for sure. And you could sense it just by reading these charming books. You could almost feel the metal frame, slate-bottomed tanks of the day!

I read every book, from cover to cover. Memorized every passage. Savored  every image. Studied each caption. Coveted every fish! Studied all I could about the fishes I kept in my collection. Dreamed about ones I wished I had.

There was something very matter-of-fact about the language in those books. The straightforward, "this-is-how-it's-done" tone based on what you could tell was firsthand knowledge of the masters of the past and the "present"- preserved and passed on to future generations of hobbyists, like myself.

The vocabulary was rich and fascinating. 

One word I remember seeing in many of these books was "mulm." It was a funny word. A sort of 1950's-60's-style "catch-all" expression for "stuff" that accumulates at the bottom of an aquarium.

It was- is- quite appropriate, and surprisingly descriptive!

To me,"mulm" is essentially the equivalent of "detritus", which is used in the modern aquarium hobby extensively to describe the "solid material that accumulates at the bottom of an aquarium as the end product of biological filtration."

"Mulm", however, is a bit more...charming- right?

In a word, it's a "matrix" of stringy algae, biofilms, and fine particles of "stuff" that tends to accumulate here and there in healthy aquariums, What's cool about this stuff is that, not only do you see it in aquariums- you see it extensively in natural ecosystems, such as Amazonian streams, Asian peat swamps, and other habitats.

In the case of a "botanical" style aquarium, "mulm" is also comprised of bits and pieces of the broken-down leaves and botanicals we place in our tanks. It's an integral component of  what we call an "enriched" substrate in our aquariums. As botanicals break down- just like in Nature- they create a diverse matrix of partially decomposing plant materials, pieces of bark, bits of algae, and some strings of biofilm.

Stuff that sounds diverse, yet benign.

Detritus, a more "cocktail party smart" word, seems to have a bit more of a sinister connotation to it. The definition is a bit more precise:

"Detritus is dead particulate organic matter. It typically includes the bodies or fragments of dead organisms, as well as fecal material. Detritus is typically colonized by communities of microorganisms which act to decompose or remineralize the material." (Source: The Aquarium Wiki)

Woah! 

It's one of our most commonly used aquarium terms...and one which, well, quite frankly, sends shivers down the spine of many aquarium hobbyists. And judging from that definition, it sounds like something you absolutely want to avoid having in your system at all costs. I mean, "dead organisms" and "fecal material" is not everyone's idea of a good time, ya know?

Literally, shit in your tank, accumulating. Like, why would anyone want this to linger- or worse- accumulate- in your aquarium?

Yet, when you really think about it and brush off the initial "shock value", the fact is that detritus is an important part of the aquatic ecosystem, providing "fuel" for microorganisms and fungi at the base of the food chain in aquatic environments. In fact, in natural blackwater systems, the food inputs into the water are channeled by decomposers, like fungi, which act upon leaves and other organic materials in the water to break them down. 

And the leaf litter "community" of fishes, insects, fungi, and microorganisms is really important to these systems, as it assimilates terrestrial material into the blackwater aquatic system, and acts to reduce the loss of nutrients to the forest which would inevitably occur if all the material which fell into the streams was washed downstream!

That sounds all well and good and well, grandiose, but what are the implications of these processes- and the resultant detritus- for the closed aquarium system?

In years past, aquarists who favored "sterile-looking" aquaria would have been horrified to see this stuff accumulating on the bottom, or among the hardscape. Upon discovering it in our tanks, it would have taken nanoseconds to lunge for the siphon hose to get this stuff out ASAP!

In our world, the reality is that we embrace this stuff for what it is: A rich, diverse, and beneficial part of our microcosm. It provides foraging, "Aquatic plant "mulch", supplemental food production, a place for fry to shelter, and is a vital, fascinating part of the natural environment. 

It is certainly a new way of thinking when we espouse not only accepting the presence of this stuff in our aquaria, but actually encouraging it and rejoicing in its presence! 

Why?

Well, not because we are thinking, "Wow, this is an excuse for maintaining a dirty-looking aquarium!" No.

We rejoice because our little closed microcosms are mimicking exactly what happens in the natural environments that we strive so hard to replicate. Granted, in a closed system, you must pay greater attention to water quality, but accepting decomposing leaves and botanicals as a dynamic part of a living closed system is embracing the very processes that we have tried to nurture for many years.

Sure, it's a very different aesthetic than what we have been indoctrinated to appreciate over the years: Brown water, leaves, stringy algae films, and bits of botanical debris. We may not want to have an entire bottom filled with this stuff...or, maybe we might!

Think about it. Much of this material is not only already broken-down or rendered "inert" by beneficial bacteria and microorganisms which live within the "matrix"- it's processed into a more easily-assimilated form for other aquatic animals. 

Check your water parameters. Are you seeing surging nitrate levels? Do you have any detectible ammonia or nitrite? Are the fishes healthy, relaxed, and active? If the answer to the first two questions is "no", and the last is "yes"- and I suspect that it will be in well-managed systems- then perhaps it's time to enjoy whats happening in your aquarium!

If you are having issues with ammonia/nitrite, you have more problems than just some detritus, IMHO. If you have some significant accumulations of nitrate, it's important to review the husbandry processes you employ. I know from personal experience in both freshwater and reef/coral propagation systems that you can have significant quantities of detritus "in play" without deteriorated water quality.

It's a balance- like everything else in our aquariums. I know that sounds a bit like a "cop out"- but it's a reality. 

To accept and understand that the aesthetic of a heavily botanical-influenced system is simply different than what we've come to perceive as "acceptable" in the general aquarium sense.

It's not for everyone.

It's not something that we are used to seeing. However, the feedback we've been getting from you- our customers- regarding the systems you've set up in this fashion is that they have created an entirely new perception and understanding of a freshwater aquarium. They've enabled us all to try a completely different aesthetic experience, to understand processes that occur naturally, which are of great benefit to the fishes we keep.

Attempting to keep our tanks essentially "sterile" is an almost futile, and ultimately detrimental practice, IMHO.  The idea of creating "unnaturally clean" conditions likely results in some microorganisms struggling to find food. Now our aquariums are not absolutely "natural", open systems. However, embracing some natural processes and emulating functions of wild ecosystems might be a key "unlock" in order for certain organisms to survive and thrive long term.

Detritus/mulm- whatever you call it- serves as a food source- and a food "processing/producing" source for fishes and the other aquatic organisms which live in our tanks. 

And yeah- detritus is found in gut content analysis of many fishes. Here is a charming passage, with a rather comprehensive description of gut contents from one of our fave fishes, the Cardinal Tetra: 

"The stomach content was categorized as “detritus”... when it was found in sufficient quantities within the proper stomach, so that the conclusion of “detritus-feeding” appeared as a realistic proposition...the hind gut, filled with the digested material, practically always contained particles that could be listed as detritus. In addition, small quantities of detritus particles remain from prey guts, and/or enter the stomach when the fish are browsing for small prey over the surface of plants, litter and woods." 

So, yeah- use common sense in stocking, feeding, and maintaining your aquarium  However, I think stressing a bit less about keeping our aquariums completely spotless is a really good step to take.

I think so. Really.

"Remove detritus from your aquarium regularly..."

Is this another one of those long-held "aquarium truisms" that, for 90% of what we do is absolutely the correct way to manage our tanks, but which, for a small percentage of aquarists with the means, curiosity and inclination to experiment, could actually ultimately prove detrimental in some way?

Like, actually letting some stay "in play?"

Okay, I know that now a bunch of you are thinking, "This guy IS nuts. Letting detritus accumulate in an aquarium is bad news. A recipe for problems- or worse. And not only that, he has no idea of the implications of what he's suggesting."

Well, as far as the first part of your thought- Yeah, I could be a bit "crazy."

On the other hand, I think I do have some idea of the implications of what I'm postulating here. First off, remember, I'm not suggesting that everyone throw away their siphons, disregard water exchanges, and just allow shit (literally!) to accumulate in their aquarium substrate in the interest of creating a "food web."  

No sir.

What I am curious about is if there is some benefit in a botanical, blackwater system, of encouraging a bit more fungal and microbial growth, utilizing, among other things, the organic detritus that inevitably is produced in a well-managed. well-populated aquarium.

 I mean, if you're doing water changes and removing uneaten food, dead fishes, aquatic plant leaves, etc., you're already significantly reducing the "food inputs" available to the organisms on the low end of the food chain, right? In a typical aquarium, well-maintained with regular water changes and removal of detritus, our fishes are almost 100% dependent upon us to provide food, right?

We do have a sort of a "food web" in our tanks, right? However, we seem to regularly "dissect" part of it with our militant stance about not letting this stuff accumulate at all.

I know that when I used to be I the coral propagation business, we experienced challenges early on with color and growth of our coral frags. I mean, we had great husbandry (by typical standards), insane water movement, protein skimming, and almost "clinically sterile" water conditions! It was frustrating. We tried everything- why wasn't our coral growing well?

It was only when we had a protracted period of time where circumstances prevented us from our usual hyper husbandry that things improved.. Yeah- Lo and behold, once we allowed some detritus to remain in our systems, we grew corals more quickly, healthily, and colorfully.

There IS something to this concept!

I also believe that leaving a bit of detritus in the system- say, in the leaf litter bed,  helps to "fuel" the fungal and microorganism growth that forms the basis of our little ecosystems. I mean, think of some possible benefits to our aquariums. Having a more diverse, healthy assortment of fungi and microorganisms could lead ultimately to a more stable, more efficient aquarium, right?

Yeah, I think so!

If you're not decimating a large percentage of the ecosystem's primary decomposers and food sources weekly with ultra-intense maintenance, wouldn't there perhaps be some advantages?

And don't a lot of young fishes consume "infusoria" organisms as a part of their initial diet?  Aren't these organisms found in detritus? Wouldn't it make sense to have larger populations of some of these organisms available to our fishes at all times in the aquarium to supplement our artificial diets?

Could the "fry-rearing system of the future" be a tank with a big bed of decomposing leaf litter and a terrestrial soil substrate?

Yeah, I believe it could.

In the meantime, there are the aesthetics of more natural aquariums that we proffer, and the mental shifts we need to make to accept and understand a different "look" and function.

Perhaps, we're somehow drawn to their earthy, "organic" feel?

I'm not sure. But I do know that I'm enjoying my tanks, and so are many of you who have tried this approach. Embracing- not fighting- Nature in a more complete sense just might be "the next big breakthrough" in aquarium keeping. 

Or, it might simply be an idea that's always been right in front of our noses, which we just resisted for a generation or two.

Evolution? Perhaps.

Stay persistent. Stay engaged. Stay confident. Stay open-minded. Stay unafraid...

And Stay Wet.

Scot Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Editing, iterating, and refining the "functional aesthetics" of our aquariums...

As you all know by now, I'm the first one to preach patience and sticking by your guns over the long term. You know, developing a plan for an aquarium, executing, and evolving it...

Of course, every once in a while, I'll pull off some kind of radical move on an aquarium that's been operating for a while. Just do something different...More than a "tweak"- Maybe, it's what could be defined as a "pivot" or a "directional change."

And it can be radical. And exciting!

Not sure what prompts it. "Scaper's remorse", perhaps? Dismay with the setup? Boredom? Divine inspiration?

Doesn't happen often.

Just every once in a while...

Have you ever done a radical change on an already-established aquarium?

You know, the one that was going to be the Apistogramma biotope tank and it suddenly evolved into a wild livebearer tank, or the African cichlid tank that mutated into a brackish water aquarium?  

Stuff like that?

I was thinking about this the other day when I was doing a water change on one of my blackwater aquariums. I was thinking to myself, "Man, it would be so easy to turn this characin-dominated Amazonina-region-themed tank into a tank into an Asian-themed tank. A few little tweaks, and..."

I almost just went for it...

I think that's what's interesting about botanical-style aquariums. If you're not strictly setting one of these tanks up as a hardcore, biotopic representation, or are using Asian plants and have the urge to switch over to Amazonian fishes- you've got a certain degree of "generic flexibility" that you can work with. 

What causes such rapid shifts in thinking?

Sometimes it's simply thinking about a particular species of fish that does it...Maybe the work of a fellow fish geek. Or seeing a pic from Nature.

Once in a while, such "motivations" inspire me to "edit" or even jump in and complete a wholesale change in plans...And seldom does it involve tearing an entire tank apart. Most of the time, I simply "edit" what I have to "scratch the itch"...

Yeah, "editing" is pretty easy. A little movement of the wood "stack"...A change in the orientation of some botanicals; adding some different ones...shifting substrate around a bit. Stuff like that.

Easy.

And, when you're "swapping out" one blackwater habitat for another- from a different part of the world, for example- it's not really that difficult. We have that degree of flexibility when it comes to utilizing various botanicals in our aquariums. We have the advantage of being able to re-configure our entire tank and its "mission" with surprisingly minimal effort.

Now, think about it a bit more deeply for just a second...

What, exactly IS the purpose of an aquascape in the aquarium...besides aesthetics? Well, it's to provide fishes with a comfortable environment that makes them feel "at home", right?

Exactly...

So when was the last time you really looked into where your fishes live- or should I say, "how they live" - in the habitats from which they come? The information that you can garner from such observations and research is amazing!

One of the key takeaways that you can make is that many freshwater fishes like "structure" in their habitats. Unless you're talking about large, ocean going fishes, or fishes that live in enormous schools, like herring or smelt- fishes like certain types of structure- be it rocks, wood, roots, etc.

Structure provides a lot of things- namely protection, shade, food, and spawning/nesting areas.

And of course, the structure that we are talking about in our aquairums is not just rocks and wood...it's all sorts of botanical materials and leaves that create "microhabitats" in all sorts of places within the aquarium.

We can utilize all of these things to facilitate more natural behaviors from our fishes.

So, yeah-think about how fishes act in Nature.

They tend to be attracted to areas where food supplies are relatively abundant, requiring little expenditure of energy in order to satisfy their nutritional needs. Insects, crustaceans, and yeah- tiny fishes- tend to congregate and live around floating plants, masses of algae, and fallen botanical items (seed pods, leaves, etc.), so it's only natural that our subject fishes would be attracted to these areas...

I mean, who wouldn't want to have easy access to the "buffet line", right?

Another interesting phenomenon that any fisherman will tell you is that fishes also like to gather under trees. Not only do trees provide a respite from the bright light, they provide an opportunity to grab a meal of insects, fruit, and other materials which might fall from the trees throughout the day.

You know, allochthonous input...

Many fish species take food from what are known as "allochthonous sources" (i.e. food originated from sources outside the aquatic habitat), such as insects, other invertebrates, and plant parts that fall from the nearby trees. Like, remember seeing films of Pacus chowing on fruits that fall in the water?

I've even seen pics of Arowanna leaping out of the water to pluck a frog off of a branch!  By providing both food and shelter, the waters under overhanging trees provide an interesting place for fishes to hang out.

And then, of course, there are terrestrial insects, which form a large part of the diet of many fishes.

Yeah, terrestrial insects are a very important and significant part of the diet of some small characins. In fact, a study of some Hemmigramus species indicated that a whopping 96% of their stomach contents were terrestrial insects, mainly...ants!  This is actually not surprising, when you think about it, because ants are ridiculously abundant in tropical forests, and in particular in the central Amazon basin, where scientific surveys have estimated that they may constitute as much as three-quarters of the biomass of the soil fauna!

In addition to providing a potentially rich source of energy for Characins, ants tend to become vulnerable to predation once in the water, so they are "easy pickings" for tetras! The predominance of ants in the gut content analysis of Hemmigramus, Hypessobrycon, and other tetras may also indicate that these species feed naturally on the surface of the water, given that these insects tend to float and flail away on the surface after falling into the water.

The "allochthonous inputs" of tropical streams are really fascinating to me, for the reason that these are some of the easiest food items in many fishes's diets for us to replicate as naturally as possible. We've discussed before that some popular aquarium food items like Blood Worms represent an excellent, highly "realistic" representation of the insect larvae that fishes from these habitats consume.

Perhaps most interesting to us botanical-style aquarium people are epiphytes. These are organisms which grow on the surface of plants, branches, or other substrates and derive their nutrients from the surrounding environment. They are important in the nutrient cycling and uptake in both Nature and the aquarium, adding to the biodiversity, and serving as an important food source for many species of fishes.

In the case of our aquatic habitats, like streams, ponds, and inundated forests, epiphytes are abundant, and many fishes will spend large amounts of time foraging the biocover on tree trunks, branches, leaves, and other botanical materials. Although most animals use leaves and tree branches for shelter and not directly as a food item, grazing on this epiphytic growth is very important.

Some organisms, such as nematodes and chironomids ("Bloodworms!") will dig into the leaf structures and feed on the tissues themselves, as well as the fungi and bacteria found in and among them. These organisms, in turn, become part of the diet for many fishes.

And the resulting detritus produced by the "processed" and decomposing pant matter is considered by many aquatic ecologists to be an extremely significant food source for many fishes, especially in areas such as Amazonia and Southeast Asia, where the detritus is considered an essential factor in the food webs of these habitats.

If you observe the behavior of many of your fishes in the aquarium, such as characins, cyprinids, Loricarids, and others, you'll see that in between feedings, they'll spend an awful lot of time picking at "stuff" on the bottom of the tank. In a botanical style aquarium, this is a pretty common occurrence, and I believe an important benefit of this type of system. 

I am of the opinion that a botanical-style aquarium, complete with its decomposing leaves and seed pods, can serve not only as a "structural habitat", but also as a sort of "buffet" for many fishes- even those who's primary food sources are known to be things like insects and worms and such. Detritus and the organisms within it can provide an excellent supplemental food source for our fishes!

It's well known that in many habitats, like inundated forests, etc., fishes will adjust their feeding strategies to utilize the available food sources at different times of the year, such as the "dry season", etc. And it's also known that many fish fry feed actively on bacteria and fungi in these habitats...so I suggest one again that a blackwater/botanical-style aquarium could be an excellent sort of "nursery" for many fish species! 

So, where does this leave us in terms of creating and/or editing an aquascape for our fishes in the aquarium?

Well, for one thing, we can look to Nature to see just what it is, "material-wise" that falls into the water. In many wild habitats, it's leaves, seed pods, branches, etc. All sorts of stuff. 

And what about how these materials are oriented in the water after they fall? For example, when a tree branch falls into the water, gravity, current, wind, etc influence how it lays on the bottom of the stream. Often times, in shallow streams, the branch extends partially out of the water...kind of like what we do in 'scaping, right?

Yet, somehow less "contrived."

As aquarists, we put an amazing amount of time into trying to achieve a perfect placement for wood, when the reality is that, in Nature, it's decidedly random. Is there not beauty in "randomness", despite our pursuit of the "golden ratio", etc? Just because last year's big 'scaping contest winner had the "perfect" orientation, ratios, and alignment of the Manzanita branch or whatever within the tank, doesn't mean it's a real representation of the natural functionality of "randomness." 

Bottom line- maybe we don't need to "stress out" so much in our placement of wood in the aquarium, striving for some artistic interpretation...maybe we'd achieve something altogether different- and cool-if we just sort of randomly "drop" the wood into the tank and go from there...maybe?

Could you handle that? 

And ask yourself, honestly- is there not a true beauty in the "randomness" of nature? Isn't this what aquarists like Amano were really trying to stress, rather than preaching the rigid adherence to some "formula" of placement? Can't you see the beauty in replicating as scene like this one, photographed my Mike Tuccinardi in the Rio Negro?

So, bringing it back to the idea of "editing" our own work, it's remarkable how simply re-evaluating your tank in the context of "functional aesthetics" can give you  new ideas, inspiration, and purpose.

And in the end...It's all about what we love as hobbyists. That ability to justify a change of heart, lol! Yes, I've had times when I just woke up and turned a tank on end into something totally different...And it almost always starts (in my weird world) with me thinking about Nature and how to better replicate it in my aquarium.

This quick "edits" and pivots are pretty fun...But I suppose they're almost a "shock-trauma" of sorts...One minute, your tank's all about leaf litter and "Spider Wood", the next minute your tank is filled with Mopani wood and Palm fronds....

Crazy...

And it's kind of fun, too...Just doing different stuff on the spur of the moment once in a while...I actually love that sort of thing. It prompts a sort of spontaneous creativity that is a distinct departure from our uber-patient typical selves, right?

On the other hand, the best way to go is simply to set up another tank, right? Of course, that assumes a few things, doesn't it? 😂

And of course, that's how "Multiple Tank Syndrome" starts...

A dangerous though, huh?

Stay spontaneous. Stay patient. Stay creative. Stay engaged. Stay excited. Stay inspired...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

 

 

Shedding some light on the color of darkness...

As I've mentioned many times here, we as a community are at a pretty remarkable place. We actually seek out and enjoy the tinted water! It wasn't really all that long ago when tinted water connoted "dirty", perhaps untended, even "dangerous" water conditions.

A lot of you ask about things that impact how long the water retains it's tint.

It's kind of a big deal for us- I get it! Many hobbyists who have perhaps added some catappa leaves, "blackwater extracts", or rooibos tea to their water contact me asking why the water doesn't stay tinted for more than a few days. Now, I'm flattered to be a sort of "clearing house" for this stuff, but I must confess, I don't have all the answers.

So, "Why doesn't my water stay tinted, Scott?"

Well, I admit I don't know. Well, not for certain, anyways!

I do, however, have some information, observations, and a bunch of ideas about this- any of which might be litter rely shot to pieces by someone with the proper scientific background. However, I can toss some of these seemingly uncoordinated facts out there to give us all some stuff to "chew on" as I offer my ideas up.

Now, perhaps it starts with the way we "administer" the color-producing tannins. 

Like, I personally think that utilizing leaves, bark, and seed pods is perhaps the best way to do this.I'm sure that you're hardly surprise, right? Well, it's NOT just because I sell these material for a living...It's because they are releasing tannins, humic substances, and other compounds into the water "full time" during their presence in the aquarium as they break down. A sort of "on-board" producer of these materials, with their own "half life" (for want of a better term!).

The continuous release of tint-producing compounds keeps things more-or-less constant. And, if you're part of the "school" which leaves your botanicals in your aquarium to completely break down, you're certainly getting maximum value out of them! And if you are continuously adding/replacing them with new ones as they completely or partially break down, you're actively replenishing and adding additional "tint-producing" capabilities to your system, right?

There is another way to "keep the tint" going in your tanks, and it's pretty easy. Now, those of you who know me and read my rambling or listen to "The Tint" podcast regularly know that I absolutely hate shortcuts and "hacks" I the aquarium hobby. I preach a long, patient game and letting stuff happen in its own time...

Nonetheless, there ARE some that you can employ that don't make you a complete loser, IMHO.😆

When you prepare your water for water changes, it's typically down a few days to a week in advance, so why not use this time to your advantage and "pre-tint" the water by steeping some leaves in it? Not only will it keep the "aesthetics" of your water ( can you believe we're even talking about "the aesthetics of water?") consistent (i.e.; tinted), it will already have humic substances and tannins dissolved into it, helping you keep a more stable system.

Obviously, you'd still check your pH and other parameters, but the addition of leaves to your replacement water is a great little hack that you should take advantage of.

It's also a really good way to get the "look" and some of the benefits of blackwater for your system from the outset, especially for those of you heathens that like the color of blackwater and despise all of the decomposing leaves and seed pods and stuff!

So, if you're just setting up a brand new aquarium, and have some water set aside for the tank, why not use the time while it's aging to "pre-tint" it a bit, so you can have a nice dark look from day one? It's also great if you're setting up a tank for an aquascaping contest or  other same-day club event that would make it advantageous to have a tinted tank immediately.

I must confess that yet another one of the more common questions we receive here from hobbyists is, "How can I get the tint in my tank more quickly?"- and this is definitely one way!

How many botanicals to use?

Well, that's the million dollar question.

Who knows?

It all gets back to the (IMHO) absurd "recommendations" that have been proffered by vendors over the years recommending using "x" number of leaves, for example, per gallon/liter of water. There are simply far, far too many variables- ranging from starting water chem to pH to alkalinity, and dozens of others- which can affect the "equation" and make specific numbers unreliable at best. 

You need to kind of go with your instinct. Go slowly. Evaluate the appearance of your water, the behaviors of the fishes...the pH, alkalinity, TDS, nitrate, phosphate, or other parameters that you like to test for.

It's really a matter of experimentation.

I'm a much bigger fan of "tinting" the water based on the materials in the aquarium. The botanicals will release their "contents" at a pace dictated by their environment. And, when they're "in situ", you have a sort of "on board" continuous release of tannins and mic substances based upon the decomposition rate of the materials you're using, the water chemistry, etc.

Here's another stupidly simple "hack" to get not only a "quick start" on tinting your water, but to help with the ongoing maintenance of the color with a minimal amount of intervention. I must admit, it's actually so basic that it's kind of like "cheating"- but hey, it's all about "hacking" today, right? 

What the hell is wrong with me? I'm pushing shortcuts? Yikes.

The inspiration for this "technique" (I'm kind of embarrassed to call it a "technique", really) is the numerous frantic posts from distraught hobbyists that you see on aquascaping/planted tank forums who freak the fuck out because they just set up their "natural" planted aquarium and the piece of wood they used is "...leaching tannins into the tank and coloring the water brown!" 

Gasp!

Okay, I shouldn't make fun of these hapless souls who just loose their shit and simply haven't figured out that tint is cool...but the beautiful takeaway here for us is that you can use your wood (oh, that totally came out wrong...) to your advantage as a botanical/blackwater aquarium fan. (that still sounded bad!)

When life gives you lemons (or in this case, tannins)...

Most aquatic woods like my personal fave, Red Mangrove, as well as Malaysian driftwood, "Spider Wood", Asian driftwood, and Mopani- impart significant amounts of tannins into the water, which is why those clear-water-loving weirdos (heh, heh) like to soak their wood pieces for weeks before setting up their tank, and use heavy amounts of activated carbon and other chemical filtration media indefinitely to remove as much of the tint-producing tannins as possible.

So, simply give your driftwood enough of a "presoak" (or not) as required to get it to sink and stay down on its own, and perhaps to leach out some initial impurities, like surface dirt, dust, etc.- and than place it in your tank, and let it release its tannin goodness into the water!

Sure, if it's too dark even for your sophisticated taste, you can always moderate it with some activated carbon or repetitive water changes until you get the "tint level" you like. And, as every "natural" aquarium fan knows, the wood will continue leaching tannins for a pretty long time...

Sweet.

Advantage: Us!

This is again a perfect  strategy for those who love the tinted water but perhaps dislike the idea of lots of leaves in their tank (WTF, guys?); or maybe those who just like the more durable, but "less-tannin-imparting" botanicals. Easy. Embarrassingly easy. And insanely obvious, too. Many of us simply didn't really consider it, because we got all caught up in using our leaves and botanicals to do the "heavy lifting", right?

Yet aquatic wood is the perfect "secret" that's literally been right in front of our collective eyes for a century or more of aquarium practice!

Use what ya'got, right?

The part where Scott bashes the shit out of the idea of using "blackwater extracts and Rooibos tea. This could get nasty.

If you haven't heard of it before, there is this stuff called Rooibos tea, which, in addition to bing kind of tasty, has been a favored "tint hack" of many hobbyists for years. Without getting into all of the boring details, Rooibos tea is derived from the Aspalathus linearis plant, also known as "Red Bush" in South Africa and other parts of the world. 

(Rooibos, Aspalathus linearis.  Image by R.Dahlgr- used under CC-BY S.A. 2.5)

It's been used by fish people for a long time as a sort of instant "blackwater extract", and has a lot going for it for this purpose, I suppose. Rooibos tea does not contain caffeine, and and has low levels of tannin compared to black or green tea. And, like catappa leaves and other botnaicals, it contains polyphenols, like flavones, flavanols, aspalathin, etc. 

Hobbyists will simply steep it in their aquariums and get the color that they want, and impart some of these substances into their tank water. I mean, it's an easy process. Of course, like any other thing you add to your aquarium, including leaves and botanicals, it's never a bad idea to know the impact of what you're adding. 

Like using botanicals, utilizing Rooibos tea bags in your aquarium requires some thinking, that's all. 

The things that I personally dislike about using tea or so-called "blackwater extracts" are that you are simply going for an effect, without getting to embrace the functional aesthetics imparted by adding leaves, seed pods, etc. to your aquarium as part of its physical structure, and that there is no real way to determine how much you need to add to achieve______.

Obviously, the same could be said of botanicals, but we're not utilizing botanicals simply to create brown water or specific pH parameters, etc.

Yet, with tea or commercial blackwater extracts, you sort of miss out on replicating a little slice of Nature in your aquarium. And of course, it's fine if your goal is just to color the water, I suppose. And I understand that some people, like fish breeders who need bare bottom tanks or whatever- like to condition water without all of the leaves and twigs and nuts we love.

And I don't think the stuff lasts all that long. I personally believe that the tinting tannins in "tea" are potentially taken up quickly by substrate materials, filter media, etc. And unless you're keeping tea bags in your tank on a continuous basis, you'll always see some "color loss" after some period of time.

Yes it works to impart some color and tannins. 

On the other hand, if you're trying to replicate the look and function (and maybe some of the parameters) of THIS:

You won't achieve it by using THIS:

It's simply another shortcut.

And look, I understand that we are all looking for the occasional shortcuts and easier ways to do stuff. And I realize that none of what we proffer here at Tannin is a n absolute science. It's an art at this point. There is no current way available to the hobby to test for "x" types or amounts of tannins (of which there are hundreds of types) in aquariums.  

I have not found a study thus far which analyzed wild habitats (say, Amazonia) for tannin concentrations and specific types, so we have no real model to go on.

The best we can do is create a reasonable facsimile of Nature.

We have to understand that there are limitations to the impacts of botanicals, tea, wood, etc. on water chemistry. Adding liter upon liter of "extract" to your aquarium will have minimal pH impact if your water is super hard. And of course, same with botanicals. This is a myth that we've worked hard to dispel. It tends to linger. And the "extract-pushing" crowd seems to not let go of it easily, IMHO!

When you're serious about trying to create more natural blackwater conditions, you really need an RO/DI unit to achieve "base water" with no carbonate hardness that's more "malleable" to environmental manipulation. Tea, twigs, leaves- none will do much unless you understand that.

I'm not trying to throw a wet blanket on any ideas we might have. I'm not feeling particularly defensive about using tea or other "extracts" because I sell botanical materials for a living. It's sort of apples and oranges, really.

And hey, the whole idea of utilizing concentrated extracts of stuff is something I've looked on with caution for a long time, and we've discussed here before. I'm an "equal opportunity critic"- I'll jump on our community for stuff we do, too! 🤬

Now, all of these ideas are okay to impart some color to your water. Some do more, as we've discussed ad nauseam. And none of them will work to full advantage if your aquarium is removing them as fast as you're imparting them into the water. SO, go easy on chemical filtration media liek carbon. I didn't say NOT to use them...Just don't use a ton of them!

What about plants?

Well, I have a theory. You absolutely can keep plants in blackwater aquariums. We've talked about this a million times. And interestingly, you can't always keep "blackwater conditions" (at least, color-wise) in planted aquairums! 

Tannin are interesting things. Think about this:

Tannins are known to bind up heavy metals and minerals. The roots of aquatic plants prefer to take up bound-up minerals and metals...So, another theory of mine is that heavily planted tanks do remove some of the visual "tint" (ie; the tannins) from the water via uptake from their roots. 

Make sense? Maybe?

Okay, I could go on and on all day throwing out all sorts of theories and unsubstantiated (via lab tests, anyways) ideas on this topic...But I think I gave you enough here to get the party started. I encourage you to do some homework. Ask tough questions of people who really understand the chemistry here. I think that there might be some good answers out there.

Let's throw some light on this rather "dark" subject with some good old fashioned research!

Stay curious. Stay observant. Stay resourceful. Stay patient. Stay creative...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

The appreciation of Nature: The beauty that's beyond our control.

It seems like, no matter how much I get into the practical, "Here is how you do this..." sort of blogs, I can't ever escape that fact that what we do in the botanical-style aquarium world is as much a philosophy as it is a "methodology." It's always on my mind, because I realized very early on in this game that there is so much more to what we do than simply tossing leaves and seed pods into our aquariums.

A couple of days ago, I had one of those hardcore fish discussions with an old hobby friend who is as much a philosopher as he is an aquarist..Real "Obi-Wan Kenobi"-type. Like, every time I talk to him, I leave the conversation with this amazing sense of....enlightenment or something.

It's cool.

We all know a hobbyist or two like him, huh? 

During our long-winded discussion, we talked about the ideas of aquariums reflecting Nature, and how a good segment of the hobby has been chasing a sort of interpretation of Nature for the last 15-20 years or so, but somehow falling a bit short...

Don't get me wrong: Aesthetic-wise, our systems have never been more beautiful. Skills in the 'scaling world are way up; the "art" of aquascaping is pretty amazing at the moment. However, my friend felt something was lacking. Some sense of reality, or some feeling...

Something...

Couldn't quite place it.

I think I know what it is. Really.

It's "wabi-sabi" again. Yes! 

Something that's been on my mind a lot lately.

In it's most simplistic and literal form, the Japanese philosophy of "Wabi Sabi" is an acceptance and contemplation of the imperfection, constant flux and impermanence of all things.

This is a very interesting philosophy, one which has been embraced in aquascaping circles by none other than the late, great, Takashi Amano, who proferred that a planted aquarium is in constant flux, and that one needs to contemplate, embrace, and enjoy the sweet sadness of the transience of life.

Many of Amano's greatest works embraced this philosophy, and evolved over time as various plants would alternately thrive, spread and decline, re-working and reconfiguring the aquascape with minimal human intervention. Each phase of the aquascape's existence brought new beauty and joy to those would observe them.

Yet, in today's contest-scape driven, Instagram-friendly, "break-down-the-tank-after-the-show" world, this philosophy of appreciating change by Nature over time seems to have been tossed aside as we move on to the next 'scape.

In fact, it's really virtually non-existent at the moment in much of the hobby, IMHO. Sure, planted tanks change as they grow. Yeah, I get that. And yet, the idea with many of the high-concept planted tanks I see is to prune and trim, and more or less  control Nature, rather than allow it to do it's thing. 

There is this great emphasis on planted aquaecapes looking very similar to the way they did when the tank was first set up...Sort of "arresting" it in a manicured phase. Of course, you can and should trim tanks, lest you end up with....

With what? A lush, disorderly "jungle" of plants, fighting each other for space and resources? Is that bad?

I mean, to some people, it's a tragedy. I get that. They must have order. Design. "manicuring."

Control.

To others... it's what would happen in Nature- so they ask if it's such a bad thing...Personally, I'm not that all put off by this kind of thing. Rather, I find it fascinating to put Nature in charge.

Now, when we talk about the use of natural botanical materials in our aquatic hardscapes, such as the use of leaves and seed pods, which begin to degrade after a few weeks or months submerged, one can really understand the practicalities of this philosophy. It could be argued, perhaps, that the use of botanicals in an aquarium are the very essence of what "Wabi Sabi" is about.

 

A lot of my fave botanical-style aquariums have an abundance of "permanent" things, like rocks and driftwood, complemented and enhanced by "degradable" items, such as Catappa, Guava, and other leaves, as well as the "softer" pods and such, which not only offer enhanced aesthetics- they offer enrichment of the aquatic habitat through their release of tannins, humic acids, vitamins, etc. as they decompose- just as they do in Nature.

Leaves and such are simply not permanent additions to our 'scapes, and if we wish to enjoy them in their more "intact" forms, we will need to replace them as they start to break down. 

This is not a bad thing.

It is simply how to use them to create a specific aesthetic in a permanent aquarium display. Much like flowers in a garden, leaves will have a period of time where they are in all their glory, followed by the gradual, inevitable encroachment of biological decay. At this phase, you may opt to leave them in the aquarium to enrich the environment further and offer a new aesthetic, or you can remove and replace them with fresh leaves and botanicals. This very much replicates the process which occur in nature, doesn't it?

On the other hand, there are many hobbyists how love the crisp, fresh look of new botanicals. They'll replace any leaf the moment it starts to soften. They'll polish every seed pod the moment in acquires a "patina" of biocover. I get it. It's what they love. The equivalent of a manicured planted aquarium. Beautiful, tidy...controlled.

Not really "wabi-sabi" oriented...yet, beautiful in it's own artistic way.

With the publishing of photos and videos of leave-influenced 'scapes in the past few years, there has been much interest and more questions by hobbyists who have not really considered these items in an aquascape before. There is a burgeoning interest in the wild aquaecapes of the world, and an appreciation for the ephemeral nature of terrestrial materials underwater.

This is really cool, because new people with new ideas and approaches are experimenting.  And we're looking at nature as never before. We're celebrating the real diversity and appearance of natural habitats as they really are...

Some hobbyists have commented that, as their leaves and botanicals break down and the scape as initially presented changes significantly over time. They may not know it, but they are grasping some aspects of"wabi-sabi"...Well, sort of. One must appreciate the beauty at various phases to really grasp the concept and appreciate it.

"Setting the stage" for the process to take its course is only the beginning. Then comes the part about letting go a bit. Allowing Nature to evolve our work. We can look on in awe, and take delight in what is happening. 

To find little vignettes- little moments- of fleeting beauty that need not be permanent to enjoy.

And the changes...those earthy, perhaps inevitable changes which occur when terrestrial materials are submerged in water for an extended period of time? They're elegant- yet untamed...and not everyone's idea of "beautiful." Why? Largely because we don't control every aspect of the process; because we don't impose excessive amounts of order or influence to it.

We cede some of it to Nature...And that includes accepting the "look" as well.

It's hard.

Some people just "don't get it", and proffer that this is simply sloppy, not thought-out, and seemingly random. I recall vividly one critic on a Facebook forum, who, observing a recent botanical-inspired aquascape created by another hobbyist, commented that the 'scape looked like "...someone just threw in some pods and leaves in a random fashion.." 

Yeah, this guy actually described the aesthetic to a certain (although unsophisticated) degree...but he couldn't get past the look, and therefore concluded it was, "...haphazard, sloppy, and not thought out."

A shame. I think if he glanced at a natural habitat and then looked at the tank again, he'd gain a new appreciation. Or at least, a sort of understanding.

But on the other hand, that was the charm and beauty of such a conceptual work. The seemingly random, transient nature of such an aquascape, with leaves deposited as in Nature by currents, tidal flows, etc., settling in unlikely areas within the hardscape. Allowing Her some of that control.

Not everyone likes this nor appreciates it. And that's perfectly fine. It's not the "best" way to run a tank. Just "a way."

Regardless of how you choose to manage a system with leaves and non-permanent aquatic botanicals, you can enjoy the beauty of their "Wabi Sabi" existence. If you can learn to let go a bit...to participate by observing as opposed to controlling every aspect of your aquarium...then I think you'll be on your way to really appreciating this philosophy.

The real beauty is that there are no real "rules" when conceiving such a 'scape, other than the biological aspects of decomposition and water chemistry, which are the real factors that dictate just how the aquascape will ultimately evolve.

Accepting this inevitable change and imperfection is the very essence- and beauty- of the "wabi-sabi" philosophy, IMHO.

Stay open to new ideas, experiences, and interpretations. Look to nature as a key influence in your designs...Share your revelations with other hobbyists. Enjoy the benefits of such experiments...

Enjoy the beauty that's beyond our control...

Stay awed. Stay enthralled. Stay creative. Stay open-minded. Stay intrigued. Stay reserved...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Musings on "the early days..."

Like any aquarium, our botanical-style aquariums embrace a diversity of life forms and processes. They also go through all sorts of "stages" during their "functional life cycle." 

Since we've been talking a lot lately about starting up new systems, and so many new hobbyists entering our little niche, it's only appropriate that we touch on some of the expectations and occurrences which take place in our systems when they "get going."

One of the more exciting times in the life cycle of a botanical-style aquarium is a couple of weeks after the initial setup. It's that fascinating time when the nitrogen cycle is established, the tank is "running in", and the botanicals and leaves lose that crisp, "brand-spankin' new" look and start to acquire a "patina" of biocover, or simply begin to "soften up" a bit. 

The early weeks and months in the aquarium's life cycle really "set the tone", in my opinion, for how the tank is likely to function over time. It's a magical time when your tank begins it's progression from just a concept to a living, breathing microcosm. The biological processes are kicking in, and the business of life- the establishment of microorganism populations, biofilms, and yeah- even algal growth- is increasingly evident. 

It is actually a crucial time in the life cycle of botanical-style aquariums. It's one that  we might be tempted to "intervene" in; yet one that some of the best results come from simply letting things be...

I am a big believer in deploying patience, using time-honored nutrient control/export techniques, and applying a healthy dose of observation and common sense all contribute to the ultimate stability and success of our blackwater/botanical-style aquariums just as they would to any other type of system.

One of the things that we all experience with these types of systems is an initial "burst" of tint-producing tannins, which likely will provide a significant amount of "visible tint" to the water. If you're not using activated carbon or some other filtration media, the tint will be more pronounced and likely last longer than if you're actively removing it with these materials!

 

You might also experience a bit of initial "cloudiness" or turbidity...this could either be physical dust or other materials released from the tissues of the botanicals, or even a burst of bacteria/microorganisms. I'm not really sure why, but it usually passes quickly with minimal, if any intervention on your part. 

Oh, and not everyone experiences this...often this is a phenomenon which seems to happen in brand new tanks...so it might not even be entirely attributable to the presence of the botanicals (well, at least not 100%). Could be the sand, or other dust/dirt, lignin, etc. from the other hardscape materials or the even tank itself.

I still have any own opinions on this. Since you will undoubtedly ask, I'll tell you that I tend to believe it's a combination of a couple of things- a bloom of microorganisms and some materials from the botanicals themselves.

While we're on the subject of the nitrogen cycling of new tanks, one of the things I've noticed about my botanical-style/blackwater aquariums is that they tend to "cycle" very quickly. Like, often in less than a week. I don't fully have an understanding why...I can only speculate at this point, but I think it's got something to do with a large influx of botanical materials in a new system. The same factors that would endanger an established system might simply contribute to a rapid growth of bacteria.

Interestingly, over the years, I've also found that nitrate accumulation tends to be almost nonexistent in my botanical-style aquairums. Now, I don't know if that's something which you've noticed, too? I simply have never seen a nitrate accumulation more than 0.2mg/L!

Despite what I hypothesized would happen in my early years of playing with this style of aquarium, when I really got into blackwater, botanical-style aquariums, I found that they always produce little to no detectible nitrate, despite utilizing a lot of botanical material within the tank that was breaking down. I would have thought, at least on the surface, that there would be some detectible nitrate. Now, this is interesting, but I'm not the only one who has reported this.

Many of you have.

My hypothesis is that, yes, the material is breaking down, and contributing to the biological "load" of the system- but with an abundance of microorganisms living in, on, and among the botanical materials in the aquarium, and with regular frequent water changes, there is a very efficient processing of nutrients occurring. This is purely speculation on my part, but I think it's as good a guess as any, based on the repeated similar results I've achieved in every single blackwater/botanical-style aquarium I've kept for the last 7 or 8 years!

I'm sure that a more sophisticated explanation, revolving around the presence of "on- board carbon sources" and other biological processes is likely the reason. I think that we're sort of looking at a freshwater equivalent of a reef aquarium in many respects, where, instead of "live rock", a lot of the microbial population and biological processes occur within and upon the surfaces of the botanicals themselves.

Almost like "biopellets" in a reef tank, perhaps the botanicals are not only a carbon source for beneficial bacteria- they're also a sort of biological filtration "substrate" for them to colonize on. Again, speculative, and needing some more rigorous scientific investigation to verify one way or another, but it's been my "working hypothesis" for several years.

In my experience, once they get through the initial startup phase, blackwater/botanical-style systems seem to run incredibly smoothly and in a very stable manner. If you adhere to a regular, yet simple maintenance schedule, obey the long-established common-sense "rules" of aquarium husbandry, and don't go crazy with radical overstocking or trying to speed up things too much by dumping tons of botanicals into your tank in a brief span of time, these systems run almost predictably, IMHO.

And speaking of "maintenance"-  I'll concede that one of the "bummers" of botanical-style aquarium keeping is that you will likely have to clean/replace prefilters, micron socks, and filter pads more frequently! Just like in nature, as the botanicals (leaves, in particular) begin to break down, you'll see some of the material suspended in the water column from time to time, and the bits and pieces which get pulled into your filter will definitely slow down the flow over time.

The best solution, IMHO, is to simply change prefilters frequently and clean pumps/powerheads regularly as part of your weekly maintenance regimen.

Remember, you're dealing with a tank filled with decomposing botanical materials. Good overall husbandry is necessary to keep your tank stable and healthy- and that includes the dreaded (by many, that is) regular water exchanges. At the very least, you'll likely be cleaning and/or replacing pre filter media as part of your routine, and that's typically a weekly-to bi-weekly thing.

And, during my water exchanges, I'm merely siphoning water from down low in the water column. I'm a sort of "leave 'em alone as they decompose" kind of guy. And I'm not going to go into all the nuances of water preparation, etc. You have your ways and they work for you. It's not really rocket science or anything, but everyone has their own techniques. The one "constant" is to perform regular water exchanges in your botanical-style aquariums.

Just sort of goes with the territory here.

And what about water testing?

Personally, I think it's a really good idea. For many hobbyists, water testing is a periodic thing, done on an "as I feel it" basis. Personally, I think the benefits of a more regular testing schedule yields a lot of good benefits for us.

Your testing regimen should include things like pH, TDS, alkalinity, and if you're so inclined, nitrate and phosphate. Logging this information over time will give us all some good data upon which to develop our expectations and "best practices" for water quality management.

It's important for the hobby overall to document as much information as possible about how our botanical-style/blackwater aquariums establish and operate. This gives the widest variety of hobbyists the most reasonable set of expectations about these systems.

Remember, it isn't just about a new aesthetic approach.

It's about understanding and processing what's happening in the little aquatic ecosystem you've created. It's about asking questions, modifying technique, and playing hunches- all skills that we as hobbyists have practiced for generations.

When you distill it all- we're still "just keeping an aquarium;" yet one that I feel is a far more natural, dynamic, and potentially game-changing style for the hobby.

One that we need no longer be afraid of.

It's about understanding what to expect, how our systems evolve, and how we manage them.

And most important- how we enjoy them.

Managing a botanical aquarium offers opportunities, challenges, and educational experiences that we can use to push the "state of the art" of botanical, blackwater aquariums- and to add to the growing body of aquarium knowledge about managing these unique systems over the long term.

And sharing your experiences- good and bad- will provide those who follow with more confidence to follow in your footsteps, creating their own aquariums, pushing the limits in their own way- and growing the global "tint community"- and aquarium hobby in general- through their efforts.

Stay methodical. Stay diligent. Stay curious. Stay helpful. Stay collaborative. Stay open-minded...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics