The Tint

Little tiny bodies of water...big ideas. Do them...

Confession: I used to hate small aquariums. I really did. I think part of it was because, as a kid, all I could keep in my room ('cause I had like 10 tanks!) was small aquariums. When I was able to get larger tanks, I went all-in on larger tanks (like50-gallons and up) and vowed never to go small again.

My, how times change!

Fast forward a few decades and enter our crazy botanical-style aquarium world here at Tannin, and the idea of using small aquariums is indispensable!

Yeah, I've completely changed my attitude about them, to the point where it's no secret that we love small aquariums around here. For a lot of reasons, really...not the least of which is that they can serve as a sort of reliable and easy-to-iterate "test bed" for lots of new ideas. 

Now, you're also likely aware of the fact that we're crazy about small, shallow bodies of water, right? I mean, almost every fish geek is like "genetically programmed" to find virtually any random body of water irresistible!

Especially little rivulets, pools, creeks, and forest streams. The kinds which have an accumulation of leaves and botanical materials on the bottom. Darker water, submerged branches- all of that stuff...

You know, the kind where you'll find fishes!

Happily, such habitats exist all over the world, leaving us no shortage of inspiring places to attempt to replicate. Like, everywhere you look!

In Africa for example, many of these little streams and pools are home to some of my fave fishes, killifish!

As mentioned above, many of these little jungle streams are really shallow, cutting gently through accumulations of leaves and forest debris.  Many are seasonal. The great killie documenter/collector, Col. Jorgen Scheel, precisely described the water conditions found in their habitat  as "...rather hot, shallow, usually stagnant & probably soft & acid."

Ah-ah! We know this territory pretty well, right?

I think we do...and understanding this type of habitat has lots of implications for creating very cool biotope-inspired aquariums. 

And why not make 'em for killifish?

So, for the most part, these fishes are often found in very shallow jungle streams. How shallow? Well, reports I've seen have stated that they're as shallow as 2 inches (5.08cm). That's really shallow. Seriously shallow! And, quite frankly, I'd call that more of a "rivulet" than a stream!

"Virtually still, with a barely perceptible current..." was one description. That kind of makes my case.

What does that mean for those of us who keep small aquariums?

Well, it gives us some inspiration, huh? Ideas for tanks that attempt to replicate and study these compelling shallow environments...

Now, I don't expect you to set up a tank with a water level that's 2 inches deep..And, although it would be pretty cool, for more of us, perhaps a 3.5"-4" (8.89-10.16cm) of depth is something that can work? Yeah. Totally doable. There are some pretty small commercial aquariums that aren't much deeper than 8" (20.32cm), and you could adapt other containers for this purpose, right? 

We could do this with some of the very interesting South American or Asian habitats, too...Shallow tanks, deep leaf litter, and even some botanicals for good measure.

How about a long, low aquarium, like the ADA "60F", which has dimensions of 24"x12"x7" (60x30x18cm)? You would only fill this tank to a depth of around 5 inches ( 12.7cm) at the most. But you'd use a lot of leaves to cover the bottom...

And another idea for you...Nano brackish tanks!

Here is a pic of my experimental brackish water Epiplatys annulatus setup from several years back. (Yes, there are actually some populations which come from brackish coastal streams! ohhhh!) This one I actually filled to the top, used a fine layer of fine, white sand, and kept the water at a specific gravity of 1.003. It was kind of an odd dichotomy, really, because I used some botanical items in the sort of "island" of rock I created in the lower light area on one side.

You can guess where the fish spent most of their time! I incorporated what I now call "Mariposa Pods" a few little Cariniana Pods, and some Coco Curls into the "island", which had a mix of terrestrial and true aquatic plants, with slightly different water. I guess you could say that it was kind of my first attempt at a "botanical-style brackish water aquarium!" Yeah, it was kind of weird. Not exactly an aquascaping triumph, but an execution on an idea that was in my head for a long time.

(Yeah, I've always liked pushing in different directions!)

You could, of course, do a far more refined version of this early experiment, one with mangroves and leaf litter and a deep, muddy substrate- all of the elements we've talked about, but in a small scale.

Yes, this is another blog where I'm sort of all over the place; must be the caffeine?

The big takeaway here?

Research jungle stream or pool ecology.

Learn which fishes are found in them. Try replicating those super-shallow aquatic environments with nano tanks. Keep the water in the tank really shallow. Add leaves and stuff. Observe. Explore. Enjoy. 

Do this.

Stay creative. Stay excited. Stay curious. Stay observant. Stay informed...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

"Environmental impact..."

In recent months, I've spent a lot of time developing some new ideas for botanical-style aquariums; thinking through iterations, processes, materials, and mental shifts that need to be made as we move forward. Some are pretty radical ones. Others, subtle, incremental steps.

All of them are useful and, in my opinion, potentially very interesting!

Among the numerous concepts that I've been thinking about is how specific botanical materials can impact aquatic habitats in the geographical regions from which they come- and how we might be able to take advantage of this in our aquariums.

Of course, it is perfectly logical to imply that botanicals, wood, and other materials which we ultiize in our aquascapes not only have an aesthetic impact, but a consequential physical-chemical impact on the overall aquatic environment, as well.

Not really difficult to grasp, when you think about it in the context of stuff we know and love in other areas of life...

Wine, for example, has "terroir"- the environmental conditions, especially soil and climate, in which grapes are grown, and that give a wine its unique flavor and aroma... And it's well-known that coffee acquires traits from the soils and climates in which it grows that are similar. Tangible effects and characteristics, which impact the experience we get from them.

And of course,  I can't help but wonder if this same idea applies to our botanicals?

It must!

Yeah, it HAS to. Right?

I mean, leaves come from specific trees, imparting not only tannins and humic substances into the water, but likely falling in heavier concentrations, or accumulating in various parts of rain forest streams or inundated forest floors at particular times of the year, or in specific physical locales with in a stream or river.

And, it's absolutely not out of the question to assume that the leaves, seed pods, etc. on these trees and shrubs have different concentrations of these compounds at different times of the year as well, and that these factors have varying influences upon water chemistry, right?

And of course, when these materials end up in waterways, they provide the fishes which reside in that given area a specific set of physical/chemical conditions, which they have adapted to over time. The same with soils and sediments that accumulate on forest floors and meadows (The Pantanal in Brazil comes to mind here), which have an absolute impact on the aquatic environment when the waters return.

Is this not the very definition of "terroir?"

Yeah, sort of...right? 

Actually, it makes perfect sense.

As we've discussed before, the soils, plants, and surrounding geography of an aquatic habitat play an important and intricate role in the composition of the aquatic environment. They influence not only the chemical characteristics of the water (like pH, TDS, alkalinity), but the color (yeah- tannins!), turbidity, and other characteristics, like the water flow. Large concentrations of botanical materials or leaves become physical structures in the course of a stream or river that affect the course of the water.

And of course, they also have important impact on the diet of fishes...Remember allochthonous input form the land surrounding aquatic habitats? And the impact of humic substances? Yeah, these factors are extremely important in the grand scheme of things.

And of course, I simply can't help but wonder what sorts of specific environmental variations we can create in our aquarium habitats; that is to say, "variations" of the chemical composition of the water in our aquarium habitats- by employing various different types and combinations of botanicals and aquatic soils.

I mean, on the surface, this is hardly a revolutionary idea...

We've been doing stuff like this in the hobby for a while- more crudely in the fish-breeding realm (adding peat to water, for example...), or with aragonite substrates in Africa Rift Lake cichlid tanks, or with mineral additions to shrimp habitats, etc.

Now, this is NOT exactly the same idea as the "biotope aquarium" crowd plays with, IMHO. That's more of a physical and arguably "superficial" attempt at replicating aspects of the natural habitats from which our fishes hail. Very, very cool- but different, I believe, than what we're talking about here.

We can, of course, borrow "mental capital" from the work done in other aquatic endeavours. It's there for the taking, lol.

In the planted aquarium world, for example, it's long been known that soil types/additives, ie;  clay-based aquatic soils, for example, will obviously impact the water chemistry of the aquarium far differently than say, iron-based soils, and thusly, their effect on the plants, fishes, and, as a perhaps unintended) side consequence, the overall aquatic environment will differ significantly as a result.

So, it pretty much goes without saying that the idea that utilizing different types of botanical materials in the aquarium can likely yield different effects on the water chemistry, and thus impact the lives of the fishes and plants that reside there- is not that big of a "stretch", right?

It isn't.

I can't help but wonder what the possible impacts of different leaves, or possibly even seed pods from different areas can have on the water and overall aquarium environment.

I mean, sure, pH and such are affected in certain circumstances - but what about the compounds and substances we don't- or simply can't- test for in the aquarium?  What impacts do they have? Subtle things, like combinations of various amino acids, antioxidant compounds, obscure trace elements- even hormones, for that matter...

Could utilizing different combinations of botanicals in aquariums potentially yield different tangible results for our fishes? You know- scenarios like, "Add this if you want fishes to color up. Add a combination of THIS if you want the fishes to commence spawning behavior", etc.

It sounds a bit exotic, but is it really all that far-fetched an idea?

Absolutely not, IMHO.

I think the main thing which keeps the idea from really developing more in the hobby- knowing exactly how much of what to add to our tanks, specifically to achieve "x" effect- is that we simply don't have the means to test for many of the compounds which may affect the aquarium habitat.

At this point, it's really as much of an "art" as it is a "science", and more superficial observation- at least in our aquariums- is probably almost ("almost...") as useful as laboratory testing is in the wild. Sure, we can test for tannins in the aquairum- but what does it mean? What is a concentration that makes sense for our purposes? What's a "good" number? Is there any correlating test work on these substances being done in the wild aquatic habitats?

Now, I have found some work on ionic and trace element concentrations in some well-known aquatic habitats, but the ability for a hobbyist to test for many of the compounds measured is virtually non-existent at the present time. I can only hope that at some point, detailed hobbyist-level ICP-OES analysis- similar to what is available for reef tanks, becomes available for freshwater hobbyists. That would be a game-changer!

At least at the present time, we're largely limited to making "superficial" observations about stuff like the color a specific botanical can impart into the water, etc. Impact on pH, TDS, etc. is what we have to work with- better than nothing, I suppose! Of course, our home aquarium "field studies" of our fishes in various water chemistry scenarios is useful for our purposes! Even simply observing the effects upon our fishes caused by environmental changes, etc. is useful to some extent.

Of course, not everything we can gain from this is superficial...some botanical materials that we play with actually do have scientifically-confirmed impacts on the aquarium environment; or on fish health, at the very least.

In the case of catappa leaves, for example, we can at least infer that there are some substances (flavonoids, like kaempferol and quercetin, a number of tannins, like punicalin and punicalagin, as well as a suite of saponins and phytosterols) imparted into the water from the leaves- which do have scientifically documented affects on fish health and vitality. 

When we first started Tannin, I came up with the term "habitat enrichment" to describe the way various botanicals can impact the aquarium environment. I mused on the idea a lot. (I know that doesn't surprise many of you, lol...) Now, I freely admit that this term may be interpreted as much a form of "marketing hyperbole" as it is a useful description.

However, I believe that the idea sort of resonates, when we think of the aquarium as an analog for the wild aquatic habitats, and how the surrounding environment- the terroir- impacts the aquatic environment, right?

As we play more and more with the "Urban Igapo" idea of creating a "wet-dry" seasonal cycle replication in aquariums, perhaps this dynamic can be more easily and dramatically understood by hobbyists.

And of course, when it comes to utilizing botanicals and creating more "authentic" blackwater conditions in our aquariums, we hear the interesting stories from fellow hobbyists about dramatic color changes, positive behavioral changes,  rehabilitated fishes, and those "spontaneous" spawning events, which seem to occur after a few weeks of utilizing various botanicals in aquariums which formerly did not employ them.

Sure, these are not carefully-controlled scientific experiments. Likely, a good number of these interesting events and effects could likely be written off as mere coincidences or anecdotal occurrences. However, when it happens over and over and over again in this context, I think it at least warrants some consideration! There must be "something in the water", right?

We're slowly figuring this stuff out.

Yeah, we’re artists at this point. 

And this stuff is really as much of an “art” as it is a “science”, IMHO. 

There is so much we don’t know yet. Or, more specifically, so much we don’t know about botanicals in the context of keeping fishes. We're still largely in an "experimental" phase, and likely will be for some years to come. And that's just fine with me...The "art" is pretty fun and engaging at this point!

We need to tie a bunch of loose ends together to get a really good read on this stuff until we get to the "Dial-a-River” additive stage ("Just add a little of this and a bit of that, and...")

But we're slowly getting there...At least in terms of understanding some of the tangible benefits of botanical use, besides just the aesthetics.

Continued experimentation with different approaches within our botanical-style aquarium obsession is likely to yield more information that will advance the "state of the art." Allowing ourselves to "get out of our own way" and give serious thought to the impacts of things like alternative substrates, and "substrate-centric" aquariums is a really huge avenue for us to explore. We're literally just scratching the surface here.

And it all starts with understanding the impact of...the terroir, right? The impact of the materials that we use on the aquatic environments of our fishes. It's something we've played with for years, but are only recently starting to understand...Separating mere aesthetics from a deeper, possibly more meaningful understanding of Nature as it relates to our aquariums.

Stay observant. Stay resourceful. Stay methodical. Stay curious. Stay dedicated.  Stay creative...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

No magic elixir...

As more and more hobbyists start incorporating botanical materials in all sorts of aquariums, we are once again exposed to a lot of different approaches, ideas, and "techniques."

There is a sort of "blending" of approaches and techniques- all of which serve to bring us joy and appreciation for the wonders of Nature. However, we often tend to "edit" Nature, polishing out or trying to "bypass" the processes, aesthetics, and functions that we find distasteful- in search of what we have generically called a "balanced" aquarium.

It's a noble, important goal. However, I think we need to understand that Nature seeks "balance" in Her own way- one that really doesn't take into account our schedules, goals, or aesthetic preferences.

And it's well known that an aquarium is a closed ecosystem that can easily "fall out of balance."  

We often say it's "delicate"- but I don't think that it is. Rather, it's a robust system, which establishes itself in a way that utilizes "what's available" at any given time. And sometimes, it results in the pendulum shifting from one life form to another. The "balance" may be delicate; in that various life forms can "take over" at any given time- and rapidly, too.  However, if you've ever battled something like an algae bloom- you'd never call the life forms themselves "delicate", right?

They're tenacious. You have to respect that. Any life form that takes advantage of optimum conditions to thrive is at least worthy of some appreciation- even if it looks like- well- shit, right?

Sure. excessive algae growth is a sign of imbalance of something- light, nutrients, often exacerbated by deficiencies in husbandry, or a combination of these factors. This is  "Aquarium Keeping 101", of course, but when you're in the middle of these kinds of struggles, it's easy to overlook seemingly "basic" stuff.

It is not always easy or clear to understand why a tank is "out of balance." Sometimes, it just takes time to figure it out. I think the important thing is to think of an aquarium- especially our botanical-style aquariums- as a small, closed ecosystem or microcosm, with internal and external influences-any one of which  may be extremely impactful when they converge.

Understanding that the various possible impacts that our techniques and executions may have on our aquariums is just the start. On the most superficial level, adding a lot of botanical material into a tank is a recipe for: a) a lot of bioload for resident organisms to process, b) a substrate for biofilm and/or algal growth, and c) biodiversity- a proliferation of a variety of organisms.

And of course, "bioload" can be taken advantage of by a particularly adaptable life form which could proliferate more quickly than others...throwing your little ecosystem "out of balance." 

This is part of the reason why the so-called "Walstad Method" for planted aquariums, which I love dearly, proffers incorporating fast-growing plants from the start..They will compete with algae for the same nutrients, and typically, they'll out-pace the algae as they grow.

It's about starting out your aquarium to empower various life forms to help seek a balance.

In our "Urban Igapo" approach, we advocate what amounts to a "dirted bottom" aquarium, sans aquatic plants (at least, initially) and a "sand cap" over the soil. Rather, we plant terrestrial plants and/or grasses (ideally, submersion-tolerant ones) during the "dry" phase. And of course, when we add water, the abundance of nutrients in the substrate creates a significant "bioload" in the now aquatic environment.

"Stuff" is going to happen.

Perhaps- do we dare say, the UI is the metaphorical "ugly stepchild" of the "Walstad Method?" Maybe, but I suppose that could be viewed as a bit presumptuous. 

Ceding a lot of the control to Nature is hard for some to quantify as a "technique" or "method", so I get it. At various phases in the process, our "best practice" might be to simply observe...

And with plant growth slowing down, or even going completely dormant while submerged, the utilization of nutrients via their growth diminishes, and aquatic life forms (biofilms, algae, aquatic plants, and various bacteria, microorganisms, and microcrustaceans) take over. There is obviously an initial "lag time" when this transitional phase occurs- a time when there is the greatest opportunity for one life form or another (algae, bacterial biofilms, etc.) to become the dominant "player" in the microcosm.

It's exactly what happens in Nature during this period, right?

In our aquarium practice, it's the time when you think about the impact of technique-such as water exchanges, addition of aquatic plants, adding fishes, reducing light intensity and photoperiod, etc. and (again) observation to keep things in balance- at least as much as possible. You'll question yourself...and wonder if you should intervene- and how..

Someone in the system- one life form or another-will exploit the available resources, to the detriment of others, and the key here is observation, followed by intervention as needed/desired. "Intervention" being manipulation of environmental parameters or impacts in order to "rebalance" the ecosystem- if you can,or if you feel you must.

Like in any aquarium, there is no "magic elixir"- no single solution to a situation like this.

It's about a number of measured moves, any of which could have significant impact- even "take over" the system- if allowed to do so. This is part of the reason why we don't currently recommend playing with the UI on a large-tank scale just yet. (that, and the fact that we're not going to be geared up to produce thousands of pounds of the various substrates just yet! 😆)

Until you make those mental shifts to accept all of this stuff in one of these small tanks, the idea of replicating this in 40-50, or 100 gallons is something that you may want to hold off on for just a bit.

Or not.

I mean, if you understand and accept the processes, functions, and aesthetics of this stuff, maybe you would want to "go big" on your first attempt. However, I think you need to try it on a "nano scale" first, to really "acclimate" to the idea.

The idea of accepting Nature as it is makes you extremely humble, because there is a realization at some point that you're more of an "interested observer" than an "active participant." It's a dance. One which we may only have so much control- or even understanding of! That's part of the charm, IMHO.

These habitats are a remarkable "mix" of terrestrial and aquatic elements, processes, and cycles. There is a lot going on. It's not just, "Okay, the water is here- now it's a stream!"

Nope. A lot of stuff to consider.

In fact, one of the arguments one could make about these "Urban Igapo" systems is that you may not want to aggressively intervene during the transition, because there is so much going on! Rather, you may simply want to observe and study the processes and results which occur during this phase. Personally, I've noticed that the "wet season" changes in my UI tanks generally happen slowly, but you will definitely notice them as they occur. 

After you've run through two or three complete "seasonal transition cycles" in your "Urban Igapo", you'll either hate the shit out of the idea- or you'll fall completely in love with it, and want to do more and more work in this alluring little sub-sector of the botanical-style aquarium world.

The opportunity to learn more about the unique nuances which occur during the transition from a terrestrial to an aquatic habitat is irresistible to me. Of course, I'm willing to accept all of the stuff with a very open mind. Typically, it results in a fascinating, utterly beautiful, and surprisingly realistic representation of what happens in Nature.

It's also entirely possible to have your "Urban Igapo" turn into an "Urban Algae Farm" if things get out of balance. Yet, it can "recover" from this. Again, even the fact that a system is "out of balance" doesn't mean that it's a failure. After all, the algae is thriving, right? That's a success. Life forms have adapted. A cause to celebrate.

It happens in Nature, too!

I know, seems weird. What we've long feared- what we've always felt looked like "failure"- is actually something to cherish. A huge, HUGE "mental shift" that literally goes against every single thing you've been taught in the hobby.

Scared yet?

I can see why you would be.

We're essentially asking you to do the equivalent of turning a potted plant into a fish pond. And that's sort of- well, sort of crazy, right? Well, maybe not. I mean, this transition has been happening in the igapo- the flooded forests- of South America for eons. Nature has processes, organisms and parameters which allow this annual transition to occur. Life forms have adapted to this cycle. 

Now, sure, the forests of South America are open ecological systems, and your 2-gallon "Urban Igapo" in suburban Cincinnati isn't...On the other hand, the same processes and laws which govern the functions of the forest impact the function in your little experimental glass box. 

Once again, the idea of a "mental shift" to accept and understand the processes and the way they look and impact our closed systems is a huge part of the equation. Think about this: Yeah, the tank may look like a cloudy, brown, glass full of shit at some phases of the terrestrial-aquatic transition. However, there are reasons why, right? Nature is trying to establish a functioning little ecosystem, and not all of this fits our definition of "attractive." 

But it's "natural."

And what's wrong with it? The looks? I mean, are your fishes dying? No? Than what's the real "problem" here?

Yeah, I know, it's a weird way of thinking of this.

If you make this kind of "mental shift", you'd even be ablel to tolerate, accept, and even appreciate the appearance of biofilms, "beard algae", fungal growth, and any number of things that you'd likely see during this environmental transition. It's simply Nature working through her transitional process.

Yet, accepting all of this stuff-aesthetic and otherwise- is contradictory to what we've been taught over generations to be "acceptable" in an aquarium. However, if you really want to own a  real "Nature Aquarium" (sic), then I think that you need to make this big "mental shift." 

This is what Nature looks like.

And there is no single thing that you can do, change, or add to magically transform your "Urban Igapo" into a shiny-clean, perfectly-balanced closed ecosystem. No "magic elixir" or single practice to get you perfectly predictable results every time.

Rather, its a series of changes, practices, processes, and the passage of time, which we as hobbyists need to study, understand, and accept. The whole idea of the UI is to foster a closed ecosystem- to replicate, on a small scale- what happens in Nature. It starts by accepting what happens in Nature, and letting it play out in our aquariums.

Nature finds a way. Nature knows how to do this.

It's up to us to decide wether to understand and accept- or to resist and circumvent the offerings of Nature.

Which way will you go?

Regardless...

Stay determined. Stay curious. Stay observant. Stay patient. Stay resourceful. Stay open-minded...

And Stay Wet

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The "dynamic botanical substrate": Nature unleashed.

Once again, my fascination with aquarium substrates is taking us down to the bottom today! I'm obsessed with the idea of "functionally aesthetic" substrates in our botanical-style aquariums. 

It's because I imagine the substrate as this magical place which fuels all sorts of processes within our aquariums, and that Nature tends to it in the most effective and judicious manner. 

Yeah, I'm a bit of a "substrate romantic", I suppose.😆

I think a lot of this comes from my long experience with reef aquariums, and the so-called "deep sand beds" that were quite popular in the early 2000's.

A deep sand bed is (just like it sounds) a layer of fine sand on the bottom of the aquarium, intended to grow bacteria in the deepest layers, which convert nitrate or nitrite to nitrogen gas. This process is generically called "denitrification", and it's one of the benefits of having an undisturbed layer of substrate on the bottom of the aquarium.

Fine sand and sediment is a perfect "media" upon which to culture these bacteria, with its abundant surface area. Now, the deep sand bed also serves as a location within the aquarium to process and export dissolved nutrients, sequester detritus (our old friend), and convert fish poop and uneaten food into a "format" that is usable by many different life forms.

In short, a healthy, undisturbed  sandbed is a nutrient processing center, a supplemental food production locale, and a microhabitat for aquatic organisms. 

You probably already know most of this stuff, especially if you've kept a reef tank before. And of course, there are reefers who absolutely vilify sandbeds, because they feel that they "compete" with corals, and ultimately can "leach" out the unwanted organics that they sequester, back into the aquarium. I personally disagree with that whole thing, but that's another battle for another time and place! 

Okay, saltwater diversion aside, the concept of a deep substrate layer in a botanical-style aquarium continues to fascinate me. I think that the benefits for our systems are analogous to those occurring in reef tanks- and of course, in Nature. In my opinion, an undisturbed deep substrate layer in the botanical-style aquarium, consisting of all sorts of materials, from sand/sediments to leaves to twigs and broken-up pieces of botanicals, can foster all sorts of support functions.

I've always been a fan of in my aquarium keeping work of allowing Nature to take its course in some things, as you know. And this is a philosophy which plays right into my love of dynamic aquarium substrates. If left to their own devices, they function in an efficient, almost predictable manner.

Nature has this "thing" about finding a way to work in all sorts of situations.

And, I have this "thing" about not wanting to mess with stuff once it's up and running smoothly... Like, I will engage in regular maintenance (ie; water exchanges, etc.), but I avoid any heavy "tweaks" as a matter of practice. In particular, I tend not to disturb the substrate in my aquariums. A lot of stuff is going on down there...

Amazing stuff.

Even in "non-planted" aquariums, playing with this stuff opens up a whole new area of aquarium "exploration."

Like any dynamic habitat, the "botanical-style substrate" relies on a variety of organisms to do the job of processing nutrients. A healthy and diverse assemblage of organisms dwelling in this layer, ranging from bacteria to fungi too worms and small crustaceans comprise what we call the "infauna." Essentially, the infauna is a collective of organisms which do most of the work in keeping a botanical-style aquarium functional and healthy.

These small organisms  do a LOT!  

They will consume excess food, process detritus, and even some algae. During this process, they digest and excrete some of this stuff as waste. In turn, bacteria process the "waste", which keeps the whole  infauna community- and the biological "filtration" of the aquarium- functioning.  

As you know, I've long had a sort of affection for detritus. It's simply not a problem IMHO- particularly in the context of a deep substrate bed. Most of this stuff will be processed by the resident infauna, and consumed by resident fishes.

We talk about the concept of "substrate enhancement" or "enrichment" a lot in the context of botanicals (we tend to use the two terms interchangeably). They're not particularly scientific, yet I think that the monikers work well. We're not talking about "enrichment" in the same context as say, planted aquarium people, with nutritive materials (vitamins, minerals, fertilizers, etc.) put into the substrate specifically for the benefit of plants.

Rather, "enrichment" in our context refers to the addition of botanical materials for creating a more natural-appearing, natural-functioning substrate- one which provides a suitable haven for microbial life, as well as for fungi, small crustaceans, biofilms, and even algae, to serve as a foraging area for our fishes and invertebrates. There is something oddly compelling to me when I look at both aquariums and natural biotopes with a diverse, interesting bottom structure.

They are diverse harbors of life, ranging from fungal and biofilm mats, to algae, to epiphytic plants. Decomposing leaves, seed pods, and tree branches compose the substrate for a complex web of life which helps the fishes we're so fascinated by to flourish. And, if you look at them objectively and carefully, they are beautiful.

Detritus ("Mulm") located in the sediments is the major source of energy and/or nutrients for this dynamic habitat. The bacteria which perform all the important chemical reactions, such as converting ammonia to nitrite, nitrates to nitrogen, releasing bound-up nutrients, neutralizing hydrogen sulfide, etc. will obtain  essential nutrients from the detritus (this is what autotrophic bacteria that metabolize ammonia/ammonium or hydrogen sulfide for energy do).

These bacteria may also "harvest" those nutrients, as well as metabolize (aerobically or anaerobically) the organic compounds present in the detritus for energy, just like heterotrophs do.

The processing of nutrients in the aquarium is a fascinating one; a real "partnership" between a wide variety of aquatic organisms.

Yes, there is a lot of amazing biological function occurring in these layers. Now, hobbyists have played with deep sand beds in aquariums for many years, and knowledgable proponents of natural aquarium management, such as Diane Walstad, have discussed the merits of such features in far more detail, and with a competency that I could only dream of! That being said, I think the time has never been better to experiment with this stuff!

Again, we're talking about utilizing a wider variety of materials than just sand, so the dynamics are quite different, offering unique functions, processes, and potential benefits.

I'm fascinated by the different types of soils or substrate materials which occur in blackwater systems, and how they influence the aquatic environment. Keep in mind that many of the habitats we obsess over, like Amazonian "igapos" and "igarapes" are seasonally-inundated forest-floor features, so it goes without saying that the terrestrial soil composition and associated biomass have significant influence on the aquatic environments that emerge during the wet season.

Yeah, we know a little about that stuff, right?

So, the idea of a "dynamic substrate", comprised of a variety of materials, will create a very efficient functionally aesthetic habitat for a variety of life forms. Higher organisms such as "Blackworms", "Trumpet Snails", Planarians (not the nasty parasitic ones), Gammarus, Daphnia, etc. will compliment the bacteria, fungi, and other life forms which live in sediments and sand.

And I should once again point out that my vision of a "dynamic "botanical-style substrate is one comprised of materials like leaves and bits of botanicals mixed in with, on top of, or in place of traditional sand. My obsession with botanical materials to influence and accent the aquarium habitat caused me to look at the use of certain materials that are reminiscent of those found in the wild aquatic habitats, to augment the more "traditional" sands and other substrates used in aquariums. 

And in some instances, as mentioned above-to replace them entirely.  

We have sourced materials which we feel recreate some of the appearance, texture, and function of the tropical streams and rivers that we obsess over. Some, like "Fundo Tropical" and "Substrato Fino" are coconut-derived, and will not only "tint" the water, but will impart those humic substances and such that seem to be so beneficial for many fishes. And then we have our more "leaf-centric" materials, such as Mixed Leaf Media and "MLM2", which provide a different look and function.

We are getting ready to release several more botanical materials that we think will be perfect for this purpose, so stay tuned. 

The texture of these types of materials tends to facilitate the growth of small life forms, like  bacteria and higher organisms (like worms, creatures like Gammarus, and other crustaceans) can thrive and reproduce, processing uneaten food and other materials, which providing the occasional "snack" for foraging fishes. 

Obviously, we're not advocating just recklessly throwing "stuff" into your tank and waiting for something good to happen. I suppose the "con"side of incorporating these types of materials would be that you could overdo it, at least at the outset. You know, adding too much too soon, possibly overwhelming the resident bacteria population in an established aquarium, potentially rapidly reducing pH or even oxygen with excess enthusiasm! It's possible- perils that are well-known to most in our community.

Of course, with this type of experimentation, we need to employ a healthy dose of common sense and good habits. It's important to have adequate water movement, creation, and overall good husbandry when attempting such a substrate.

Well, yeah.

This kind of combination of natural materials can create a potentially messy substrate area if you are not a careful feeder, over-stock your aquarium, and tend to let things go. So, just be conscientious about maintenance! Makes sense, right?

Working with ideas like this always requires that we proceed slowly and cautiously- looking at the potential for issues as thoughtfully as we do at the opportunity to do "evolutionary" things. Building a botanical-style aquarium system is not simply about a different "look."

It's about creating a biological system optimized for the blackwater environment. With a substrate comprised of botanical materials which specifically compliment the overall aquarium habitat, the possibilities for success with these unique systems are significant!

It will require some responsible experimentation, patience, observation, reflection- and occasionally failure. Personally, I have not had any disasters with my years of experimenting with botanical-style substrates and sediments/sands. That doesn't mean that you'll be immune to problems. It just means that if I can pull it off- you certainly can, too. The "learning curve" with this type of stuff is likely a bit unpredictable, but I think it's well worth taking on!

We're literally just "scratching the surface" of the idea of dynamic botanical substrates, and the next set of insights, discoveries, and even breakthroughs- is out there for the taking.

Let's get after this!

Stay brave. Stay curious. Stay open-minded. Stay innovative. Stay resourceful. Stay observant. Stay patient...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Shortcuts, "hacks" and processes...

Not too long ago, I was "talking shop" with a fellow aquarium hobbyist/vendor, who runs a company in a different "sector" of the industry. We talked about our businesses, the challenges, the customers, and the hobby in general. Around mid-point in the discussion, there was a strange pause. Why? Well, both of us were totally blown away by an enormous hunger for seemingly basic hobby information.

Checking back through the many emails, DMs, and other messages I've received over just the past few months was quite remarkable!  I mean, the amount of questions we field on stuff that would be considered “primary” aquarium-keeping technique was overwhelmingly disproportionate to more advanced topics discussed on our social media, here in "The Tint", and during presentations at clubs. 

Sure, as a hobby vendor, especially one who puts out a fair amount of content like I do, you're alternatively a friend, teacher, therapist, mentor, and always a fellow fish geek. It goes with the territory, and I love it. 

Like, to say that I was surprised was an understatement. Sure, the questions about botanical-style aquarium stuff was a little more "focused", and there were quite a few really cool, esoteric, biotope and process-related queries- but the underlying questions of the vast majority of the them were focused on things like the nitrogen cycle, managing bioload, and what I call "remedial" questions about pH/hardness, stocking, and suitability of various materials for aquarium use.

Now, I like to say that there's no such thing as a stupid question. However, there is such a thing as a "fundamental question"- one which, although "wrapped" in a more advanced or arcane topic (like, botanical-style, blackwater aquariums), is essentially a question about a basic "tenant" of aquarium-keeping that should have been understood from day one in the hobby- long before the reader stumbled on us!

Yeah, it's sort of strange.

I mean, on one hand, you're happy to have people engaged and interested in the stuff we talk about here. However, on the other hand, you're often scratching your head, wondering why more hobbyists seem to lack an understanding of some of the most basic hobby concepts. 

We talked about this concept for a long time, and tried to get our heads around it all. Why would this be? Why do so many hobbyists seem to lack an understanding of the basics? I sometimes wonder if the root cause is that there is just too much "distraction" lying just past the "entry level" to the hobby.

Huh?

I mean, we’re in what I like to call the “Postmodern” era of aquarium keeping, where hobbyists are trying all sorts of advanced techniques and technology, and sharing rapidly via the internet. Everyone is an Instagram "influencer" or "brand evangelist" these days.  And man, if you have a YouTube channel, you're instantly branded as a (gulp) "expert" by the masses.

Today's hobbyist is far different than the hobbyist of only a couple of decades ago, for many reasons. Aquatic hobbyists spend a collective fortune on the latest and greatest equipment: lighting technology, controllers, filters, pumps, etc. We are bombarded with lots of data on husbandry, animal care, setting up systems, etc. Advanced hobbyists- true "experts"- easily interact with outright beginners, thanks to the power of the internet.

Gadgets and other products promising to leapfrog you to success with minimal struggle are an iPad tap away.

Information is everywhere. 

Well, maybe the information is everywhere, but I get this sneaking feeling that many hobbyists are not taking advantage of all of it.

I saw this in the reef aquarium world near daily: Why would reefers who have 200-gallon plus systems, with thousands of dollars in livestock and equipment  be completely struggling, and have super-specific, detailed questions- and dramatic misconceptions about really basic shit like the nitrogen cycle, alkalinity, water quality, and stocking? Stuff that they should have acquired as fledgling hobbyists, or during their planning phases in the hobby adventure.

We're literally bombarded with shortcuts and hacks, and little emphasis is given to the far less sexy natural processes which control what happens in aquatic ecosystems.

How could this be?

Put a tack in that. We'll come back to it.

Another observation that I have is a sort os strange "misappropriation", or perhaps, a "disconnect" that many hobbyists seem to have about Nature and its processes (all of which influence what happens in our own aquariums). It seems that the cool "visuals" of beautiful aquariums online have given many an "exemption" from having to understand what goes on in the wild, and how it can influence their home aquariums.

It shouldn't be this way. 

This is at least part of the reason why we at Tannin have invested so much time, energy, and money in sharing inspiring and (hopefully) interesting information about the wild tropical aquatic habitats of the year, and how their form and function can be incorporated into our aquariums. Oh, and how we can protect them from environmental threats... That's kind of important, right?

Yeah.

If we can't grasp what goes on here....

...then we'll never grasp what's going on in HERE!

Okay, I think we've identified some of the key issues here. Time for a little more analysis and ideas for how to fix them. And, well, I have a couple of thoughts and theories about why (Well, of course I do, right?)...

The Internet has changed everything

“Okay, Fellman, sure- go ahead and blame the ‘net. Slap Twitter, YouTube or Instagram again while you’re at it…” 

The low hanging fruit? Well, perhaops- but..hear me out on this. I think that the internet and all of the information access it provides has been culture changing. It's amazing. However, some of the change in our hobby may not be for the better. It sort of exploits the less attractive parts of the human psyche, like impatience and desire.

There was a time when a beginner in the hobby went down to the LFS, had a conversation with the staff about starting a tank, and was sent home with some information and perhaps even cracked a book or two…BEFORE he or she even bought a tank. It took some time, a bit of effort, and required us to take a tiny amount of initiative. And it took a lot of patience.

With the internet, all of this information that you had to go out to obtain is readily available on your phone or laptop, along with forums where a fledgling hobbyist can discuss the hobby with experienced veterans.  You don't even have to leave your couch. This is amazing!

All this stuff...right at your fingertips! That's great. I love it.

However, there are also hundreds of “build threads”, advertisements, and online vendors (just like mine) dangling all sorts of goodies in front of the neophyte. "Lessons" that seem to show flashy results, with little discussion of the underlying "boring" stuff (like, you know  the nitrogen cycle; shit like that...). You can just MOVE! 

For just a few dollars  you can have all of this cool stuff delivered overnight right to your door! If you do it "right", and if you can afford it, you’ll be able to go from thinking about starting an aquarium to a full-fledged, high-octane system with all of the latest expensive gear and livestock by next weekend!

So, maybe part of this is a cultural shift brought about by the era of e-commerce. Things are just easier now. Again, this is not "bad"- it's just indicative of where we are as a society.

We have become accustomed to wanting something and getting it…fast. Why research the underlying processes which control what happens in your tank? I mean, there are products and equipment available that can give you “professional results” with virtually "plug and play setup."

You can bypass all of that boring nonsense, like understanding the nitrogen cycle, or the concept of water quality management. We have live bacteria in a bottle, and electronic controllers to just set things up for us.

Easy.

Perhaps even too easy?

Have we simply decided, in this fast-paced era, to just bypass the “learning curve?” Are we as a culture (and as businesses) so eager to get new hobbyists into our "purchasing funnels" that we are enabling them to bypass the “dues paying” part of the climb to hobby success? Should there be a “dues paying” time, anyways? It's a valid question, although a bit harsh, I suppose.

Who has the right to dictate THAT? Besides, why do you need to "pay dues?"

On the other hand, are we exposing hobbyists to financial ruin, and most important- hapless animals to death because the newbie wants the rare cichlid or deepwater Acropora and “should” be able to keep it because of her crazy filter, fancy additives, protein skimmer, controllable LED lighting, DC water pumps, and a capable electronic controller monitoring the whole thing can help?

This dovetails nicely with my next theory:

Why bother to go the the effort to fully understand the physiological and environmental aspects of what the plants and fishes need? The equipment will take care of it, right? Besides, we don't have the time...right?

You could carry this "logic" to the "nth degree" and look at larger "cultural shifts", right?  I mean, there are parallels here. We could argue that we've gotten to the point where no one wants to brew a cup of coffee anymore. We have the “K-Cup” to do that. I laugh every time I see those commercials for "meal kits" on TV.  You know, 'cause it's easier to open a few packs, heat the stuff up, and you're done. Instead of going to the refrigerator, gathering the ingredients, heating them up, and...

Maybe we’re too busy?

Oh, wait- I get it. The idea is that these things get you the "finished product" without the underlying tedium or learning the processes/techniques involved to get them.

We're too busy...Yet, we will spend a fortune fixing the problems brought on by some of these "advances" and the gaps they've left in our knowledge of the hobby. Or worse- we'll just quit?

Think I’m overreacting?

I don’t think so. I’ve been approached as a vendor numerous times to give “remedial reef keeping” lessons to people who have obscene amounts of money invested in reefs that would put mine to shame, equipment-wise. Problem was, they hadn’t a clue about keeping the animals they built their technological shrines for. I know many fellow vendors and LFS people have had the same experiences.

Have we as a hobby and industry made the process of actually understanding the life forms that we keep secondary to simply acquiring them? Makes me shudder a bit.

And I'm not trying to take the "You guys have it so easy- I had to walk to school through 6 feet of snow..." mentality. It's not about, "Newbies have to pay their dues! They don't have the RIGHT to success.."

Bullshit.

The point is- we owe it to our animals- and ourselves, to understand this stuff.

This is where the LFS will shine above all!

Talking-to people who live, breathe, and sleep aquarium-keeping will help. Vendors online- same thing applies.  Hobby forums have a responsibility for perpetuating a responsible, educational culture. Too much is at stake. When PIJAC stats show that the average person is in the hobby for only 18 months before throwing his/her arms up in frustration, something is wrong.

Especially when we are selling millions of dollars of expensive equipment and livestock to the very people who are bailing out in droves. This isn’t just a fight to create more understanding and awareness..It’s literally a fight for survival of the hobby and art of aquarium keeping. Yup.


This is a “cultural shift”

Pure and simple…In a world where people are supposedly not able to retain more than 280 characters of information, and where there is a apparently an “algorithm” for pretty much everything, some prognosticators will assert that we simply have lost the ability to absorb information on things that are not considered “relevant” to our immediate goal.

If the immediate goal is to have a great looking tank, apparently we don’t want to take the time to learn the groundwork that it takes to get there and to sustain a system on a long-term basis. It’s far more interesting- and apparently, immediately gratifying- to learn about what gear or products can get us where we want, and what fishes, corals, and plants are available.

I don't buy any of this, but the problem is, we as a hobby tend to function as if this is, indeed, the way things are.

We perpetuate this by well- dumbing everything down. We feature the superficial aspects of the hobby- how cool the tanks look, etc., while failing to get people to grasp the basics. You even see this in many of the “build threads” I alluded to previously.

This is a huge thing in the "Reef" side of the hobby. In many of these threads, you’ll see a detailed run down of the equipment, shots of the assembly, the “solutions” to the problems encountered along the way (usually even more expensive equipment purchases). You’ll see pics of the finished tanks and healthy fishes and corals…

All very interesting and even helpful, but the “weirdness” starts when, in the middle of the threads, you’ll see the “builder” asking about why he’s experiencing a massive algae outbreak, or why all of the coral frags he just added are dying in this brand new, state-of-the-art tank. Often, they'll blame a "bad batch of salt" or a pump that doesn't quite work as advertised. Yet, the continued questions and ensuing discussions make you wonder why this ill-informed, yet apparently financially comfortable individual went off on a 5-figure “joyride”, building a dream tank with an apparent complete ignorance of many of the hobby fundamentals.

I’m often dumbfounded at the incredible lack of hobby basics many of these people show. Just because you’re a great DIY guy, or have disposable income to buy everything you see advertised online for your 400-gallon reef tank, it doesn’t make you a knowledgeable or experienced hobbyist. It just doesn’t.

 Algae, the nitrogen cycle, fish diseases- none give a shit about that!

Okay, I’m sounding very cynical. And perhaps I am. But the evidence is out there in abundance…and it’s kind of discouraging at times.

It doesn't HAVE to be that way, either.

Look, I’m not trying to be the self-appointed "guardian of the aquarium hobby." I’m not  simply "calling us out." I'm not lamenting progress in our civilization...I’m asking for us to look at this stuff realistically, however. To sort of hold ourselves accountable. Yes, no one has a right to tell anyone that what they are doing is not the right way, but we do have to instill upon the newbie the importance of understanding the basics.

Like many other vendors, I offer  products to people and don’t educate them on every single aspect of aquatic husbandry. It’s hard to do that. I do write lots of blogs and articles, and lecture all over the world, so I know I’m doing something to reach some people…but likely not enough. I think that I need to do better. I will continue to write more about basic sort of stuff and how it impacts our speciality than I do about whatever the heck is on my mind? 

Does this help? I Don't know.

I do know that we all need to tell hobbyists stuff like it is, without sugar-coating everything. . There are dozens of posts and “build threads” on forums and Facebook groups that DO provide great information to hobbyists, along with plenty of articles by experienced aquarists discussing any number of arcane and fascinating aquarium-related topics. Great YouTube channels, like that of our good friend, Rachel O'Leary, which provides amazing information that will flat-out make you a better hobbyist.

Yet, for all of this, we still see what appears to be a very "superficial"understanding of the hobby by so many hobbyists. I feel sorry for these people, as well as the animals that are exposed to potentially fatal situations out of pure ignorance.

These hobbyists also miss the joy that comes with understanding and applying something that they have learned.

We need to stress this more.

Look, we all make mistakes. Part of the hobby and the learning curve. No one seems to want to talk about that. No one wants to present the "dark side" of the hobby now and then. We need to talk about this stuff. Sure, it's more fun to just show the kick-ass finished aquarium and it's award-winning aquascape.

Yet, when I see so many indications that hobbyists are just not grasping the basic information that they need to be successful, I feel a sense of disappointment. I feel like we- all of us who are experienced in this great hobby and industry- are possibly  letting down a whole generation of hobbyists. Yikes, I’m giving us a bit of an ass-kicking. Yeah. I think we need to sit down with prospective hobbyists and show them that learning about the basics is actually FUN. It’s actually really cool stuff that will make their hobby experience way more fulfilling and interesting.

How does this get solved?

Well, it starts with mentoring. It not only starts with getting people excited not only at the end result- owning a “slice of the bottom”- it also starts with getting people excited about the journey to get there, and learning about how we can make the animals under our care thrive. It’s not just about the latest gadgets- it’s about the latest information on fundamental care of animals. We should share more information and pictures about the amazing wild habitats from which our fishes come, and discuss how these same processes apply in our aquariums- and how we can replicate many aspects of Nature in our own homes.

It starts by us once and for all embracing the local fish store and the people who work there. Sure, there are the stories of ignorant personnel and such- but these are truly the exceptions rather than the rule- yet they have somehow seeped into our collective consciousness and contaminated forever our view of the local fish store- compelling many hobbyists to seek out the answers they want-or worse- the answers they want to hear- from unvetted sources online.

The reality is, most fish stores and hobby vendors do give invaluable, free hands-on advice. Most attempt to instill a passion that goes beyond just shilling products, an accusation that is often unfairly leveled upon them. Enough is enough. Just like acknowledging that not all online coral vendors are Photoshop-abusing, money-grabbing deceptive-business-practicing sharks, or every E-Bay aquarium advertiser is not a no-service, deceptive sleazebag working out of the back of his car...we cannot keep pinpointing the LFS as the primary cause of hobby dissatisfaction and misinformation.

The local store, as I’ve written about previously- is the first link to the wonders of the hobby, a cornerstone of hobby “culture”, and the owners and employees deserve our unwavering support. Like all of us- they deserve the occasional kick in the rear when they screw up. But that’s about it. 

Making positive hobby changes also starts by continuing to emphasize basic care...Example: How many hobbyists do you know who really embrace a quarantine protocol for any fish added to their tanks? How many hobbyists do you know that would bend over backwards to buy a product that promises the benefits of quarantine without actually doing it? A lot, I'll bet...I mean, we'd all be tempted...but how many would really just jump on that because of the seemingly easier course?

Human nature? I guess.

As aquarists, we need to support new hobbyists with not just the generosity that we’re famous for, but the incredible passion that we curate. We need to give them the good and the bad information. We need to impress upon them that running without learning how to walk first is a painful way to learn. Fishes, plants and corals are not just “merchandise”, and the learning curve should not include exposing them to potentially fatal situations that could have been avoided had the neophyte hobbyist been properly instructed about their requirements from the get go.

We need to let beginners know that part of the joy of the hobby is learning about this stuff first hand..by doing it.

In an era of "instant gratification", it just seems that the aquarium hobby is a polar opposite. The vast majority of us get it, but there is a discouragingly large portion of the aquarium keeping hobby that hasn't seemed to have grasped the concept just yet. 

Let's do our best to help change that.  

We have it easily in our power to "fix" this...It starts with really easy stuff:

Support your LFS. Support your fave online vendor. Support your fellow hobbyists. Actively recruit members for your local aquarium club. Remember, there are no real "hacks"- no shortcuts- in this game. Yet, there are always processes. Learn about them. Teach them. Enjoy the journey.


Stay inspired. Stay excited. Stay motivated. Stay inquisitive. Stay helpful. Stay generous. 

And always Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Brackish water aquariums- from the bottom up!

Want to know a little secret?

Tannin Aquatics almost didn't happen! I came very close to doing something quite different! (I know at least a few "competitors" and people who've tried to copy/rip-off our company recently that would have LOVED that, lol)

Yeah.

There was this other lifelong obsession of mine, which seemed to my friends to be a more logical transition for a geeky aquatics entrepreneur...

Brackish. 

Yeah, brackish. As in, brackish water aquariums; mangrove estuaries, intertidal habitats...

I was familiar with these habitats, both as an aquarist and as a traveler, having spent many happy hours in stinky, mosquito-filled tropical backwaters, often knee-deep in mucky soil, poking around the mangroves with the delight that only a fish geek can take!

I had kept brackish tanks for years...a natural compliment to reef tanks; and, at the time, it seemed a good way to transition from the coral world, at least!  I figured that the "Tannin thing" would come later, a natural "digression" from salt-sequentially, if you will. Brackish made sense for someone who had his head firmly in the saltwater world for decades, both as a hobbyist and later, as a business person.

I mean, it wasn't going "all the way" fresh, so it wouldn't have to "wean myself" with as much effort. I developed a brand, product ideas, and all the trappings you'd expect from someone who is totally into something. The aquarium world's first completely dedicated brackish-water vendor. Talk about "niche!"

Yeah, it was pretty serious!

Then I stopped it. Cold.

As you probably have guessed, this "sub-obsession" ultimately morphed into "Estuary", our brackish-water line of natural materials here under the larger Tannin Aquatics "umbrella."

And that's played out pretty well, I think. We've done quite a bit of work with our version of the formerly moribund brackish-water aquarium. One that is dynamic, unique, and altogether different that what has been proferred in years past.

And the whole thing centers largely around Mangroves...

Mangroves are woody plants which grow at the interface between land and water in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Mangroves are what botanists call "halophytes"- plants that thrive under salty conditions. And they do very well in higher-nutrient substrates!

And, like with our freshwater botanical-style aquarium obsession, we'd do well to study these habitats for replication in our aquariums...

In many brackish-water estuaries in the tropics, rivers deposit silt and mud, which generates nutrients, algae, and fosters the development of other small organisms that form the base of the food chain.

This "food chain" is very similar to what we've been talking about in our botanical-style blackwater aquariums. We've spent a lot of time trying to recreate various aspects of food chains in our botanical-style aquariums, and this is a perfect extension of that practice.

The nutrients the mangroves seek lie near the surface of the mud, deposited by the tides. Since there is essentially no oxygen available in the mud, there is no point in the mangroves sending down really deep roots. Instead, they send out what are called "aerial roots" (that's what gives them their cool appearance, BTW), sort of "hanging on" in the mud, which also gives the mangroves the appearance of "walking on water."

And of course, you know that we have a more than "casual" interest in substrates, right? The composition of the substrates where mangroves reside is very interesting, and as aquarists, we'd do well to refer to some studies of these habitats.

Mangrove soils are an interesting, nutrient-rich mix of marine alluvium, transported as sediment and deposited by rivers and the ocean tides. Soils are made up of sand, silt and clay in various combinations. Mangrove soils are typically saline, anoxic, often acidic and frequently waterlogged.

A real "cocktail" of variables, right?

You often hear the substrate in these habitats referred to as "mud." In this context, of course, "mud" actually refers to mixture of silt and clay, both of which are rich in organic matter. The "topsoil" is a combination of sand or clay. Now, interestingly, the lighter-colored topsoils, consisting largely of sand, are pretty well aerated. The clay-like topsoils are far less aerated.

In a recent study of these habitats which I stumbled on, the researchers concluded that the composition in typical mangrove habits was as follows: "Overall sediment proportion of main fractions is 59% for silt, 21% for sand and 20% for clay."

Of course, this has some implications for those of us who are trying to recreate this type of habitat in our aquariums, doesn't it?

Mangrove habitats are usually enclosed and protected environments, with low-energy waters, which is conducive to sedimentation of clay particles. Now, confusing the matter further is that various studies of tropical mangrove forests worldwide have revealed that mangrove soils may be either acidic or alkaline, depending upon the materials deposited within them. 

In mangrove soils, nitrogen is considered the primary nutrient that affects species composition and mangrove population density. Further analysis found that nitrogen and phosphate influence structure and composition in approximately equal proportions. Potassium is beneficial for mangrove growth, yet vitally important in higher salty environments, as it impacts the osmotic regulation that occurs within the mangroves themselves. So, if you're keeping mangroves in very salty conditions, dosing a fertilizer containing potassium might be quite beneficial!

Now, we talk in general terms about mangrove soils being "nutrient rich"- and they are, for the most part. However, there are significant variabilities because of the dynamics of the mangrove habitat. Although some mangrove soils have extremely low nutrient availability, this factor varies greatly between mangroves- and also within a mangrove stand! In other words, the mangroves themselves actually influence these factors! 

In general, it's understood by ecologists that nutrient-rich silty sediments produced faster growth of mangrove seedlings- vital in this important ecosystem- and of extreme interest to those of us who wish to sprout and grow mangrove propagules in the aquarium!

And of course, the leaves which mangroves regularly drop form not only an interesting aesthetic and "structural" component of the habitat (and therefore, the aquarium!)- they contribute to the overall biological diversity and "richness" of the habitat. 

Fungi and bacteria in brackish and saltwater mangrove ecosystems help facilitate the decomposition of mangrove material, just like in their pure freshwater counterparts.

Interestingly, in scientific surveys, it's been determined that bacterial counts are generally higher on attached mangrove leaves than they are on freshly-fallen leaf litter, and this is kind of interesting, because ecologists feel that attached, undamaged mangroves leaves don't release much tannin, which, as we know might have some anti-bacterial properties. However, it's also been found that materials like humic acid, which are abundant in the mangrove habits, stimulate phytoplankton growth there. 

Interesting, right?

Yeah, leaf drop is a big deal in mangrove habitats! And this phenomenon is something we can- and should- replicate in our aquariums!

The high level of carbon "allocation" to roots of mangroves, in conjunction with mangrove litter fall, and the rather low rates of decomposition which occur in anoxic soils, results in mangrove ecosystems being quite rich in organic matter. And despite these lower rates of decomposition, the mangrove leaf litter is a major source of nutrients in the mangrove ecosystem!

Yeah, leaves again!

The leaves of mangroves, as they break down, become subject to both leaching of the compounds in their tissues, as well as microbial breakdown. Compounds like potassium and carbohydrates are commonly leached quickly, followed by tannins. Fungi are the "first responders" to leaf drop in mangrove communities, followed by bacteria, which serve to break don't the leaves further.

And of course, higher organisms like shrimp, crabs and mullosks are the dominant organisms in these ecosystems, performing an important role in "processing" leaves and other organic materials which accumulate in them.

So yeah, we love the idea of creating your brackish water ecosystem around leaves and mangroves (either alive, or just utilizing the roots/branches to simulate the appearance of the mangrove root system). The possibilities are endless for creating fascinating aquariums and unlocking some cool secrets!

Those of you who have experience with both aquatic plants and botanical-style aquariums will really enjoy our interpretation of the brackish water habitat. And, if you're also a marine aquarist, that "skill set" can only help, too! 

Yeah...there is so much going on in this area...so much for us to play with as hobbyists, In fact, part of me is actually a bit guilty for unleashing the "Estuary" idea so early on (2.5 years) in Tannin's existence, as we were just starting to venture out and unlock some secrets in the blackwater/botanical game...But I think that the two can continue to develop together and spur on new hobby advances.

In fact, I think that they already have...

So, if you were contemplating playing around with this whole brackish water/botanical-style aquarium game, it's a really good time to experiment! We're looking forward to seeing more an more of your experiments and ideas coming to light...in this tinted, slightly salty world!

Stay curious. Stay resourceful. Stay bold. Stay excited. Stay adventurous. Stay creative. Stay enthusiastic...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The opportunities of microhabitats...

There is a "big picture" in Nature- vast habitats, filled with life; encompassing a myriad of intricate locales and ecological relationships.

And then, there is the 'small picture"- the very niches which form the vast aquatic habitats of the world. They're fascinating.

We talk a lot here about "microhabitats" in Nature; little areas of tropical habitats where unique physical, environmental and biological characteristics converge based on a set of factors found in the locale.

The mind-blowing diversity of Nature is comprised of millions of these little "scenes", all of which are the result of various factors coming together.

As aquarists, observing, studying, and understanding the specifics of microhabitats is a fascinating and compelling part of the hobby, because it can give us inspiration to replicate the form and function of them in our tanks!

We spend a lot of time discussing and considering the various components and interactions of water and terrestrial habitats, such as the igarape and the surrounding igapo and varzea flooded forests, and the Pantanal- those amazing inundated meadows found in Brazil.

These environments are fascinating, because they are examples of what happens when temporary situations (ie; floods) affect the  "topography" of terrestrial habitats. Our pages and posts feature amazing pics by David Sobry, Mike Tuccinardi, and Tai Strietman- all who observe Nature with a hobbyist's eye!

Ecologically, the productivity and diversity of these habitats make them perfect subjects for replication in our aquariums. Not only do they offer unique aesthetics- they offer really cool opportunities to see how they can function in a closed system like an aquarium!

When fishes are kept in a representation of a habitat which mimics its form and function, enormous potential for discoveries and success present themselves! Behaviors are different. Feeding patterns are different.

The whole "vibe" is different.

Look at the way rocks, soil and branches come together in flooded forests, meadows, and rivulets to form interesting physical spaces that fishes utilize for protection, foraging, and reproduction. 

By replicating the complex look and physical attributes of these features, including rich substrate, roots of various thickness, and leaves, we offer our fishes all sorts of potential microhabitats. In the aquarium, we tend to focus on the "macro" level- creating a nice wood stack, perhaps incorporating some rock- but we seldom see the whole picture allowed to come together in a more natural way. 

This was what inspired me in a recent iteration of one of my office "igapo-inspired" blackwater aquarium. The interaction between the terrestrial elements and the aquatic ones. Allowing terrestrial leaves to accumulate naturally among the "dormant terrestrial plant and  root structure" we created fostered this more natural looking, more natural-functioning environment.

As these leaves began to soften and ultimately break down, they encouraged microbial growth, biofilms, and fungal growths- all of which provided food for the resident fishes. No supplemental feeding was provided, and the fishes thrived.

..Just like what happens in Nature when these elements combine. There is something alluring to interpreting this in the aquarium.

Facilitating these processes- allowing the materials to accumulate naturally and break down "in situ" is a key component of replicating and supporting these microhabitats in our aquariums. It's a leap of faith- a bit of a stretch- sort of counter-intuitive over most of what we do in the hobby.

The typical aquarium hardscape- artistic and beautiful as it might be, generally replicates the most superficial aesthetic aspects of such habitats, and tends to overlook their function- and the reasons why such habitats form. In some cases, it's almost "sterile"- and I suppose there is a certain beauty to that, too.

Yet I urge you to go further in the other direction now and again.

When I see such beautiful aquascapes, I'm almost always thinking to myself, "Damn, they're sooo close to being gable to create something really natural here!"

If I had one of these tanks now, it would literally take every bit of resistance I can offer to avoid tossing in some leaves and botanicals into the nooks and crannies that are formed where substrate, stones, dormant terrestrial plants, and roots meet. Purely aesthetic 'scapes to me are like "missed opportunities" to learn more about these fascinating microhabitats!

So my plea to you- my fellow natural-style aquarium lovers- is to consider the function of microhabitats; what they formed, how fishes can live in them, derive protection, food, and utilize them as spawning locations from them.

Sure, you may not like to pile on the leaves and botanicals into your woodwork. You might not want to see all of that sediment, biofilms, and stuff breaking down in the nooks and crannies...

I get it.

However, don't automatically dismiss the idea out of hand, either ...

You can always remove these materials if they offend your aesthetic sensibilities. I only ask that you give the idea a try...a good, serious look at the elegance and function of these amazing ecological niches...

The "microhabitats" where substrate, leaves, and roots meet create amazing opportunities to create unique, functionally aesthetic aquariums.

Think about it.

Stay thoughtful. creative. Stay studious. Stay observant. Stay creative. Stay diligent...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Freezing time? Or embracing the process?

There's nothing quite like a brand new aquarium; one filled with promise and potential. In the botanical-style aquarium, the aquarium looks quite a bit different than it will ultimately appear- the botanicals are clean and untouched by biofilms, the leaves appear crisp and largely intact, and the wood and substrate are typically sharp and free of that "patina" of growth that occurs over time.

Crisp. "Fresh." Clean-looking.

And that's nice, I suppose. I mean, it IS.

It meets the hobby's broadest "expectations" of just how an aquarium should look. At least, from a "neatness" standpoint, right? Many hobbyists- and I"m convinced, many more- would embrace the botanical-style aquarium more wholeheartedly if they could keep their systems sort of "frozen" in time at that point.

Yet, to many of us, the real "allure" of the botanical-style aquarium is what takes place after those first glistening weeks- the time period when the aquarium starts to evolve, take on an even more natural look, and becomes more of an ecosystem, as opposed to a primarily aesthetic display.

Of course, there are lots of ways to manage the establishment, "evolution" and long-term function of the botanical-style aquarium. You could regularly clean, remove, and replace all of your botanicals and leaves as they start to acquire that patina of biofilm, soften, and decompose. You could brush off all the biofilms, stir up and siphon the substrate, and literally "freeze" the aquarium in that "fresh-from-the-showroom" phase!

There is a sort of happy medium, of course.

You can retain much of the "baseline" look by leaving the bulk of the botanicals in place, perhaps removing/replacing a few selected pieces from time to time. This gives you a sort of "established" look, and doesn't remove all of the "function", offering you a manageable option to keeping your aquarium more-or-less "fresh.

Or, you can simply allow much of the material to remain in play, and add new pieces as you see fit. A sort of actively-managed "evolutionary" process. One that not only mimics Nature in many respects (I mean, leaves and seed pods and stuff are constantly falling into, or being swept by currents into, aquatic habitats, right?), it will keep the microorganism/fungal/microcrustacean population aquarium biologically "fueled up", with a continuous supply of new food sources...just like in Nature!

The continuous replacement and supplementation of leaves and botanicals as they start to break down is a sort of process- okay, maybe even a habit- which many of us who play with botanical-style aquariums. This not only creates a continuously evolving aesthetic, it helps maintain the biological diversity and environmental parameters are held in the cherished "tight range".

Variation on a theme: I know a few "tinters" who make significant replacements of leaf and botanical items, taking out a lot of the older materials, while  replace them with fresh materials simultaneously, and this is conducted on a regular, although infrequent basis. This is similar to the Japanese aquascaping practice of "sozo haishoku" espoused by Takashi Amano, which is the processs of removing of as much old substrate material as possible along with the plants it contains in an aquarium, and replacing them with new materials.

It preserves the overall "composition" of the layout, but the "softscape" (the botanicals and leaves, in our case) could change dramatically over time. 

This process is very interesting to us as botanical-style aquarium fans, because, as we talked about many times before, it does sort of mimic what happens in many streams and rivers on a seasonal basis: Older materials are swept downstream as the watercourses swell, and are replaced by new ones that arrive to replace them.

And of course, in the aquarium, performing a "sozo haishoku"-type replacement of materials can significantly change the aesthetic of the aquascape because the botanicals are replaced with different ones after the previous ones are removed. It essentially means that your aquarium will significantly change over extended periods of time, likely bringing a very different look to the tank at different points in its operating "life cycle."

On the "downside" (there's always one, right?), it can also create significantly different environmental parameters when we do big "change-ups" of materials in a short span of time; the impacts on our fishes may be positive or negative, depending upon the conditions which existed prior to the move. 

Now, personally- I'm a fan of less "radical" moves, and in the interest of a good "offense", I favor regular, more measured additions to the botanical "set" in my aquariums. I tend not to remove any decomposing botanical material, unless it becomes an aesthetic detraction because it's blowing all over the place or something like that.

I while back, I did a slight "makeover" to my brackish water mangrove tank in my home office, which has accumulated a significant amount of decomposing mangrove leaf litter over the year it has been in operation. I wanted to add a lighter-colored, fine sandy substrate to be more consistent with some of the brackish-water Mangrove habitats I've studied. So what did I do? Well, I literally placed the sand on top of the accumulated leaf litter detritus...

A pretty radical move for me!

And really, what happens is that, through the power of the current and the activities of my fishes, some of it rises up to the surface once again! And the water parameters have been unaffected by this move. With the understanding that we are attempting to foster multiple "levels" of life forms in our tanks, NOT removing all of the decomposing materials is a good move, IMHO. 

That was my "closest approach" to the process of "sozo haishoku", I think!

Think about food chains, microbial growth, and environmental stability in our aquariums. Fostering these requires us to embrace, rather than fear- some of these processes as they happen in our tanks. 

And of course, Nature provides examples of similar processes.

Of course, I have no illusions that open, natural aquatic systems operate differently from our aquariums, but the "concept" is essentially the same... Study this pic by our friend, Tai Strietman taken in the Amazon...Leaves being covered by sand...interesting! Nature provides a "prototype" for everything, huh?

Having studied many images of Amazonian igarapes, it is very obvious that, although some materials are swept away by currents, etc., many do remain in place until they fully decompose, adding to the richness and complexity of the habitat, and that we can mimic this process in our aquariums to some advantage.

And, when coupled with good husbandry technique (ie; water exchanges, population management, feeding, and use/replacement of chemical filtration media) an eye for aesthetics, patience, and a focus on creating as complete-functioning a microcosm as possible in our tanks, long-term success is virtually a given in botanical-style aquariums.

Okay, emphasis on "virtually." Nothing is a complete "given" in this hobby!

Now, far be it from me to say that one of these systems won't test your patience, diligence, and perseverance- but to those who do endure and hold steady, the rewards are there. Facing, accepting, and dealing with some of the early "aesthetic challenges" in botanical-style aquariums, like the appearance and proliferation of biofilms, fungal growth, and the breakdown of botanicals is a fundamental step in building our "skill set" in this speciality.

A mental shift.

And of course, you can take radically different starting approaches, as I've done recently- creating aquariums which "look" established right from the start, because you're immediately utilizing materials which foster rapid growth of biofilms, decompose quickly, and develop fungal/microbial populations more rapidly.

I have found this process, utilizing different combinations of soils and sediments, mixes of highly ephemeral and durable botanical materials, and a variety of wood and roots, to create some fascinating microcosms which mimic the wild aquatic habitats we love in a surprisingly realistic and highly functional manner.

As every botanical-style aquarist knows, it's simply a fact that terrestrial materials, which exposed to water, will decompose, recruit fungal and biofilm growths, and substantially impact the aquatic environment and the physical appearance of our tanks.

Exactly like in Nature!

There is tremendous beauty in the ephemeral nature of aquatic habitats. At every phase of their existence, they are productive, beneficial, and appropriate for the various life forms which inhabit them.

It's no different in the aquarium. Stuff get's covered in biofilms. It begins to break down. Its appearance changes, and the aquarium habitat evolves.  We need to embrace this process, understand it...Hell, we need to celebrate it! We don't always have to continuously "edit" the process. And how we manage this stuff, both mentally and practically, will impact the state of the art of truly "natural" aquariums for years to come.

There is more to these types of aquariums than just aesthetics.

There is the function. The evolution. The processes.

For decades, the hobby focus has been all about removing pretty much everything from aquairums as soon as it breaks down. I beg us to reconsider this long-held belief, and to think about the potential benefits of leaving materials in the tank to break down in situ.

The benefits, as we've talked about many times, are numerous- ranging from environmental consistency to continuous production of supplemental food sources for our fishes. An un-interrupted chain of life fostered in the botanical-style aquarium can yield amazing results. 

We just have to give it the chance to "find its way..."

So, if you're tempted to remove all of the decomposing leaves or broken-down botanicals to preserve some aesthetic you have in your head...think twice, okay?

Preserve some of the old materials. Mix in some new ones. Re-distribute existing materials.

Or not.

Think about the long-term impacts of such short term moves. Do think about the ability of the life-forms in our tank to process and utilize these materials if left undisturbed. Yes, consider the concept of "Sozo Haishoku", the transient nature of botanicals, and the evolution of your aquarium over time.

You might change the entire course of your aquarium- and you will almost certainly change the entire course of the hobby as a whole.

Stay observant. Stay curious. Stay diligent. Stay consistent. Stay thoughtful. Stay engaged...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The botanical-style aquarium "conversation starter"...

It's 2020, and a lot has changed in our part of the aquarium world.

And a lot remains the same, actually.

Despite all of the specialization, research, and accumulated experience in this sector of the hobby being shared daily-even hourly- by our community, we still seem to be very impacted by a pervasive hobby "culture" of embracing popular perception, almost without questioning or doing any independent research.

While that may be a rather harsh, seemingly over-generalized statement, the reality is that it's often true.

When we first dove into the dark world of botanical-style, blackwater aquariums here at Tannin, we were simply aghast at the incredible amount of unsubstantiated, speculative, and unverified "information" out there in the hobby literature and online media.

There were rampant assumptions, and the passing on of many ideas without any personal experience with the subject. Some were simply wrong. Others had some "conditional validity" to them, but were overly-generalized in nature.

It was actually almost humorous, although the fact that it may have discouraged so many hobbyists from even attempting to keep this type of aquarium was kind of sad, and showed the power- and danger -of the process of "regurgitation" in the hobby.

It's only through the sharing of continuous, methodical, skeptical, and diligent work on these types of tanks that we've been able to finally break through and start pushing back with actual personal experience against some of the less helpful and more pervasive "myths" that are so prevalent in this sector. 

My hope is that this admittedly brief piece offers a sort of "discussion starter" for those of you who are interested in inspiring others to give botanical-style aquariums a shot. I hope that it gives you- and them- a little clarity.

Let's look at a few of the most pervasive and long-running "myths" that, in my opinion, have contributed to much of the hesitancy that many hobbyists may have had over the years about creating and maintaining one of these amazing aquariums for themselves!

MYTH: "Blackwater" is essentially "dirty water." 

FACT: Oh, man, if I had a dollar/euro for every time I heard this or read this, I wouldn't be selling dried seed pods and leaves for a living! In the culture of aquarium keeping, there seems to be this perception that water with a color to it is somehow a sign of a dirty, poorly-maintained aquarium. There is a certain "stigma" that we have attached to water that isn't blue white and crystal-clear.

Now, the reality is that many of the wild aquatic habitats from which a lot of our fave fishes come from are anything but "crystal clear." As we know now, the influence of factors like soil, and the presence of terrestrial materials like seed pods, leaves, and branches play a huge role in the chemical composition and appearance of the water.

It's really no different in the aquarium, right?

Tannins from wood and botanical materials will leach into the water, providing the characteristic "tint" that we've become so accustomed to in our little niche. Discolored water from accumulated nitrogenous wastes brought about by overcrowding, overfeeding, or poor water quality management is a totally different thing than "tinted" water from botanical influences! 

And that's just fine with us.

Color is not a reliable indicator of water quality, pH, or hardness. You can easily have very high water quality (ie; low in nitrates, phosphates, and other substances) and still have a 'tint." In fact, water can be of very high quality and have an almost "patina" of finely dissolving materials in it and still test at high water quality levels. In our type of aquarium especially, the color is no indication of the quality of the water. Water exchanges, use of chemical filtration media, and good-old common sense will see to that.

MYTH: Blackwater, botanical-style aquariums are difficult to control, and you risk a "pH crash" and wildly fluctuating environmental conditions.

FACT: This one is one of those aquarium hobby "myths" which has really taken hold among many. Now, some of this might have a grain of truth to it, but it's really an example of an over-generalized assumption. Simply adding botanical materials to a closed aquarium environment is adding to the bioload of the system, and can certainly have an impact on the water quality if you don't go slowly, observe carefully, and execute standard aquarium husbandry procedures (e.g., water exchanges, use of chemical filtration media, proper stocking, feeding etc.).

The reality- especially in regards to pH- is that the impact of botanicals on pH is often surprisingly limited, in terms of lowering it. Two of the most important factors are the carbonate hardness of the water and the starting pH. If you have hard, alkaline tap water, and are not doing other things to modify it (ie; utilizing reverse osmosis/deionization), you will likely notice minimal impact on the pH. On the other hand, if you're utilizing water with little or no carbonate hardness and a lower starting pH, these materials can have more significant impact. 

The idea of a "crash" is something that has multiple factors involved-including (and there's no nice way to state it) "human error." When you add botanicals to your aquarium- materials which can impact the water quality and the chemistry- it is up to you to go slowly, adding materials in a measured manner...and to test your basic water parameters (pH, alkalinity, nitrite, nitrate, etc.) as you begin the process, and regularly as you work with them.

As with any aquarium, botanical-style aquariums are simply not "set-and-forget" systems. You can't just "dump and pray" and expect stable, predictable results from adding botanicals to your aquarium. Botanical-style aquariums are a dynamic, "actively-managed" systems. They require the same traditional management techniques that are applied to any successful aquarium. In particular, success requires much observation, diligence, discipline, and patience.

MYTH: You can't grow plants in a blackwater aquarium. 

FACT: Now, the reality is that many blackwater habitats are devoid of aquatic plants, or somewhat limited, the fact is there are many species which can be grown under appropriate conditions. Species like Cryptocoryne, Bucephalandra, Polygonum, Didiplis diandra, Mayaca fluviatilis, Isoetes, Eichornia natans Nymphoides sp., and many more. 

Rather than relying just on aquarium hobby literature, do some research online of scientific studies/surveys of wild blackwater habitats, and you'll find a surprisingly large amount of useful information! There's far more out there than most hobbyists might realize. 

Now, the limiting factors in a planted blackwater aquarium are not surprising: The ability of light to penetrate the water column, and the availability of nutrients for the plants to utilize for growth. These are things that we can absolutely overcome, right?

Sure.

By utilizing more intense light (to overcome the tinted water) and the proper application of nutrients, coupled with an appropriately rich substrate, you'd be surprised how easily you can grow aquatic plants in these types of aquariums. This is an area in which we simply need to do the research, as opposed to accepting the more popular- and frankly, wrong- "popular perception."

MYTH: As botanical materials decompose in the aquarium, they degrade the water quality.

FACT: This is another popularly-embraced idea which I can't entirely brush off, because there is some validity to it, and it would be irresponsible of me to dismiss it outright. This sort of goes hand-in-hand with our first "myth", but it deserves a bit of its own discussion. Let's face it- when you have materials of any type breaking down in the aquarium, they are part of the bioload- and that requires an appropriately-sized population of beneficial bacteria and fungi to break down these materials without adversely affecting water quality.

We've written about this idea many, many times here in "The Tint", and talked about the "ecosystem" aspect of working with this type of aquarium quite a bit. In addition to husbandry, part of the game is accepting- indeed, encouraging- the idea of having these "natural partners" in maintaining a healthy aquarium.

Now, that being said, it would be utterly irresponsible of us to say that you can simply add stuff to an aquarium- specifically one that has been in a stable existence for some time- and not be concerned about any impact on water quality. That's part of the reason why we repeatedly plead with you to go slowly when adding these materials to an established tank, and to test and gauge the impact on your water quality.

Going slowly not only allows you time to react- it gives your bacterial and fungal population the opportunity to grow and adjust to the increased bioload. These organisms can go a long way towards creating a stable, healthy botanical aquarium environment...But they can't work miracles- and they can't do it alone. And of course, common sense husbandry procedures, like regular water exchanges, use of chemical filtration media (activated carbon, PolyFilter, etc.) give you an added layer of "insurance." A healthy dose of common sense and judgement goes a long way towards a successful outcome! 

MYTH:  Catappa leaves can "cure fish diseases."

FACT:  Although, it actually has some validity to it. I said "some"- because we in the hobby and industry tend to selectively "cherry pick" stuff we like from science and run with that, often overlooking some of the more sobering realities in favor of the "sizzle."

It has been known for many years by science that botanicals like catappa leaves (and others) have compounds in their tissues which do have some potential medicinal functions, like saponins, phytosterols, punicalagins, etc.  Fancy names that sound really cool- these compounds found in Catappa leaves are often bounced around on hobby sites as the "magic elixir" for a variety of fish ailments and maladies.

That's where the "danger of regurgitation" sneaks back in.

Now, I can't entirely beat the crap out of this idea that Catappa leaves have some health benefits for fishes, as these compounds are known to provide certain health benefits...in humans. And for a long time, it was anecdotally assumed that they did the same for fishes. Now, sure, humans aren't fishes, as we all know...Yet, believe it or not, there have been studies that show benefits to fishes imparted by substances in Catappa and other leaves.

I stumbled across a university study conducted in Thailand with Tilapia which concluded that Catappa extract was "useful" for eradicating the nasty exoparasite, Trichodina, and found that the growth of a couple of strains of Aeromonas hydrophila was also inhibited by dosing Catappa leaf extract at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml and up. In addition, this solution was shown to reduce the fungal infection in Tilapia eggs!

And it is now widely accepted by science that humic substances (such as those present in Catappa leaves and other botanical materials) are thought to have a wide range of health benefits for fishes in all types of habitats. We've covered this before in a great guest blog by Vince Dollar, and the implications for the hobby and industry are profound. Although they are not the "cure all" that many vendors have touted them as, leaves and other botanicals do possess a wide range of substances which can have significantly beneficial impact on fish health.

So, these claims are not entirely erroneous; however, it's important NOT to make over-inflated assumptions about Catappa, and to assume that they are "miraculous things" that we can add to our tanks to do achieve smashing success at curing sick fishes.

Rather, I think that as Catappa leaves and other botanical materials break down in our aquariums, they impart some of these beneficial compounds into the water, perhaps fostering a more healthy environment for fishes which are accustomed to blackwater conditions. Perhaps they perform an almost "prophylactic" role at preventing disease and supporting overall fish health, as opposed to functioning as some sort of "cure all."  

Yet, there is still much to learn on this topic.

So, pushing back against some of those long-held "myths" about the botanical-style aquarium will hopefully encourage the uninitiated to give this whole "twigs and nuts" thing some due consideration. We as lovers of this type of system need to do our best to share the realities that we understand from personal experience, and to encourage others to give them a shot.

I can't help but reiterate once again that blackwater, botanical-style aquariums are no more difficult to set up and maintain than any other type of aquarium.

They do require understanding of what's going on and what is involved, observation, and upkeep...And, if you're not careful about following good common sense procedures, you can occasionally have a bad outcome.  Shit happens- and it's not always good. That's part of the game. It's the reality of forging into new territory, but it contributes to the body of knowledge that is the aquarium hobby.

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

Obviously, we can't cover every detail about every misunderstood aspect of the blackwater, botanical-style aquarium in the scope of this blog piece. We can give you a little clarification, and an occasional nudge in the right direction!

Those of you who visit our web site frequently, or listen to "The Tint" podcast,  know that we literally have hundreds of articles on these topics, many of which comprise a sort of "living document" and demonstrate the evolution of the practices that we use and the experiences that we accumulated with this unique hobby niche. 

We're all contributing to the "state of the art" of botanical-style blackwater aquariums each and every day! And we do that by cutting through the clutter" of misinformation and instead, offering up facts based on the collective personal experience of our community!

Stay diligent. Stay inquisitive. Stay brave. Stay open-minded. Stay curious. Stay observant...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The Mystique of Mollies...

Ever get an idea in your head that you just can't let go of?

Well, that's me, when it comes to brackish aquariums. As you know, we've been playing with our interpretation of the brackish, botanical-style aquarium for a while now, and it's still obsessing us. Something about this "semi-salty" habitat and the fishes which reside there...

Yeah, so-called "euryhaline" fishes...

eu·ry·ha·line (yo͝or′ə-hā′līn′, -hăl′īn′) adj. - Capable of tolerating a wide range of salt water concentrations. Used of an aquatic organism.

Hmm, Mollies totally fit that description, right? 

Like many of you, I have adored Mollies since I was a kid. 

They were probably the first so-called "challenging" fish I ever kept, as they were not quite as hardy as some of the Platies, Swordtails, and Guppies and such that were "standard issue" for us hobby newbies. Now, I'll be first to admit that I am absolutely not anything close to "knowledgeable" on the family Poecilidae, but I have a fascination for some of the legendary fishes of our hobby, and for unravelling the reasons behind why we keep them the way we do.

Mollies are one of those fishes that it seems like we've all kept, yet they have some sort of "thing" about them, as if there is some secret that we don't know, but should uncover. Some mystique...And there are a bunch of different species that we call "Mollies", which confuses stuff further, and makes this whole story all the more juicy to me!

How could I not enjoy something that is sort of a mess, right?

Like, the whole thing about "salt and Mollies"...If you can recall, you're always told to add "some salt" to their aquariums, in order to keep them healthy, and to avoid fungal and parasitic infections (well, the freshwater kind, anyways!). And let's face it- it's fundamentally sound advice for these notoriously touchy fish.

The rationale is that at lower (compared to a full-on marine aquarium) specific gravity of say, 1.004-1.015, they're pretty "bulletproof", because most freshwater parasites and funguses that these fishes often fall victim to just can't make the osmotic "stretch" to this type of environment, and the fish can. Salt in their water gives you a sort of "insurance policy" against some of these nasty problems.  And thus, the old trick of "a teaspoon of salt per gallon" or whatever it was worked just fine.

And, somewhere along the line, the whole "add a teaspoonful of salt per gallon" thing (or whatever the "recipe" was) stuck in our collective hobby heads. The husbandry recommendation morphed into the narrative: "They are brackish-water fishes. Perfect for brackish tanks!"

True. Well, actually only partially true, like many hobby things in this hobby, as I would discover over the years. ("blackwater tanks are dangerously uncontrollable, pH-crash-inevitable dirty time bombs!" - Shit like THAT. Sound familiar? Yeah.)

They are found in brackish-water habitats in their range.

And as I became more and more enamored with brackish-water aquariums over the years, I did more and more research on them, trying to find examples of brackish habitats in which they are native, rather than introduced.

I thought to myself, "Hobbyists  always seem to recommend them as candidates for keeping in brackish aquariums- that's the type of habitat where they come from, right?"

And visions of murky, tinted mangrove thickets with mud, Mollies, Archerfishes, and Orange Chromides danced in my head. I just figured I'd find some wild examples from which to draw further inspiration...

But that's where the story gets a bit fuzzy.

I mean, these are surprisingly adaptable fish, as long as their needs are met: Warm, hard, alkaline water and low to nonexistent levels of nitrate. And since the aggressiveness of many of the parasites that cause so much stress in freshwater fishes is less impactful in saltwater, we've used that as sort of "cover" for assuming the types of habitats they hail from in the wild.

And of course, being blessed/cursed with euryhaline capabilities, a whole range of assumptions arise about these fish! Throwing in the the fact that they come from "down there in coastal regions of Central and South America" or thereabouts creates all sorts of confusion about the types of habitats from which they come!

Yikes!

And it also gives everyone the impression that Mollies are preferentially brackish water fish. I thought that. Absolutely. I mean, right? Yeah.

And, although there are some species collected in brackish water, and even some transplanted populations around the world that live in full-strength seawater, as a whole,  most species have not traditionally been native to most brackish water habitats. Hard and alkaline, yeah- absolutely. But brackish (like 1.004-1.006 specific gravity)? Uh- uh.  

They can absolutely adapt and thrive to what we'd consider "brackish" conditions...In fact, I know many hobbyists who've kept them in full-strength (1.021-1.025) saltwater with excellent results, employing them as "algae eaters" in reef tanks and such...or worse- to "cycle" new aquariums.

Yuck.

Now, again, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the guy you'd want to turn to for comprehensive knowledge on livebearers, particularly Mollies. I'm just a guy with a more-than-casual interest in the environments from which they come. This article is not about the best Mollies to keep in aquairums, or about the taxonomy of the genus they belong to, or any number of other topics that you'd expect from someone who really knows what they're talking about!  

Nope.

My main angle, really, was to see what, if any, species actually come from the types of environments we've been obsessing with as we do more and more with "Estuary", our brackish-water "line" of materials.

Early on in my search for suitable brackish water candidates for the "Estuary" project, I looked towards a species I read about which had a very tantalizing common name! 

Poecilia orri, the so-called "Mangrove Molly", which occurs from Central America: Southern Mexico (Quintana Roo) to northern Honduras and Colombia (Islas de Providencia), IS actually found in brackish water habitats, living up to its common name (Don't get me started with the  whole "common name" thing. Remember our piece on the so-called "Amazon Molly?" Yeah...although it is a fascinating fish- ain't from the damn Amazon, much to our collective disappointment here! The "Amazon" part referred to it's unusual "females only" species. ).

As we know, common names mean little, really. But this one I somehow recall as being correct. Yet, it wasn't easy for me to verify this, if it weren't for a recollection from MY own travels, as we'll see shortly!

Now, many species of Mollies ARE found in found in brackish "salt marshes" in the Southeastern U.S., along the Gulf of Mexico; there seems to be no easy way of confirming if they naturally occur in the brackish marshes there, or were introduced. (Well, there probably is- and I couldn't confirm for myself...😂)

And I have a bunch of friends who live in these areas who are more than happy to collect them!

Anyhow, sometime ago, while doing my "fish-geek due diligence" and trying to figure out what type of habitats the various collection localities for the P. orri that were listed on FishBase actually were, I stumbled on a locale that was familiar to me personally!  

Yeah, a clue!

One of the listed type localities was "Roatan Island, Honduras, within 0.5 miles of shrimp docks at Oakridge, two sides of peninsula, 1 side clear reef, back side muddy lagoon with mangroves..." Hmm..."shrimp docks at Oakridge..." That rang bell.

Yes, of course! I was there on a dive trip some 8 years ago!

While on Roatan, like anywhere I dive, I asked about spots to dive or snorkel near mangroves and seagrass beds, 'cause who likes looking at big fishes like stupid sharks and groupers? I remember our guide telling us that there was a "lagoon with a lot of mangroves near the shrimp docks around Oak Ridge..."

Best part? I remember going there with my friend (also a fish geek), wading out into the sort of murky water, and recall seeing in the brackish water (1.004, I believe- yeah, like a good fish geek, I dive-travelled with a shitty swing arm hydrometer just for that purpose!) what I thought were "Like, wild mollies!"

Yeah, stupid me had apparently inadvertently stumbled on a known brackish-water habitat of Poecilia orri! 

Confession: I wasn't like, "What a remarkable fish! I think it's P. orri!" No, nothing so brilliant.  It was more like, "Dude, look at those grey fish. I think they're 'Mosquito Fish', right?"

Yeah. A real "Eureka!" moment, right? Well...

Hey, at least I recognized them as a livebearer, right? 

Yeah,  don't get me wrong. I'm not some great explorer/ichthyologist/adventurer guy...I will never be referred to in the same breath as Carl H. Eigenmann, Dr. Jacques Géry, or even Herbert R. Axelrod...Nope.  I'm just some geeked-out hobbyist who gets on these obsessed tangents...

And, I'm not even going to admit to being slightly "well-versed" on Mollies!

I have kept them for years, but I could hardly be the guy you'd turn to for "advice" on these fishes.. The fact is, this whole "They do fine in saltwater..." thing floating about in the hobby is so generally "accepted" without much question that it simply deserved more investigating!

So I dipped in...

The reality is that there ARE several species which seem to occur mainly in brackish habitats, like Poecilia vandepolli, P. elegans, and the aforementioned Poecilia orri, to name just a few- but really, they aren't exactly the most common varieties you'll see in the hobby, for sure!

The misconception seems to come with the ever-popular P. sphenops and P. velifera...you know- THE Molly to most of us, along with P. llatipinna. However, P. latipinna does come from brackish habitats as well, further compounding this ridiculousness. Urrgghh!

And, they ARE adaptable to various salinities...even the wild varieties! And interestingly, one study I found indicated that isolation in Nature of populations P. latipinna in fresh and brackish waters, "...has not greatly altered their physiological capabilities with respect to ambient salinity..."

Ohh...Interesting.

So...where does this leave us when trying to determine which species work in a brackish water aquarium? Well, for one thing, confused. The reality is that, because of introduction to various habitats around the world, this remarkably adaptable group of fishes has found its way into a great variety of niches, and managed to thrive in each!

I think- I THINK- that the perception in the hobby is that the "domesticated/hybrid" versions that we see in shops are simply assumed to be able to live in brackish systems (which they are, mind you).  However, their ancestors likely originated in hard, alkaline freshwater habitats. We use the salt in their tanks because of the aforementioned husbandry benefits..yet I think we believe that we're "doing them a favor" and giving them "natural conditions" by doing this (which we may or may not be doing...ughhh).

Confused yet? I am!

And I'll bet, however, that the more hardcore livebearer guys will tell you that, in order to be a bit more authentic, you'd probably want to be playing with the species we've been talking about, among a few others.

This shockingly-less-than-earth-shattering, sort of haphazardly-researched "review" of the "Molly Misconception" will definitely NOT land me a keynote spot at next year's American Livebearer Association convention. And that's okay.  In fact, it's probably setting me up to be schooled by hobbyists who have forgotten more than I'll ever know about this subject!

However, in my defense, let me tell you that we in the hobby have, in my opinion, done a remarkably good job at confusing the shit out of the subject of "who comes from what habitat." The narrative is just, "Oh yeah, they work in brackish tanks." And it's true, but not all that helpful, really- especially in this online world. It's a world of assumptions, inferences, over-generalizations, and partially correct information...

So my comeback to mean/arrogant/more knowledgaeble "haters" that may trash me would be, "You guys did a crappy job disseminating the actual information on this subject! Look what you've done! Fix it." 

There. 😆

(Yeah, I don't think THAT will endear me to those guys...)

Look, personally, I think it's fine to include Mollies in your brackish water aquarium, if only for the fact that lots of species of the damn fish are swimming in brackish water habitats around the world, wether they naturally occurred there or were introduced by man!

I suppose the "fancy" domesticated varieties would be a bit less "authentic", however. Whether or not they arrived in those locations naturally is a completely different story. So, with a little research, it is relatively easy to find out who is found where. A bit tougher to find out if that's the locality where they evolved. Introduction to numerous sites around the world has confused it a bit for "outsiders" like myself, but it would make a cool topic for some Molly expert to present at some convention some time!

Compelling. Attractive. Interesting.

And...weird, actually- Mollies continue to attract fish geeks. It's understandable. They got me, if for no other reason than the confusion surrounding their adaptability. The mystique. And pretty much any hobby topic that has controversy, confusion, and popular misconception is totally "up my alley", as they say! Ironically, I think they are actually a sort of "victim" of their own adaptability and variability.

It's like a sort of "euryhaline curse..."

(P. sphenops by Hugo Torres. Used under CC by 2.5 es)

So, once again, all of this running around and twisting in and out leads me to the following conclusion: If you want to keep Mollies- any type, really- in your brackish water aquarium, and have acclimated them to that environment- go for it. Who the hell am I- or anyone else, for that matter- to tell you otherwise, right? 🤓

If you want to be a bit more hardcore, and "biotopically accurate", you should consider looking for one of the species we talked about in this piece, and attempting to more accurately replicate their natural habitat in your tank.

In the end, this hobby is all about what makes YOU happy. And to me, nothing makes me happier than a good fish mystery!

That's part of the mystique of Mollies to me.

Now, if I could only find the jet-black ones with the orange stripe on the top of the dorsal fin!

So, go deeper...don't always blindly accept the glossy, generalized answer you see in forums and such...If you have hunch about something, stay relentless in your pursuit of the real story. There's usually one out there. Stay emboldened to try new stuff.

Stay excited about the journey. Even if it turns out you're wrong. At least you tried to find out the truth, right? That's a victory in and of itself!

Stay resourceful. Stay relentless. Stay engaged. Stay diligent. Stay geeky...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics