The Tint

The magnificent versatility of mangrove leaves...

As you know, for some strange reason, I tend to loathe the idea of writing adoring blog pieces on specific botanical materials that my company offers, because it feels kind of- well- crassly commercial...

However, the bigger picture here is not just to "push product." It's to further an idea- a concept, and to foster the growth of a movement which we hope has significant, lasting impact on the aquarium hobby in general.

In the botanical aquarium world, the work that we as a community have done, has actually made it easier on ourselves to create more naturally functioning aquariums. And, being able to select materials such as leaves for specific types of applications, habitat simulations or aesthetic/environmental effects is an interesting idea that I'd love to develop more. 

So, yeah, sometimes it's important to focus on a specific botanical, and today, we'll focus on one of the key botanicals which can be utilized by aquarists to further the practice of botanical-style aquarium work- the versatile and unique Yellow Mangrove leaf (Ceriops tagal), and its use in a leaf litter bed.

Now, mangrove leaf litter- like litter from other leaves that we utilize in our blackwater aquariums- recruits fungi and bacteria which help facilitate the decomposition of botanical  material, including the leaves themselves. Leaf drop in mangrove habitats- just like in their freshwater counterparts- is an important "catalyist" for biological activity, and the formation of food chains.

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 mangroves, stimulate phytoplankton growth in the mangrove habitat. 

Now, in the botanical-style aquarium, mangrove leaves are one of the most useful botanical materials which we can employ, for a variety of reasons. First offf, on a purely aesthetic level- they look really cool! If ever there were a leaf that has the "generic tropical" thing that we talk about so much going for it, this one would be it.

From a functional standpoint, these are surprisingly durable leaves. They seem to last a very long time before completely breaking down; often two to three months or more, in my experience. Along the way, they may recruit some biofilms. However, curiously enough, in my aquariums- both blackwater and brackish- I have seen very little in the way of biofilm "recruitment." 

Mangrove leaves possess specialized cell structures, including tannin cells (hello!), and sclerieds, structures within the leaf tissue which are thought to provide mechanical "support" to the leaves and discourage herbivorous predation.

Perhaps this accounts for their durability and it certainly accounts for their ability to impart color to the water via tannins over extended periods of time? Possibly. I have noticed a nice tint to my brackish water aquariums, and it's consistent with the quantity of the mangrove leaves present.

In my experience, mangrove leaves are more than suitable for use in a freshwater (blackwater) systems. I use them in my home aquariums extensively with fantastic results. 

As we've discussed many times here, Mangrove leaves also provide a unique ecological environment for diverse bacterial/microbial communities. I think the "productivity" of mangrove leaf litter beds in brackish water systems-in the wild or the aquarium- is every bit as great and important as leaf litter beds are in freshwater ecosystems.

If we examine wild ecosystems from where mangroves are found (and by extension, mangrove leaf litter beds), in addition to bacteria, they are home to a group of fungi called “manglicolous fungi.” These organisms are vitally important to nutrient cycling in these habitats...The benefits for our closed aquatic ecosystems from these organisms are obvious! This plays into one of my "pet theories" that leaf litter beds in our aquaria-fresh or brackish- serve to act as "nutrient export" systems.

If we examine this stuff further, there is also evidence (in both brackish and marine habitats) of higher fish population densities in areas which have accumulations of decomposing leaves and mangrove materials. In several geographic locales worldwide, researchers have found a highly significant relationship between amounts of mangrove detritus and fish densities or biomass in mangrove estuaries and creeks.

This is much like the "fish follow the food" idea that we've discussed many times here in the context of blackwater flooded forest habitats, such as those found in the Amazon and elsewhere. They might look slightly different in the brackish habitat, but the essential function is the same, from an ecological standpoint.

Such productive habitats are naturally of interest to us as botanical-style aquarium fans. And with the ability to at least simulate some aspects of them, the time has never been better to research mangrove habitats and the functions of the leaf litter they contain, from the comfort of our own aquariums! Since 2017, we've been pushing forward our more "functionally aesthetic" concept of a brackish water aquarium- and the basis has been...leaves.

As we gain more an more experience in utilizing mangrove leaves in our aquariums, I believe that we may see more success with brackish water AND freshwater life forms. The unique biology which these leaves support, and the compounds they release as they break down, form a basis for one of Nature's most fascinating ecological habitats.

At the risk of being redundant, let's visit that "big issue" which comes up when we talk about using these leaves in our aquariums: "Can they be used in freshwater aquariums?"

And the answer is an unequivocal, "Yes!"

These leaves are really great for blackwater aquariums, and I have used them for this purpose for years, and they've performed beautifully.

Although our leaves are collected for us on dry land as naturally fallen from a brackish water mangrove habitat, in my experience, there is no detectible salt released into the water from these leaves. 

Properly preparing them (ie; boiling/soaking) should completely eliminate any lingering concerns you might have about this. I've even tested them by simply giving the leaves a quick rinse and tossing them in a small container of water, then testing the water with a digital refractometer...and voila!- no detectible salt.

So, yeah. Feel free to use 'em in your blackwater aquarium without worry, as I do.

And let me tell you, these leaves can provide a significant visual "tint" to your water! They appear to be packed with tannins which contribute a very deep, brownish-red color to the water. I've enjoyed some stunning-looking blackwater aquariums which utilized mangrove leaf litter as the basis for this type of aquarium. 

When we think about using mangrove leaves in our closed-system aquariums, it's about husbandry and perspective as much as anything else...And accepting the fact that the leaves and other natural materials are part of the ecology of an aquarium, and that they will behave as all terrestrial materials do when submerged:

They'll break down and decompose, imparting their internally bound-up compounds into the water.

And of course, that leads to so much more:

They'll form the basis of a surprisingly complex food chain, which includes bacterial biofilms, fungi, and minute crustaceans. Each one of these life forms supporting, to some extent, those above...including our fishes.

When you think of these unique leaves not so much as "hardscape props", but as dynamic biological components of a closed microcosm, it all makes a bit more sense.

Stay excited. Stay curious. Stay persistent. Stay creative...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The cerebral side of botanical-style aquarium keeping...

We talk often here about the mental part of aquarium keeping. I think that's important, really, because there are literally thousands and thousands of articles on every "how to" aspect of aquarium keeping out there, but shockingly few about the mindset and philosophies behind the work that we do.

So, of course, this "white space" is where I like to operate from time to time, because there are days when you don't need another discussion on how to fill your tank with leaves and stuff...

Okay, let’s be honest…Creating a botanical-style aquarium is supposed to be fun, but it can be a daunting task at times, especially if your expectations are greater than your experience level - or even if you have lots of experience and are looking for specific "amazing results' right out of the gate.

It can really f-ck with your mind- if you let it...

And, with so many hobbyists trying their hand at blackwater, botanical-style aquariums for the first time, it's important to understand what to expect and how to "mentally" approach them.

We receive many questions from hobbyists who have certain expectations or preconceptions about exactly how things are "supposed" to be, progress, or play out in our speciality aquarium world, and when something doesn't hit their expectations exactly, they immediately think that they're doing something wrong.

I think that we as a community can help manage these expectations and help fellow hobbyists who are just joining our world manage their expectations in a way that will ensure long-term success.

There is a certain hardened mindset which you need to accept...

In the "mainstream" aquarium world, there is no shortage of examples of expectations among hobbyists we can draw upon...

A common aquarium experience is to make the “jump” from a basic "community tank" system to a larger, more "specialized" setup  as part of a “fish career transition.” Maybe you're embarking on a new and exciting phase in your hobby journey after being "on the inside" for many years. You want something more focused and completely different after years of simple, yet satisfying setups.

Totally understandable. I feel you.

However, it seems to me that there are an increasing number of people who start their hobby journeys in more specialized aquariums right out of the gate- like with biotope systems, dedicated Discus or African Cichlid systems, planted tanks, etc. A different shift. I postulate that it's largely because of the increased amount of good information that's available online. This is a profound shift in the hobby, IMHO.

Lets call these people “geeky”, inspired, and educated- and lets love them for it! 

Regardless of how your journey begins, the following guidelines can help you start on the right foot and avoid some of the most common "mental mistakes" with botanical-style aquariums  Now, of course, these tips do not constitute "the gospel" or whatever on this kind of aquarium keeping.

However, they are time-tested pieces of advice from a guy who's spilled a few hundred gallons of water (tinted and otherwise!) on the floor during his career, so they might be useful to you...

In no particular order:


1) Appreciate the advice you receive from fellow aquarists, but take a look at their aquarium! It’s not uncommon to receive many offers for help from other hobbyist when you’re just starting out. That guidance can come from a friend you know, a local fish store person, a hobbyist on a forum, or some kook writing a column (hmm..). It’s all part of the wonderful culture of aquarium keeping- and it leads to one truism: Most hobbyists love to help!

MY two cents is to just take any and all information on specialized aquarium keeping with a grain of salt, and do a little checking on your “mentor”, especially if their advice starts with the words, “You need to…” or “You should”. Worse, “I haven’t tried this, but you should do…”

Yikes.

Personally, I’d like to see “This is what I do” or “I’ve always done this…” followed with a picture of their beautiful, successful tank that’s been running for a while while utilizing the technique, materials, or product recommended. Unfortunately, the internet has created a lot of “false prophet” aquarists who can easily throw out “advice” to others with an air of undisputed authority, despite any overt evidence that they've ever successfully ran with, or even attempted what they're preaching about. We've see this a lot in our speciality, unfortunately. Lots of warnings about how this type of aquarium is "dangerous", or how certain practices "can't work", etc...

Before you take their "advice", just see how their results have been. For all of these loud "experts" with dubious experience, there are dozens of 'doers", who have great firsthand experience- trust me.  People who actually do will happily share their results with you!

Fortunately, in the blackwater/botanical-style aquarium movement, we are a community that helps manage expectations by "baking in" the  practices, concepts, and expectations of what exactly what you need to do, and what happens when you start a botanical-style aquarium.

Stuff like:

* You need to prepare botanicals before adding them to your aquarium...

* You may or may not see the water "tint up" right away. It's often a slower process...

* Botanicals will begin to accrue biofilms and decompose when placed in the aquarium...

* Botanicals should be added to your aquarium slowly, and results studied along the way...

Etcetera.

2) Find a few LFS’s and online vendors and support them fervently- if they meet your expectations for quality and service.  Stores and vendors are your partners in your speciality aquarium journey- it's an important relationship! Find a good fit! There are tons of local fish stores and online vendors for equipment, livestock, and other things related to the hobby, many of which are quite good, run by honest people who understand both the business- and-most important- the needs of the hobbyist. When you're engaging in specialized aquarium journey, it helps to work with vendors and stores who have experience in the specific area of interest in which you're embarking upon.

(Shamless plug...)

However, there are also quite a few who are not so good, and who will not honor “guarantees” without major hassles, provide little in the way of support, and generally just sell you stuff and that's that. These are not companies that you want to do business with. Look for vendors that are consistent, have great reviews online from fellow aquarists who you are familiar with (not “fake ones”, cut and pasted from forum to forum, in the same curiously crappy grammatical style of the sketchy vendors who post on forums as themselves..It will be obvious over time. I've seen this in the reef world many times over..You'll know how to ferret this B.S. out quickly! ).

Work with people and/or companies that have good stuff, good policies, and real reputations for service and communications-and support of the hobby community. You’ll get used to their practices and offerings, and what’s more- they’ll get used to your needs and interests to help serve you better. 

3) Read the fine print: Unfortunately, like any other endeavor, botanical-style aquarium keeping has started to accrue its share of fads, trends, “new techniques”, etc. And that’s all good and fine. Technique evolves over time. However, be sure to take a good hard look at what is being proffered out there. We see it in reef aquarium keeping circles all the time: Just because some guy is dosing vodka for nutrient reduction, or using lanthanum chloride to lower phoshates, for example, is super-effective for some reefers, it won’t necessarily be the right move for you.

It's the same in freshwater aquariums of course. Your experience level, lifestyle, ecomonics- and interest- might necessitate a more basic, but equally effective approach to nutrient control, like water changes. And if done correctly and consistently, you'll find the many of the most basic aquarium management techniques will do wonders for a botanical-style aquarium, just like they have for more familiar setups for generations of hobbyists. It's about understanding what you're doing, observing things carefully, and applying common sense and effort.

I mean, just because “all of the cool kids are doing it” is not a valid reason for you to embrace some exotic, complicated practice. Keep things simple and do things that work for YOU and your animals. Don’t be a “joiner” just because…Think about why you would want to do it, and weigh the benefits against the "costs". See if what you are contemplating is a viable long-term solution for your aquarium, or just a “knee jerk” reaction to a short-term problem.

Sometimes, the quick reaction is not the right one, right?

Yes, doing this or that will take care of your algae problem, but wouldn’t just staying the course with regular water changes do the same thing, albeit more slowly? Or simply making the necessary "mental shifts" which make you appreciate-rather than fear- some of the things that happen in your blackwater/botanical-style aquarium that you might have been freaked out about before!

Think about it…

 

4) Make your aquarium your own. Come to the realization that, even if you use the same technique, equipment, and animals as “Joe from Cleveland”, you’ll likely get a different result. Your tank will not be exactly like the other aquarist’s tank. And that’s a good thing! It’s one thing to emulate good work from others, but always remember that there are an infinite number of unknown variables in the equation that will result in your tank bing different from his or hers. I mean, why would you want a carbon copy of someone else's aquarium anyways?

Okay- well, I can see why you might from an aesthetic standpoint- but the point is that you should always judge your results by what works for YOU- not by how closely your tank resembles that of another hobbyist.

Be yourself, and let your display reflect who YOU are and what YOU do as an aquarist. That’s the fun part! There is no “one size fits all” way to run a tank, so don’t just mimic. You may see great results in someone else's build, but until you understand why they did it that way, and how they integrated it into their life, it may not make make as much sense to you. Rather, take elements out of various successful tanks that you have seen, and incorporate them into your own. 

Better yet- look to Nature for your inspiration...

Seems like common sense, but do a quick scan of your Instagram feed, and look at the rather surprisingly large amount of "lookalike" aquariums out there..it'll all make sense in that context, believe me.

5) Don’t let emotions get the best of you- or your aquarium. I sometimes think that the number one problem most hobbyists face at some point is the "panic reaction", as alluded to in tip number 3 above. Don’t tear your whole Amazon biotope tank apart because you find a snail on a Swordplant...Don't declare your tank a failure because the water isn't a crystal-clear, deep brown tone... Don't take radical, aggressive steps which take you off of your plan to quickly "fix" things.

They might not be broken.

When you make bad decisions based on the “crisis of the day” instead of focusing on the bigger picture and long-term goals of your system, that’s when you get into trouble.  I've seen so many blackwater/brackish, botanical-style tanks with huge potential-essentially sabotaged- ruined-by "reacting" to a short-term circumstance without considering the long-term implications of the "corrective measures."

Combat this "panic instinct" by creating a mental "checklist" of things to look at every day in your aquarium, parameters to measure regularly, and have in place the things you need to deal with the most common emergencies, such as spare parts, filter pads, extra botanicals, backup pumps, etc.

Okay, so there are just a few things that you need to consider to stay happy and enjoy your botanical-style aquarium experience.

And you know what?

You don’t have to be a "newbie" for them to apply to you. We all make mistakes…We need to learn from them, and to share our solutions with fellow hobbyists in an honest, open way that can add to the body of knowledge of this great hobby of ours.

And most of you know this stuff already...However, on occasion, it's good to think about this stuff in our context, right?

I’m positive that there are dozens more mistakes to avoid….expectations to manage, and mindset shifts to employ.

What are some of your thoughts? Let ‘em out, so that fellow aquarists can benefit!

Until next time…

Stay thoughtful. Stay calm. Stay curious. Stay original. Stay diligent. Stay focused...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics

The smallest of efforts...

The aquarium world is filled with many "rules", guidelines, and suggestions, isn't it? Sort of like life in general, there are time-tested approaches, mindsets, attitudes, and practices which work quite well repeatedly... And, it's funny how various concepts from other aspects of life dovetail so well with what we do as aquarists, isn't it?

Here is one of those concepts that I find so fascinating and applicable to aquariums:

The "Pareto Principle" (also known as "The 80/20 Rule", "The Law of the Vital Few", or "The principle of Factor Sparsity") states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. ... This concept was named after named after the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who developed it after studying of the distribution of income and wealth among the population.

It makes total sense, doesn't it?

It's like he antithesis of my generations' Depeche Mode-derived philosophy that "Everything counts in large amounts..."

The "Pareto Principle" applies generically to many different things...including, of course, aquariums!

The assumption of this "principle" is that most of the results in any situation are determined by a small number of causes- and how can we disagree with that?

In our aquariums, we have a lot of stuff going on, but the reality is that it only takes one or two things to make a positive-or negative-impact on the system. And this makes a lot of sense, because we're talking about closed little microcosms, and small moves can typically have magnified impacts.

I mean, just think about some of these classic examples:

Small, frequent water exchanges can have a tremendous positive impact on the overall health of your aquarium. We usually do a ten percent weekly exchange...maybe this Pareto guy is on to something...may as well do a 20% exchange in his honor!

Effort expended monitoring the basic water parameters of your aquarium- while taking mere minutes of time weekly, can significantly bolster the understanding of your tank and the way you manage it.

Spending those extra few minutes removing, cleaning, or exchanging pre filter pads or filter media can result in an overall cleaner system- one which functions trouble- free for extended periods of time.

Taking the extra few minutes to "target-feed" a shy fish as it adjusts to a new tank results in a better outcome for the whole aquarium...one less stressed fish, which might potentially contract disease that could infect every inhabitant of the tank.

Stuff like that. 

Little things. The smallest of efforts, often.

And of course, it works in the negative, as well...failure to do some small thing could potentially bring down an entire system, right? For example, failure to quarantine one newly-arrived fish can wipe out an entire population of fishes. We've all seen that happen before.

And there are some many applications of this principle that we just "do" and don't really think about, such as the addition of small amounts of botanicals to a tank, which can impact water chemistry just enough to stimulate breeding behavior for some fishes. We've seen this and heard about it many times from our community.

In general, it seems like the most impactful things we do to our aquariums are often the smallest, done repetitively and consistently. I can't help but think that the best way to apply the "Pareto Principle" for success with our aquariums is to do those small, impactful things regularly...Not overreacting to problems and making big corrective moves, or knee jerk reactions. 

Pretty simple. Shockingly impactful.

Could it be that my generation's anti-anthem was wrong, and that everything counts in small amounts? 

Of course, the rebellious teen in me says a resounding NO!

But the more logical adult screams...yeah, probably! (still a little fire left in there!)

Keep doing those little things with your tanks.

The seemingly insignificant things which, in the grand scheme of things, provide the most significant and beneficial impacts. Do them consistently...regularly. And do just the opposite with those practices and habits which can have negative consequences, right?

The smallest of efforts often loom large in our everyday aquarium work.

Quick. Easy. Logical. Beneficial. Today's ridiculously simple thoughts...

Stay thoughtful. Stay dedicated. Stay diligent. Stay proactive. Stay consistent.

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

 

Compelling questions...detailed answers...More from "the mail bag..."

As you know, we receive a fair number of questions from you, our community, about any number of topics relating to botanical-style aquariums and the habitats which they represent.

Today, let's answer a couple we've received recently about leaf litter beds and mindset behind the use of botanicals in our aquariums.

Of course, these questions got me "riffing" about the concepts, techniques, and executions that we bring to the table when we play with this stuff. Both questions got my "writing juices" going and were literally worthy of their own blogs! Keep 'em coming! 

Here goes:

Q- Scott, I understand that you're interested in leaf litter beds in aquariums. I'm thinking of constructing a litter bed in my 40 gallon blackwater aquarium. Could you give me a quick explanation of the benefit for my fishes of doing this? Thanks!

JP, Prescott, Arizona USA

Well, a "quick" explanation from me is always a challenge- but here goes, JP!

I'm obsessed with leaf litter in the wild and in the aquarium. I think it's because it's literally an oasis of life. Compelling, diverse, and productive. So, we need to think about them a bit in the context of the wild habitats, first.

Many tropical rivers and streams are characterized by large quantities of leaf litter and decaying botanicals on the bottom, with typically clear (but tinted) water. As discussed many times in this column, leaf litter is used as shelter, spawning ground, feeding area, and in some instances, as supplemental food itself. This is a highly productive habitat in nature that also just happens to look really cool in our aquariums, performing exactly the same function!

Fish population density is often correlated with the availability of food resources- and, as we've discussed many times here, leaf litter beds are highly productive food resources! In wild habitats, there have been many instances where researchers have counted literally hundreds of fishes per square foot inhabiting the matrix of botanical materials on the bottom of stream beds, which consists primarily of leaf litter.  As dead leaves are broken down by bacterial and fungal action, they develop biofilms and associated populations of microorganisms ("infusoria", etc.) that are an ideal food source for larval fishes.

When you take into account that blackwater environments typically have relatively small populations of planktonic organisms that fish can consume, it makes sense that the productive leaf litter zones are so attractive to fishes!  That being said, leaf litter beds are most amicable to a diversity of life forms These life forms, both planktonic and insect, tend to feed off of the leaf litter itself, as well as fungi and bacteria present in them as they decompose.

It all starts with those leaves...

The leaf litter bed is a surprisingly dynamic, and one might even say "rich" little benthic biotope, contained within the otherwise "impoverished" waters. And, as we've discussed before on these pages, it should come as no surprise that a large and surprisingly diverse assemblage of fishes make their homes within and closely adjacent to, these litter beds. These are little "food oasis" in areas otherwise relatively devoid of food.

The fishes are not there just to look at the pretty leaves, trust me...

Major blackwater rivers like the Rio Negro and Orinoco are often called "impoverished" by scientists, in terms of plankton production. They show little seasonal fluctuations in algal and bacterial populations.  This is a fact borne out by many years of study by science. However, "impoverished" doesn't mean "devoid" of life. And in many cases, these populations of food organisms do vary from time to time- and the fish along with them.

Other blackwater systems do show seasonal fluctuations, such as lakes and watercourses enriched with overflow in spring months. At low water levels, the nutrients and population of these life forms are generally more dense.

Creatures like hydracarines (mites), insects, like chironomids (hello, blood worms!), and copepods, like Daphnia, are the dominant fauna that fishes tend to feed on in these waters. When you study gut-content analysis done by ichthyologists on fishes found in these habitats, this is predominantly what you find. This is interesting to contemplate when we consider what to feed our fishes in aquariums, isn't it? 

There's a lot of food out there, for the fishes willing to look for it...which, pretty much all of them devote most of their lives to doing, lol

It's not really that much different in the aquarium, is it? I mean, as the leaves and botanicals break down, they are acted upon by fungi and bacteria, the degree of which is dependent upon the available food sources. Granted, with fishes in a closer proximity and higher density than in many wild systems, the natural food sources are not sufficient to be the primary source of food for our fishes- but they are one hell of a supplement, right?

That's why, in a botanical-rich, leaf litter dominated aquarium, you see the fishes spending a lot of time foraging in and among the litter...just like in Nature. 

****

Q-Hey, Scott! LOVE your blogs and podcasts! I have also long been a fan of Amano's Nature Aquarium books, although I think that his old works are not like the ones we see everyone playing with. I've heard you mention that you are a fan of his, too, and feel like the botanical aquarium draws somewhat from his early works, and I'm inclined to agree with you. Can you explain this further?

RK, Wilmington, DE, USA

Ohhh- a LOT to unpack here...I could go on and on about this...Stop me...

When you consider the types of aquariums that we work with, I would imagine that it IS probably funny to outsiders, or those new to our little obsession, to hear us going on and on about utilizing dried leaves, twigs, and seed pods in our aquariums with words such as "methodology" and "technique" and the like.

I can't help but think that Amano, who spent years studying many aspects of Nature and her influence on the aquatic environments, would really love this stuff!!  I think that he'd love the unique aesthetics, sure- but I think he'd especially love how these ephemeral materials we play with can influence the way our aquariums function.

It's the essence of his embrace of the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi. I think he'd gently scold the hobby and perhaps lament how it has embraced mostly the more superficial aspects of Nature, beautiful as they are- as opposed to "the whole picture" in aquarium work- sanitizing and editing it along the way, versus representing Nature as it is...

I suppose that there are occasional smirks and giggles from some corners of the hobby when they initially see our tanks, with some thinking, "Really? They toss in a few leaves and they think that the resulting sloppiness is "natural", or some evolved aquascaping technique or something?"

Funny thing is that, in reality, it IS a sort of evolution, isn't it?

I mean, sure, on the surface, this doesn't seem like much: "Toss botanical materials in aquariums. See what happens." It's not like no one ever did this before. And to make it seem more complicated than it is- to develop or quantify "technique" for it (a true act of human nature, I suppose) is probably a bit humorous. 

Yeah, I can see that...

On the other hand, the idea behind this practice is not just to create a cool-looking tank...

And it's not about making excuses for abandoning aquarium "best practices" as some justification for allowing our tanks to look like they do.

We don't embrace the aesthetic of dark water,  a bottom covered in decomposing leaves, and the appearance of biofilms and algae on driftwood because it allows us to be more "relaxed" in the care of our tanks, or because we think we're so much smarter than the underwater-diorama-loving, hype-mongering competition aquascaping crowd.

Well, maybe we are? 😆 (I promise to keep dissing these people until they put their vast skills to better use in the hobby...)

I mean, we are doing this for a reason: To create more authentic-looking, natural-functioning aquatic displays for our fishes. To understand and acknowledge  that our fishes and their very existence is influenced by the habitats in which they have evolved. 

We've mentioned ad nauseum here that wild tropical aquatic habitats are influenced greatly by the surrounding geography and flora of their region, which in turn, have considerable influence upon the population of fishes which inhabit them, and their life cycle. The simple fact of the matter is, when we add botanical materials to an aquarium and accept what occurs as a result-regardless of wether our intent is just to create a different aesthetic, or perhaps something more- we are to a very real extent replicating  the processes and influences that occur in wild aquatic habitats in nature.

The presence of botanical materials such as leaves in these aquatic habitats is foundational to their existence.

 

In the tropical species of trees, the phenomenon of "leaf drop" is hugely important to the surrounding environment. Vital nutrients are typically bound up in the leaves, so a regular release of leaves by the trees helps replenish the minerals and nutrients in the soils which are typically depleted from eons of leaching into the surrounding forests.

And the rapid nutrient depletion, by the way, is why it's not healthy to burn tropical forests- the release of nutrients as a result of fire is so rapid, that the habitat cannot process it, and in essence, the nutrients are lost forever.

Now, interestingly enough, most tropical forest trees are classified as "evergreens", and don't have a specific seasonal leaf drop like the "deciduous" trees than many of us are more familiar with do...Rather, they replace their leaves gradually throughout the year as the leaves age and subsequently fall off the trees.

So, what's the implication here?

There is a more-or-less continuous "supply" of leaves falling off into the jungles and waterways in these habitats, which is why you'll see leaves at varying stages of decomposition in tropical streams. It's also why leaf litter banks may be almost "permanent" structures within some of these bodies of water!

And, for the fishes and other organisms which live in, around, and above the litter beds, there is a lot of potential food, which does vary somewhat between the "wet" and "dry" seasons and their accompanying water levels. The fishes tend to utilize the abundant mud, detritus, and epiphytic materials which accumulate in the leaf litter as food. During the dry seasons, when water levels are lower, this organic layer compensates for the shortage in other food resources. 

During the higher water periods, there is a much greater amount of allochthonous input (remember that shit?) from the surrounding terrestrial environment in the form of insects, fruits, and other plant material. I suppose that, in our aquariums, it's pretty much always the "wet season", right? We tend to top off and replace decomposing leaves and botanical more-or-less continuously.

Now, of course, where is where I get into what I will call "speculative environmental biology!"

What if we stopped replacing leaves and even lowered water levels or decreased water exchanges in our tanks to correspond to, for example, the Amazonian "dry season" (June to December)? What impacts on the environmental parameters of our tanks would this have? And if you consider that many fishes tend to spawn in the "dry" season, concentrating in the shallow waters, could this have implications for stimulating breeding?

Could this be a re-thinking or re-imagining of how we spawn and rear some of our fishes?

I believe it might...

I think that we need to look a lot deeper into the idea of environmental manipulation for the purpose of getting our fishes to be healthier, more colorful, and especially, to spawn. Now I know, the idea is nothing new on a "macro" level- we've been increasing and lowering water temps in our aquariums, adjusting lighting levels, and tweaking environmental parameters to get fishes to spawn for a long time.

(Awesome pic by Mike PA Calnun)

Killie keepers have played with this concept in the drying and incubation periods in annual killifish eggs. That's some serious "next-level stuff" that's been done for a long time! Specific environmental manipulations for definitive results (ie; controlled egg hatching, etc.)

However, I don't think we've been doing a lot of real specific environmental manipulations...like adjusting water levels, increasing nutrient loads (ie; "pulsing" adding leaves and other botanicals), fostering biofilm growth, manipulating current, dissolved oxygen, food types, etc. for the expressed purpose of general husbandry and yeah- the spawning many other types of fishes.

I think that there are so many different things that we can play with- and so many nuances that we can investigate and manipulate in our aquariums to influence fish health and spawning behavior. I think that this could even add a new nuance to a typical biotope aquarium, such as creating an aquarium which simulates the "Preto da Eva River in Brazil in October", or whatever...with appropriate environmental conditions, such as water level, amounts of allochthonous material, etc.

Not just an aesthetic representation designed to mimic the look of the habitat- but a "functionally aesthetic" representation of a natural habitat, intended to operate like one..Full time.

Nuances. Micro-influences. Subtle steps. 

The possibilities are endless here! How do we start?

Well, we make those "mental shifts" and accept the dark water, the accumulation of leaves and botanicals, the apparent "randomness" of their presence. We study the natural habitats from which they come, not just for the way they look- but for WHY they look that way, and for how the impacts of the surrounding environments influence them in multiple ways.

Amano understood this. His disciples, if you will- IMHO seem to have dropped this in favor of mimicking his "look", while apparently disregarding his love of the processes which occur in Nature.

There is a tremendous amount of academic material out there for those willing to "deep dive" into this. And a tremendous amount to unravel and apply to our aquarium practices! We're literally just scratching the surface. We're making the shifts to accept the true randomness of Nature as it is.  We are establishing and nurturing the art of "functional aesthetics."

My real hope for the future? 

That one day, when some kid somewhere adds some specific combo of botanical materials to her wild Betta tank, for example, and someone asks why, she'll respond with something like, "Because these materials mimic the allochthonous inputs which occur in their wild habitats, and provide foraging and humic substances which will manipulate the aquarium environment and encourage the development of biofilms and other microorganisms for their long-term health" 

That's a mouthful. But, yeah...

Okay, I doubt some 11-year-old will respond exactly in those words- but I think that she'd suggest that the idea of using botanicals to do more than just create a pretty look in the aquarium is important. My hope is that this mindset will percolate into the consciousness of the general hobby, for the good of all who play with tropical fishes.

Not just for us obsessed weirdos!

Perhaps one day, among the things we indoctrinate neophyte aquarists to play with as fundamental skills, besides water exchanges, quarantine, and careful stocking, will be things like "...adding appropriate botanical materials to the aquarium to facilitate more natural conditions for the aquatic organisms we keep."

One can hope, right?

This is, indeed what we mean when we talk about how we operate at "The delta at the intersection of science and art."

You're there- because you're HERE.

This is the mission of Tannin Aquatics. That's the promise of the "botanical-style" aquarium. A pact with Nature, once forged by Amano, but evolved by a new generation of hobbyists, eager to replicate the form and function of Nature in their own aquariums as never before.

Study the natural. Embrace the ephemeral. Read about the philosophy of wabi- sabi, once taught by Amano, but seemingly forgotten in the quest for superficial aesthetics...Think of the possibilities. It starts with observing and studying nature.

And your aquarium.

Then, just add leaves, seed pods, bark, and twigs...And open your mind...

Amano himself, I think, would appreciate this. 

Yeah, I'm pretty certain that he would.

Okay, no further questions for today...I think I'll end up writing a damn book! But man, those were really GOOD questions, thanks! 

Until next time..

Stay curious. Stay thoughtful. Stay engaged. Stay diligent. Stay creative...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

 

 

Like, just going for it!

The very best part about owning a company like Tannin Aquatics is that, although we're associated with stuff like blackwater aquariums, we offer materials and ideas for stuff which has applications for all sorts of unique displays. Some of the ideas that I have personally played with over the years have been a bit, well- unusual...As have many of yours!

And of course, the idea of pushing limits and trying altogether new stuff in the hobby always makes me smile. It's fun to push the "outside of the envelope" a bit, isn't it?

Have you ever done something with your aquariums that everyone said was just...nuts? More important, did you get away with it, or did you "crash and burn?" Did you at least try something that the “aquatic establishment” said could not be done, or SHOULD NOT be done? 

Wasn’t it fun?  Maybe even expensive?

Embarrassing, perhaps… 

But fun, right?

Did you try something “different” than what “they” say is the way to go?

I mean, something ill-advised, sort of crazy, off-the-wall, or just downright kooky? Or, did you act on one of those ridiculous ideas that someone threw out when tossing back a couple of beers with the gang after the conference or club meeting?

Something totally wild?

("Honey, look what I did in the living room while you were away!" )

As one who has been known to take a few chances in the hobby, go against prevailing “aquatic wisdom” (I mean, shit- I created a company that sells leaves and twigs, right?), and generally push the outside of that envelope a bit (as well as encouraging others to indulge in similar foolhardy adventures), I have developed an unofficial “classification system” for such "nonsense."

Yes, only I would actually study this ridiculousness. (And to think, some of the major freshwater aquarium conferences STILL have yet to have me as a speaker! Wonder why? LOL)

Of course I’m going to share it with you, because it’s important for me to continue to nurture "disruptive" behavior...Besides, I don't like to be the "point man" for all of this stuff if it fails, right? Pressuring your friends to do crazy shit...Well, that’s what makes the hobby great, right?

I think I have this sort of figured out...So, in the time-honored tradition of me analyzing the shit out of every obscure approach to the aquarium hobby, here we go, with the “1-to-4 Fellman Scale of Innovative Aquarium Thought”:

1) Ill-Advised Ideas- I’m probably most guilty of this one, along with the majority of aquarists who dare ask the “establishment”, WHY? And not all of them are smart..I freely admit. Examples of this would be things like the time I was convinced that I could keep 4 Black Ghost Knifefish (my all-time fave fish) together in a 75 system without calamity or bloodshed. It was exacerbated, of course, because I went with mature specimens (like 5")…in an intricate wood and rock hardscape! After the days (yeah, DAYS, not weeks or months) went by, in addition to relentless territorial battles reminiscent of those which occur in the tribal areas of Afghanistan, my prized fish collection was showing signs of, as one of my friends eloquently put it, “wear and tear…” 

You can imagine how fun it was to break down the aquascape  after I came to my senses and decided to end the grand “experiment.” Hey, this one was a product of my own arrogance, and I was really convinced at the outset of the experiment that I was to be THE ONE who could pull this off. 

Arrogance.

But it was interesting. For like a few days...

 

2) Sort of Crazy Ideas- You DIY-types are usually more “guilty” of this one…You know, stuff like automated top-off systems that involve dosing supplements, surge devices in your living room, 4 chambered recirculating CO2 reactors, biofilm refugiums, homemade refrigeration systems for cold-water reef tanks, automatic frozen food dosers, etc. I mean, these ideas are usually pretty cool, and represent many of the great values that we have in the hobby (the independent spirit, adventure, the pursuit of knowledge..the desire to save a few dollars…)

Some of these ideas are just a little too "advanced" for our skills or the avialable/affordable technology to pull 'em off, or perhaps there isn't really an inexpensive way to make an all-in-one-surge/auto-feeding system for under $2,500USD. Well, maybe there is…And it’s just that kind of thinking that keeps the creative (well, you can call them “sort of crazy”) ideas flowing…

 

3) "Off-The Wall" Ideas- This is typically the realm of newbies..or even experienced hobbyists- who, because of their genuine innocence, love of the hobby, and/or “Why CAN’T it be done?” mindset, come up with some of the craziest ideas of all- and often execute them, albeit with mixed results. I think we should really consider them “outside the box” ideas, however.

Ideas like Hydra “farms” for nutrient export, moss ball denitrification “reactors”, backyard seagrass propagation systems (Hey, I did that! And it worked!) , multi-level gradient cryptic zone filtration systems, etc., which have a great theoretical effectiveness, yet may be challenging to apply in reality.

("Fellman, you can't grow tropical seagrasses in your backyard in Los Angeles" Well, I sure as hell was gonna try...And I DID!)

Nonetheless, IMHO it’s at this “level” that real hobby innovations often occur…Stuff like electronic monitors/controllers for aquarium functions, unique foods, controllable internal pumps, breeding setups for fishes like Hillstream Loaches, creation of all-botanical substrates, the "Urban Igapo" idea, etc....

Many great companies, both in and out of the aquarium hobby sector, were founded on just such a mindset. And, you’ll recall, it wasn’t all that many years ago that the idea of cutting up frags of coral to grow out on ceramic plugs for sale seemed pretty “off-the-wall”, right?

Yeah. Challenging that one played out pretty well for me...

 

("What a crazy idea...It'll never work!" F -ck you. We're gonna try!)

4) Downright Kooky Ideas- This is the type of stuff that gives our hobby the appearance of being a bit, well- eccentric- to outsiders. Stuff like converting indoor swimming pools to mini African Rift Lakes, 10 ml "ultra-pico reef tanks", creating an intertidal mangrove biotope with a 12-hour "tidal cycle", etc. etc. Look, I’ll be the first to tip my hat to the dreamers, free thinkers, and even the eccentrics among us. However, I’ve always been a bit of a realist…I mean, counterproductive, hurtful, and idiotic thinking is never in vogue.

Yet, where would we be without the truly absurd stuff to give us some: a) comic relief, b) measure of how serious we take this stuff, and c) ability to let our passions (and our checkbooks, all to often) run wild from time to time? Brainstorming is great…Bringing down the ideas from the “downright Kooky” region into the “Off-The-Wall” territory results- many times- in some of the best hobby innovations that we have ever seen!

So, my dear fellow fish geeks, don’t be put off or led astray by “conventional” aquatic thinking, if there even is such a thing…Rather, allow your mind to wander, your passions to soar, your visions to take flight- and your dreams to come true. Don’t put them out with the “wet towel of negativity…” Rather, temper them and nurture them with the spirit of innovation.

And enjoy the process of executing on them...

Keep those ideas flowing, visualize a way to make them become practical realities, and think about the greater good your developed dream will unleash upon the hobby. Disregard the spills, glued fingers, frayed nerves, short circuits, cracked aquariums, and occasional insurance claims,. Think of the bigger picture: The conquering of new worlds, the sharing of new ideas, and innovations as yet undreamed of, which will forever change the hobby for the better. 

Or, just savor how everyone will react-good or bad- when you execute one of your strange ideas. Maybe they'll diss your ass...or, maybe they improve and build upon your idea, taking it in a positive direction that you never could even imagine! Provoking reaction from the aquarium community is almost always a good thing!

Don't hold back for fear of criticism from your peers. That would be foolish and downright tragic.

I close with a classic quote, often attributed to the great Mark Twain (but supposedly not his...), which actually holds much relevance to this diatribe:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” 

So yeah, you should try.

As one of my aquarium hobby mentors used to tell me, "Like, just go for it!"

Don’t shoot down that wacky, sleep-deprived, alcohol-induced idea that you and your buddies concocted at 3:30 AM at an Aquatic Experience or Aquashella conference…even if it IS “Downright Kooky!”

You never know...

You just might chance the hobby forever.

Let’s hear of your triumphs, tragedies, absurd ideas, and amazing innovations.

Stay idealistic. Stay creative. Stay unbridled. Stay open-minded. Stay honest. Stay diligent.

And most of all… 

Stay Wet.

 

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Permission to have...FUN?

We've been blessed to see lots of hobbyists get into the "botanical style" aquarium in the past few years. Maybe they were experienced hobbyists looking for a new challenge. Perhaps they were a bit bored with what they were doing and seeing. Maybe, they were curious about the unique environmental and aesthetic conditions that these  aquariums offer.

For many years, the blackwater aquarium was relegated to a sort of "side show" existence; something that would just freak people out a bit. Something that, because of its unusual aesthetics, had a sort of "dangerous", perhaps even mysterious feel. A mystique. And maybe even a bit of a "stigma." Yeah, I think the looks alone served to create the impression among hobbyists that this was a challenging, hard-to-manage "stunt", as opposed to a legitimate way to run an aquarium.

There was a tremendous proliferation of the attitude that these types of aquariums were environmentally unstable, fraught with peril, and likely to kill fishes under all sorts of mysterious circumstances. And unfortunately, this mindset became more and more widespread on internet forums and groups...Misinformation was rampant. It was not all that uncommon, only a few years ago, to see some inquiry about the subject on a hobby forum met with responses from other hobbyists with warnings like, "You're dealing with a lot of bioload and soft, acid water- that's really unstable and is likely to create a pH crash. I wouldn't do it..."

Like so many things in the hobby, this "advice" and the "cautions" were metered out by well-meaning hobbyists who, with no firsthand experience, were simply "regurgitating" stuff they've heard for years an years from others. The result was that these those types of aquariums became a sort of hobby "pariah", relegated to receiving hushed whispers in discussions. Hobbyists who dared pierce the "botanical barrier" were often looked at as foolhardy, perhaps even rebellious souls who simply wanted to do something that made others wince.

I'm not exaggerating here. This was what blackwater/botanical-style aquarium keeping was like for many years. 

I mean, blackwater conditions were embraced by some hobbyists who bred various species of fishes, like killifishes, characins, Apistos, and the like for generations...But only when they were trying to breed these fishes.

And I found that part interesting...Like, why would hobbyists only utilized these conditions when they were trying to breed these fishes? What about the other 360 days of the year, right? I mean, the benefits were understood...So why not just keep the fishes under these environmental conditions- the ones they evolved under for eons- full time? 

Like, wouldn't that make sense?

I just couldn't get my head around that.

So I joined a small, rather quiet, yet adventurous group of hobbyists who decided that there was "something to this stuff..." and did just that. My world was filled with reef tanks and blackwater aquariums filled with decomposing leaves and seed pods.

I never had a goddam "pH crash", either.

Oh, and notice I never once have said that I "invented this stuff.."- 'cause I didn't. No one did. No one "created" this idea or "invented" the processes...

Nature did.

Nature.

 

We're just getting around to figuring this shit out.

Flash forward a couple of decades, and we're now in a sort of "renaissance" with this stuff. There is tremendous interest in these types of aquariums from all sorts of hobbyists. Experiences are accumulating; "best practices" and techniques" are emerging.

We're really starting to get this stuff. 

One of the most interesting aspects of the "botanical-style aquarium revolution" has been when fellow hobbyists approach me and tell me stuff like, "I don't understand why I waited so long to try this..."

I had a couple of conversations with hobbyists in the past few weeks that might be a bit of a clue- or at least, might serve as a "cultural marker" that can give us some insight.

They were questions that echoed those which I'd received many times before in my days in the coral/reef aquarium world...

Stuff like, "Okay, trying to get my head around the implications of the GH and pH relationship in my tank. I can't seem to get my water down to 5.7.." or, "Why isn't my tank as dark as that one you featured in the Facebook post? I mean, I have like 30 catappa leaves in a 10-gallon tank, and my Apistos just bred last night for the 4th time in two months, but...!" or, "I can't seem to get the nitrate reading below 10ppm...what gives?" or, "How am I supposed to read the indicator on my phosphate test in the dark water...?" 

Stuff like that.

Stuff which, although important to understand, isn't likely to make or break things for most of us. Stuff which seems to be coming from a good place- or at least, a place with good intentions- but a place that is grounded in numbers and "rules" and absolutes...

Yeah, I've seen it before. Hobbyists chasing numbers and driving themselves absolutely f- cking crazy in the process. Like, not actually enjoying it because they were too busy trying to hit some sort of parameters or find some sort of "rule" or recipe to conform to.

Yup- these were clear-cut cases of what I used to label "Fish Geek Complication Syndrome..." - some hobbyists' urgent necessity to overanalyze, over-practice, over-test, over-complicate stuff. And in the process, take almost all of the fun out of the hobby.

I saw this shit in the reef aquarium world all of the time.

Hobbyists would drive themselves crazy trying to over analyze and control every single aspect of their tanks, at great expense in money, time, and gadgetry- in some vain effort to get their coral to grow, when all that they really had to do was to...relax. To observe. Let Nature do some of the work. Enjoy. 

I've seen it in the planted "Nature Aquarium" world. Rules about how to arrange rock, how to set plants, conform to this, that, or some other rule or process...Stuff that we feel is necessary to get us..."there."

There IS a philosophy in that world, however. Yet, it's been overtaken by "rules" that people have created. And, in my opinion, it's made it a lot more oppressive than fun lately.

Don't believe me?

Try to create an "Iwagumi" setup your own way, and see the feedback the aquascaping community gives you.

Rules.

And I realized that perhaps, this mindset and craving for some "rules" has been a factor in keeping some people out of this fun sector that we play in! They are so caught up in the mindset which says, "This looks really different- so it must be really complicated and need some serious analysis and..." (Okay, maybe not exactly THAT. But something like that!)

We tackle stuff thinking that if we follow some set of rules- some recipe- then we will get the exact, perfect result every time. And rather than enjoying the process- the journey, and understanding that Nature has to do a lot of the work, many of us panic and look for something to get us on track towards the desired result...Never realizing that the "answer" was right in front of us the whole time.

A blackwater/botanical-style aquarium does require some understanding. Some technique. Some observation.

However, what it requires mostly is...mindset.

It requires an adoption of a philosophy which trusts Nature to find a way...To accept a different look and perhaps different "set points" along the journey than we have previously appreciated or understood.

It requires faith. 

Faith that Nature, in her infinite wisdom garnered over eons of creation, destruction, and evolution- has our backs. 

If we listen to her her. If we learn WHAT to look for. If we cede some of the work to Her. 

That's really hard for some hobbyists to accept, I know. 

However, I think we have to. 

Sure, we need to learn about what we're doing...and there is nothing wrong with studying and analyzing...Just not to the point where we dissect every aspect of the wonder and pleasure and...fun out of the practice.

Give yourself permission...

To have FUN.

Stay thoughtful. Stay bold. Stay enthusiastic. Stay curious. Stay faithful...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

Returning to the beginning...

As you know, I've talked a lot about how in the past year or so, I've burned through various iterations of my aquariums.

Sometimes, after a few months, I find myself "over" an idea. Like, not into it any more...ready to move on. And this is a far different approach than I've taken in the past, driven as much by "commercial necessity" (ie; showing a lot of new looks...) as anything else.

So, instead of breaking the whole damn thing down and scrubbing the tank sterile like I've done in years past...I just remove the stuff I don't want and go from there. Often, the "reset" begins with just a layer of leaves left to "do their thing" on the bottom for a while before adding anything else.

Of course, "going from there" means coming up with a new idea and likely, a new group of botanical materials...

And of course, it's time to reconsider all of those steps and processes that we engage in when we move forward with new iterations. And that gives us the opportunity to reflect and work from our base of experience.

Now, as part of this process, we have to familiarize ourselves with the appearance, effects, and processes which take place in our aquariums when we utilize botanicals. We've written so much about the unique aesthetics, and the "mental shift" to embracing a more "earthy" tank with decomposing materials, tinted water, and biofilms that you'd pretty much have to be "living under a rock" (okay, THAT'S extreme, but you get the idea...) to not expect this kind of stuff with these materials.

And of course, one of the "core principles" we need to think about when we contemplate adding botanical materials into our aquariums is to consider how much and how many different varieties and sizes of materials would work. 

I mean, this DOES seem pretty basic; however, adding the right materials can really "make or break" the look of the aquascape. 

Did you catch the part about "size" in the earlier paragraph? 

Yup, the physical size of the aquarium is, in my opinion, a very important consideration in botanical selection. It's something that we don't talk about much around here...and it's worth bringing up from time to time, IMHO.

Larger leaves, for example- "medium" catappa- look great in medium to larger-sized aquariums. However, in a 5 or 10 gallon (20-40L) tank, or smaller, the "scale" of these items is, well..."off", in my opinion. 

A far better choice in this context would be "Nano" Catappa or Mangrove leaves, which are, for the most part, considerably smaller than medium-sized Catappa leaves. 

Now, there are some situations where you might want larger leaves in a small space. Perhaps you're trying to recreate a specific niche- for example, a forest stream, where larger, old-growth trees might be dropping leaves to the forest floor, and this would be an appropriate setting for them. 

Or maybe you just like larger leaves! Like, Bamboo....

That being said, the same concept works for botanicals.

If you're working with a very small tank, it just looks kind of weird, IMHO, to add a bunch of larger materials, such as "Afzelia Pods", which really are "out of scale" for most smaller tanks.

I mean, at least from my point of view, smaller botanicals just seem to look a bit better in smaller tanks...And larger ones, too! Again, it's really about scale and context.

Smaller botanicals are more impactful in smaller tanks, obviously, and when used in groups or aggregations. I think that's part of the fun and "art" of playing with botanicals, isn't it?

So, perhaps we're making a BIG deal about a tiny aspect of a small subject- the concept of "scale" in utilizing botanicals in an aquarium- yet the impact of using "appropriately sized" botanicals will have a terrific aesthetic impact on your overall aquascape.

In the end, there are no hard and fast aesthetic "rules" when contemplating the use of botanicals in our aquariums. However, the important considerations are to think about the use of botanicals- and everything- in context.

 And of course, once things "get underway", it's time to do some observations...

Maybe it's just me, but I think that it's important, after your initial "work" is completed- to simply sit back and take in what you did...

I have this thing about creating what I feel is a good start to my botanical-style aquariums, then reaching a point where I leave them alone to "evolve." It's like a fundamental practice of mine- perhaps even a "cornerstone" of the work I do.

There is a point when you're like, "Oh, I really like this hardscape"- and you set in your initial botanicals...and then you sort of just "walk away" and let it evolve for a bit. 

I call this "reaching the point."

A "jumping-off" stage, where our initial work is done, and Nature takes over for a while, breaking down the botanicals, allowing a "patina" of biocover and biofilm to cover some of the surfaces, removing the crisp, harsh, "new" feeling.  This is where Amano's concept of embracing the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi takes over. Accepting the transient nature of things and enjoying the beauty of the changes that occur over time.

And of course, once stuff starts "softening" or breaking down, it doesn't mean that your job is done, or that you're just an observer from that point on. Nope. It means that you're now in a cool phase of "actively managing" (and by "managing", I am emphasizing observation more than "intervening!") the aquarium.

Making minor "tweaks" as necessary to keep the aquarium healthy and moving in the direction-aesthetically, functionally, and otherwise- that you want it to.

A lot of people may disagree, but I personally feel that THIS phase is the most exciting and rewarding part of the whole process!  And perhaps- one of the most natural...

A phase when you interact with your aquarium on a very different level; a place where you get to play a role in the direction your 'scape is going, without constantly interrupting the natural progression taking place within the little microcosm you created!

And of course, the natural "analog" of this phase is when those initial rains arrive and inundate formerly dry habitats, flooding forests and grasslands, transforming them into aquatic habitats once again. The sort of "pause" between storms gives life a chance to make those adjustments necessary during the transformation.

As botanical materials break down, more and more compounds (tannins, humic substances, lignin, bound-up organic matter) begin leaching into the water column in your aquarium, influencing the water chemistry and overall environment. Some botanicals, like leaves, break down within weeks, needing replacement if you wish to maintain the "tint level" you've started to achieve in your aquarium.

Others last a much longer time.

Knowing when to replace or add to them is sort of a subjective call, at least initially. Once you get used to working with them in your aquariums, you may be able to notice pH increases, TDS changes, or other environmental/water chem indicators/phenomena which can clue you in that it's time to replace them.

On the other hand, many types of seed pods and other botanicals will last much longer periods of time than leaves in most aquariums, yet may not impart their tannins and other substances as quickly as say, leaves, simply because their very structure is different than the softer, thinner leaves. Many will hold their form for a very long period of time, yet may not be releasing quite as much tannins or humic substances as they were initially.

Again, it's sort of a judgement call. As much of an instinct and "art" as it is a "science." As we've discussed many times before, without the ability to measure the levels of the specific substances that botanical items are imparting into your tank (and, quite frankly, knowing just what they are, and what is considered "normal" for the system!), it's really about "nuancing it", isn't it? Like so many other things in this hobby, you sort of have to take a "best guess", or go with your instincts.

Yeah, I know- it's hardly the precise, scientific, "boiler plate" advice some of us might like, but that's the reality of this kind of tank at this point in time. It's not like, our example, a reef tank, where we have detailed chemical baselines for seawater parameters, and 32-component ICP-OES tests to establish baselines and measure deviations from them.

Nope. It's about nuance, observation, "feel"... finesse. 

Obviously, you need to obey all of the common "best practices" of aquarium management, in terms of nitrogen cycle management, water quality testing, nutrient export, etc. in a botanical-style blackwater/brackish aquarium. However, you have to also apply a healthy dose of the above-referenced "emotional elements" into your regimen as well!

And you need to keep yourself in check, too. Remember, anything you add into an aquarium- wood, sand, botanicals, and of course- livestock- is part of the "bioload", and will impact the function and environment of your aquarium.

A foundational, important thing to understand.

As is patience. Like, even on a "re-start", you need to employ so much patience, right? Like, why rush things? 

I mean, we tend to do that, right?

I was wondering if it has to do with some inherent impatience that we have as aquarists- or perhaps as humans in general-a desire to see the "finished product" as soon as possible; something like that. And there is nothing at all wrong with that, I suppose. I just kind of wonder what the big rush is? I guess, when we view an aquarium in the same context as a home improvement project, meal preparation, or algebra test, I can see how reaching some semblance of "finished" would take on a greater significance!

On the other hand, if you look at an aquarium as you would a garden- an organic, living, evolving, growing entity- then the need to see the thing "finished" becomes much less important. Suddenly, much like a "road trip", the destination becomes less important than the journey. It's about the experiences gleaned along the way. Enjoyment of the developments, the process. In the botanical-style aquarium, it's truly about a dynamic and ever-changing system.

Every stage holds fascination. 

IS there even a "finish line" to an aquarium, other than the ones we impose?

I think not. 

And if we DO decide that our aquarium is "complete"- and if that motivates us to do something different, that's perfectly okay...

Because we can always return to the beginning.

Stay creative. Stay diligent. Stay excited. Stay bold...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

 

Immerse yourself.

Every so often, I return to a more philosophical take on things. 

What makes us set up a botanical-style, natural aquarium? What is it about the look, feel, and function about these aquariums that somehow compels us to set them up?

I ask these questions because I've had the opportunity of late to speak with a number of hobbyists who have not previously considered the kinds of aquariums which we as a community love so much. The sheer number of "ahas!" and "Ohhh- that's what you mean!"-type responses really made me step back for a second, and think about this stuff more on a philosophical level.

Yeah, here we go again...

What is it about them that calls to us?

I think that the fact that they are NOT as "contrived" or trying to conform to some defined "style" as many of the aquascapes splashed all over the internet and on social media makes them oddly "aspirational" and compelling to us.

It makes me think of some of the concepts that the aquarium community has seemed to embrace for so long, and why there might actually be a bit of a "disconnect" between our work in the hobby writ large, and what we seem to proffer that they represent.

It starts by simply looking at some of the processes by which we create our aquariums and the mindset we apply to our work.

I think the fact that the "details" which some hobbyists try so hard to create in their "high-concept" scapes are so effortlessly and spontaneously assembled by Nature is both awe-inspiring and perhaps unsettling for some.



That whole thing about "ceding some of the work to Nature" is not something that every aquarist/scaper is comfortable with! We've always felt like we have to take the "controlling interest" in the aquarium, and perhaps it makes us feel a bit unsettled that Nature will do some of the "heavy lifting" without us- especially if we don't "interfere!"

Yeah, and just the realization that our artificial machinations in shaping are really a sort of "interference"- or at least, a form of "intervention"- against Nature's processes is hard for some to swallow!

It's humbling, if nothing else...

And the work of "unpolished Nature" in our aquariums?

It forces us to look at things a bit differently, right? It makes us look at the wild habitats as the true inspiration for our aquariums. A far cry from "last month's Tank of The Month" for sure!

Don't get me wrong. It's just fine to be inspired by the many gorgeous aquariums out there which are the result of amazing work by enormously talented hobbyists. We need to accept them for what they are. Beautiful works of art. And that's okay. However, it's the unchallenged, unquestioned, heavy-handed "appropriation" of the terms "Nature" and "natural" that the hobby heaps upon these works to describe what are actually highly stylized, artistic, "sanitized", "edited" interpretations of Nature is what I find fascinating and a bit disconcerting.

Words have meaning.

And, when applied too liberally or generally, they tend to gloss over the realities that are at the root of what we're trying to recreate in our aquariums. Overlooking these realities- in this case, Nature as it is- denies us the opportunity to educate ourselves and learn more about how it really works and the true beauty that it brings. It tends to encourage us to look more at these art pieces as what Nature really is, and to base our "natural" aquariums upon them-  instead of looking at- well, Nature!

Yeah. Really.

We have to understand- as we constantly say here- that Nature is not exactly the pristine, orderly place we tend to present it as in our aquariums. It encompasses things which might be far different than what we have thought of as "beautiful" for so long.

Stuff like the biofilms- that we as a hobby have made such a big deal out of removing from wood and other decorative items in our tanks arise for a very specific set of reasons, and perform a role in the closed aquarium ecosystem. I believe that the fact that they may look a bit unsettling to us based on our rather close-minded  view of "proper" aquarium aesthetics and (ouch!) a general lack of understanding about their role in aquatic habitats is what has caused this.

A true mental shift is required. One which, once we grasp- will "free" us to create aquariums in a far more realistic and natural manner than previously believed possible.

Please, PLEASE do look at some pics and videos of wild tropical aquatic habitats and see that the stuff we freak out about in our tanks is practically the "basis" for these structural and functional aquatic ecosystems. 

The botanical-style aquarium that we play with is perhaps the first of it's kind in the hobby to really say, "Hey, this is just like Nature! It's not that bad!" And to make us think, "Perhaps there is a benefit to all of this."

It looks like- and in many respects, functions- more like a natural habitat.

We are learning-together- that there is definitely "something" to these things which our fishes can benefit from.

Our willingness to make that "mental shift" and move beyond the simple look of them is what I believe will lead to a new sort of renaissance in the hobby. Perhaps, finally accepting these life forms and their collateral products will spur new developments and encourage us to embrace the many benefits to our fishes that have made them a vital part of the wild aquatic ecosystems of the world.

A less rigidly aesthetically-controlled, perhaps less "high-concept" approach in the eyes of some- setting the stage for...Nature- to do what she's done for eons without us having to do much to "help it along." Rather, the mindset here is to allow Nature to take it's course, and to embrace the breakdown of materials, the biofilms, the decay...and to rejoice in the ever-changing aesthetic and functional aspects of a natural aquatic system- "warts and all" -and how they can positively affect our fishes.

And yes- they do affect our fishes in a positive manner, don't they?

We're seeing that not only do botanicals, leaves, and alternative substrate materials look interesting- they provide a physiological basis for creating unique environmental conditions for our fishes and plants. We're seeing fish graze on the life forms which live in and among the decomposing botanicals, as well as the botanicals themselves- just like in Nature...And we are seeing the influence- aesthetically and chemically- that these materials assert on the aquarium's environmental physical environment.

The ephemeral nature of botanicals. The tinted water. The appearance of biofilms. Decay. Leaves. Wood. Water. Life.

Words, sure...But very compelling ones. Important components of a successful ecosystem...and beautiful, if we make the attempt to embrace them.

Really looking at each aquarium as a microcosm of life- not simply an "art piece" or social media prop- is a huge breakthrough in the hobby.

I realize that we repeat this "mantra" so often here that it almost seems like "white noise" at times; however, it's such a foundational, fundamental shift in our approach and thinking in the aquarium world that I simply can't help but bring it up again and again.

If we immerse ourselves in the many aspects of botanical-style aquariums, and just work with this stuff, there are so many possibilities for successful aquariums and outcomes. We can apply this approach, this dynamic, this mental shift- to so many different things that we do in our aquarium work, ranging from aquascaping to breeding, to rearing fishes- that the opportunity to accomplish more in the hobby is virtually limitless.

Immerse yourself. In Nature.

As it is. 

Not the homogenized, sterilized, "edited" version of Nature which has been force-fed to us as "The Way" for so long. 

I ask you to share this mindset with your friends who might be a bit disillusioned with the hobby of late. It might just awaken something for them. Something which invigorates, inspires, and excites them. Something which unleashes their true potential as a hobbyist. Something which provides previously unexpected benefits for our fishes and the wild habitats from which they come. 

Let's keep putting our preconceptions and fears aside as we continue to create and enjoy more natural looking - and functioning- aquariums, and the breakthroughs that they present.

Immerse yourself.

Stay inspired. Stay bold. Stay excited. Stay creative. Stay open-minded...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

 

What about that function?

After several years of existence of Tannin Aquatics, and well into our ongoing mission to throw light on the formerly dark world of blackwater, botanical-style aquariums, there are more and more new people entering the game.

This is a very exciting time, because we are no longer in the "Will doing this kill my fishes?" mode, or the "How will this make my tank look?" mode, and are more into a "How can I utilize these materials and ideas to do____________?" period.

It's time to look deeper at the function of using botanicals in our aquariums.

As a hobbyist, I know that I have personally grown in my pursuit of knowledge and improved technique. And I'm hardly unique. When you think about it, hobbyists have been sort of 'poking at the edges' of this stuff for many years...it's only in recent years that we're starting to focus more on this type of aquarium as a means to move the hobby further.

And, in order to make sense of it all, we spend a great deal of time examining the processes which occur when leaves and other botanicals are added to the aquarium. And this is important, not only from an aesthetic standpoint, but from a functional/operational standpoint.

It definitely differs from our practice in decades past, where the idea of throwing in materials that affect the water quality/composition was strictly a practice reserved for dedicated speciality hobbyists, like killifish breeders, Dwarf Cichlid keepers, etc., who wanted to create special conditions for breeding.

 

Yeah, you and won't read about incorporating some of these esoteric applications for this stuff in just "any old aquarium blog", right? 

Okay, enough self aggrandizement for today, Scott...

Nowadays, we're advocating the addition of such materials to our aquariums as a matter of course, for the everyday purpose of replicating natural processes for our fishes. We understand- or are attempting to understand- the impact on both our aquariums' ecology and the husbandry techniques involved.

Yeah, sort of a different application that's evolving almost daily.

It goes without saying that there are significant implications for both the biology and chemistry of the aquatic habitats when leaves and other botanical materials enter them. Many of these are things that we as hobbyists observe every day in our aquariums! Some- we are pretty certain of (like, the color that they impart to the water, the measurable differences in pH, TDS, etc...). Others are a bit more esoteric-yet nonetheless important, in their implications...

A lab study I came upon found out that, when leaves are saturated in water, biofilm is at its peak when other nutrients (i.e.; nitrate, phosphate, etc.) tested at their lowest limits. This is interesting to me, because it seems that, in our botanical-style, blackwater aquariums, biofilms tend to occur early on, when one would assume that these compounds are at their highest concentrations, right? And biofilms are essentially the byproduct of bacterial colonization, meaning that there must be a lot of "food" for the bacteria at some point if there is a lot of biofilm, right?

Hmm.

More questions...

Does this imply that the biofilms arrive on the scene and peak out really quickly; an indication that there is actually less nutrient in the water? Or, is the nutrient load "bound up" in the biofilms? Could this be why compounds like nitrate and phosphate always seem to be essentially undetectable in our tanks, despite the "load" of decomposing botanicals and such that would lead us to believe that there should be significant concentrations of the stuff detectible?

And when our fishes and other animals consume them, does this provide a significant source of sustenance for them? Well, we know that it does, right?

Hmm...?

Oh, and here is another interesting observation:

When leaves fall into streams, field studies have shown that their nitrogen content typically will increase. Why is this important? Scientists see this as evidence of microbial colonization, which is correlated by a measured increase in oxygen consumption. This is interesting to me, because the rare "disasters" that we see in our tanks (when we do see them, of course, which fortunately isn't very often at all)- are usually caused by the hobbyist adding a really large quantity of leaves to an established tank all at once, resulting in the fishes gasping at the surface- a sign of...oxygen depletion?

Makes some sense, right? 

These are interesting clues about the process of decomposition of leaves when they enter into our aquatic ecosystems. They have implications for our use of botanicals and the way we manage our aquariums. I think that the simple fact that pH and oxygen tend to go down quickly when leaves are initially submerged in pure water during lab tests gives us an idea as to what to expect.

A lot of the initial environmental changes will happen rather rapidly, and then stabilize over time. Which of course, leads me to conclude that the development of sufficient populations of organisms to process the incoming botanical load is a critical part of the establishment of our botanical-style aquariums.

Fungal populations are as important in the process of breaking down leaves and botanical materials in water as are higher organisms, like insects and crustaceans, which function as "shredders." So the “shredders” – the animals which feed upon the materials that fall into the streams, process this stuff into what scientists call “fine particulate organic matter.”

And that's where fungi and other microorganisms make use of the leaves and materials, processing them into fine sediments. And our understanding of the external influences on the aquatic environments is important.  Allochthonous material  is not just insects and fruits and stuff- it can also include dissolved organic matter (DOM) carried into streams and re-distributed by water movement.

And the process happens surprisingly quickly.

How quickly? Well, I found some information on that...

In experiments carried out in tropical  rainforests in Venezuela, decomposition rates were really fast, with 50% of leaf mass lost in less than 10 days! Interesting, but is it tremendously surprising to us as botanical-style aquarium enthusiasts? I mean, we see leaves begin to soften and break down in a matter of a couple of weeks- with complete breakdown happening typically in a month or so for many leaves.

And biofilms, fungi, and algae are still found in our aquariums in significant quantities throughout the decomposition process, right?

So, what's this all mean? What are the implications for aquariums? 

I think it means that we need to continue to foster the biological diversity of animals in our aquariums- embracing life at all levels- from bacteria to fungi to crustaceans to worms- and ultimately, our fishes...All form the basis of a closed ecosystem, and perhaps a "food web" of sorts for our little aquatic microcosms.

Yes, I talk about this incessantly, right? However, it's a very interesting concept- a fascinating field for research for aquarists, and we all have the opportunity to participate in this on a most intimate level by simply observing what's happening in our aquariums every day!

Now, I understand that this is an aggregation of a lot of facts coming from different directions, being interpreted for our purposes. However, these interesting tidbits of knowledge are things that we can utilize to correlate what we observe every day in our aquariums, and allow us to better make inferences about the actual function of them, right?

Of course, it starts with looking at the compelling natural habitats from where our fishes come, and creating cool aquariums that we actually enjoy looking at...I get that...

However, in addition to the purely visually aesthetic approach, even more amazing, more functionally aesthetic and realistic aquariums can be created by simply looking at what caused these habitats to form in Nature, and assembling and placing the components you're using based upon that.

The idea of simulating fallen tree trunks and logs and branches in aquariums is as old as the art of aquarium keeping itself. I've even beaten the living shit out of this idea as recently as a couple of days ago- for like, the eleventh time in this blog...However, I think the approach of looking at them not just as "set pieces"- but as the foundational cornerstone of a biological and physical habitat gives new context to the practice. Rather than just, "Woah, that piece of wood is a great place for my cichlids to hide!", perhaps we could think about how the wood provides foraging, or a corralling feature for leaf litter, soil, roots, etc.

 

Everything from driftwood to twigs to roots has an important place in simulating the function and look of the aquatic habitats we love so much. Simply looking at this stuff from a purely aesthetic standpoint sells it short, IMHO.

There is so much more. And the reality is, even if you're constructing your aquarium mainly for the function- the aesthetics often emerge and "steal the show, anyways!



Combinations of these materials (configured in various ways) could create an interesting functional AND aesthetic terrestrial component that could influence the water chemistry and ecological diversity of our systems- exactly like they do in Nature...

As always, the big opportunity here is not only to create a realistic, compelling display- it's to further unlock some of the secrets of Nature and study the interactions between land and water.  It's about incorporating function into our displays, and appreciating the interesting aesthetics which accompany it!

Every observation we make on all sorts of these aspects of the botanical-style aquarium helps us move the needle a bit. With a growing number of hobbyists experimenting with botanical materials in all sorts of aquariums and enjoying improving fish health, spawning, etc., it's getting more and more difficult to call it a  "novelty" or "fad." 

I mean, Nature isn't exactly a "fad" or trend-follower, right? She's been doing this stuff for eons. We're just sort of "catching up"- and beginning to study, contemplate, and appreciate what happens when form meets function in the aquarium.

And that's pretty exciting, isn't it?

Stay engaged. Stay curious. Stay dedicated. Stay observant. Stay open-minded...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The "startup" phase and its natural analogies...

It's largely for "business purposes", but it seems like I've set up more aquairums in the past year than I have in the previous 2-3 years. Seems like every month I have something new going up- or about to!

And of course, being a fish geek- even when its for "business" purposes (ie; sharing some new and inspirational ideas)- it's still incredibly fun and educational. I get new insights about aquariums- and the natural habitats which inspire them- every time I set one up!

When you think about it sort of analytically, one of the neat things about setting up a new aquarium is that, like it or not- you go through the time-honored traditions of stuff as mundane as washing sand, setting in heaters and lights, cleaning and preparing wood and other hardscape materials, etc. You can't escape most of those tasks.

Nor should you want to.

I mean, unless you're using "live" material from an existing tank or pond, you pretty much have to rinse sand...whatever technique you use, it's almost unavoidable. And that often creates lingering cloudiness that simply takes a bit of waiting to resolve. And then there is what I like to call "the settling period", also jokingly referred to by us patient types as the "calm before the storm"- that period of a few days when you let everything sort of "sit" for a bit- allowing the water to clear, any bubbles to be mitigated, etc.

I actually love this period of time, because it's the last point in my tank's existence that it's "sterile"- before we begin preparing the "biological" part of the system.

You know, getting the wood and stones positioned right, making sure that the basic water parameters (alkalinity, pH, TDS, etc.) are where you want them before you start "seeding" the system with bacteria, or whatever your technique is to make your tank "come alive." This is an exciting time-a time to really make sure that things are running how you'd like them, to assure yourself that the basic hardscape is positioned how you think it should be, and that the system is "mechanically" running reliably.

It's a very exciting time. And, when viewed with the correct mindset, it's as gratifying, fascinating, and enjoyable as any other period of time in the life of your tank.

I recently  considered all of these thoughts as I went through this period right now in my new home blackwater aquarium, and it's a very "contemplative" time, too- if you make it that way...and of course, I always tend to, lol.

I find myself viewing this time as a real chance to "get things right"- that time to deploy a lot of patience and ask myself those honest questions, like, "Is this EXACTY how you want those pieces of wood positioned?" or ,"Do you want to use those rocks in those positions?" OR, "Do I even WANT to use rocks..?" Like, I hate "editing" my hardscape as I go, so to me, once I start "going biological" with a tank, the "honeymoon" is over...

Those pieces of wood and rock are staying in those exact positions until either I knock them out of position during maintenance (that never happens, right?) or I break down the tank. Yeah, I'm pretty hardcore about it! 

Of course, it's also a time when I tell myself, "Okay Fellman- no turning back..." Sort of like when an airplane is committed to "rotate" for takeoff...I guess I commit to a hardscape like I run my business: Conceive. Tweak. Execute. Manage (insert- "fix disasters..." here, lol). I think that it's a lot like how Nature works...Well, sort of?  

Once a tree falls, it typically moves very little, unless water movement or subsidence from the substrate alters how it's settled. And "stuff" (leaves, twigs, seed pods, etc.) accumulates around it, further "cementing" its position in the habitat.

Yes, I have a weird way of looking at stuff.

And I suppose that it's correct to acknowledge that, despite my labeling this period of time as a "sterile" period, it's really the first step of creating a "biologically active" system. I mean, wood contains all sorts of "stuff", including organic materials and probably even good old fashioned terrestrial "dirt", which fuels the growth of bacteria...despite our best efforts at "cleaning" or otherwise "preparing" it for aquarium use.

And the tannins which wood often gives off once submerged?

I mean, that's like nature's little "gift" for the "tinter!"

While the rest of the aquarium world pouts, agonizes, and generally freaks the f--- out about "the tannins 'discoloring' my water"- we see this as one of the rare "hacks"- a gift from Mother Nature to help us speed up the process of getting that visual "tint" to our water that we love so much!

Don't believe me about how the rest of the hobby reacts to this? Search like any aquatic hobby forum and look at the frantic posts from hobbyists looking for anything to help remove this dreaded "scourge" of tint from their aquariums. I know, I shouldn't be so callous and unsympathetic to their "plight"- but if these heathens only knew what they were missing...

I mean, I get frantic emails from customers wondering how to make their tanks darker!

Shit, this is weird, huh?

So, yeah. We take our victories where we can get them, right?

Let's talk about that "biological phase", as I call it- just for s second...

Pretty much anything that we add to the aquarium contains some biological material (ie. bacteria, fungal or algal spores, etc.), right? And when they hit the water, it begins a process of growth, colonization, and proliferation that won't stop. These processes are so beneficial and important to our systems...

When we have these materials in place, the "microfaunal ecosystem" begins to "ignite" and grow. We often talk about the large influx of "nutrients" present in a new aquarium, and "immature" nutrient export systems in place to handle it. I mean, the tank plays a sort of biological "catch up" during this time, as the bacterial and fungal growths proliferate among the abundant nutrients. We might rely a bit more on mechanical and chemical filtration during this period. However, ultimately, these natural "nutrient export mechanisms" will take over.

It just takes time.

And a mindset where you're not totally obsessed with removing every bit of "dirt" or material which looks offensive. Allowing the the nitrogen cycle to really establish itself, and natural processes develop, will really "set the tone" for our botanical-style aquariums, IMHO. We shouldn't let some of the initial visual clues, like "cloudiness", biofilms, etc. compel us to whip out the siphon hose and remove every bit of the "offensive"-looking material from our tanks. Otherwise, we end up working agains the very processes that we're trying to foster in a botanical-style aquarium! 

It takes patience, understanding, observation- and a vision.

And we're patient. And determined. And we understand that a botanical-style  aquarium truly must "evolve" and take time to begin to blossom into a functioning little ecosystem. And we enjoy each and every stage of the "startup" process for what it is: An analog to the processes which occur in the natural habitats we want so badly to emulate.  I think one of the mental "games" I've always played with myself during this process is to draw parallels between what I'm doing to prepare my tank and what happens in nature.

It kind of goes something like this:

A tree falls in the (dry) forest (Really, Fellman's riffing about trees AGAIN? Well, yeah...). Wind and gravity determine its initial resting place (you play around with positioning your wood pieces until you get 'em where you want, and in a position that holds!). A little rain falls (we spray down our hardscapes...), moistening the dry materials that abound in the substrate.

Next, other materials, such as leaves and perhaps a few rocks become entrapped around the fallen tree or its branches (we set a few "anchor" pieces of hardscaping material into the tank). Detritus settles (you know, that damn "sediment" that you get in newly setup tanks...) Then, the heavier rain comes; streams overflow, and the once-dry forest floor becomes inundated (we fill the aquarium with water).

The action of water and rain help "set" the final position of the tree/branches, and wash more materials into the area influenced by the tree (we place more pieces of botanicals, rocks, leaves, etc. into place). The area settles a bit, with occasional influxes of new water from the initial rainfall (we make water chemistry tweaks and maybe a top-off or two, as needed).

Fungi, bacteria, and insects begin to act upon the wood and botanicals which have collected in the water (kind of like what happens in our tanks, huh? Yes- biofilms are beautiful...). Gradually, the first fishes begin to follow the food and populate the area (we add our first fish selections based on our stocking plan...). It continues from there. Get the picture? Sure, I could go on and on attempting to painfully draw parallels to every little nuance of tank startup, but I think you know where I'm going with this stuff...

And the thing we must deploy at all times in this process is patience. 

And an appreciation for each and every step in the process, and how it will influence the overall "tempo" and ultimate success of the aquarium we are creating. When we take the view that we are not just creating an "aquatic display", but a habitat for a variety of aquatic life forms, we tend to look at it as much more of an evolving process than a step-by-step "procedure" for getting somewhere.

Do some reading on the "bioactive" processes our frog and herp friends strive to create in their beautiful vivariums and enclosures- there are many analogous and educational takeaways there! 

Creating such a habitat, and fostering stuff like the development of a basic kind of "food web" is really an amazing process and is filled with potential breakthroughs for aquariums. And I think that, even if we don't consider the concept, we as hobbyists sort of have been helping develop some aspects of these "food webs" for some time now in almost every type of aquarium that we've set up...

An interesting thing to contemplate, right?

Taking the time to consider, study, and savor each phase is such an amazing thing, and I'd like to think that, as students of this most compelling aquarium hobby niche, that we can appreciate the evolution as much as the "finished product" (if there ever is such a thing in the aquarium world).

It all starts with an idea...and a little bit of a "waiting game..." and a belief in Nature; a trust in allowing the natural processes which have guided our planet and its life forms for eons to develop to the extent that they can in our aquariums. 

The appreciation of this process is a victory in and of itself, isn't it?

I think it is.

And the "startup phase" of our aquariums is the key component to fostering the process. Enjoy it. Understand it. Appreciate it for what it really is...A beginning of a closed ecological system.

Stay motivated. Stay excited. Stay obsessed. Stay observant. Stay appreciative...Stay patient...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman 

Tannin Aquatics