The Tint

The continuing search for blackwater livebearers...Why do I put myself through this?

Do you ever get going on some tangent in the hobby, and just keep researching something that you either have a "hunch" about- or just become flat-out obsessed with? Well, I have just such a strange obsession going on.

It has to do with livebearing fishes. Specifically, ones from blackwater habitats.

Yeah, I have no idea what my obsession with this is, but I can't let go of the idea of some wild livebearer that can be found naturally occurring in blackwater habitats. If you're a fan of this blog (and I know 2-3 of you might be), you are well aware of my absurd obsessions.

And as you know, other than some guppies or the occasional Molly- I've never been a big livebearer guy! I can scarcely even identify anything other than the "big three" (Guppies, Mollies, Platies...)- really. I mean, maybe a Gambusia or some others...

IRRELEVANT FACT: I did have Zoogoneticus tequila once, though!

( Zoogoneticus tequila- Image by Loury Cedric- used under CC BY-SA 4.0)

Anyways, this obsession I have is really weird, though. And I can't let it go. Like, why am I so obsessed?

Yeah, blackwater livebearers...

I know that there have been "transplanted" species that have been found in all sorts of places around the tropical world, but I'm still trying to find examples (or an example) of a species native to a blackwater habitat!

I don't care if the fish is grey, chromatically "uninspired"...or just plain dull! I just think it would be cool to find one that could be "biologically appropriate" for one of our blackwater, botanical-style tanks!

Think I'm being childish or unreasonable?

I mean, perhaps, but I long ago gave up the fantasy of there some how being a bright red Dwarf Black Ghost Knifefish, and made peace with the "original one" so I think I'm good with the Universe at this point, lol.

It's interesting, to say the least...

One of the things I learned a long time ago is that, in doing some of the necessary homework on such an endeavor, you inevitably stumble on some fishes that you think are viable candidates, only to be just schooled by Fish Base, experts, or other references that dash your hopes along the way. No different with this search.

However, rather than utilize only hobbyist-level resources, this time, I went to the "dusty halls" (metaphorically, of course) of the scholarly ichthyological world. Remember my previous searches for the half-mythical "Amazon Molly"- the fish with the most tantalizing name? I researched the hell out of it, only to find out that the "Amazon" part of the "common name" was because of it's unique reproductive strategy- NOT it's natural range! 

That totally took the metaphorical "air out of my tires", as they say...

And, I didn't come up too disappointed this time! I found some genera which may actually be non-coastal-confined, non brackish-water fishes!

It's a start, at least!

Now, lest you get too excited that there is a super-colorful livebearer out there, which lives in blackwater and has somehow evaded the hobby and all of the famous livebearer experts for the last century, let me just burst your bubble right away, oaky?

Most of these are (in no particular order):

A) grey

B) not typically found in the aquarium hobby

C) really obscure

D) did I mention, grey?

That being said, I have a few that do intrigue me for some reason.

My first target genus is Fluviphylax, which contains five described species, not one of which anyone who is not a native fisherman, lifetime member of the American Livebearer Association, or doesn't have the letters PhD after his/her name has even heard of- let alone seen! These are rather interesting fishes, distinguished by really large (relative to their body size), almost "creepy-looking" eyes, the absence of a gonopodium in males, and the usual complete lack of color seemingly common to pretty much every obscure fish in the world...

(Does it get any better? Fluviphylax in all its glory! Image by Clinton and Charles Robertson, used under CC BY 2.)

Despite the creepy eyes and complete lack of anything resembling "color", they are tantalizing to me, because the genus is apparently endemic to the Amazon and Orinoco region, including habitats like lakes, swamps, and "floating meadows." Appropriately, the first species listed in the genus is Fluviphylax obscurum, which drew me in from the start- and its native  range is listed as the "Upper Rio Negro basin!"  Oh, that's interesting! Of course, that's a big geographic area, and just because it's in the "region" doesn't mean it's all decomposing leaves and dark, soupy water... That being said, some references have it listed pretty far inland, well into "blackwater country", so...

Maddeningly, no reference I could find to any type localities mentioned the specific water chemistry of the collection sites. However, one cool thing is its diet, which always makes me smile:  Its diet is described as "autochthonous micro-algae and detritus and allochthonous invertebrates."  We know what that means, right? Yeah...Music to my ears! 

Gotta find me some of these! 

Now, interestingly , I was also told be some people definitely in the know, that Fluviphylax is actually considered an egg-laying killifish... So, I guess my information might be flawed or misinterpreted...This would not be the first time, of course. We may have to take this one out of the "livebearer" category!  And of course, one hardcore scientific paper I stumbled on provided all sorts of chromosomal analytics and stuff way over my metaphorical "pay grade", but couldn't clarify this. In fact, the discussion section included THIS line: "All species but the type Fluviphylax pygmaeus have been described in late 1990’s, and much remains unknown about the biology, taxonomy and systematics of this group of fishes."

Helpful, huh?

Regardless- this is an unusual species of cyprinodont...whatever it is!

My next candidate group has to be the genus Pamphorichthys. The genus contains six described species, all of which look like- well, how can I say it- they look like butt-ugly wild Mollies. (Of course, 75% of people outside the livebearer-geek community would immediately tell you that, "All wild Mollies are kind of ugly", so I'm staying out of that debate...). Interestingly, they are more closely linked to Mollies than any other type of livebearer, so even with my relative lack of knowledge about Mollies, maybe I'm on to something!

(P. hollandi. Image by Marcelo Fulgencio Guedes Brito)

They are true, undisputed livebearers, which is cool, and the interesting part about these fishes is their range. The genus name means "Fertile Fish", which might tell you something here! In addition to The Amazon/Orinoco/Guyana region, its members are found in The Tapajos and The Xingu! Habitats, that, although not really "blackwater", are kind of in our "softer, acidic" target range... Ones we have played with before! Getting closer, huh?

One type locality mentioned for P. hasemani is "Paraguay River drainage", also kinda close to what we're thinking about, water-wise, perhaps? The typical pH of the Paraguay River is 5.8—7.4 in the upper part and 6.3—7.9 in the lower part of the river. So, like all over the place, but... And, of course, the Paraguay River ranges from being described as "sediment rich" water to clear...I mean, pics I've seen of this river look "brown", but...

However, no exact mention of "blackwater" specifically as respects to the habitat of this fish in any of the research I've found thus far...

Urghh...

And then we have Alfaro cultratus, which hails from Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua, and is supposedly found in creeks, streams and other waters with an average pH of 6.8, and a hardness of around 5 dGH...It's a fish that is kept in the hobby, and even has a "common name"- the "Knife Livebearer'. I know a number of livebearer specialists who swear that this species does better and looks better in softer, more acidic water...particularly its reddish highlights in the scales and fins (No, seriously, it has them!). And it does have a certain "look" that would make it fit in with those flashier fishes, doesn't it?

(Alfaro cultratus. Perhaps the best candidate yet for a "blackwater livebearer?" Image by Haplochromis, used under CC BY-SA 3.0)

Could this be our baby?

It could be our best match yet!

I mean, Fish Base has this intriguing passage about this species: "Inhabits waters of low to moderate velocity, between 0 and 300 m elevation. Lives on creeks of more than 0.5 m deep, in ditches and near shorelines of large rivers. Generally swims in small groups at a depth of 20 cm. Insectivorous, the young eat mainly aquatic insects and the adults feed specifically on terrestrial insects."  One collection locale was listed as "..a rapidly flowing rainforest stream." 

Intriguing? Yes. A perfect fit? Hell, no. I mean, a "rain forest stream" could mean anything, right? Yeah.

Sigh...I'm likely really trying to fit a "square peg" in the proverbial "round hole", but it shows you the depths an obsessed guy will go to...

The reality is that many of the livebearers encountered in the trade and often in the wild were introduced from other areas. Because of their adaptable nature, you're likely to find them in a huge range of habitats, from brackish water (yay!) to soft, acidic water. However, it seems to me that most of the species come from more coastal locales, and the water might be "colored" through silt and mud, as opposed to the "blackwater" that geeks like me are fascinated with.

And of course, inevitably, after all of this tedious research, I've once again found that there are tons of cool, often obscure livebearers that we can keep in brackish water "estuary"- themed tanks!

So, all is not lost. There is always something cool to think about...

Inevitably, some livebearer fan out there somewhere will have some tips for me (Likely, something sorta of reminiscent of, "Stay the f --k out of this shit, Fellman- you don't understand these fishes, your research is flawed- and your fantasizing here...") about some of these fishes. And look, it may simply be that there are no truly blackwater livebearers, I mean, there are other similar fishes which could satisfy my obsession (hello, Rivulus!), but I have this "thing" about finding some livebearers that fill the profile here!

Maybe you have a lead on some species that I haven't thought of? Maybe it's right in front of my face? I mean, I know there is probably some guy out there who found a group of Endler's that were released into a blackwater pond in Florida or something...that's not what we're talking about here...We need something naturally found in this type of habitat.

Is one out there, swimming contentedly in some tannin-stained blackwater somewhere in South America?

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Either way, it's been kind of fun looking for something that likely doesn't really exist. It's the kind of fish geek stuff that makes you- well- a fish geek- right?

Yeah!

It sure does.

And I sure am a fish geek. Perhaps a stubborn, delusional, obsessed-with-the-wrong-thing one...but a fish geek through and through. And I own a company that sells "twigs and nuts" to fellow geeks.

This is pretty good.

My advice to you- as if you need it?

Be a geek. Follow your weird obsessions. Whatever they might be... And don't be afraid to share them.

Stay obsessive. Stay relentless. Stay curious. Stay diligent. Stay passionate...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

 

 

 

Homage to a fave friend...

It's hard to believe that it's been more than four years since we've started operations here at Tannin Aquatics. And more incredible to consider how, during that time, the idea of botanical-style aquariums (blackwater, brackish, or otherwise) has slowly percolated into the mainstream of hobby consciousness- leaving behind the hushed "side show" feel that the concept used to be met with.

Now, I don't claim that we were the main "mover" of this shift, but I think we've had some impact on it. In fact, the term "botanical" used to describe the natural stuff we work with, placed in our aquariums was simply not used in this context prior to 2015, to the best of my knowledge. 

Of course, I'm not saying that hobbyists haven't been tossing in leaves and seed pods and such prior to our arrival on the scene. That would be arrogant, egotistical, and just wrong. Hobbyists have been tossing "stuff" into aquariums pretty much as long as there have been aquariums!

That being said, there really wasn't a sort of "nexus" for the study, application, and procurement of this stuff before we arrived, as far as I know.

And since we've been researching, curating, and offering this stuff here at Tannin, I'd like to think that we've helped advance the identification, preparation, and application of these natural materials in our aquariums. It's more than just selling this stuff- it's about helping foster a "movement" which advances and educates the aquarium hobby. And it starts with some really basic stuff.

When I first started experimenting with tossing leaves, seed pods, and the like into aquarium over a decade ago, one of the main things I used as my criteria for evaluating the suitability of a botanical for aquarium use was what I call "functional aesthetics."

Really just a buzzword-like way of saying that I like stuff to look cool and be useful as well!

And, when it comes to the concept of "functional aesthetics", you'd be hard-pressed to find a botanical which meets this definition as much as what is debatably our most popular botanical- the Cariniana pod.

It's the seed pod of the Cariniana legalis tree from the forests of Brazil. With its unique cylindrical shape and nice opening on one end, it's a near-perfect "botanical accent piece" for all sorts of aquatic and vivarium applications.

I mean, it checks all the boxes: It looks cool, it's durable, and has that cool "defensible opening" that fishes or frogs can hide in and use as a hangout or spawning cave.  And it''s easy to prep for aquarium use, too!

Yet, it's been given a whole lot of f-ing stupid names, and has been sort of misunderstood for a long time. So, we'll just revisit it once again...

What's the real story on this pod?

Well, it's back to the rain forests of Brazil.

The origin of this botanical is the Cariniana legalis tree- one of Brazil's oldest trees, with some specimens over 3,000 years old! Can you imagine how many of these pods such a tree can produce over its lifetime? 

(Damn, I'm such an exploitative capitalist...Shame.)

(Our fave tree in all its jungle glory! Image by mauroguanandi, used under CC BY 2.0)

This woody tree from the family Lecythidaceae is an impressive tree which rises majestically above the rain forest canopy. Scientist describe this tree as "A large emergent tree, sparsely scattered in areas of lowland non-flooded rainforest, such as Atlantic forest, mesophyllous, riverine or hygrophyllous forest and semi-deciduous woodland."

Couldn't have put it better, myself. Really. 😆

Now, the bad news about this species is that it is considered "vulnerable" by the The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, as its habitat is under threat.  We obtain our specimens from a producer who has plantation-grown trees, which are specifically maintained for this and other human purposes, without chopping them down or destroying surrounding lands. 

In some areas, the bark and leaves are used for medicinal purposes (supposedly it has anti-diarrheal properties) and for binding stuff. We, of course, love the seed pods! I'll just take the word of the indigenous people that it's good as a diarrhea remedy...

Now, what we call a "pod" is really what a botanist would call a "dehiscent pyxidia"- a really cool, tongue-twisting way of saying that it's a fruit capsule, from which the upper part falls off when the seeds are released! Yeah, why couldn't they just say it THAT way, right?

Botanists, sheesh.

 

Funny side story: When I first started to obtain this pod, my supplier from South America would send many that were completely intact, with the upper part of the fruit capsule sealed...and more-or-less "welded" shut. So, essentially, everything which made the pod useful to us as fish geeks (ie; the opening and hollow interior) was not there...I still have a bag or two of hundreds of these things that I've not been able to use...I was like, "What?"

Hmm, maybe I can harvest the seeds and try to grow my own, lol...

So, there was bit of a learning curve with this stuff for me!

And then there was that damn name...The "Savu Pod."

Stupid. Urghhhh!😫

And I was stupid for calling it that, too.

I took the "advice" from a friend of a friend, who was into frogs, who told me rather authoritatively when I started playing with these and told him about them, "That's what they're called." And of course, I stupidly used it, too. And the reality probably is, that's what some hobbyist somewhere called them, and the name stuck.

And yeah, I contributed to this nonsense... I was an idiot. 

"Savu Pod", catchy though it might be- is a made up name, with no meaning whatsoever to science, or the locals in Brazil, where it's known as  "Jequitiba-branco", which refers to the fruit of the tree. In fact, if you must know... The Tupí name "Jequitibá" consists of the word jiqui(e) meaning "bow net" and the word "yba" which is "fruit tree" or "fruit."

No mention of the freaking name "Savu" anywhere. "Cause it's made up and completely irrelevant...sounds "exotic", but has no relation to the botanical itself at all.  Stupid.............

Yeah, I'm killing this name forever, as far as we're concerned. Good f---ing riddance.😆

If you must know- like I must:

"Savu" (also known as "Sawu", "Sabu", "Sawoe", "Havu", "Hawu",  or "Hawoe") is the largest of a group of three islands, situated midway between Sumba and Timor in Indonesia...like thousands and thousands of miles west of where this tree is ever found. Like, WTF does this have to do with this pod?

SPOILER: NOTHING! 

Stomp it out of your language forever. I will never refer to these botanicals by "that name" again. Ever. Except to mock those who do use it.. 😆

This is why I am so stupidly angry about the coral part of our hobby...Stupid names...grrr... Don't start me here.

Okay, that felt good. Really angry- perhaps a bit over the top- but- like, really good!

Deep breath, Fellman.

So, back to the botanical itself.

We will always refer to it as the Cariniana pod, 'cause that's what it is. It's simple and descriptive enough, without being as goddam lame as "Savu Pod."  It works for me...And besides, calling it "The Cariniana dehiscent pyxidia" would just be a bitch to spell, right?

Wow, I just couldn't let the whole name thing go, huh?

Onwards...

To prepare the Cariniana Pod for use is pretty straightforward. 

Annoyingly, they'll float like mad when introduced to water, but their buoyancy tendencies can be conquered relatively easily. You'll simply need to boil them, like many other pods we work with.

Place them in an inert pot, fill with fresh water, and bring them to a boil. Keep poking at them during the process to make sure they get submerged as much as possible during boiling. Once the water reaches a boil, reduce heat and let them do their thing for at least 20-25 minutes. Allow them to cool, then place them in a container of fresh, room temperature water to make sure that they've been "sunk."

Sure, sometimes it will take much longer...or a lot of extra soaking- to get them to really stay down. This is the price we pay for working with natural materials...There is no "guarantee" that says this stuff will sink in an hour.

We just have to  be patient! 

Like pretty much any "woody" botanical item out there, these pods will leach small amounts of tannins, lignin, and likely other compounds and organics for a while after you boil them.  Not enough to create dark brown water, but there is some leaching, regardless.

Traditionally, we've recommended to soak these for a day or two in a container of fresh water, to assure that they are fully saturated and have the chance to leach out the bulk of the initial bound up dirt, etc. after boiling. Quite honestly, I've usually skipped the extra "post boil soak" of late, without any issues, but it's your call.

And they are absolutely useful pods.

Fishes like Apistos will take to them easily, utilizing their cavity as a place to rear and protect their clutches of fry, much as they would exploit such a submerged seed pod in Nature. I Know that some hobbyists worry about fishes getting trapped in the opening. I've never had this happen, myself...so I don't stress out about it.

Now, we know that these are from trees found in rain forests of the Amazon region. We know that these forest floors flood seasonally, and are often inhabited by hundreds of species of fishes, which feed off of the allochthonous input from the surrounding terrestrial vegetation. It begs the question: Are Cariniana pods found on flooded forest floors, and utilized by fishes in ways like they are in the aquarium?

I can't say with 100% certainty, but it seems like a possibility. So these could be one of the most "authentic" botanicals we offer- perhaps filling the same exact "role" in our tanks as they do in their wild habitat. 

I'm probably getting to worked up or too contemplative about this stuff...

Regardless..these cool botanicals provide form, function, and aesthetics in one neat package...

And that's something that I think we can all get worked up about!

We just need to continue to NOT use that "other" stupid name for them, okay?

Please?

Until next time...

Stay relentless. Stay curious. Stay diligent. Stay creative. Stay patient...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The "tinter's palette"- media for the "dark arts"

Now a little over two weeks in on my latest blackwater aquarium, I can sit back and peer into the tank and realize one thing: It's pretty friggin' dark! Like, the materials which I have selected- Mangrove branches, mangrove and catappa bark pieces, and yellow mangrove leaves, have really done a "number" on this tank.

It's really dark, A reddish-orange color that is optically limiting in many ways. IN fact, it's so dark that I- ME- the guy who people attach all of those wacky nicknames to:  "Mr. Blackwater Aquarium Guy"  "The Podfather", "Prince of Darkness", "Tint Jedi", etc... himself, is looking forward to the water lightening up a bit!

Like, seriously! It's really dark. Like, a reddish orange that's seriously opaque! The photo below doesn't really capture this.

It's funny, but on a fairly regular basis, I actually receive questions about how to make the water in your aquarium....darker. Like, people actually want their water to be more deeply tinted. In fact, I'll occasionally field emails from people who are kind of bummed out that some of the pods they placed into their tanks aren't helping them achieve the rich, dark tint they want!

I mean, this is were we're at now! 🤓

These are actually fun questions that I really never envisioned that people would actually ask when we started Tannin over 4 years ago. And it makes sense, right? So many of you have made the "mental shift" that embraces the dark water, the biofilms, etc. that it goes without saying that we want to do things that keep things "tinted!"

Now, it's important know that, although almost anything botanical you immerse in water will release some tannins which can tint the water, some materials are better at it than others! For example, many of the "tougher" botanicals, such as Cariniana Pods, Sterculia pods, and the like won't get you that nice dark color you want.

Sure, they will release some tannins and humic substances (perhaps more than some "clearwater-centric" hobbyists might like), but the coloration will likely be less than what you had in mind. They're more about the aesthetics they bring based on their unique appearance, and their utility as hiding places for fishes.

To really get the "tint", you'd want to use botanical materials which more easily seem to release the tannins we want. And, having worked with these materials for some time now, we're kind of at the point where I could literally recommend certain materials to achieve certain "tinting effects"- I know, it sounds weird, but it's true!

And, yeah, this blog risks seriously becoming a "promo piece" for our products, but you're regularly asking me what I use personally in my tanks to achieve these effects, so I'll tell you. Now, sure, you can get some of these things from other places, so at least I'm being fair, right?

Oaky, maybe.. 😆

And no doubt, soem of you will be reading this and asking, "Why did you leave out ____________- they kick ass?" Again, I agree- there are dozens and dozens of possibilities, and your faves may not be mine!

Yet, Everyone always asks about my personal faves to produce "tint", so here we are..

LEAVES

Yeah, let's start with leaves.

Being typically the most "ephemeral" of our botanical materials, they give us a lot of options, and the ability to quickly impart color into the water...and to remove them and the color they produce easily. 

If you are looking for a very light, almost golden or amber color, Guava leaves are perfect for this. They impart a beautiful color, are reasonably durable, and look great as they break down.

If you're looking for "basic brown" tint, you'd be hard-pressed to find better "media" to work with than Texas Live Oak leaf litter. The leaves contained in this mix are really long-lasting, look "generic tropical", and pack a lot of tint-producing tannins in a little package! 

Then there are Yellow Mangrove leaves...They produce a very dark, almost reddish-brown color that is undeniably attractive. And these leaves last a very long time after preparation and submersion. A great all-around choice.

 And of course, the old classic- Catappa leaves, are reliable for creating a nice, brown tint, the degree to which is dictated by how many you use, and how often you replace them.

Of course, the reality of leaves is that just about any of 'em will do the job...I mean, every leaf that we offer can impart some tint to the water... The above are my faves at the moment- just utilize any leaves that you like and you'll be able to achieve a good look, for sure.

TWIGS AND BARK

My absolutely my top favorite botanical for serious color is Red Mangrove bark. You can take an aquarium from "crystal clear blue/white" to "mystery dark reddish/brown" overnight with this stuff! It packs a serious wallop and is my number one choice hands-down. Just don't use too much, or you'll be staring into a very dark tank for a while...trust me!

Second is Catappa Bark...I mean, pick a variety- we offer three different "flavors"- each looks a little different and imparts a slightly different coloration to the water. Personally, I find the Selatan, Borneo variety to impart the nicest, dark brown color of the bunch- but they're all good.

For an interesting look and some nice color, I'm a big fan of oak twigs. Oak has a nice bark which imparts a deep brownish/yellow color to the water and it's quite distinctive. There is a reason why our "Twenty Twigs" packs are pretty popular, and it's not just because you get a bunch of cool sticks!

SEED PODS

Well, yeah- seed pods are a very important part of any "tinter's" palette, and there are so many choices that you can play with...Here are just a few that I've incorporated over the years which do a better-than-average job, IMHO:

Coco Curls. These botanicals (perhaps by virtue of their fibrous structure?) realize a lot of reddish/brown color into the water quickly! Oh, and they look kinda cool, too!

Alder Cones are, as one of my customers says, little "tint grenades!" You can employ them I the tank, in the filter, or in a reactor...Lots of possibilities here. They produce a "classic brown" tint that is very attractive.

Nypa Palm pods have a surprisingly large amount of tannins and impart an almost reddish color to the water! Like, quickly, too. And they last a really long time.

Coco Palm bracts are, as their name implies, another cool palm-derived product. When steeped or boiled, these release a significant amount of tint and look really great in a leaf litter bed...Oh, and they're really durable, too!

Sure, there are a lot of others that can do the trick, but those are some of my favorite "go-to's" in this game. I didn't even touch on the substrate-oriented stuff, huh?

Now, like in every other aspect of the hobby, there are, dare I say..."Shortcuts" or "hacks" (gulp) to get the tint you like. Yes, you know my absolute disdain for shortcuts, but I'd be remiss if I failed to mention the ultimate one- wood!

Yeah, many of the types of wood that we use in our aquarium release significant amounts of tannins. I mean, this is the source of so many desperate calls for help in those planted tank forums ("Help! How do I get rid of the tannins that are making my water brown!")...Our favorite wood types for this? Mangrove, Malaysian, and the big surprise- "Spider Wood"...

So, yeah, embracing wood to help tint the water is one of the few shortcuts we can comfortably get behind! 

Now, sure, I could go on and on and pretty much mention and offer links to everything in our collection and sing some praises of each item's "tinting capability" - which would be both self-serving and kind of absurd. However, the botanicals and wood types featured here are among the best, IMHO, to do the job. 

Yet, even though they work well, and I like them...you should do what YOU like...And you should always make the effort to understand the function behind the look...And how to prepare them for use...And the good and bad impacts of using botanicals- and the possibilities of killing your entire tank if you don't use common sense and employ patience...we've talked about it hundreds of times on these pages.

And, for like the 3,000th time, let's just review that difference between color and...well- you know where I'm going- clarity.

As more and more hobbyists embrace the use of aquatic botanicals in their aquaria, we're seeing more and more tanks with a golden brownish-colored "tint" to the water.

Now, let's be clear (arghhh!) about one thing:

There is a difference between "color" and "clarity."

The color is, as you know, a product of tannins leaching into the water from wood and botanicals, and typically is not "cloudy." It' actually one of the most natural-looking water conditions around, as water influenced by soils, woods, leaves, etc. is ubiquitous around the world. Other than having that undeniable color, there is little that differentiates this water from so-called "crystal clear" water to the naked eye.

Of course, the water may have a lower pH and general hardness, but these factors have no bearing on the visual clarity of the water.

I remember fondly, when I was co-owner of Unique Corals, a major coral importer/propagator, I had a beautiful little blackwater aquarium in my office. I loved that little tank. 

Everyone who came in my office gazed into that aquarium; most were hardcore "reef people" and marine livestock vendors. And if I had a dollar for every time someone told me, "Man, you MUST be busy! That aquarium looks pretty dirty. You need to change the filter...!"  I'd be filthy rich! Yeah. Once I explained what blackwater is and how it was natural and, in my eyes desirable, they would either have an "Ahah!" moment, or just continue with the business at hand, shrugging off my explanation. 

Some hobbyists just don't get it!

The point is, we seem to associate color in water with overall "cleanliness", or clarity. The reality is, in many cases, the color and clarity of the water can be indicative of some sort of issue, but color seems to draw an immediate "There is something wrong!" from the uninitiated!

Interestingly, if you talk to ecologists familiar with blackwater habitats, they are often considered some of the most "impoverished" waters around, at least from a mineral and nutrient standpoint.

In the aquarium, the general hobby at large has a different opinion of this, as we have come to discover!

Cloudiness and "color" are generally separate issues for most hobbyists, but they both seem to cause concern. Perhaps they should; cloudiness, in particular, may be a "tip off" to some other issues in the aquarium. And, as we all know, cloudiness can usually be caused by a few factors:

1) Improperly cleaned substrate or decorative materials, such as driftwood, etc. (creating a "haze" of micro-sized dust particles, which float in the water column).

2) Bacterial blooms (typically caused by a heavy bioload in a system not capable of handling it. Ie; a new tank with a filter that is not fully established and a full compliment of livestock).

3) Algae blooms which can both cloud AND color the water (usually caused by excessive nutrients and too much light for a given system).

4) Poor husbandry, which results in heavy decomposition, and more bacterial blooms and biological waste affecting water clarity. This is, of course, a rather urgent matter to be attended to, as there are possible serious consequences to the life in your system.

And, curiously enough, the "remedy" for cloudy water in virtually every situation is similar: Water changes, use of chemical filtration media (activated carbon, etc.), reduced light (in the case of algal blooms), improved husbandry techniques (i.e.; better feeding practices and more frequent maintenance), and, perhaps most important- the passage of time.

There are of course, other factors that affect clarity, like fishes that dig or otherwise disturb the substrate and wood with their grazing activities, but these are not necessarily indicative of husbandry issues.

"Aquarium Keeping 101", actually.

Although we all seem to know this, I hear enough comments and questions about the color of the water and its relation to "cleanliness" in botanical-style systems that it warranted this seemingly "remedial" review!

Remember, just because the water in a botanical-influenced aquarium system is brownish, it doesn't mean that it's of low quality, or "dirty", as we're inclined to say. It simply means that tannins, humic acids, and other substances are leaching into the water, creating a characteristic color that some of us geeks find rather attractive.

If you're still concerned, monitor the water quality...perform a nitrate test; look at the health of your animals.

Just try to find out the answer to that basic question: What's happening in there?

Or, you can accept it without question, if you want.

I can think of at least one or two other things that are influenced by some of the the same processes, which we accept without question in our everyday lives...

Yeah...

Now, I admit, visual "tint" is probably THE single most superficial aspect of what we experience with botanical-style aquariums- but the most obvious, and likely the most impactful to the casual hobbyist or observer.

It's just as important to understand the collateral benefits of utilizing botanical materials- a subject we've discussed dozens of times here. However, in the end, it's the look of your aquarium that is what you have to experience each and every day, and if having an understanding of which materials can bring you the aesthetic experience you're after in a more effective way- well, then this is a worthwhile discussion, right?

I think so. 

Enjoy curating your own palette!

Until next time...

Stay engrossed. Stay creative. Stay enthusiastic. Stay curious...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

Going, going...gone.

Our botanical-style aquariums incorporate rather complex- often intricate- hardscape elements. Fishes seem very comfortable living within these dynamic systems...Sometimes, perhaps too comfortable...

It's one of the the most "human" things that happens to us in life- and likely one of the most annoying. 

Ever just lose something? I mean, not misplacing your car keys, cell phone, or something like that. We're talking full-on losing a bill (check the shredder!), or that wad of cash that you thought was in your front left pocket of those jeans you wore last week...I mean, it was there one moment and gone the next...Like, serious "Bermuda Triangle"-class vanishing!

How does this happen?

"And, how are you gonna connect this to aquariums, Scott?"

Okay, it's Friday, I'm a bit tired today, and I freely admit this is a really bizarre, and probably even morbid- topic.

Yeah, I'm missing a Corydoras pygameus in my office tank... 

It's something I've experienced- oh, maybe like 5-million times in my lifelong hobby "career", and it just sort of makes me wonder:

Ever noticed how fishes sometimes sort of "vanish..." I mean, they hang on for a while- even appear to thrive...and then, like a gentle breeze in the night, they disappear, never to be seen or heard from again?

I mean- just...gone.

Like, where do they go? What happened? HOW did they disappear?

Now sure, fishes don't simply vanish into thin air...However, they DO sometimes seem to just "stop coming out" after a while. Often, there might be some signs that something is amiss...you know, skulking about in the dim corners of the aquarium, not interacting with the other fishes, passing on food. Hanging near the filter intakes...Obvious signs. Perhaps (if you're superstitious) these could be seen as "omens" that something is about to happen...

Or, maybe not. 

Sometimes, a fish will simply be there one day, and f---ing gone the next. After months or weeks. And no trace. No body. No body parts. Nada.

It's weird, right?

Now, I'm sure that, should a fish die, particularly in our biologically dynamic botanical-style aquairums, it's acted on by bacteria, fungi, and any scavengers (like snails and shrimps) which may be in the tank, and of course, (and more disturbing to many) the other resident fishes. ("You were a good fish to school with, Sparky, but we're f- ing hungry and you taste pretty good!")

And maybe you might find some evidence...bones, or something.

But man, it's the "here today- gone tomorrow" thing that's kind of weird to me!

Like, what causes this?

Is there any way of knowing what is going on? Without overt signs of disease or injury, or being bullied by the other fishes in the tank...what do we have to go on? 

Usually, not much, right? 

And it can happen with a fish that seems to be perfectly healthy and happy, right up until the time it checks out. Smaller, shoaling fishes like Tetras and Rasbora, or even dwarf Corydoras catfishes- are absolutely notorious for this sort of thing. One day you have a shoal of 20 specimens.  

A week later, 18...Three weeks later, 14...Then 12.

What gives? Why does this happen?

Is it Nature's form of "programmed population control?"

A way of assuring that only the proper amount of fishes, based on resources and space, survive in a given area? Or that only the ones suitable for reproduction make it? I have read of chemical interactions between various schooling fishes, like characins, which alert others in the school to react if a member is injured or in distress- a sort of "chemical emergency alert system." Does this same phenomenon program a fish too... croak? To swim under a rock and...just "check out?"

Maybe?

That would make a lot of sense, in terms of the "emergency alert" idea. However, it doesn't do anything to explain the outright vanishings.

And, we've all likely experienced "jumpers"- or, as is often more "eloquently" expressed- "carpet surfers"- fishes which get spooked in the night, and jump out. Usually, they're fishes like Rasbora, Danio, or other easily startled shoaling fishes, right? Sometimes, you DO find a body- often only because you feel a "crunch" under your feet when you walk into the room where the tank is...Or, perhaps much, much later, when you're working behind the tank, and the "mummified" corpses of the "jumpers" are found...

Okay, well, you have a body. At least, it's a chance for some closure, right?

However, why do some fishes simply vanish without a trace?

Well, the reasons, or at least- or theories- behind this are many.

IMHO, the most common reasons are the usual ones:

It starts with the condition of the fishes themselves.

Many of these "vanishers" are species of fishes that are recklessly caught, poorly handled and fed along the chain of custody from river (or hatchery) to store (like, Otocinculus- the "Poster Child" for mysterious disappearances, or tiny Tetras of various species...), and they're often in such weakened condition upon arrival at the LFS or vendor that they’re barely viable by the time the hapless (?) hobbyist gets ‘em.

And of course, no one ever seems to quarantine anything these days, right? I've even gotten lazy about this on occasion over the years. I am not proud of that, but I admit that I have taken those "shortcuts" before.

So, when you just add these stressed-out fishes to your tank, they never have the chance to “fatten up” or simply recover from the rigors of their journey before being placed into a "community tank" with all sorts of competitors, dangers, and challenges…And they could be carrying some illness without overt symptoms, right? If you don't keep them in QT, you won't really have a chance to observe them over time to intervene easily.

That's one of my many cases for quarantine...

Now, many of those which vanish mysteriously are not species that are strong swimmers or aggressive feeders to begin with (again, Otocinculus or Corys come to mind). Or, on an individual basis, they could be "weaklings" of a more vigorous species. It’s literally “sink or swim” for many of these poor animals. Sure, some make seemingly good recoveries and settle in…for just a bit.

Yeah, maybe for a while...

Problem is, as mentioned above-most of these fishes are so weak- perhaps (as in the case of wild or newly imported Corydoras, characins, and some Apistos) dealing with intestinal parasites, or even the after-effects of the collection and shipping processes- that there is little more they can do than “rally” for a while before "taking their cue" and... exiting. 

Sad. Perhaps even a bit predictable...Yet still- rather mysterious. Sort of.

Now, many fishes ARE handled well along the chain of custody from stream to store to you. And they eat at the LFS…and perhaps even in your tank. And, shit- you might even quarantine them! Yet, when they are finally released into your tank, they take their "curtain call" anyways some weeks after introduction. "Peace, out..!" Sure, some fishes simply die of natural causes.

I mean, do you REALLY know how old that ONE Cardinal Tetra was?

Some fishes do have short lifespans- even the aforementioned Cardinals; thought to be almost an "annual" species in nature because of their environment. Could millions of generations of "genetic programming" simply be too strong to overcome- even in artificially stable environments? You might have just gotten a few that were "on schedule" to pass on..Maybe?

Well, this is certainly true for the annual killifishes, like Nothobranchius. Even the best care humanly possible isn't going to yield a 4-year-old Notho. 

Nope.

Yet, killies aren't usually among the fishes which "mysteriously" check out. We kind of know what we're getting with those guys.

And sure, a lot of fishes could simply have some disease that aren't easily detectible, right?

Some diseases don't have visible external symptoms. And stress- the "silent killer"- affects fishes, too. And internal parasites are unseen, and can attack fishes over time- including those that seem to be well-adjusted and eating. Here today, gone tomorrow.

Yet, they were here. And apparently eating, swimming, and interacting yesterday.

And they still take “the Stairway to Heaven”, as one of my fish-geek friends calls it- and bail quickly…Or sooner, rather than later, at least.

Why?

Who knows?

And our dark water and earthy substrates only add to the "aura of mystery" that surrounds this phenomenon, right?

There's no denying it...we've all experienced this phenomenon at one time or another.

And with each mysterious disappearance, the mind wanders...Strange thoughts pervade; perhaps even overtaking logic: Was it something we did? Was it some nefarious thing done at the wholesaler? Was it some plot by the LFS to keep us coming back for more fishes? Did it have something to do with that unmarked black Ford with no license plates, and the two odd-looking guys in dark Ray-Bans in it, parked across the street from your house yesterday?

 

Okay, that's a bit odd. Yet, it just gets more weird from there...

All of these fishes...gone. Just...gone.

Damn...

Yet, each year, countless thousands of these types of fishes are sold…And the ones mentioned here are just some of the more common ones..There are literally thousands and thousands of fishes of different species that could easily fall into this unenviable “classification”- fishes prone to vanishing mysteriously, so it’s not that unusual.

But it sucks.

Okay, this is getting just a bit depressing at this point...

But it's something to think about.

And to accept, I suppose, to a certain extent. At least, if we're not going to drive ourselves crazy cooking up exotic theories and conspiracies to explain their disappearance, that is!

I mean, we certainly don't want to look at fishes as "expendable" in any way. However, we may simply need to come to the realization that, despite our best efforts, about all we can do is select good quality fishes, quarantine and acclimate them carefully, and provide the best food an environment possible -you know- the usual stuff-and accept the grim fact that some fishes are just "pre-ordained" to simply...disappear.

Susceptible to...something...

This is not a very conclusive treatise on the subject, right?

Yeah, it's hardly satisfying. I've got nothing for your here...

However, it's a strange reality that anyone who's been in the hobby long enough comes to learn. And, perhaps- to ponder about...

I wish I had an explanation. I really do...

I wish I knew of a sure-fire "workaround" for this. A "fix." Or at least, I wish I had a good understanding-or a real explanation for this thing. Maybe our old friend, Shakespeare, offers some closure for us with his famous passage:

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

-Hamlet- Act 1, scene 5

Damn, that guy sure had a way with words...

Suffice it to say, as Mr. Shakespeare so eloquently alluded to-there are a lot of things in nature- variables and such- which we simply cannot counter. We cannot comprehend. We cannot find definitive answers for. About all we can do is to keep doing the best job that we can to provide a good, stable environment for our captive fishes.

Create and obey "best practices." be open to correcting things.

Observe, learn, and wonder...

And, perhaps occasionally, speculate about what happened when a fish disappears...

I mean, we all love a good mystery from time to time...Right? Maybe. Well...don't answer that...

Stay observant. Stay positive. Stay curious. Stay focused. Stay undaunted...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

The stability factor.

When it comes to keeping and maintaining our botanical-style aquariums over the long term, there are a fair number of questions we receive regularly, so it kind of makes sense for us to tackle this topic once again.

Now, one thing to just contemplate before we delve too deep is just this whole concept of the botanical-style aquarium...I mean, like, we keep an aquarium stocked with leaves, seed pods, and other stuff in order to...what?

Well, for most of us, it's stocked with this stuff in order to replicate, on some level, the environmental, chemical, and physical environments from which our fishes come from in the wild. And since the wild is not the sterilized, crystal-clear, sparkling clean place of "Nature Aquarium" fantasy, we have to think about things a bit differently.

The whole idea of this kind of system operates on a sort of "contrarian" mindset, which is very different than what we have been "conditioned" to accept in the aquarium hobby. Again, just sort of wrap your head around this for a minute: You're not talking about siphoning out every speck of detritus, or worrying about every strand of algae, biofilm, or decomposing leaf. Crazy, right?

So, with an aquarium filled with this stuff, your first thought (and rightly so, I suppose) is, "Shit, this could go south really fast if I let it.."

Yet, I have a differing theory.

I think that the presence of these materials-particularly, leaf litter- serves as a "catalyst" or "fuel" for biological processes, such as denitrification. At least one field study of natural systems and the impact of leaf litter to facilitate aquatic habitat restoration concluded the same:

"...The benefits of leaf litter addition shown in our study, including enhanced microbial activity and denitrification processes..." (from O'Brian, et al. 2017)

It makes a certain degree of sense, really.

I can't help but think of the "biological processing capability" of leaf litter/botanical beds as a sort of freshwater analog to the "deep sand bed" or "refugium" concepts of the reef aquarium world. And sure, although we are talking about closed aquatic systems, Nature still controls things.

And everything we do- fish/ food inputs, maintenance, and nutrient export functions to create some sort of a "balance", right? You know- not bringing in too much nutrient without a correspondingly sufficient export process?

So, yeah- creating an aquarium using botanicals is about creating a balance.

And the maintenance practices we incorporate into our aquarium practices are all about maintaining that balance. And that starts with the most time-honored, basic, and easy-to-execute (yet oddly loathed by many...) maintenance practice:

Water exchanges.

 

First off, a lot of people ask me about doing water exchanges; specifically, how much, how often, and...HOW!

Okay, first off-let's be clear about one thing: There really is no "magic technique" to maintaining a (blackwater) botanical-influenced aquarium, other than the usual "stuff"- with a few variations.

So, if I had one key concept that is most important to get across, other than understanding that our aquariums require balance- it's about promoting stability.

Stability?

Not really novel, I know...but think in terms of stability and everything else is pretty easy, right?

I personally think that environmental stability is one of the most important- if not THE most important- things we can provide for our fishes. To me, it's more about doing something consistently than it is about some specific practice.

I favor a 20% weekly water exchange in my aquariums. That may seem like a lot to some, but it's the regimen I've stuck with for decades, and it's never done me wrong. In a botanical influenced aquarium, as we all know, you've got a lot of biological material in there in addition to the fishes (you know, like decomposing leaves and softening seed puds- stuff like that), and even in well-managed, biologically-balanced aquarium, you still want to minimize the effects of any excess  organics accumulating in a detrimental manner. 

So, without going on and on and on, I simply will encourage you to embrace a weekly water exchange.

And of course, in the context of water exchanges, I'm always asked if we should remove broken-down bits of botanicals, leaves, and detritus during this process. I think that we certainly can remove this stuff if we want.  Shit, Scott- that's super helpful...

Yet I personally don't go crazy and try to remove every single milligram of the stuff from my tanks. We've talked repeatedly about my views on detritus, so I won't rehash it too much here, except to state that if you find this stuff offensive or aesthetically revolting in some way, take it out. However, if you fully embrace the view that Nature utilizes this material to serve as a means of processing nutrients and fostering denitrification, you might just want to leave some- or all of it- in.

Now, the caveat here is that I didn't just "give myself permission" to neglect tanks or avoid basic husbandry...no, that wasn't the point. The point is to accept that materials breaking down in our aquariums can provide "fuel" for the biological processes which create long-term stability in a closed system.

Nature knows how to work with this stuff. yet, make no mistake here:

She'll absolutely kick your ass if you don't pay attention to husbandry. I 100% guarantee it. Full stop.

Allowing plants, fishes, shrimp, and bacteria the chance to utilize the decomposing botanicals in their life cycle is an important part of the game, IMHO. Being overly fastidious about siphoning out every speck of dirt or botanical material as it breaks down is "overkill", in my opinion, and can be just as detrimental as over-doing things. 

Nature strikes a balance. Nature thrives on efficiency. When you're adding botanicals to a tank, you're not just doing "aquascaping"- you're laying down the groundwork for the "biological operating system" of your aquarium. As such, you need to think "big picture" here. (That "functional aesthetics" thing again!)

And there's the role of this stuff in regards to food.

Part of the "big picture" in our tanks is the idea that we can create  a "food web" of sorts- or at least, foster supplemental food sources by utilizing botanicals-allowing them to remain in the system.

Now, ruminate on this for just a second...

Ever think about what your fishes eat in the wild? But beyond that, what implications do their dietary preferences have for those who want to mimic them as closely as possible?

Yeah, it's easy to say "insects and stuff" and just move on, but the reality is that, even for some of the most unlikely fishes, the variety of items they consume is astonishingly diverse, and perhaps a bit unexpected!

Of course, I had to get down and dirty and do some online research...And I found some interesting stuff. For example, one study of the gut contents of that rather well-liked characin, the Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) in it's natural habitat yielded some familiar food items, and perhaps, a few surprises:

Harpactoid copepods (you know, like the kind we use as food for marine fishes), Daphnia, Moina (another small, Daphnia-like microcrustracean), nymph larvae,  small flies of various species, partially digested ants (!). In addition to being a surprising find, the presence of ants and flies in the fishes' digestive systems confirms that they may feed from the surface in the wild, too! Clumsy ants don't last too long in those flooded forests...

Remember, allochthonous input?

Those flakes and pellets we toss in are recognizable to these guys, perhaps not because they physically resemble natural foods or smell good, but because they facilitate natural feeding behaviors ingrained in the fishes for eons: Yeah, these fishes will dart to the surface and feed in the wild, so...

What else did the study find?

Rotifers, crustacean larvae, and crustacean and fish eggs, some filamentous algae and diatoms were also found, further bolstering the idea that although we tend to classify fishes like characins as "micro predators." They are also opportunistic ominivores to some extent, foraging for what they can in the environments in which they reside. And, then, there is also random "detritus", including things like fish scales, decomposed leaf material and such. And the presence of fish scales- which you could hypothesize might mean that they either pick at other fishes, or forage on dead ones...yuck- confirms the "opportunistic" part. This stuff comprises a fair amount of their gut contents.

What does all of this stuff mean for us as hobbyists?

Well, I'm not saying to feed dead fishes to your tank, or to drop ants into your tank (although it is tempting, if not a bit vengeful, when your home is under siege from the little bastards...) as a huge part of your feeding regimen.

What I am saying is that a diverse menu of plant an animal material is always a good idea, and the bulk should be things like crustaceans, insect larvae (hey- bloodworms!), and even some of the live or frozen copepods, and stuff like Daphnia would make a diet that is a pretty good mimic of what they consume in the wild, right?

And maybe that old, yet annoyingly-messy-to-culture standby, the Wingless Fruit Fly, might not be a bad food source? And, I suppose ants, too!

Yeah, you bet! 

And those litter beds are perhaps one of the ultimate "culture media" for all of this stuff! And they are very much a "feeding ground" for fishes.

Another interesting thing I learned in my research was that when scientists studied some Amazonian leaf litter beds, it was found that, in one study, there were like 20-plus species found in one bed of like 200 square meters- a remarkable diversity considering the rather specialized environment. And perhaps even more interesting was that the bulk of the species found were feeding almost exclusively on the invertebrate life present in these liter beds, seldom straying more than one meter (!) from where they were initially captured.

Talk about going where the food is!

As there are finite resources of food, even in an area as productive as a submerged leaf litter bed, and because there is such a diversity of species in such a small area, it was theorized by researchers (Henderson and Walker) that fishes have developed what they termed "refined habitat subdivision." In simple terms, this means that each species has evolved to feed on a separate resource supply to avoid "competitive deprivation" of the food sources.

The prey doesn't move, either- like chironomids (an insect-like creature) that comprise a lot of the fishes' diets, remain attached to the same leaf for their entire life cycle! So you see where this is going? Each fish inhabits a spatial niche within the litter, feeding on it's own "localized" food supply.

Well, at least I found this interesting!

Again, what are the aquarium-level takeaways here? Well, since we can get food to our fishes regardless of what level they inhabit within our aquariums, it is entirely logical to create fish communities where the species selected inhabit different areas of the tank (okay, leaf litter bed, in my obsessive fish-geek case). So for example, a good combination of fishes in a leaf-litter-themed tank would include Apistogramma, which in nature seem to hang out at the edges of the leaf litter beds, various characins in the "middle" of it all, and fishes like Pencilfishes and Pyrulina holding station above the litter bed (I see this in my own tanks).

If one could ever secure my obsession fish, the cryptic, darter-like characin, Elachocharax pulcher, they'd reside right smack in the middle of the leaf litter! Ahh..

Okay, so anyways, to wrap up this meander- you can see that feeding is just one consideration you can think about when creating, stocking, and maintaining a botanical-style aquarium. Not only what to feed, but where...

Think about preferred feeding niches for various species in the wild when selecting fishes for your tanks! Now, granted, in an aquarium, fishes will adapt and typically  feed wherever the food is- but wouldn't it be an interesting experiment to set up a population of fishes that you know feed in different locales, and actually creating those locales for the fishes? Maybe? No? Possibly?

Okay, whatever. I'm obviously geeking out here about this stuff...

Yeah, so wrap all of these concepts and ideas together in the context of creating long-term stable botanical-style aquariums, and it comes back to the overriding concept of creating and maintaining stability.

Detritus. Decomposing leaves. "In situ" food sources. Regular water exchanges.

Incorporating and embracing all of these elements into our botanical-style aquarium "practice" is foundational, IMHO.

Yeah, it's indicative of another "mental shift" we have to make, I suppose...one which many of you have already made, no doubt. I certainly look forward to seeing many examples of us utilizing "what we've got" to the advantage of our fishes! 

Stay consistent. Stay curious. Stay diligent. Stay creative. Stay persistent...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

 

 

An embarrassment of riches?

I have some very specific tastes when it comes to my aquariums. I like a certain "look" or "vibe"- and it just so happens that my preferred aesthetics result from utilizing botanical materials which have some ecological/chemical impacts on the environment of my aquariums.

And, at this stage in the world of botanical-style aquariums, we have a real "embarassment of riches"- a vast "portfolio" of botanical materials which we can use in our aquariums to impact the aesthetics and function of them. 

It's pretty much a given that every aquarium that we assemble is not only a unique expression of our interests and skills- it's a complex, ecologically functional microcosm, which is impacted by not only the way we assemble the life forms, but how we utilize them.

And of course, being the self-appointed "World's most prolific aquarium hobby philosopher,"  I have spent a fair amount of time ruminating on the idea, attempting to grasp the concept. I think it simply starts with the materials that we use.

We've pretty much beaten the living shit out of the idea that It is perfectly logical to imply that botanicals, wood, and other materials which we ultiize in our aquascapes not only have an aesthetic impact, but a consequential physical-chemical impact on the overall aquatic environment, as well.

Not really difficult to grasp, right? You put stuff into the water- it influences the aquatic environment its emerged in...

And, different botanical materials can impart different "effects" to the water, based on the composition, origin, and concentration of the botancials. This is hardly a novel concept when you think about it in the context of stuff we know and love in other areas of life.

Wine, for example, has "terroir"- the environmental conditions, especially soil and climate, in which grapes are grown and that give a wine its unique flavor and aroma... Coffee, too, acquires traits that are similar. Tangible effects and characteristics, which impact the experience we get from them.

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

It must!

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

And of course, they likely provide the fishes which reside in that given area a specific set of physical/chemical conditions, which they have adapted to over time. And, since we are now rather specific about considering the regions from which our botanicals come from, we have at least an outside shot at offering our fishes materials (and the chemical constituents and compounds they contain) which may impart characteristics to the water which are extant in said regions, right?

Is this not the very definition of "terroir?"

Yeah, sort of...right? 

Actually, I think it makes perfect sense.

As we've discussed before, the soils, plants, and surrounding geography of an aquatic habitat play an important and intricate role in the composition of the aquatic environment.

And, in turn, natural botanical materials influence the soils and even the water chemistry of the regions in which they are found to a certain extent. Of course, sometimes, you have to "cheat" just a bit, I suppose.

Case in point:

I remember not long ago reading in some forum on Killififsh that a certain African species needed selenium (Se) in its water, because the soil in the region from which it comes has high levels of the stuff. That's logical, because many plants require this substance in order to grow properly, so it makes sense that fishes which come from waters that are adjacent to these soils would be accustomed to higher concentrations of it than those from other regions, right?

Hobbyists were discussing adding Brazil nuts and such to their tanks. I mean, we offer the so-called "Monkey Pot" -which is the "fruit capsule" which protects the Brazil nut. Could it somehow "impart" selenium into the water?

Perhaps, maybe? Oh, but it's from the Lecythis pisonis tree, found in...Brazil. As are Brazill Nuts, of course.

And the killie is from...Africa.

Remember?

Well. I suppose fish breeders can make such accommodations without guilt, right? 

I think it circles back, of course. Likely, there are other botanical materials from Africa which have higher levels of selenium contained in their tissues, right?

Biotope people would likely not take too kindly to seeing Monkey Pots in an African-themed aquarium, right?

I think that even the most hardcore biotope aquarium hobbyists- whom I respect and love- seem to focus more on outward appearances for their biotope tanks than they do on function and this "geo-physiological/functional" thing.

I don't think a fish breeder, who's looking more toward results in spawning her fishes is hung up on using a botanical from Brazil in her bare-bottomed breeding tanks or water pre-treatment containers...

And I suppose it's a matter of practicality, really. The goal for these people is to get their fish to breed. Period.

So, to make a long story short, botanical materials have multiple impacts on the aquatic habitats we create for our fishes.

They influence not only the chemical characteristics of the water (like pH, TDS, alkalinity), but the color (yeah- tannins!), turbidity, and other characteristics, like the water flow. Large concentrations become physical structures in the course of a stream or river that affect the course of the water.

And of course, they also have important impact on the diet of fishes...Remember allochthonous input form the land surrounding aquatic habitats? And the impact of humic substances?

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

I mean, on the surface, this is not a revolutionary idea...We've been doing stuff like this in the hobby for a while- more crudely in the fish-breeding realm (adding peat to water, for example...), or with aragonite substrates in Africa Rift Lake cichlid tanks, or with mineral additions to shrimp habitats, etc.

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

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

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

The biggest problem, as I see it- is that we don't have any "chemical analysis" of the materials contained in the botanicals we use. For that matter, most of us wouldn't really know what concentrations we'd need for specific effects, or to take advantage of a given concentration of ______ that is contained in a specific botanical, right?

And, with few exceptions, we don't even know which compounds from which regions benefit our fishes in specific ways! So, we have to take a sort of "shotgun approach" and at least infer that a botanical from a given region has some of the compounds found in the soil or aquatic environment of the region. A bit of a stretch, I know, but it's the best we can do for now, I think.

There's so much "unknown" stuff here, right?

We just don't have the data.

We know some impacts, of course.

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

And could we develop "recipes" of sorts to know what to use? You know- scenarios like,  "Add this if you want fishes to color up. Add a combination of THIS if you want the fishes to commence spawning behavior", etc.

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

Absolutely not, IMHO.

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

We get excited about the idea of tannins and humic substances...cool stuff...Yet, like 90% of us have no clue how to even test for this stuff. Sure, there are tannin test kits...However, what do the numbers yielded by such a test even mean to us? Short of having an idea of the tannin levels in specific wild habitats, how do we interpret the data, anyways? (And, as we've discussed repeatedly- the color of our water in our aquariums provides no indication of the chemistry, right?)

At this point, it's really as much of an "art" as it is a "science", and more superficial observation- at least in our aquariums- is probably almost ("almost...") as useful as laboratory testing is in the wild. Even simply observing the effects upon our fishes caused by environmental changes, etc. is useful to some extent.

The more I think about our growing segment within the hobby, the more I realize that we are just at the very beginning. We've sort of "knocked on the door", acquainting ourselves with the types of materials we can use in our aquariums, with a developing understanding of their environmental impacts within them. And we are moving towards a period where we will undoubtedly try to work out the "recipes" for how to create specific environmental conditions within our aquariums using botanicals.

It's a logical progression, driven by the sheer number of hobbyists working with this stuff, and yearning to understand more than just the most superficial aspects. It will require more experimentation, and possibly even cooperation between pure science and the hobby. It's often a tricky, rather slow process, but this collaboration has always yielded impactful results. It's gradual. Yet, it will happen in time.

It's a very busy time. And it's hard to imagine a more exciting time to be in the aquarium hobby! 

Every day brings new possibilities. New ideas. New successes...and occasionally, failures. Yet, the more we learn- the more we apply to our work- the greater the possibility for unique rewards!

Stay progressive. Stay diligent. Stay engaged. Stay curious. Stay excited...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

What's Better for Bettas?

Some of the most enduring fantasies in our hobby are the way we perceive certain fishes are "comfortable" being kept. Fantasies which have, unfortunately, trickled beyond our little enclave of the hobby and into popular consciousness...

If you're like many fish geeks, at one time or another, you've probably kept at least one Betta at some point in your "career." Most likely, a "fancy" variety, purchased in a little cup, and then unceremoniously added to a little bowl somewhere. 

Until not all that many years ago, this was my impression of Bettas in the aquarium hobby. One species (B. splendens), small bowls and cups, and improperly kept, dangerously inbred, low-quality fish found by the million at "big box" pet stores. And of course, for the longest time, I believed that these fish favored the confining, decidedly not-so-good environment of a small container of water. 

And, how could you fault me? That's kinda how they've been "sold" to the world for generations...

 

 

Sadly, the cultural myth of Bettas being adapted to this kind of "micro-environment" has endured in both the hobby and popular culture, and we're all pretty much convinced that they live exclusively in little tiny puddles in Thailand, Cambodia and other parts of Southeast Asia.

And the sad part is that there is a little hint of truth to this.

Sure, they are found in little puddles and evaporating pools of water along roads, ditches, and rice paddies...but it's because of their excellent survival capabilities, clinging to life in evaporating puddles, rather than out of some innate preference for tiny spaces. They have good jumping capabilities for a reason, right? I'd venture to guess that it's to help escape from these little tight spots when the water gets really nasty!

And of course, because they're often seen in their native habitats in these little puddles and such, and are extremely adaptive to survive (note the word- "survive") such tight spaces with lower water quality...and we hail their remarkable ability to tolerate the nasty conditions found in these desiccating  tracts of water, because of their "labyrinth organ."

And that's where it gets a bit weird to me...

You see, by extension, we can use this to justify the fact that they are best kept in smaller bowls and such by hobbyists of all skill levels. It's almost like they're perceived by many of us non-specialists to be just like annual killifish, ecologically adapted to live in evaporating puddles as part of their life cycle, when the reality is that these fish can live for 5 years or more with proper care!

And what happens, as a result, is that they are "humanely" kept in little bowls and cups and displayed this way at fairs and carnivals and even at pet shops. Now, the "pet shops" part is a bit of a challenge; however, at least these people have some skills and passion for animals. The fish stores are probably the best place for this practice, because they typically have qualified, knowledgable fish people taking care of them while there, and access to better equipment, food, and water...

Oh, and the better qualified caregivers are in a position to explain to potential purchasers that these fish actually require some care and skill to keep healthy and happy. They're not the aquatic equivalent of an "Air Plant" or "Pet Rock!" And typically, if someone is at a tropical fish store, they have more than just the most cursory interest in tropical fishes, so...

Yet, the fact is, these fishes are  perceived as best being kept in such sketchy conditions. What about water quality, temperature control, etc...? A better way?

Sure, they are kept in cups because they can survive for a time in  because they can breathe air when the oxygen level in the water gets too low (ie; when the water quality declines), and therefore sellers will use the cups for convenience. It doesn't mean that they should be kept in them.

Oh, and the fact that male bettas can and do beat the shit out of each other when kept in aquariums together has helped make the "cup thing" as a "standard", if not "preferred" method to keep them in many retail situations. I mean, otherwise, you'd have like 50 male bettas scattered throughout the store in 50 different tanks, right? Hardly practical for inventory/control purposes, I suppose! Females are often kept in "sorority" situations, with several in one aquarium (we have many Betta fans who do blackwater aquariums for their "sororities!")

Sure, males can be kept singly with other fishes in a well thought-out "community tank", although the males tend to be somewhat anti-social in a lot of situations. Ideally, a 5-or 10- gallon heated, filtered tank for a single male is optimal, right? Yet, we're faced with the strange dichotomy of knowing the best way to keep them, but displaying them in a way that sends an erroneous message to the general public.

A bit of a disconnect, for sure!

(image by Naray156, used under CC BY-S.A. 4.0)

Now, it's easy for me, who doesn't face the economic realities of owning a brick-and-mortar fish store, to sit here and take "pot shots" at this practice. And that isn't the point. I think, however, that we can use this longstanding practice as a springboard to more sustainable aquarium practices.

Yeah, I get a feeling that there could be a better way to address this.

What about the LFS, which by some necessity keeps the Bettas in bowls, also having a display or two or three replicating their natural habitat; or just a nice, well-thought-out aquarium featuring a specimen, located adjacent to the Betta selections? Not only would this address the correct way to keep these fish, it could also prove to be a good "sales vehicle" for aquariums and related equipment and accessories, right?

Removing part of the disconnect which exists...

Yeah.

I suppose it boils down to us as a hobby doing a better job at communicating to the general public the optimal conditions to keep these fishes under. The idea that bettas are a sort of "maintenance free pet for the kids!" is lunacy. Perpetuating the "Betta bowl" thing without this context is the real disconnect here. It's another case where a little understanding of the natural habitats of the fish is possibly the best "compromise" here, right?

When we understand the wild habitat of the fishes we keep, we can strive to at least replicate them on some levels, right? Plus, educating the public about this aspect of the Betta gives us an opportunity to create new aquarium hobbyists, and for people to understand the world around them...

Now, look, breeders often keep these fishes in temporary quarters and in containers which are not exactly what what many hobbyists would consider as "permanent" or "optimal" for many hobbyists' skillsets and aspirations. However, they are willing to put in the work to maintain these containers and such. They understand the basics of fish care, and employ practices which assure the health and well-being of their fishes religiously...And of course, just because we can keep them this way doesn't mean it's the proper thing for the fish, or for newcomers to the hobby, right?

Now, look- my little piece here is not exactly an earth-shattering, hard-hitting expose on this... We've had these discussions in the hobby for decades. And most of us agree that the way these fishes are typically presented to the public is problematic. I think that, as we constantly discuss the pressures facing the aquarium hobby, that the idea of educating ourselves and the public about the habitats from which these fishes hail is the way to go.

Oh, and there is that interesting fact that are like 70-plus recognized species in the genus Betta! The possibilities to keep these interesting fishes in uniquely-configured aquariums are significant.

And often, the habitats are as interesting as the fishes which reside in them. The idea of replicating the natural habitats of our fishes in a functional and aesthetic way is part of the allure to me! And these environments are really interesting! 

When you dig a little deeper, as many experienced Betta enthusiasts have, you find out that they generally come from much larger, more permanent, and thickly vegetated habitats than we commonly perceive them. And a greater variety of them, at that...Little pools of water, rice paddies, sluggish streams, and small marshes choked with vegetation, leaves, branches, etc.

Of course, this is where my interest comes in...They are often found in habitats that are just like the ones we play with: Tannin-stained, botanical-material packed, and uniquely interesting!

And of course, with all of these interesting species, there are, of course, some which have adapted to different types of niches, like under leaves and submerged branches, etc. Opportunities to keep them in proper, interesting situations abound! 

And of course, it's kind of hard to replicate such habitats in a tiny cup or bowl of water, so why not set up an aquarium just for them? Right? Like, the allure of the habitats themselves can provide enough motivation for many to create unique aquariums, right?

Something with some small rocks, wood, and a lot of leaves and sturdier botanicals! That familiar stuff...Yeah, we're good at that, aren't we?

And you might want to experiment with a pure "botanical substrate" of mixed leaves and some of the smaller seed pods and such, to really create a more accurate portrayal of the surprisingly diverse habitats from which these fishes come.

Many of you have  shared with us a number of cool shots of your wild Betta botanical-style aquariums, and these are perfectly suited to these unique fish!

And a number of you have created dedicated paludarium-type tanks just for wild Betta species, and your fish rooms are filled with blackwater/botanical systems designed to permanently house many of these interesting species.

The variety of Betta species is so incredible, each with unique color patterns, morphology, and requirements that you might just devote a bunch of tanks to them...a really fascinating "hobby within a hobby!"

Hopefully, this embarrassingly generalized, incredibly short visit to the "alt Betta" world may have provided you with some incentive to look more closely at these captivating fishes, and to keep them in far more natural, interesting conditions than you may have previously even considered. 

Again, I find it necessary to reiterate that have no illusions about this being some big, revealing look at the controversies and allure of Bettas, filled with new information and the solutions to every problem!  That was not the point...However, I think such a presentation can create a discussion on this stuff, right?

It's important to look at some of the areas of our hobby which could use a bit of attention from time to time. Areas which need a bit more discussion and clarification. Areas in which our experience replicating specific types of aquatic habitats can help push forward the possibilities of success with many species of tropical fishes, including, of course, Betta species.

Hopefully, the "Betta Bowl" of the 21st century will be a properly-outfitted small aquarium with filtration, heat, botanicals, blackwater, and plants, a far cry from the popular, yet shockingly one-dimensional way we've kept these fishes for so many years.

Learning or applying new things about fishes that you may have taken for granted for years  is not only humbling- it's fascinating, enjoyable, and makes you realize just how awesome the aquarium hobby really is!

Keep exploring. Keep striving. Keep sharing! 

Stay fascinated. Stay curious. Stay creative. Stay skeptical.

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

In pursuit of "spontaneous miracles", "hacks", comprehending phenomenon-and evolving towards patience...

It's really amazing to see (literally, daily) hobbyists entering into our fun little speciality of botanical-style/blackwater aquariums. And, whenever you have a "gold rush" of new people into a formerly misunderstood specialty, you're bound to have more...misunderstandings, right?

I mean, more likely, you have lots of enthusiasm, experiments, and cool tanks! However, you always seem to have some people trying to get to some "point" in the process of establishing their botanical-style blackwater aquariums as quickly as possible.

Often, they look for hacks.

Shit, I hate that term, "hack!"

To many, it implies a sort of "inside way" of doing stuff...a "work-around" of sorts. A term brought about by the internet age to justify doing things quickly, often skipping slower, more cautious procedure, and to eliminate impatience because "we're all so busy." I think it's a sort of sad commentary on the prevailing mindset of many people- particularly when applied to the aquarium hobby and the living organisms which command the bulk of our attention!

Yet, we see it a lot.

We all need stuff quickly...We want a "shortcut. "Personally, I call it "cheating." 

Yes. With what we do, a "hack" is trying to cheat nature. Speed stuff up. Make nature work on OUR schedules.

Bad idea, if you ask me.

In our game of aquariums-particularly the blackwater, botanical-style ones, the idea of "hacks" seems sort of contrary to all that we proffer here: Patience, time, embracing the process, etc. Yet, curiously, a fair amount of questions trickle in about how to achieve certain things quickly in our blackwater/botanical-style aquariums. And you know what the most common "hack" question we receive is?

"How do I get my tank to tint up faster?"

I swear, I'm totally serious. Faster.

This is kind of funny.

This is literally how cool stuff is getting in our world!  I mean, we went from an aquarium culture that was practically horrified at the prospect of a tank with brown water and decomposing leaves, to one that is now impatient about achieving dark water and all of its alleged collateral benefits...quickly, I might add!

Interesting paradigm shift of sorts, huh?

Now, in all fairness, most of us understand that there are real no true "shortcuts" in any part of the aquarium game, but I do understand that there is a certain degree of impatience with this. The typical newbie to the "tint" world sees all of these pics cool tanks; of natural habitats that they've  always dreamed of replicating, and even though he or she totally understands that it's a natural process that takes time, wants to "get in the game" as quickly as possible!

Think about it: Many of you have probably been a bit nervous and excited about doing blackwater; it's a totally new look, new approach, and new mindset, and you've deployed some "mental energy" to embracing it. You might have even been on the receiving end of some criticism from your "clearwater" friends! And there are some unusual impacts created by use of botanicals.

So, yeah, you're eager to see that water turn color!

Now, here's the deal. 

I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that certain botanicals do seem to impart color to the water more quickly than others. I honestly don't know if it's because they have more tannins in their surface tissues that leach out quickly upon immersion, or if there is some other specific reason.

With botanicals like leaves, it's understandable, because most of the popular ones that we use (with the exception of say, Magnolia) have very thin tissues that start to break down quickly after immersion and begin imparting tannins to the water quickly. And of course, cones tend to break down quickly, making them a favorite of "tint hackers" everywhere! 

Shit, I just used that term again...

One observation that I have made- besides the fact that pretty much every botanical I've worked with seems to impart some tint to the water it's submerged in, is that some of the palm-derived products, like Coco Curls, Nypa Palm pods, etc. seem to impart a lot of color really quickly. In fact, Nypa Palm pods seem to really pack a wallop, delivering a pretty dark tint immediately after preparation.

And the ultimate "tint bombs", IMHO, are bark pieces- specifically, Red Mangrove and Catappa. They rapidly leach out tannins to the point where you can have a significantly dark color in just a few days, depending upon a few variables like tank size, current, etc.- but significant, nonetheless!

Yes, it is funny that we're awful hung up on the visual cues (ie; the tint); of course, when one makes a leap of faith and goes against the grain in aquaristics, tossing all sorts of leaves and seed pods to decompose in his/her display tank, it makes sense that we want to see something for this leap of faith investment! 

Oh, and on at least a few occasions, when dealing with a frustrated hobbyist who's tank just didn't seem to "tint" up after repeated additions of botanicals, we discovered that they were using rather substantial amounts of activated carbon in their filters!

Bye, bye, tint!

Yup. So, think about that, too. okay?

And- there is an increasing body of evidence to support the assertion that many aquatic plants are able to uptake tannins from the water. Now, I admit, I simply don't have the scientific background to confirm this, but it is entirely logical. They are thought by science to protect the vulnerable structures of plants from microbial attacks, and tannins and polyphenols (the stuff we find in leaves and botanicals, remember?) are known to influence the growth, development, and reproduction of plants, so this makes a lot of sense!

My personal experiences with this "visual tannin depletion syndrome" (LOL) has not borne this out, however. I haven't seen this occur in tanks with aquatic plants present, myself. And of course, that doesn't mean anything; there could be hundreds of possible variables here.

Yet, in terrestrial plants, they are know to interfere with potassium and iron uptake when found in heavy concentrations in soils...I mean, the information on this stuff is all over the place, and the possible implications for the presence of tannins in aquariums containing aquatic plants is likely significant and needs further exploration!

Yes, some people with heavily planted aquariums do seem to have trouble maintaining that "visual tint." As you can see here, there is so much that we are clueless about that we can only call it an "interesting phenomenon" at this point. I'm sure there is a lot of science out there, for those willing to dig for it. In our limited experience, a lot of what we "know" is anecdotal...Yet, I think that there is something interesting there to research and consider further. 

Now, to be clear once again, this is really a piece on the aesthetics of tinted water and the patience which needs to be deployed by the aquarist to get there safely; we're not really getting into the chemistry behind this within the scope of this particular blog piece. I admit that, not only is it beyond my ability to discuss logically, it is extremely challenging for me to personally even comprehend this, above the most superficial aspects!

There is simply so much we don't know. Which is why I absolutely cringe when I see definitive, bold statements and assertions about some of this stuff on hobby forums, with little in the way of solid research- or even personal experience- to back up such claims.

However, it's important, as a "general rule", to understand once again that ANYTHING-botanicals, rocks, substrate- whatever we place into a closed aquatic ecosystem- will have some impact on the aquatic environment. Not necessarily "chemical" ( in the case of say, "inert" materials such as plastics and maybe some substrates), but definitely a "physical impact" of some sort.

It's not a big leap of faith to understand this concept. I admit, however, that it is significant to understand- or even start to comprehend- the science behind it. Your pulling from multiple scientific disciplines, as well as from the practical art and practice of aquarium keeping.

Just a lot to absorb.

And yes, then there is "the pH thing..." We all know  by now that you typically can't take water that has a pH of 8.2 and a hardness of 10dKH or whatever, and expect it to rapidly drop to 6.2 with a dKH of like 2 simply by tossing in some Catappa leaves. If the water in your aquarium is just plain old HARD, you're not likely to see the pH decrease in any meaningful measure with just the addition of a typical load of botanical material to your tank.

You need to have "softer" water (i.e. water with less carbonate hardness) to more easily affect pH levels using botanicals. And you'll need to read up on managing pH in low carbonate hardness environments. It's all out there. And easier to find than ever before. It drives me crazy when someone asks a seemingly "simple" question on DM that is actually rather complex, and requires a fundamental understanding before you could even make sense of the answer.

Of course, people often want the quick answer without the "education." I get it, I suppose...But in the absence of willingness to do the research, you often have to accept an "answer" which really leads to more questions! 

Education is important. The amount of ignorance on this subject among many hobbyists is stunning, really!

The science behind (aquarium) water chemistry- specifically pH and "hardness" management- is well understood and studied, and has been documented in aquarium literature by very capable, scientifically-trained hobbyist/authors for generations. The information is there for the taking; there are no excuses for not being able to grasp this if you're interested.

Google is amazing.

Don't be fucking lazy.

And the idea of botanicals impacting water parameters in our tanks?

You can't expect "miracles." On the other hand, you CAN expect changes. And disasters if you act rashly and stupidly. Sorry, no sugar coating here. We've talked about this ad nauseam over the past few years.

There is no excuse for NOT making the effort to at least try to understand what you're doing in your aquariums. And "trying to understand" isn't just posting a "WTF?" question on a forum. It means rolling up your sleeves and researching, too.

And it means monitoring your aquarium. Learning about what's "normal" or a deviation from it.

You can and should monitor basic water chemistry parameters during your entire "tint process", and you should be extra slow and careful when attempting to add botanicals to existing aquariums with fish populations. We say it over and over, but it would simply be recklessly irresponsible for us to tout all of these "benefits" of adding stuff without counseling you on the potential dangers. We've done crazy stuff repeatedly with botanicals in our own test aquariums- stuff you'd NEVER do to your own tanks- in the interest of finding out what could go wrong.

And stuff can go wrong.

In almost every case, the worst thing you can do is to add a large quantity of materials to an existing, populated aquarium all at once, or in a very short time span. By "very short", I mean like 2 or three days or so. It's just flat-out bad practice. Rapid environmental changes of all sorts are extremely stressful to fishes, if not fatal. Even if the materials being introduced are properly prepared, you're still putting fishes at risk by rushing things.

Under certain circumstances, pH CAN drop quickly. Biofilters CAN be overwhelmed. Dissolved oxygen levels COULD drop quickly. Some animals may display extraordinary sensitivity to change, as well.  These are rare events, but they do happen. They happen when we push for "hacks", or try to circumvent logic. If you roll the dice by rushing things, you might dodge the bullet once or twice, but eventually, gambling with the lives of your fishes WILL come back and bite you on the ass. It's just that simple. 

Don't rush the process. 

We don't. You shouldn't, either.

All of the beautiful tanks you see featured here and in our social media feeds didn't get that way quickly. And the aquarists who manage these beauties didn't rush the process to get there. They were patient. Perhaps they WERE impatient at some point, but through the "school of hard knocks" and the acceptance of the realities of "hacking" things, they became VERY patient.

You will become patient, too. 

It's the only way to succeed with these types of aquariums.

I know there are more and more vendors pushing botanical materials on their sites. This is great for the hobby. Yet, I challenge you to do more than simply try to sell shit. Educate your consumers. Share the research and experiences-good and bad-which you have no doubt had. And point them to scientific and other resources on these and tangential topics, just like we've been doing for several years now. Don't just rely on what I blog about, or some article in a hobby mag, or what you find in a one page Wikipedia article on blackwater...

You want to help grow and foster this movement? Get down and dirty and educate, share, enlighten.

Are there ways to speed things up? 

Yes, and no. (helpful, right?)

Again, if you want to get a visual "tint" more quickly, we suggest that you incorporate some of the materials discussed above into your "initial load" of botanicals- but go slowly. Enjoy watching the tint "turn on" and seeing your microcosm evolve. Color, as we discussed, is only the "tip of the iceberg"- the most visual manifestation of what's happening chemically and ecologically in your aquariums.

And yeah, there is a TON that we don't understand here.

There are always trade-offs and consequences for attempting to speed up natural processes. Some good, some inconsequential...Some utterly disastrous. The speed at which this stuff happens is dictated by Nature, and helped-or hindered- by your actions...

There is an old (LOL) expression in reef keeping that "Nothing good happens quickly in a reef tank", and I think you could definitely take out the "reef" part and apply this logic to ANY aquarium type. 

So, "hacking" in the context of a botanical-style, blackwater aquarium is a potentially detrimental, even lethal thing. I mean, developing better procedures- some which WILL save time- is a cool thing and a natural evolution based on confidence, experience, and a better understanding of the "craft" based on collective experience. However, just trying to get from "Point A" to "Point D" as quickly as possible because you're "in a hurry" not only is foolish- it denies you, and all those who come after, the knowledge gained from learning and experiencing the wonders of Nature.

It's a journey.

That's part of the whole game with botanical-style blackwater aquariums.

Remember that part of the fun is creating your little aquatic world, and seeing the reactions of the animals and the overall aesthetics of your aquarium change regularly are extremely enjoyable. You should make it a habit of taking pics of your aquarium, and journaling things from the start to see for yourself (and to share with others) the amazing and very distinct changes that occur as your system matures and evolves over time.

And yeah,  you'll be surprised how dark the water can get in a relatively brief span of time.

So don't look for "hacks."

No shortcuts. No rushing the process. Simply embracing and enjoying the journey at every phase is a really great thing.

It's totally worth it.

Today's simple, undoubtedly ass-kicking, but nonetheless important reminder...

Stay patient. Stay observant. Stay resourceful. Stay emerged. Stay engaged. Stay in control. Stay educated...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

 

 

On the trail of the Amazonian Shrimp...

It seems that the longer you're in this hobby, the deeper you dive into geeky, highly specific little tangents, right? And of course, myself being a prototypical fish geek, am hardly immune from such little jaunts. My obsession with blackwater, botanical-style aquariums keeps me searching for all sorts of bits of information from Nature that can give me a new angle to explore...

It's often taken me into some interesting- if not silty and tannin-stained- directions! 

Obviously, you know by now that I'm just a bit partial to the environmental niches, species, and diversity of the Amazon region. The number of cool aquarium species found in this region alone could keep the most ardent fish geek busy for several lifetimes, and the remarkable diversity of biotopes found in the region is an aquarst's dream come true!

We are all aware of the many species of fishes found in the hobby that hail from this region. However, we don't hear much about the invertebrate life from Amazonia, particularly from a hobby perspective, do we? At least, I haven't- and I certainly haven't heard much about them in the hobby at all.

However, there ARE shrimps which live in this region.  Like, where the hell have they been hiding (literally) from the hobby for so long, and why?

Let's cut to the chase.

It all starts in leaf litter, of course.

I was perusing (as I frequently do) some scholarly articles on Amazonian stream leaf litter ecology and diversity, when I kept stumbling on mentions of  various types of shrimp found in the litter beds.

Yeah. Shrimp. 

There are a few species of shrimp that are found in the Amazon region, and they may or may not be suitable for aquariums...

However,  I find it rather fascinating that we've been taking fishes from this region for the hobby for decades, with almost nothing heard from the invert side...wierd...at least, it is to me. I have seen some vague references in hobby literature and sites to the genus Macrobrachium, but have not seen them for sale currently during my (admittedly) limited hobby research on them.

Well, part of it is most likely because they are not all that sexy looking. They're pretty much like, clear. Let's be honest- clear shrimp are not what many enthusiasts are looking for, particularly when you have new morphs of crazy-colorful Neocaradina and such coming from Asia (and domestic breeders, of course) by the bagful almost weekly.

Nonetheless, the genus Pseudopalaemon (P. amazonensis, in particular) and Macrobrachium are quite interesting, in that they inhabit many of the same streams and the niches that you'll find some of our favorite fish species, such as Apistogramma and various species of characins.

Now, unlike a lot of shrimp found in the Americas, these species complete their entire life cycle in freshwater environments- in particular, the blackwater leaf-litter niches of Amazonian streams. 

Well, I'm kind of intrigued...

And it seems a bit at odds with what we know about the composition of Amazonian blackwater and some of the environmental requirements for crustaceans, right? Black waters typically are rather acidic than the typically more neutral white waters. The major difference is the concentrations of magnesium, sodium, potassium, and calcium. Those ions are very low in black waters. And of course, this lack of ions has some ecological implications, right? Certain organisms, like snails and mullosks, need more calcium than is available in blackwater systems; in fact, they need a lot of calcium to build their shells, and they're are not really abundant in blackwaters.

Makes sense, right?

And this little tidbit from a research paper I stumbled on by Michael Goulding and Efrem J. G. Ferreira:

"There are two families of freshwater shrimp in the Amazon. Palaemonidae contains four genera and 14 species (Kensley and Walker, 1982). Sergestidae is represented by only one genus, and it has two or three species. Over 50 species of Amazonian fishes have been reported to eat shrimp..."

So, yeah, there are fishes which eat shrimp in the region, so there must be a fair number of shrimp, right? In fact, it's thought that Sorubim lima, a fish common to the Amazonian region, is a shrimp feeding specialist!

 According to at least one scholarly article I found that mentioned these shrimp (in conjunction with a study on the overall leaf litter communities of Amazon streams) discussed the differing feeding habits of the two genera in question here. Pseudopalaemon tend to feed predominantly on algal growth, whereas the Macrobrachium species tend to feed on leaf litter detritus and its associated fungi (Henderson and Walker, 1986).

Studies cite a ph range of 4.3-4.7 in the areas in which shrimp have been described! And the conclusion of one study in these habitats was that, "...collections over four years in the habitat of submerged litter show that shrimps are abundant the year round...."

The study I found surveyed the fishes and inverts of the leaf litter communities of the Tarumazinho, a small blackwater tributary of the Rio Negro. P. chryseus and P. amazonensis were the most abundant of their genus found in the study, and M. natteri and M. inpa were the most abundant of theirs. 

And the common denominator here- Leaf litter.

So, yeah...leaf litter beds are so freaking compelling to me as aquatic habitats for aquarium representation that it's not even funny!

I find it compelling and interesting to think about shrimps from the Amazonia region. It would be pretty cool to be able to keep and breed these animals (obviously, to avoid decimating valuable role-playing wild populations with unchecked, non-sustainable collection) in aquariums.

Not only would they be more "biotope specific" for many of the aquaria we tend to keep- they would be fascinating and well-adapted to leaf litter type aquaria. And we're all pretty experienced at playing with this stuff, aren't we?

It's interesting to me to find out about animals that might be overlooked in the hobby. I admit that my knowledge of shrimp in general tends to be far less than my knowledge of fishes, yet I am very intrigued by these species and the potential for them to be aquarium residents!

Obviously, wanting to have animals for our hobby that are important in the natural environment carries some ethical implications, and if they are not suited for removal from these precious communities, then the use of more commonly available captive-propagated shrimp, such as the Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata) would make a fine facsimile substitute for these enigmatic inverts in our aquaria.

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

Of course, I fully expect some shrimp enthusiast to tell me that, "These shrimp from The Amazon are found like EVERYWHERE man! What rock have you been sleeping under...?"

You know, something like that.

Maybe not, yet I am certainly not the only one who's thought about these guys before. I have seen some references to propagated Macrobrachium before...They're out there still, I'll bet.

Somewhere. Maybe?

It's certainly fun to ponder, nonetheless. Right?

Just another example of the many interesting little "backroads" we can travel as we explore this amazing, addictive, and fascinating hobby.

I like those backroads, myself. You never know what you might find out there!

Stay resourceful. Stay curious. Stay intrigued. Stay diligent...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

 

We sell Lawn Trash! Or, finding the courage to be YOU in business...

As you know, from time to time, I like to share with you the view from "the other side of the keyboard"- what it's like to be in "the industry." I do this because so many of you tell me that you're thinking of doing some aquarium-related venture, but your a bit uncertain as to what it's like; what you deal with regularly, etc.

And, I love doing this, because I encourage anyone who has the desire, means, and drive- to go for it!

The hobby needs you!

And I admit, I'm no expert; however, I do have some experience, and I am rather opinionated, and...

Of course, I owe it to you to share some of the "interesting" facets of the aquarium industry that you run into from time to time, and the mindset that you need to endure this stuff...One of my fave things to relate is how you need to sort of have a "thick skin" when sharing your product/company/idea with the aquarium world. It's true in the business AND the hobby, right?

We've discussed this a lot here.

However, someone who is trying to start their own cool hobby-related business asked me to talk about this topic the other day, so I'm happy to oblige!

I have no shortage of personal examples, of course, lol! One, in particular, made for a good "learning tool..."

It's a classic example of what you run into as a business; the sort of dichotomy which exists in the aquarium world, and how we in the industry have an obligation to be honest, yet firm in our convictions as hobbyists and industry people.

I was asked to ship some samples to a hobbyist in another country, to share our offerings with his online community. And he did, of course. And I was quite interested- though not at all surprised- with some of the responses from some of the members of said community...

The usual stuff. We've seen it all before:

"They sell _______?" Really we can pick those up off the ground!

"You have to pay for this stuff?"

"They charge international customers shipping? "

"You can get this stuff in lots of different places..."

I mean, yeah. I don't want to sound too flippant, but- no shit.

Like, this is some grand "expose"...Oh no- we're finished! You've cracked the code! We've been called out- exposed for selling materials that you could probably collect yourself... OMG.

Why is this a revelation?

As one of my own marketing people says, only half-jokingly,  "You guys sell lawn trash!"

Well, yeah, sort of! And we do it better than anyone, if I say so, myself...

I've said it probably 3,000 times since I started Tannin Aquatics: We did not "invent" botanicals. We did not invent the idea of using botanical materials in aquariums. We don't have some "exclusive deal with Mother Nature" to be the world's only purveyor of leaves, twigs, seed pods, etc...

There's no real mystery that we try to protect.

Like, we give you the scientific names of the majority of the stuff we sell. We don't use absurd, made-up names to describe this stuff.  You can research it. You can likely find some of these items near you. You can collect them "from the backyard" as one "consumer advocate" once zealously asserted.

Yeah, you can.

In fact- we wrote a blog or two on this very topic right here, not long ago. Yet, this often gets overlooked in these armchair advocates zealous to try to "call B.S." on stuff.

It's easy, as an aspiring (or even an experienced) business person to go down the proverbial "rabbit hole", arguing publicly and get all worked up every time you run into a criticism of your business...However, it's not really that productive. Besides, you can get some good information from such criticisms, and learn a few things.

Criticism and skepticism about what you do isn't a bad thing, really.

I find it amusing, predictable, and often...uplifiting!

Amusing, because of the tone in which such "exposes" are made- as if  we are trying to "dupe" you somehow. It's sort of funny, really. I mean, in our case, I don't think that we've ever hid the fact that you can find most of these things in the natural world around you...if you're willing to source, collect, test, and prepare stuff. You SHOULD, when you can. We encourage it.

Predictable, because you can just see this coming any time you introduce something a bit different.. it's like so many things in the hobby- self appointed "critics" of the hobby/industry always seem to feel as though they're looking out for the good of the hobby by "exposing" some sort of "injustice" being perpetrated upon the hobby...

These are the same people who undoubtedly beat up on the fish food manufacturers because you can make your own, the LFS because you could collect or breed your own fish, or the vendors who sell aquariums because you CAN build your own.

You COULD also get a ride from a friend, or drive yourself instead of taking uber. You could fly your own plane instead of buying that ticket on United. You COULD make your own coffee instead of going to Starbucks. You CAN make your own hamburger, instead of heading to the McDonald's drive through...

You could do all of that stuff yourself. If you have the time, resources, and desire to do so. 

And can you collect Yellow Mangrove leaves in Reykjavik? Or Br Acorn Cups in Singapore? 

Umm, well..likely not...However, you can purchase them online, right? From Tannin...

So, as business person, you KNOW that this stuff is coming; just use it as an opportunity to educate the public about why they need your product. Why you offer what you do. How it can help them enjoy the hobby more...Some will get it. Others will not.

There will always be that sort of "trash talk."

Need one more example? I have two words: Bottled water.

Yeah.

Uplifting- because it's nice to know that- even if their "methodology" is a bit undisciplined and unfair- some of these "critics/advocates" really care about the hobby and want to see that hobbyists aren't taken advantage of. That's huge! It's important, and it's great!

Yeah- uplifting! The hobby is in good shape when we protect it!

And you as a business have to really own and understand what you do. And sometimes, it goes beyond just selling stuff... I mean, we sell products, sure.

But the most important thing we "sell" is...convenience.

We offer the ability to have all of these things that you might be able to obtain for yourself- if you want to spend the time, money, and effort curating them from dozens of places around the world all by yourself. If you wanted to vet suppliers, deal with customs, sort through the B.S., etc....

So, yeah, we've been aware from day one that what we offer is not some exclusive thing. The difference is HOW we offer it; what value we add to the metaphorical "lawn trash..."

Criticism comes. You have to get used to it in this business. We are used to it. You should be, too. And you should rejoice in the fact that you have someone's most valuable asset- their attention- to the point where they want to engage on it.

I've seen this behavior so many times over the years since we've started. Now, like any human, I'd be lying if I said it didn't get me just a bit perturbed from time to time. Because, after all, it's a labor of love. It's the only thing I do. However, I've learned over the years not to really let it get to me. And certainly not to let it change the way we do business here.

We don't really need to... Because we're true to ourselves...and the hobby.

Because honesty, transparency and the desire to share information and ideas on the applications of what we sell- to advance the hobby- are the overriding, most important goals here.  They're "baked in" to our DNA. Sure, I want to make a living, pay my employees and vendors; operate at a profit- that's what a business does.

However, I don't want to compromise our values and ethos by trying to "take advantage" of hobbyists and customers. What kind of person would do that?

There ARE some businesses out there like that. But they don't last too long.

There is a reason we offer a daily free blog, a podcast, articles in magazines, support club raffles, charities, produce videos, etc. It's why we try like hell to answer every email, DM, request for information. 

It's to share what we love. To support the growth of the hobby any way we can. Many of you do this in your personal hobby work...if you do it in your business...you will win. Period. It may take a while, but if you can survive- and keep at it- you'll win.

It separates you from the crowds.

And I offer this little blog up to YOU- fellow aquarium industry vendors, local fish stores, and hobbyists who are contemplating launching your own aquarium-focused business. Some of you face these things often. Maybe you're struggling as a result. Hopefully, not.  Many of you deal with these types of things. Some of you never have.

Not yet, anyways...

There will always be critics, skeptics, and mean people. That's how it is. It goes with the territory.

The way you deal with them; the underlying values you have- and the value you bring to your customers are what withstand the test of time. Don't forget that, okay?

I hope the above example and the mindset/philosophy behind it gives you some confidence. Courage. An extra kick in the butt to move forward...or NOT.

If you're getting into the aquarium business, you need to state your position clearly- and present your honest self. You need to be consistent, ethical, and available. Get your voice and message out there often and wherever you can. You'll face lots of critiques- just like the ones we do. It's part of the game. If you aren't up to occasionally facing criticism and questions, you need to reconsider your aspirations.

Really.

However, if you're up for the task...and unafraid to be unabashedly YOU...

Move forward, post-haste.

YOU CAN DO IT!

Especially if I can do it, right?

I mean...look at us. We sell "lawn trash!"

And we do it really, really well. 

And I'm quite proud of that!

Stay excited. Stay bold. Stay diligent. Stay unabashed. Stay YOU!

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics