The Tint

"The first 48" and beyond...

It's fun to experience new things, right? Or, even old things in a new situation! Like, I'm a bout 48 hours into my new home aquarium, and I'm already feeling it...I'm past that initial "What will this look like?" phase, the "Ohh...got the wood arranged just like I wanted!" phase, and now I'm in the "Time to add a few details!" phase and get the tank ready to turn over to Mother Nature to take it from here.

And that's exactly the part of the aquarium journey that excites me the most: I'm in the final few days of "tweaking" any part of the scape- mainly, I've added some bits and peices of red mangrove bark to the base of the wood stack. It's a sort of "secret weapon" of mine, in terms of bringing a scape out of that "new, harsh-looking" phase and into a more "natural" vibe.

As it breaks down, the mangrove bark pieces not only add a sort of "softness" to the whole display- they serve to tint the water, create a foraging area for fishes, and just start to blend the various elements together as things progress.

The first fungal growths/biofilms are emerging out of the surface of the wood, and the water is taking on a very nice, rich brownish tone... The fish seem more relaxed...

Okay, you don't need a blow by blow description of my tank breaking in; however, a lot of you who are new to the process of botanical-style aquariums are probably curious about what happens when a new system starts to evolve.

CYCLING. BIOFILMS. ALGAE...STARTUP.

Yikes, I forgot about that stuff...

Yeah.

Seems like I've had tanks just kind of "set up" for so long, particularly in our tinted-water-and-decomposing-leaf world, that I've kind of forgotten about the stuff that happens in brightly-lit tanks for it a bit. That part when all of your good work looks like...well, you get it- as it's covered with that familiar "patina" of biofilms, while the tank goes through its nutrient cycling phase.

The part where every hobbyist, experienced or otherwise, has those lingering doubts; asks questions- goes through the "mental gymnastics" to try to cope: "Do I have enough flow?" "Was my source water quality any good?" "Is it my light?" "When does this shit go away?" "It DOES go away. I know it's just a phase." Right? "Yeah, it goes away?" "When?" "It WILL go away. Right?"

I mean, it's common with every new tank, really. 

The waiting. The "not being able to visualize a fully-stocked tank "thing"...Patience-testing stuff. Stuff which I- "Mr. Tinted-water-biofilms-and-decomposing-leaves-and-botanicals-guy"- am pretty much hardened to by now. Accepting a totally different look. Not worrying about "phases" or the ephemeral nature of some things in my aquarium. 

Yet, like anyone who sets up an aquarium, I admit that I still occasionally get those little doubts in the dim (tinted?) recesses of my mind now and then- the product of decades of doing fish stuff, yet wondering if THIS is the one time when things WON'T work out as expected...

I mean, it's one of those rights of passage that we all go through when we set up aquariums  right? The early doubts. The questioning of ourselves. The reviewing of fundamental procedure and practice. Maybe, the need to reach out to the community to gain reassurance.

It's normal. It's often inevitable. We're social creatures.

The point of this piece is not about algae or nitrites, or biofilms on botanicals, per se. It's about the mind set that we bring to the table when we experience such things. The "biofilm" phases brings out familiar feelings...Feelings that perhaps make us uncomfortable because we realize that, despite all of our planning and knowledge and forethought- we are not entirely in control.

Nature is.

She calls the shots. These 'phases" in new tanks are hers to execute. We just have to accept, understand, and wait them out patiently- perhaps even learning to appreciate and understand them to the point where they simply become "rungs on a ladder"- trail markers, if you will- on the journey to our aquarium's ultimate destination.

She's done it for eons in the wild, creating beautiful, functional habitats that inspire us beyond anything we could ever hope to achieve. We need to relax and have a little faith that she'll do similar deeds in our little glass boxes- if we allow her to.

So, what exactly happens in the early days of a botanical-style aquarium?

Well, for one thing, the water will gradually start to tint up...

Now, I admit that this is perhaps one of the most variable and unpredictable aesthetic aspects of these types of aquariums. Many factors, ranging from what kind (and how much) chemical filtration media you use, what types (and how much again!) of botanical materials you're using, and others, impact this. Recently, I've heard a lot of pretty good observation-based information from experienced plant enthusiasts that some plants take up tannins as they grow. Interesting, huh?

Stuff changes. The botanicals themselves begin to physically break down,

I personally feel that botanical-style aquariums always look better after a few weeks, or even months of operation. When they're new, and the leaves and botanicals are crisp, intact, and fresh-looking, it may have a nice "artistic" appearance- but not necessarily "natural" in the sense that it doesn't look established and alive.

The real magic takes place weeks later.

The whole environment of a more established botanical-style aquarium looks substantially different after a few weeks. While the water gradually darkens, those biofilms appear...it just looks more "earthy", mysterious, and alive.

It's "Wabi-Sabi" again.

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

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

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

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

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

Sure, this may fit our lifestyle and interest, but it denies Nature her chance to shine, IMHO. There is something amazing about this process which we should enjoy at every stage.

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

This is not a bad thing.

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

It does.

Now, this idea of breaking in and cycling aquariums has been understood, analyzed, and studied since the dawn of modern aquarium keeping. Sure, there might be a dozen different variations of the sequences and details, but essentially it's all the same. 

The phases that I am interested in, for the context of this discussion, are the ones which seem to occur long after an aquarium is cycled, "broken-in", and otherwise well-established- specifically in the context of this botanical-style aquarium we play with. These more "mature" phases are fascinating to me. These represent the aquarium at a point of ecological "maturity", when the biological processes that are so crucial are stable and well-established.

Without going in to any one of the dozens of aspects of a "mature" aquarium's definition, let's just say it's a system that you're not on edge about every day, and leave it at that! 

Of course, an aquarium which utilizes botanicals as a good part of its hardscape follows a set of phases, too. And I've found that once a botanical-style aquarium (blackwater or brackish) hits that sort of "stable mode", it's just that- stable. You won't see wildly fluctuating pH, nitrates, phosphates, etc. To a certain degree, the aquarium has achieved some sort of "biological equilibrium."

Now, one thing that's unique about the botanical-style approach is that we tend to accept the idea of decomposing materials accumulating in our systems. We understand that they act, to a certain extent, as "fuel" for the micro and macrofauna which reside in the aquarium. I have long been one the belief that if you decide to let the botanicals remain in your aquarium to break down and decompose completely, that you shouldn't change course by suddenly removing the material all at once...

Why? 

Well, I think my theory is steeped in the mindset that you've created a little ecosystem, and if you start removing a significant source of someone's food (or for that matter, their home!), there is bound to be a net loss of biota...and this could lead to a disruption of the very biological processes that we aim to foster.

Okay, it's a theory...

But I think I might be on to something, maybe? So, like here is my theory in more detail: If you look at the botanical-style aquarium (like any aquarium, of course) as a little "microcosm", with processes and life forms dependent upon each other for food, shelter, and other aspects of their existence. And I really believe that the environment of this type of aquarium, because it relies on botanical materials (leaves, seed pods, etc.), is more signficantly influenced by the amounts and composition of said material.

Just like in natural aquatic ecosystems...

The botanical materials are a real "base" for the little microcosm we create.

And of course, by virtue of the fact that they contain other compounds, like tannins, humic substances, lignin, etc., they also serve to influence the water chemistry of the aquarium, the extent to which is dictated by a number of other things, including the "starting point" of the source water used to fill the tank.

So, in short- I think the presence of botanicals in our aquariums is multi-faceted, highly influential, and of extreme import for the stability, ecological balance, and efficiency of the tank. As a new system establishes itself, the biological processes adapt to the quantity and types of materials present- the nitrogen cycle and other nutrient-processing capabilities evolve over time. 

And then there is that other tangential theory I've played with in my head for a while- and unfortunately, not being a scientist, I have no way of testing it:

I can't help but wonder if a layer of materials such as leaves performs some degree of denitrification, much as a deep sand bed might in a reef aquarium. I mean, you have a matrix in which microorganisms, fungi, and small crustaceans can grow, feed, and multiply. And conditions within a layer of leaves might approximate those found within a layer of fine sand, including possible aerobic zones, void spaces, etc...

Could this be?

Could a bed of leaves and botanicals be the equivalent of a deep sand bed for denitrification and other nutrient-utilization processes? I think it's a possibility. I know that there have been some studies of natural deep leaf litter beds and theories postulates about them performing such functions, as well as influencing the pH of their surrounding waters via the process of fermentation.

There's a lot there for a knowledgable and ambitious hobbyist/scientist to work with.  Of course, on the most simple scale, we as hobbyists can test parts of the theory for ourselves...I can fall back on my couple of decades of playing with these tanks and personally never have had wildly fluctuating environmental parameters, high nitrates, etc. I just haven't...despite what seems like it should be something that goes with the territory: I mean, we keep tanks with decomposing leaves- something that would freak out a lot of hobbyists who haven't made the "mental shifts" that we have!

This interesting process...this journey- is one of the most fascinating and engrossing aspects of the botanical-style aquarium. A journey that starts with a somewhat predictable progression, and unfolds in a manner dictated by Nature- with a pace and ultimate outcome that only She knows.

If we allow her to do it.

It can be a bit unnerving- ceding so much control to Nature.. However,  the rewards can be fantastic.

Button up for the journey...It's a fun one!

Stay patient. Stay bold. Stay curious. Stay observant. Stay resourceful...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

 

 

Something old, something new. Something...tinted...

Fall is a season for change...and it certainly has been time for a change for me and my home aquarium. Ready to embrace something new and exciting!

Or, is that just "exciting?" Or, could it be new if it has some "old" or familiar elements to it? Or, does it matter? 😆

As I re-imagined my home blackwater aquarium, I found myself drawn to some materials which I've used before, and a layout concept that I've played with several times! And this is interesting to me, because it sort of goes against some of my philosophies about pushing myself to try new things- at least, on the surface...

And then again, it is entirely new.

Sort of.

Oh, and I was kind of mentally "drained" a bit lately...adding to the challenge of creating a "new" tank!

If you recall, I was sort of obsessed with a scape that I did last year featuring Mangrove branches and roots. I really loved not only the intricate way these branches work in a blackwater aquarium, but how they look very "un-mangrove-like" (is that a freaking word? LOL) when laid out in a horizontal orientation and "locked together" with multiple branches. 

I never fully recovered (oh, the TRAUMA!) from tearing down that scape last year to do a new iteration...it haunted me.

So yeah, what did I do to get out of the "funk" I was in? I did a new version of it!

And it feels really good!

Now, let's talk about some stuff for a second.

So, as you can tell- like almost all of my tanks- this is in no way meant to be a biotope. Perhaps "biotope-inspired" or something like that. You'd likely never see the combination of materials and fishes together in a habitat like that. And that's okay...these kinds of tanks are liberating and fun to do, IMHO. And when you ultimately see the fishes which will reside in the tank, you'll understand exactly what I mean here, lol.

The idea of using mangrove wood is because it's rather unique configuration makes it surprisingly easy to "interlock" pieces into place to create a sort of matrix of tangled branches. On first thought, you'd think that mangrove is not something you'd traditionally use in a blackwater aquarium. Two thoughts: First, I selected mangrove for its utility, NOT to try to recreate a mangrove habitat (and yeah, there ARE freshwater/blackwater mangrove habitats!). 

It's something I'd consider for a future 'scape, for sure! I'm thinking of something similar for a Borneo habitat...we'll see. So, hold that thought!

The second thought: Mangrove leaches a surprisingly large amount of tint-producing tannins, and is a good "recruiter" of biofilms and microbial growth. It's a long-lasting, versatile and useful wood. It's just fine for freshwater, and I have never detected any salt leaching out of it...and I have some pretty accurate testing capability for salt.

Over the next few weeks, expect to see plenty of biofilms and other growth showing up on the wood. Perhaps it's a lazy habit- a practice certainly don't recommend to others, but I tend not to "pre-soak" this wood before I use it! LIke, rinse and scape! And of course, this is what likely unleashes a lot more biofilm and such into the tank than if I did pre-soak it...However, I see this as almost a "bio-catalyst" of sorts, seeding the tank with bacteria and other organisms.

The above pic is a super early one. The water is still cloudy, the wood is still being weighed down with rocks (yeah, this shit floats like mad! See? Soaking  for a couoel of days first would address that!), and it just looks sort of "harsh" and very contrived at first.

Just watch it, though... You'll see.

What I usually do is get the initial wood laid down- the "anchor pieces"- and then I "iterate" and add more pieces to fill it out a bit after a day or so.

Oh, I know you'll ask me why the wood going so vertical and breaking the waterline...Have I sold out?

Am I  playing into some "trend" or something?

No, I hope you know me better than THAT! it's more functional than anything else. My beloved Nanostomus eques, the "Brown" or "Diptail" Pencilfish), feel much more secure and act more naturally when they can hang out under the cover provided by projecting branches and such.

 

They spend a large part of their day in and among the mangrove branches, and blend in surprisingly well! Plus, having some overhead branches tends to keep them more calm, and less likely to jump, in my experience. Trust me, working with open topped tanks over the years with this fish, I learned this the hard way...

Oh, and you might be asking- why are fishes in this tank at this "early" phase? Fair enough.

Now, if you recall, this tank was running up to a few days ago as a "plant-centric" Asian-themed blackwater tank. The prior "residents" have been moved to a temporary holding tank, awaiting a new Asian-themed system we'll be building in the office. 

And Johnny Ciotti, our creative director, was eager to re-home the fishes in his South American tank (some of which were from ME in the first place!) as he starts some new projects for us...So, it was like, "Dude, I'm bringing by the fishes from my tank tomorrow...!"

"Okay, dude. See you then..."

Not ideal, but in the end, not really a big deal to me. I just had to work a bit faster.

And of course, this tank was never "deactivated. Just "reworked."

I did a large water exchange. Removed all of the leaves on the bottom of the tank. And, about 85%-90% or so of the substrate was left intact. Before embarking on this journey, I removed the plants and the aquatic plant soil which accompanied them, leaving just the mix of Carib-Sea "Sunset Gold" and white silica sand in place; adding a bit more, along with a touch of "sediment" to level things off a bit. Despite some disruption, the nitrogen cycle continues to function.

With this tank being an "all-in-one", with the "filter" and biological media isolated in the rear of the tank, there was no disruption to it. And yeah, I test ammonia and nitrite regularly when I do crazy shit like this- 'cause you never can be too careful. And don't worry, I didn't actually place the fishes into the tank until after the initial hardscape was set, to minimize stress to them...

And let me tell you, this was one unflappable set of fishes. They've been through this before. And since Johnny and I are both obsessive feeders, water exchange fanatics, and RO/DI users, our environmental parameters are typically within a few points of each other (although I like a slightly darker "tint" than he does, lol).

 

The fishes which I'm using in the tank are a mix of some old friends and new ones. The stars will undoubtedly be my faves Crenuchus spilurus, which will be transferred from another tank soon once I'm done filling in the details of the scape. (These guys hate being disturbed, and it's best to add them to the tank after you're done messing with it, lol). And the "co-stars" will be my beloved  Nanostomus eques, the "Brown" or "Diptail" Pencilfish). 

Oh, and my dear Peckoltia compta "L134" is back, too! She's about three years old now, and has the same vibrancy and "chill" attitude as she did when she was a juvenile! I dare say, she's a bit more "outgoing" than she was when I last hosted her! 

Oh, and some Lemon Tetras, some Corydoras, and a few other fishes, which basically means that the idea of any sort of accurate "biotope" representation for this aquarium and it's "ensemble" of disparate fishes is out the window! But hey, it's my home display tank, so it's supposed to be fun!

So, yeah, this was a bit different, but it's what happens when you adapt a mindset of continuously trying to serve up new looks and inspiration to your community...you get good at "shuffling" stuff. Now, it's not always idea for the fishes, I know, but they seem to take it in stride. That being said, this tank will be up for a long time, because it's in my home, and I don't like messing around too much with this tank if I can avoid it!

And you might recall, from my recent blog, that I was just in a sort of uninspired place, a bit "burned out" creatively. Well, all it took was looking at that empty tank and thinking about what makes me happy, aquarium-wise...And the act, literally- of placing one piece of the kind of wood I wanted to use into the tank...and then it just flowed. Credit to Johnny...When he came over, we looked at the tank...he got excited seeing a "blank canvas"- and that flowed over to me.

He was like, "Just place a piece of wood in there..."

And I did.

And of course, there is always the next day.

So I woke up, stared at the tank for a while, looked at the extra batch of mangrove branches that I brought home with me...and started "tweaking" the hardscape a bit. The goal was to fill things out a bit, to make it a bit less "harsh" and more intricate- facilitating better "hangouts" for the Pencilfishes and the Crenuchus that will be added soon.

So here we are.

A lot more intricate. Yes, getting a net in there is out of the question without destroying the whole wood stack- always a good sign to me that I've come up with something I'm going to like, believe it or not! I tend to like simple ideas, but sort of complex "tangles" of wood and branches...and this one fit the profile perfectly.

Another 24 hours went by, and the water is starting to tint up nicely, with the tannins from the mangrove branches/root leaching into the water column. It looks less harsh already.

As the water is getting much clearer now, I can get a better feel for this 'scape and where it's going.

As you can tell, I tend to move slowly- this was uncharacteristically fast- and will often "live" with a tank for a little bit before completing the initial 'scaping. This gives me a real "feel" for the tank and where it is in the process of where I want it to go.

Next up for this tank is to add more botanical materials...In this instance, it's mainly going to be pieces of broken-up mangrove bark, mangrove leaves, and perhaps a few more sturdy botanicals. A simple look that will soften up the "scape, enrich the environment, and evolve nicely. Yet, I want to leave a lot of open sand, because I like that look, too.

So here we go. Almost time to pass the torch to Nature, and let her take over the rest of the "evolution" of the tank.

That's the best part of the whole process, IMHO.

So yeah, this tank is a mix of old, new, and completely familiar- with a healthy touch of the unfamiliar...And of course, through it all, Nature will be the "chief engineer" of this system, doing what She does so well.

And yeah, I'm out of that little mental "funk" I was in for a while. And I've added back the one element that was missing- fun.

This is fun. A bit of a "mashup" of stuff...But really fun!

All good.

Yeah...

Stay excited. Stay bold. Stay creative. Stay relaxed. Stay happy. Stay diligent...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

 

Not-so-fond farewells...Bad places...Honest confessions...Dealing with trolls...Realizations...

Namaste.

Ohhh, the day finally arrived: Time to re-do my home blackwater aquarium!

It's amazing how the process can take you on a sort of journey...and it's amazing how, when little "things arise" on your journey- it can take you to some very unexpected places...some of them, rather dark...And, yet,-even in the darkness, you can find light. It's awesome how little things in your hobby experience can teach you things about life.

"Okay, Fellman- what did they put in your coffee this morning? It's a fish tank!"

Oh, so, anyways- it's time to rework that tank in my home; get it back to a place that I really enjoy. Yeah, it's time for a not-so-sad farewell to the Asian-themed aquascape that, in all honesty, I never really "bonded" with.

Ever had a tank like that? 

I mean, it was a cool tank. It had deeply tinted water, a nice big wood hardscape...some cool Cryptocorynes, active Rasbora, and...well... and... yeah.

Okay,  wasn't feeling it.

I have to confess- I just never "felt" this tank.

Quite possibly, the least connected I ever felt to an aquarium. Ever.

I'm not sure why, either.

Maybe it's the fact that I'm a South American fish/biotope aficionado, and just can't get over that, or if it's the fact that scape is "dependent" upon aquatic plants- and, beautiful though they are- they just don't excite me very much.

I think it's a little of both.

I mean, I like aquatic plants...Actually, I LOVE them, in my own way- slipping a few into my scapes where appropriate. I've been playing with them more and more lately. However, creating and maintaining a major "plant-centric" aquascape is not in the cards. I admit, it literally bores me. In fact, it bores the hell out of me.

I have no idea why. It shouldn't, right?

But it does....

Yet, it's honest. I respect those who love plants, but I'm just not feeling that obsession...

Of course, I realize that this viewpoint pretty much alienates me from like 85% of the freshwater aquarium hobby, but yeah...I have to be honest with myself.

Oh, good lesson there!

I'm a hardscape, botanical-style kind of guy. Yet, I respect, appreciate, and would even own a beautifully planted "Nature Aquarium" (gulp) style tank...But I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to create one myself.

Like, I'd have someone talented set one up for me and I'll enjoy it, but...

Okay, where am I going?

You're coming on this journey with me- like it or not.

Funny how worlds collide, and a confluence of seemingly unrelated events can often create a revelation of sorts...

Oh, and what is it with some (plant) people? Well, some people in all sorts of hobby specialities, right?

You get attitudes.

Serious attitudes. I've seen that many times over the years.

And of course, the other day, literally, right as I was about to start working on this tank, I made the "mistake" of being a "typical business guy"- checking my emails and messages obsessively when not in the office...And of course, that's usually when "shit" happens, right?

Sure enough, out of the blue, some guy DM'd me on Instagram, and told me that I shouldn't mess with plants, or even discuss them (literally!) unless I go "high tech"- that I'm missing out on the "real" planted tank experience by going "low tech/natural" with plants, blah, blah, blah...He told me that I'm doing "a disservice to the hobby by 'dabbling' in plants in blackwater tanks" and sharing my thoughts this stuff...Literally! I mean, real hostility and for no reason at all.

Attitude.

And it just put me in a really bad mood... I shouldn't have let it, but for some reason, it got to me this time.

I mean, he was basically telling me to pack it in with plants unless I was going to "do it right"- whatever that meant...Well, he told me what he felt that  it meant.

And, that crossed some strange line in my head... It set me off...took me to a very dark place. For some reason...and it was a place where I thought that I'd never go again....And it happened, like, quickly. His timing and tone just arrived in the "wrong place at the wrong time", and me- the normally unflappable, relaxed, "I couldn't give two f--ks about anything" guy- just snapped.

Well, in my head, anyways! My mood immediately changed. I didn't lash out or anything...

Rather, I went to a very immature, very dark place.

I started banging out a response on my iPhone.

I was like, "Okay, yeah...CO2 and monitoring and stuff...for plants? Really? Oh...you're so badass, dude!"

It was coral snobbery time here. Yeah, THAT would make me feel better. Sure. Hit back! Hard. F--- him up! 

I was like, "Sorry, way too much effort for a freshwater tank!"

They're freaking plants.

If I want "high tech", I'll do REAL high tech and do a reef tank, which- sorry, planted tank fans- leaves 80% of the planted tanks I've seen in the proverbial dust.

Nothing comes close. I mean, we're talking about reef-building stony corals...

Yeah. Seriously. Plants?  This guy was an elitist plant snob. That was a bit of a joke, in my mind. Yet, he REALLY got under my skin at the time... Like, I'm sure he knows every Bucephalandra cultivar; could identify every type of trendy rock used in the latest contest...and...

Yeah. Attack. Hit him back with his own brand of...nonsense. 'Cuase that's a good idea.

Okay....No, it isn't.

See, that was bad.

I got all chlidlike and was going to strike back via DM with some nasty messaging...

And of course, my roiling anger made me want to call him out and, beat my chest and brag of my superiority because I can grow coral, and...Yeah, this idiot probably couldn't distinguish a Sarcophyton from a Trachyphyllia or an Acropora...for all his attitude, probably can't even read a digital refractometer, plumb a protein skimmer,  or program a...

Whoooaahh...Lot of hostility there.

Like, WAAAAY too much! Where was that attitude coming from? My first thought was to "reverse trash talk" the guy about something HE wasn't that knowledgable about...to make myself feel better somehow? I'm not even into corals at the moment, lol. And why would a plant expert know- or even give a shit about- corals? 

Why would this make me superior or feel good to say such nonsense?

I mean, there is no reason for this.

And if you step back and look at the "logic" behind the foolishness of making such assertions the absurdity becomes crystal clear:

Like, I'm not that into plants; so I don't study them all that much, and have an almost novice-like ignorance about some aspects of them. Sure, if I was really into them, I could probably get up to speed relatively quickly...but I'm not. I mean, I'm not into Fortnight, Game of Thrones, or digital cameras, or drones, or whatever....and if I was, sure, I'd learn all I could about them.

Just like "Mr. Cryptocoryne" could learn all about coral care...if he was interested in them.

Yeah, plants could my thing. I could be really into them.

But I'm not, so I remain surprisingly ignorant, albeit slightly conversive- about them. And that's okay. Yet, that's no reason to turn around, stoop to some troll's level, and give off the same attitude...trash him because of my own insecurities...

Sheesh! 

I let him push me towards a really dark, unhappy place...both in my mind, and in the hobby. He seemed to unlock some sort of weird insecurity or something in my head...Something I thought I got rid of decades ago...And I wasn't going to go there. Responding in kind would have simply been a ridiculous escalation for no reason.

I realized that this was a very unhealthy, unhappy mindset...toxic -both personally, and to the hobby. The kind of stuff I rail on because of the damage it does. And here I was, on the receiving end of something crazy...and my first instincts were to spew venom back, and I was ready to hit "return..."

What did I do? 

I took a deep breath, and considered how absurd the prospect of an exchange from some place of anger would be. Realized what was really important. I actually laughed at myself, and felt kind of sorry for the guy who shot off the DM...Like, this was the biggest problem in his life? So sad.

Wake up, Scott. You know better.

Yeah, I took a higher road...a better road.A kinder road. I thought through it all. I emerged from a really dark place, better for the journey...

Delete, delete, delete...

I DM'd back, "Thanks for your feedback."

All of this, as I was about to embark on what should have been a fun afternoon- a break in routine from the busy schedule of a bustling business.

Oh. So, yeah...back to the current situation...

What am I going to do? With this tank, anyways?

Well, it's back to South America...well, back to "inspired by South America", anyways...for sure.

What's the plan this time?

I have no idea.

I'm literally going to "shoot from the hip" here...

Well, I've been playing with the whole igapo thing for a while- especially mimicking the wet/dry seasonal dynamic with my "Urban Igapo" nano aquarium experiments. So, do I "scale up" and try a larger version of these successful nano tanks- focusing on the "wet season" (as much as I love the idea, I don't really feel like slowly flooding a 50 gallon tank over several months in my family room at the moment, 'ya know?)...?

Or, do I try to do an "igarape" (the local term for "canoe way...")- a little flooded stream bed, choked with branches and leaves and stuff? A slightly different, more "wood-centric" 'scape, as opposed to more emphasis on leaves and botanicals. So, I could go with more roots and branches...

Hmmm...

Or, do I do a sort of flooded grassland...sort of like our friend Tai Strietman has shared?

Well, all of these sound interesting, yet I literally think that on "D-Day", I'm simply going to do what feels good at the time...Just iterate on the fly. With little plan in my head other than to redo stuff...That's crazy, I know.

When I started taking it down, it felt great...but I wasn't in such a hurry to put it back up again. I was like really in this strange mental place because of the whole "DM' thing...I hadn't fully gotten it out of my system before I started, lol

Yet, interestingly, as I worked, I began feeling better and better...And I was getting this sense of clarity.

I removed most of the old substrate, took out all the wood, leaves, pods, etc., did a massive water exchange, pump cleaning, filter media replacement.

I stared at the cloudy tank for a long time, pondering, hoping some idea would pop into my head.

And guess what?

Nothing did. Not one idea. 

I tried playing with a few large pieces of driftwood...I tried to position them in some way, but wasn't feeling it....at all. So, I rapidly yanked them out of the tank, wiped everything down, cleaned up the area...and walked away and called it a day.

Like, didn't even bother to go further. "Don't force it!"

It was weird- I wasn't feeling ANYTHING...

Like, I didn't have a single idea in my head that seemed even remotely exciting to me. Now, I think part of it is that I've been very tired; not sleeping very well, so the physical concentration is not there. The other part was coming from this honest place that told me, "This is supposed to be fun...and there is nothing about this tank that is even remotely fun or interesting at the moment to me."

And of course, there was that DM experience, too, and the emotional realization that arose from it.

I mean, it doesn't matter WHAT the reasons were, I wasn't feeling it, and it felt right to just hold off.

And that was kind of cool, actually. I had clarity. And it was cool, kind of knowing when to say when! A really cool lesson to learn.

And, I mean, at that moment, it felt forced. 

I was like, "I'll set up the tank when I feel like it...this one is for me. So, I'll do it MY way, at a time that feels good to ME!" 

So, in the mean time, I posted a pic of my cloudy, empty, yet tinted tank last night. And for some reason, everyone liked it.

Maybe- possibly- because it comes from a place of...honesty. 

Or, perhaps it's simply because it's kind of exciting to see a blank, albeit a bit cloudy- canvas.

And yeah, it's starting to get a little more exciting again...And will be, when I get back to it.

Lesson learned....

Stay honest. Stay open-minded. Stay calm. Stay kind. Stay thoughtful...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

 

 

 

There must be SOMETHING in the water, right?

We've played with the idea of using botanicals for imparting humic substances and tannins into the water in our aquaria for the purpose of altering environmental conditions for some time now, haven't we?

And of course, sometimes, these environmental conditions create outcomes that we might not have expected. Hoped for perhaps, but not expected.

It happened yet again...a breathless phone call from a customer who recently switched over to a botanical-style, blackwater aquarium, only to have her little Boraras, which she'd had for over a year, suddenly start spawning!

Cool!

Now sure, it could just have been that they finally were of spawning age, or that the temperature in her tank changed one night, or... number of a dozen possible factors. She felt it was "something in the water" released by the botanicals that she added not too long ago (in her case, Selatan Catappa Bark). I can't say with any high degree of certainty that this was, indeed, the catalyst for the results she is enjoying.

However, I hear these stories from hobbyists fairly often...In fact, likely too often to think that it's merely a complete coincidence, or a set of unrelated events and random factors.

Yeah, we hear this stuff a lot.

Actually, all the time. Like, regularly.

What we're seeing more and more in botanical-stye, blackwater aquariums are reports of "spontaneous" spawnings of all sorts of different fishes associated with these types of conditions.

Often, it's fishes that the aquarist had for a while, perhaps with little effort put into spawning them, and then it just sort of "happened." For others, it is perhaps expected- maybe the ultimate goal as it relates to said species...but was just taking a long time!

The "common denominator" in all of the reports we receive are that the fishes are displaying better color, vigor, and overall health after being recently exposed to the more "physiologically appropriate" conditions of a blackwater aquarium. Now, this is by no means us stating that blackwater tanks are somehow magical, and possess the ability to make every fish spontaneously thrive and spawn.

That's just complete B.S., and I won't ever make or support those kinds of assertions.

Rather, it's more of an affirmation that fishes from specialized environments- even those which might be several generations captive-bred, can always benefit from being "repatriated" to the conditions under which they have evolved for eons.

I know that there are those who will adamantly state that this is not necessary or true, but I just have this really hard time accepting the argument that fishes from say, soft, acidic blackwater are somehow "better off" in hard, alkaline "tap water" conditions...after only a few generations in captivity. Have we somehow "changed" the physiology or physiological needs of the fish, which evolved over millions of years, in a few decades?

I'm not buying that argument! 

"Acclimated" to the water parameters that work for US? Sure...Helped them to adapt to conditions different than those under which they evolved? Perhaps. However, have we "changed" their physiological requirements/preferences for certain conditions?

Nah. I'm not buying that. 

Now, I could be totally wrong, but I'm not listening anyways...lol (I'm not irrationally stubborn or anything...LOL)

We can all relate to this.

Look, this L.A. boy, who's lived all of his life in warm temps CAN adapt to living in frigid Antartica, if I'm given the proper clothes, housing, etc. I could even start a family there. Yet, does this mean that I've somehow evolved to thrive in these conditions?

No, it means I'm adaptable. Capable in surviving in conditions different than those under which I have "evolved" under...

Okay, not a perfect example, however...

Seriously, I think there is a lot to be said for the potential benefits of humic substances for fishes- and indeed, much research has been done in this area already by science. Still, much is yet to be fully understood, but suffice it to say, there are a variety of health benefits ascribed to humic substances found in blackwater habitats, and the "superficial", yet numerous observations we've collectively made thus far seem to confirm this!

What advantages do they give us when we're trying to breed fishes from these habitats?

We're still learning this stuff, aren't we?

Now, I am equally fascinated by the possible benefits of these conditions for fry. In other words, not only the chemical conditions (i.e; pH, levels of tannins/humic substances, etc.), but the possibility that the biofilms which botanicals and leaves "recruit" will serve as an excellent natural source of food- supplemental or otherwise- for many fish fry.

Biofilms and the organisms which are found with them are consumed by a number of species as adults, so it goes without saying that, if they're available to fry, they might also be a possible source of nutrition.

Which leads me to wonder...

Could a botanically-"stocked" aquarium, complete with perhaps a deep leaf litter bed and/or lots of botanicals, "doing their thing", serve as a sort of "nursery" for fry of fishes which are accustomed to blackwater conditions?

I think so!

So, perhaps a version of the fry-rearing tank that's a bit more than the typical bare-bottomed, hyper-maintained nursery tanks we tend to use so often- might be a good thing to experiment with? I mean, sure, for commercial breeding, it probably would be a challenge...but for the hobbyist working with just a few species...could this be a great way to provide some supplemental/primary feeding? A sort of "botanical refugium" for fry? 

I think there is precedent.

I mean, what hobbyist hasn't had one of those planted "jungle" tanks over the years, where you'd just sort of "stumble" on fry from time to time in the "canopy" of plants? I mean, same idea, right? Natural foods...and protection?

I think that we might see some of this as more and more hobbyists experiment with botanical-style brackish tanks, too! A lot of potential discoveries- even breakthroughs- are possible! 

None of this stuff is completely mind-blowingly revolutionary. But it is evolutionary...a sort of possible progression in thinking. It's not really "rocket science" ("Fill tank with water. Add leaves and let them decompose. Watch biofilms accumulate...Add fish fry.")

I mean, it's likely not THAT easy, but it's not a difficult concept, either. Much research needs to be done. 

And all of this continues to link up with our old friend, patience. Patience is simply fundamental in the botanical-style aquarium world, and it can truly make the difference between success and failure.

Observation and  attempting to ascertain what's going on in your tank "real time" are key practices that we need to embrace in order to determine what, if any benefits botanicals are bringing to the fight.

Yes, I know, we talk a lot about patience here, especially in the context of working with our botanical-style blackwater aquariums. We've pretty much "force-fed" you the philosophy of not rushing the evolution of your aquarium, of hanging on during the initial breakdown of the botanicals, not freaking out when the biofilms appear...patience.

Embracing the process.

What goes hand-in-hand with patience is the concept of...well, how do I put it eloquently...leaving "well enough alone"- not messing with stuff. In the context of trying to get fishes to breed, this is always a bit of a challenge, isn't it?

Yeah, just not intervening in your aquarium when no intervention is really necessary is not easy for many aspiring breeders. I mean, sure, it's important to take action in your aquarium when something looks like it's about to "go South", as they say- but the reality is that good things in an aquarium happen slowly, and if things seem to be moving on positive arc, you need not "prod" them any further. 

I think this is one of the most underrated mindsets we can take as aquarium hobbyists. Now, mind you- I'm not telling you to take a laissez-faire attitude about managing your aquariums. However, what I am suggesting is that pausing to contemplate what will happen if you intervene is sometimes more beneficial than just "jumping in" and taking some action without considering the long-term implications of it. It's one thing to be "decisive"- quite another to be "overreactive!"

And of course, it's important to think about what the things you're observing actually mean...

When that fish starts hiding in the corner, one of the first words out of our mouths is "disease!" Well, IS that what's happening, or is the fish merely "chilling out", or perhaps startled, or even- guarding a clutch of eggs? Your first action shouldn't be to net the fish out, tearing up the aquascape and generally freaking out every fish in the process, right?

I mean, consider what could have precipitated the behavior before springing into action that might have worse consequences for your aquarium and the inhabitants. Maybe it's literally just a "passing behavior" for the fish. Like any living creature, fishes will occasionally engage in unexpected behaviors, which are not necessarily indicative of an illness or problem.

How do you know what to do- or if you should do something? You observe. It's what you already do a lot of anyways, right? Observe your tank constantly, which will give you a sort of "baseline" for its normal function, for the fishes' behaviors, the operational "norms" of the equipment, the environmental parameters, etc. Just because a blog or a book or a friend tells you that "x" is "not right" doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't in your aquarium.

Sure, if you have ammonia, something is not right. Duh. However, if the otherwise healthy Cryptocoryne is growing more slowly in your tank than what "the books" say, it may not be a "problem", right? There could be a lot of different reasons- many of which are not remotely associated with "problems." The key to understanding when stuff is going wrong is to know what it's like when things are going right in your tank. Observe. Constantly.

Document your tank and its operation.

Keep a notebook, take pics, whatever it takes. One of the things we love to see are the tank "progression pics" that you share with us on Facebook. You can see how the botanicals begin to break down, how the water "tints", how the fish color up, etc. It's part of the observation process, which is part of the understanding process, which is part of how you determine if you need to leave stuff alone, or spring into decisive action to circumvent a potential disaster!

It's that simple. You probably already do this to some extent. However, it's easy to forget when its "your babies", right? Online aquarium forums are filled with frantic questions from members about any number of "problems" happening in their aquariums, a good percentage of which are nothing to worry about. You see many of these hobbyists describe "adding 100 mg of _______ the next day, but nothing changed..." (probably because nothing was wrong in the first place!). Now, sure, sometimes there ARE significant problems that we freak out about, and should jump on-but we have to "pick our battles", don't we? Otherwise, every time we see something slightly different in our tank we'd be reaching for the medication, the net, adding another gadget (a total reefer move, BTW), etc.

Let nature take its course on some things.

Yup.

For example, you have biofilms appearing on your botanicals.

Understand what they actually are, and why they appear, and that they are normal- and suddenly, those yucky-looking strands of goo don't seem quite so menacing. When you see pics from the Amazon showing biofilms and algae growth all over the place, you start to understand that, just like the brown water and decomposing leaves, they're an important, integral, and totally normal part of the habitat we replicate.

Learn what "normal" is.

Realize that Nature will plot a course with minimal intervention on our part. Sure, when long-term health or even the enjoyment of your system is tarnished by some of these things, intervention is necessary. Excessive algae, for example, is indicative of a an excess nutrient issue, and can be managed with simple adjustments. However, for so many things, the best "course of action" is to let nature do as she's done for eons...

Embrace nature.

Understand how our closed systems are still little "microcosms", subject to the rules laid down by the Universe. Realize that sometimes- more often than you might think- it's a good idea to "leave well enough alone!"

When those fishes "spontaneously" spawn, realize it's likely a combination of factors, assisted along with patience, and making the right finesse moves at the right time...

Yeah, there MUST be SOMETHING in the water...

Stay excited. Stay curious. Stay kind to yourself. Stay thoughtful. Stay observant. Stay patient...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

Ceding some of the work to Nature...

The other day, someone asked me about "the state of the aquarium hobby" and where I thought things were headed; where Tannin's "world view" falls in this... Now, it's not like I'm some prophet or something. I'm just a hobbyist...perhaps with a slightly different view, but a hobbyists nonetheless. That being said, I think I am a bit lucky in that I'm in a position to see some of the cool changes taking place on a daily basis.

Like it or not, the world of aquariums is changing at a more rapid pace than ever before...New ideas and old ideas are merging being developed- being rediscovered...working their way into our hobby's "collective consciousness." And some ideas and mindsets seem to stick around, regardless of the rapid changes taking place.

I have this thing where I love to "classify" ideas in the hobby...not sure why.  One of my fave hobbyist/writers/photographers, Sumer Tiwari ( who's pics have graced these pages many times) brought up one of my fave points on this topic in a recent discussion:

"...In the modern aquarium keeping, we are constantly applauding nature aquarium tanks which are very carefully built to be aesthetic masterpieces. Any newcomer in the hobby is constantly reminded how important “crystal clear” water is. I’m not saying it’s always wrong. There are times when fishes do come from very clear water or maybe you want to go for that look. My concern is that this other side of the hobby’s is often not exposed to the newer generation of the hobbyists. 
Hobbyists who are lucky to have visited natural habitats of the fishes they like know and understand this concept very well."

Boom. 💥

Yeah.

Sumer went on to bring up some other very important points in his response, but I want to focus on the topic above for today.

I think that we as a "movement" in the hobby (What I have long called the "New Botanical"-style of aquarium) not only present a different sort of aesthetic, but a different mental approach, too. We understand that the materials we place in our aquariums not only affect its appearance, but its function. 

And they change over time.

For decades, I found the truly "ephemeral" nature of the botanical-style aquarium as compelling as any. Not everyone found this "look" to be attractive- or even slightly interesting. It's a look that is- or has been- utterly "contrary" to what the mainstream hobby finds "attractive", and seems to go against the grain of both aesthetics and function.

The near-dominant prevalence of aquatic plants and the rigid interpretation of the "Nature Aquarium Style" movement seemed to leave little room in the hobby's collective psyche for a tinted, darker tank full of randomly-placed decomposing leaves and seed pods.

Or did it?

I mean, Amano's whole idea in a nutshell was to replicate Nature to a certain extent by accepting it and laying a conceptual groundwork for it to unfold. (Just look at all of the pics of grassy fields and moss-covered fenceposts in Amano's books. He got it. He felt something.) Now, granted, his general aesthetic involved plants and what seems to be a natural-looking aquascape, although executed in an intentionally artistic way. There is nothing wrong with this. Some of the world's most beautiful aquariums were/are created this way. 

However, what I noticed over time in the freshwater world was an almost obsessive, rigid adherence to certain parts of Amano's formula and aesthetic; specifically, ratios, placement of hardscape and plants, and a certain type of aesthetic formula that one had to replicate in order to gain legitimacy or "acceptance" from the community. 

I really don't think it was Amano's intent.

"Wabi-sabi", the Japanese philosophy which embraces the ephemeral nature of the existence of things, was/is a key concept in Amano's approach, and it still is. I think it's fallen into a bit of "disuse", though, in the "Nature Aquarium" movement, as aquarists aspired to replicate the style proffered in his works, perhaps trying to by-pass what seemed to be a less exciting -or less immediately rewarding- part of his approach.

I think that this is why we have some many  "diorama-style" tanks in competitions, with "details" like twigs and roots glued to wood...and I also think it's why we see more and more serious aquascapers taking another look at a more realistic type of aquarium utilizing botanicals. Aquariums which embrace decay, detritus, biofilms, and a less "ratio-centric", more "random" natural look.

I think many aquascapers are simply tired of overly-stylized and are leaning back into a truly more natural look. And maybe...perhaps- they're starting to come around to the idea of "functional aesthetics', too!

Is there not also beauty in "randomness", despite our near-obsessive pursuit of rules, such as "golden ratio", color aggregating, etc? Just because last year's big 'scaping contest winner had the "perfect" orientation, ratios, and alignment of the (insert this year's trendiest wood variety here) branch within the tank, doesn't mean it's a real representation of the natural functionality of "randomness." 

In other words, just because it looks good, it doesn't mean it's what Nature looks like. Or functions like, for that matter.

Yes, I know an aquarium is not "Nature"- but it does function in accordance with Nature's laws, regardless of what we want, right? And it is an ecosystem to the organisms which inhabit it.

One of the things that we've seen be more accepted in the hobby over the past few years is a trend towards more "realistic" aquariums. Not just systems which look like natural environments; rather, systems which are modeled as much after the function of them as the aesthetics.

"Functional aesthetics."

I think this is where Tannin Aquatics falls, if you had to nail us down into one specific "stylistic/philosphical approach" to aquariums.

The "space between", so to speak. Sort of straddling multiple approaches, with Nature as the ultimate "critic."

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

Wabi-Sabi? Yeah, I think so. I think we embody the concept beautifully.

The initial skepticism and resistance to the idea of an aquarium filled with biofilms, decomposition, and tinted water has given way to enormous creativity and discovery. Our community has (rather easily, I might add!) accepted the idea that Nature will follow a certain "path"- parts of which are aesthetically different than anything we've allowed to occur in our tanks before- and rather than attempting to mitigate, edit, or thwart it, we're celebrating it!

It's less about perfect placement of materials for artistic purposes, and more about placing materials to facilitate more natural function and interactions between fishes and their environment.

We are looking more and more at the natural habitats for inspiration, rather than "last month's Tank of The Month"- which is a huge leap towards unlocking a greater understanding and appreciation for Nature. And towards preserving it. It's amazing how much you respect and treasure a natural habitat when you have a miniature replica of it in your living room, isn't it?

We are in a really cool place, where we can inspire, assist, and learn from everyone from the most hardcore biotope aquarist to the curious "Nature Aquarium Style" addict, to the serious fish breeder, and show them a way to really incorporate a different side of Nature into their aquariums. 

The natural side of Nature...

And you can embrace both "style" and Nature, of course. You can start with a higher concept and cede some of the evolution to Nature and see what comes of it...

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



And we are seeing the influence- aesthetically and chemically- that these materials assert on the aquarium's environmental parameters.

Especially when we think about the way these systems evolve, and the need for patience on our part.

Yeah, patience. We talk about it a lot, huh?

When it comes to botanical-style aquariums, the most valuable "asset" you can have is most definitely patience. The patience to understand that developing one of these systems is a process, and realizing that, like any aquarium, there are sort of "stages" or "iterations" that, if you take time to enjoy along the way, create a very satisfying and even engrossing aspect!

It's so important to look at things a bit differently than you would if you were a bit more pragmatic about the process...Just hell-bent on "getting it done" as quickly as possible...Rather than purposely arriving at some "point", we look at the whole process, and all of its stages, as "the result"...

 

And for sure, one of my favorite stages in the evolution of an aquarium is when the "stage is set" for the tank to mature. You know: The essential "anchor" hardscape is done. The wood and botanicals that will be the largest pieces are set. The tank is emerging from that that "sterile-looking", stark appearance (You know, that look at the very beginning which leaves no doubt about this being "artificial"). 

It would be tempting, at this point- to just rush through and get more stuff I there; get the fishes in; plants, etc...

Nope, you need to have patience to let it unfold gradually, steadily.

Isn't this a cool time in the evolution of your tank? A time for the potential of Nature to unleash itself...It's about contemplation, reflection, patience.

It's setting the stage for the long term.

It's about looking at your hardscape, for example, and asking yourself if this aggregation is representative of the way a tangle of branches might slowly assemble itself, given a unidirectional flow of water...like an inundation caused by an overflowing stream? Or, perhaps the way a root ball of a tree would present itself when the tree falls over into the water?

Maybe?

Think about the beauty that Nature creates with her utter "randomness"; or more precisely- through the action of water, wind, current...and the passage of time.

The pic below by David Sobry always gives me some interesting ideas...and context to this idea.

I've found that some of the most compelling aquascapes that I've ever seen or done- botanical-style, hardscape, planted, reef, etc.- seem to have a special "something" about them. Of course, a large part of it is the overall "look"; however, one of the things which, in my opinion, separates good tanks from great ones is the little details...stuff that completes the underwater scene.

Not necessarily "structural" details, like anchor hardscape pieces, mind you. Definitely NOT the details like little glued twigs and roots onto rock like we see in those diorama scapes...No, we're talking about little, subtle details which make a system more natural-looking and "shade in the corners" where needed.

I think that's where our obsession with little twigs comes from.

Details. Random details.

Those little things which make a big difference over time.

In our botanical-style world, it's little things, like bits and pieces of broken up botanical materials, like bark, the occasional larger seed pod or what not, which make your scene look much more complete and "organic."

If you take your cues from natural underwater habitats, like I do, you'll notice that they are filled with all sorts of materials- not just the more obvious leaves and branches. If you think contextually, particularly when we're talking about habitats like igapo inundated forests and igarapes ("canoe ways" in the Amazonian forests), take into account that they literally are flooded forest floors.

As such, they have seemingly random aggregations of botanical materials scattered about everywhere, punctuated- or, rather defined- by larger features like fallen logs, branches, a few random rocks. And soil...sediment...turbidity at times.

The look of sort of awkwardly-placed hardscape pieces in an aquarium might certainly not be seen as being "artistic", in the way fabulous work by my friends like Johnny Ciotti are- but, in my opinion, it's nonetheless compelling- once the details arrive to soften and fill in the scene.

Oh, I said the "D" word again.

Details.

I believe that an aquarium that attempts to replicate a sort of chaotic scene like the ones we're talking about starts with what looks like really artificial placement of wood, anchored by numerous details which soften, define, and fill in the scape. A sort of analog to the theater/motion picture concept  of "mise en scene", where pieces literally set the stage and help tell a story by providing context.

Yes, unlike a scape which depends upon growth of plants to fill it in and "evolve" it, the botanical-style blackwater/brackish aquarium is largely hardscape materials, which requires the adept placement of said materials to help fill in the scene. And of course, part of the "evolution" is the softening, redistribution, and break down of botanical materials over time...just like what happens in Nature.

(One of Mike Tucc's underwater igarape pics to the rescue..again!)

I suppose this little rant could be viewed as a "defense" our "style", which on occasion has been criticized as "sloppy", "lazy", "undisciplined", etc...😆

Perhaps it is to some. However, I think it serves to re-examine what I feel is one of the foundational philosophies of the botanical-style aquarium aesthetic.

And that is part of the attraction of the botanical-style aquarium for me. Rather than conform thoroughly to some sort of "rules" based on design, layout, and technique, this type of aquarium tends to ask for very basic initial design, and lets Mother Nature handle a lot of the emerging details over time.

This is a slightly different approach to aquascaping than we usually think about. It requires some vision. It requires belief in one's ideas. It requires understanding...And it requires patience above all else.

And, oh- again- the passage of time.

Nature has been working with terrestrial materials in aquatic habitats for eons.

And Nature works with just about everything you throw at her. She'll take that seemingly "unsexy" piece of wood or rock or bunch of dried leaves, and, given the passage of time, the action of gravity and water movement, and the work of bacteria, fungi, and algae- will mold, shape, evolve them into unique and compelling pieces, as amazing as anything we could ever hope to do...

If we give her the chance. 

If we allow ourselves to look at her work in context.

Always let Nature add the details... She pretty much never messes them up! Don't be afraid to cede some of the work to Her.

It's not just a look. Not just an aesthetic. Not just a mindset...

It's a way to incorporate natural materials to achieve new and progressive results with the fishes and plants we've come to love so much.

And, It's still early days.

A ground floor opportunity for every aquarist who gives this stuff a shot to make a meaningful- and beautiful contribution to the evolving state of the art of the botanical-style aquarium., and to share what Nature really looks like with people all over the world.

That's some of the most compelling work that we can do.

Stay innovative. Stay bold. Stay excited. Stay curious. Stay awed...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

 

 

Sequences, habits...ideas...

There must be a million ways to do an aquarium, and the stuff we practice here is not any different, really. I mean, have you ever noticed that there are lots of different ways to accomplish the same thing in our little botanical-style aquarium world?

There really is no set "formula" to establishing a blackwater, botanical-style aquarium. No exact way that you should proceed to achieve a specified result. No "rules." Only guidelines. "Best practices." Ideas. Recommendations from others who have walked the path before.

However, there is one requirement- patience.

And, with patience, of course, comes great rewards. 

"Rewards", in this instance, being an aquarium which is set up to "evolve" slowly over the long term, providing a rich, environmentally stable environment for its inhabitants.

Seems like everyone in our botanical-style aquarium "game" has developed a technique, or set of techniques- or even, rituals, for that matter...like the preparation of botanicals for use, the documenting of which by members of our community has become the stuff of social media legend, with cool pics of boiling pots of seed pods commonly gracing our Facebook and Instagram feeds! 

And of course, not to be outdone (lol), I have developed some personal, almost "ritualistic" practices in regards to adding botanicals to my new blackwater/botanical-style aquariums. It likely comes as no surprise that my technique is well... freaking slow! And measured.

And- dare I say- almost "zen-like" in its execution. 

Oh, and because I received no less than 4 emails this week asking me how I do this...soo...

Yeah.

Seriously.

My "concept" ( I use the term only half-seriously) is to mimic, sort of- what happens in Nature: It's based on the way materials accumulate. So, the thought goes something like this: After your substrate (typically sand or sand/sediment/mud mixes) is laid down, you add the most durable, almost "semi-permanent" materials...wood or branches.

I mean, that's what happens in Nature, right? Trees fall, roots are exposed, etc. These materials form the basis for many aquatic habitats...

Then, the more durable, more "hard-shelled" botanical materials come next...You know, stuff like Cariniana pods, Sterculia Pods, Mokha podsetc. In nature, this is often what would happen in a stream or flooded forest. The heavier, "Old growth" materials, which fall from the surrounding trees, are likely to end up on the forest floor (or stream bottom, or forest floor, as the case may be) first.

I dare refer to these items a a secondary  part of your "hardscape", much like wood or rock.

 Makes sense so far.

Wait a week or so.

Let the botanicals  "break in" a bit; perhaps softening and beginning to recruit a "patina" of biocover. If you are really patience, and can hold our a week or two, you'll find that your new aquarium actually looks quite established, almost "wabi-sabi" in Amano jargon.

The typical "brightness" or "harshness" of the new aquarium will dissipate quickly. This practice  is analogous to a planted aquarium- allowing specific plants that are the "anchors" of your 'scape to establish themselves before the other plants are added.

Moving on...

(At this point, please feel free to ponder this for just a few seconds, and laugh at the fact that you are literally reading an article- one which takes itself fairly seriously, I might add- about tossing "twigs and nuts" into your aquarium. It is kind of funny, right?)

Next you'd add what I tend to refer to as the "second layer" stuff- items like Dregea pods, Fishtail Palm stems, etc.-stuff that will break down, but typically after a few months submerged. These are materials That tend to "interact" with the aquatic environment far more quickly and noticeably than the initial materials do.

Again, I'd wait a week- or longer, if you can handle it.

Breathe. Take it in. Enjoy.

Finally, you lay down the most "ephemeral" materials- leaves and the very softest of botanicals. The leaves add that final "softness" to your aquascape. These materials will, of course, be the ones that break down the fastest, most rapidly impact the water chemistry, and may be continuously replaced as necessary.

So, yeah, this is my layering "technique"- my way of "stocking" an aquarium with botanicals. 

I'm almost embrassed- but someone asked, so...

No real mind-blowing, world-changing tactic here...well, not on the surface, at least.

However, if you put some thought into this as a process- a practice that is all about the 'evolving" nature of your aquarium. Something analogous to what goes on in the wild. Something that fosters biological and chemical interactions and impacts we have come to see as part of the fascination of our blackwater, botanical-style aquariums.

And the common thread among the techniques that I favor is that not-so-exciting, yet absurdly beneficial philosophy that time, observation, and above all- patience- are the key requirements for success.

Long-term success.

It's as much a mental shift as a "technique."

So, sure, you can simply drop the leaves, pods, and other materials into your tank right from the start. Likely, you won't see any real detriment in doing it this way; you just may not get the enjoyment of seeing the "evolution" as clearly as you would otherwise. Observing and enjoying the subtle nuances of your aquarium at every stage of its evolution. With my "go slow" practice, the differences are subtle- and the "payoffs" really more apparent over the longer term.

If you can do it next time, I think you'll notice a difference in the way your aquarium looks, performs, and evolves. 

Slowly. Steadily. Quietly.

That's the "zen" of "Botanical Layering!"

Stay relaxed. Stay diligent. Stay observant. Stay calm. Stay disciplined...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

"Authentic Nature?"

It's pretty cool to see so many hobbyists playing with botanical materials in their aquariums; trying out new aesthetics and making "mental shifts" to accept Nature in all of her unedited glory. We have, for the first time (in my opinion, anyways...) seen large numbers of hobbyists not only acknowledging that Nature is an imperfect, often "dirty-looking" or even "chaotic" place, not at all obligated to meet our aesthetic expectations.

It's made us discuss what we have previously interpreted as "authentic" interpretations of Nature in years past...an evolution of sorts, in our thinking.

Finding the true beauty in this "unedited" interpretation of Nature in our aquariums involves making some mental shifts and adjusting our aesthetic expectations. This is a quantum shift, IMHO, as it compels us to find beauty in things that we previously might have overlooked as "dirty", unkempt", "sloppy", or just plain "ugly."

We're appreciating not only the looks, but the functions which natural materials foster.

And, since our goal is to utilize these natural materials to represent, on some level, those found in the wild habitats where our fishes come from, I have this expression that I use when describing the use of a lot of botanicals for aquascaping: "Generic tropical." 

By "Generic Tropical", I mean utilizing natural materials from certain parts of the world to represent those in other parts of the world. Like, "generically..."

OK, I admit that it's actually a pretty lame descriptor, but if you think about it for just a bit, there is a certain kind of logic to it. I mean, many materials- leaves, seed pods, etc. do have that sort of "generic" look to them which would make them represent almost any type of tropical plant once submerged in the aquarium.

Examples?

Well, one of my favorites is Texas Live Oak leaf litter. These diminutive leaves  and their accompanying terrestrial materials could pretty much pass for a wide assortment of leaves and leaf litter from the trees of anything you'd find in the tropical jungle or rainforest pretty much anywhere in the world where water and foliage might meet.

 

Now, unlike some of the more "obviously Northern Hemisphere-looking" (LOL) Oak leaves, Beech, etc. these leaves can look decidedly "tropical."  (I know, you're saying, "Fellman- WHAT exactly does "looking tropical" mean?")For that matter, other leaves, like Magnolia, have that same sort of je ne sais quoi about them which  can sort of make them pass for the fallen leaves of a typical jungle tree once submerged and covered over with biofilm and fungal growth. 

I mean, an astute botanist might be able to make a distinction upon close examination, but the typical "armchair aquarist" likely won't have the knowledge to make a positive ID.

And then, there are those seed pods...

For the most part, almost of the botanicals which we collectively refer to as "seed pods" (often, the "follicle" or fruit of a tree, to be technically accurate) in our collection are from various tropical locales; the ones that come from North America or other more temperate climes are either super "representative" of materials that you might find in the tropics, or are utilized for strictly more utilitarian purposes.

Case in point: The Alder Cone. 

I mean, no one is going to look at an Alder Cone and think to themselves, "Borneo, man!" Nope.  Not gonna happen.

On the other hand, some people really don't care, because they like the looks and aren't bothered by their decidedly "non-tropical" look. Others use them strictly for functional purposes- like fish breeders and shrimp hobbyists, who value these little "tint grenades" (Alder, Birch, and Casuarina) for what they are- compact "tannin delivery vehicles" and "biofilm propagation substrates!"

Functional.

And of course, there are materials which sort of fill multiple categories, earning our other engineered descriptor of "functional aesthetics."  We just discussed this idea recently, so I won't go overkill here, but what we mean by this term is materials which look good and happen to provide something else- like a place for fishes to hide or spawn- or a supplemental food source- or even a significant substrate upon which biofilms can propagate and shrimp can feed on, like the Latifolia Pod.

Botanicals like our most popular one, the Carinana Pod, fall into this category, as they not only are a very authentic-looking and decidedly tropical botanical that you might...might- find in the flooded forests of South America (or, they effectively represent something else that you might find there), they provide a function (a hiding spot or breeding cave) for fishes like Apistogramma.

Yeah, I can't tell you how many pics we've received from our community over the past three years showing an Apistogramma cutely hunkered down in one of these pods!

And then there are materials which I just call "whimsically functional"- stuff which absolutely has no chance of being found in the habitats from which our fishes come and don't really provide anything that accurately "represents" a particular item you'd likely find in these habitats.

For example, Cholla Wood. It's the skeleton of a cactus found in the deserts of the Southwestern United States- not exactly a "Mecca" for tropical fish habitats!

Now, Cholla has become a sort of "industry standard" for shrimp keepers and lovers of aquatic mosses.  Aquatic mosses are easy to affix to the many-faceted branches, and shrimp like grazing on the biofilms which Cholla recruits.

But, yeah, it resembles nothing that you'd ever find in a tropical aquatic habitat.

Now, there is really nothing inherently "wrong" about using materials which aren't found in the natural habitats of our fishes. If we are honest with ourselves, that category applies to the majority of materials which we regularly utilize in aquascaping, right?

And that's not a problem, IMHO. We've been playing with stuff like this for generations in the hobby. 

I mean, sure, if you are a hardcore biotope aquarium enthusiast, and are entering a tank into one of those contests where extreme authenticity is valued, you need to take that into account. We provide- and will continue to do some deep dives and give more origin and species information about our botanicals than you're likely to find almost anywhere else, as far as we know- so you can make informed decisions relative to your biotope aquarium.

That being said, I think we as hobbyists need to chill just a bit about the level of authenticity demanded by many of the biotope contests out there. We get really worked up; really pissy about this shit.

It's kind of fun to watch from afar, actually.

Now, it does show the level of passion and commitment to the "art and science" that our hobby community has- which is great.

I have no issue with many of those standards for a biotope aquarium. They are all logical and well thought out. Where I take issue- like so many things in this hobby- is with attitudes. I mean, I've had people "call out" others because one of the leaves or what not in a "Rio____ biotope aquarium" is "not endemic to the region", or whatever.

Okay, I get your thinking, but really...

Can these armchair critics really discern the decomposing leaf of Hevea brasiliensis, Swietenia macrophylla, or Euterpe precatoria from Catappa, Guava, Jackfruit, Apple, Oak, etc? Especially after they've been submerged for a few weeks? I mean, seriously? Oh, and just because a botanical or leave or twig comes from ________, that doesn't necessarily mean that you'd find it in the water in those regions...

And, if someone cannot source these specific Amazonian leaves (news flash- you CAN'T at the moment because of restrictions on their export...thankfully), for example- does that invalidate the aquarium from consideration as a  serious "biotope aquarium?"

It really shouldn't, IMHO. Am I missing the point here? I don't think so...

At the end of the day, I think that everyone can and should put aside their "interpretive differences" and come to an agreement that just about any aquarium intended to replicate on some level, a specific wild habitat, ecological niche, or area where a certain fish or fishes are found- is hugely important.

Why?

Because it calls attention to the habitats and environments themselves. It creates a starting point for discussion, research, debate...It raises awareness of the challenges that many habitats face with the encroachment of man's activities. It most certainly makes us appreciate the fragility of life- the genius of nature, and the incredible diversity and beauty of our home planet.

We all want to represent- as accurately and faithfully as possible- the biotopic niches that we're into. And that is incredibly cool! However, when we get caught up in semantics and petty arguments for the sake of...well, for the sake of "being right"- who does this help?

No one.

Who does it hurt?

Well, doesn't this kind of criticism hurt those who are in a unique position to use their aquarium hobby talents to maybe, MAYBE reach a few non-hobbyists with their beautiful tank...perhaps raising awareness of the plight of that Borneo peat swamp or African flood plain, for example? Does such criticism discourage them from trying again in the future and sharing their work with the world?

Yeah. I think it does. And that sucks.

We need to lose the attitude on this topic.

It starts with "labels" we assign to our work. 

I think many aquariums can be accurately labeled "biotope-inspired" or "biotope-style" aquarium and be a very reasonable representation of a specific aquatic habitat. I think a lot of the cool work our community does is at that level. There is nothing wrong with that at all.

We want to inspire and facilitate good work in this hobby area and others.

So, the idea of "authenticity" in our aquarium representations of Nature- although important- isn't nearly as important as the underlying message such aquariums convey-

That the world is filled with amazing beauty, and that our aquariums are just another window to that world. Filled with every bit as much wonder as the wild habitats that they represent.

Stay resourceful. Stay creative. Stay observant. Stay devoted. Stay excited...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Part of the dance...

As I've embark on starting some new aquariums lately, I've taken the time to contemplate the way I wanted to approach my tanks. And of course, when you are starting new aquariums, you have to think about the sequences and processes by which they establish themselves and evolve. 

When we think about our botanical-style aquariums over the long term, they will evolve in many ways, much like a natural river or stream, without much intervention on our part. We've talked about this idea to the point where you're likely sick of hearing about it!

Yet, over the very long term, our aquariums DO change materially from when they first established themselves. For example, as water flow decreases, plants might grow differently. As the substrate begins to take on a "life of its own"- with more life forms growing in its matrix- fishes will forage for supplemental food items in it. 

As wood begins to soften, releasing more tannins into the water, the water darkens. Leaves and botanicals start to decompose, enriching the environment with humic acids, tannins, and other organic materials. Algae, although often dreaded, grow based on the available nutrients, waxing and waning. Biofilms emerge, providing supplemental food for the aquarium's inhabitants, and nutrient processing via bacterial assimilation.

And you'll be involved with this stuff, too!

You'll interact with your aquarium; play some role in its evolution, progress, and growth. Hopefully, you'll strike a balance between doing too much and too little. Or better yet- an understanding as to why they appear, and what it really means to your tank. No two aquariums are alike, and this is a foundational piece of aquarium keeping.

Yeah, a "dance."

Now, this idea of breaking in, cycling, and managing aquariums as they establish has been understood, analyzed, and studied since the dawn of modern aquarium keeping. Sure, there might be a dozen different variations of the sequences, approaches, and details, but essentially it's all the same. 

Not all that much "new" to discuss here.

The phases of our tanks' "evolution" that I am interested in, for the context of this discussion, are the ones which seem to occur long after an aquarium is cycled, "broken-in", and otherwise well-established- specifically in the context of the botanical-style aquariums that we play with.

These more "mature" phases are fascinating to me. These represent the aquarium at a point of ecological "maturity", when the biological processes that are so crucial are stable and well-established.

This aspect of the "environmental dance" is well-rehearsed. We kind of have it down cold.

Without going in to any one of the dozens of aspects of a "mature" aquarium's definition, let's just say it's a system that you're not "on edge" about every day, and leave it at that! 

 

Of course, an aquarium which utilizes botanicals as a good part of its hardscape follows a set of phases, too. And I've found that once a botanical-style aquarium (blackwater, brackish, etc.) hits that sort of "stable mode", it's just that- stable. You won't typically see wildly fluctuating pH levels, nitrates, phosphates, etc.

To a certain degree, the aquarium has achieved some sort of "biological equilibrium."

We understand this idea in all sorts of aquariums.

Now, one thing that's unique about the botanical-style approach is that we tend to accept the idea of decomposing materials accumulating in our systems. We understand that they act, to a certain extent, as "fuel" for the micro and macrofauna which reside in the aquarium. I have long been one the belief that if you decide to let the botanicals remain in your aquarium to break down and decompose completely, that you shouldn't change course by suddenly removing the material all at once...

Why? 

Well, I think my theory is steeped in the mindset that you've created a little ecosystem, and if you start removing a significant source of someone's food (or for that matter, their home!), there is bound to be a net loss of biota- a "breakdown" in the system-and that this could lead to a disruption of the very biological processes that we aim to foster.

Okay, it's a theory...But I think I might be on to something, maybe?

So, like here is my theory in more detail: It's important to look at the botanical-style aquarium (like any aquarium, of course) as a little "microcosm", with processes and life forms dependent upon each other for food, shelter, and other aspects of their existence. And I really believe that the environment of this type of aquarium, because it relies on botanical materials (leaves, seed pods, etc.), is more thoroughly influenced by the quantity, condition, and composition of said material.

Just like in natural aquatic ecosystems...

The botanical materials are a real "base" for the little microcosm we create.

And of course, by virtue of the fact that they contain other compounds, like tannins, humic substances, lignin, etc., they also serve to influence the water chemistry of the aquarium, the extent to which is dictated by a number of other things, including the "starting point" of the source water used to fill the tank.

So, in short- I think the presence of botanicals in our aquariums is multi-faceted, highly influential, and of extreme importance for the stability, ecological balance, and efficiency of the tank.

All part of a little "dance", that, although important to monitor, is not necessarily something that we as hobbyists have to constantly intervene in. We do quite a bit when we simply perform our regular water exchanges, filter media replacements/cleanings, and occasional plant trimmings.

In fact, I sometimes wonder if that is ALL we need to do?

So why not simply enjoy what's happening in your aquarium as it evolves?

I know that, for many years, I perennially overthought stuff, instead of merely enjoying it. "Active monitoring" is a great way to run a tank, IMHO. You do the necessary functions to keep things stable and consistent, and little more.

Just observe; enjoy. Cede some of the work to Nature. She's really good at this stuff.

Watching a display aquarium evolve and sort of "find itself" naturally over time is proving to be one of the most enjoyable discoveries I've made in the hobby in decades.

By simply following established maintenance routines, and monitoring what's occurring in the tank, as opposed to constantly trying to intervene to "pre-empt" what we in the hobby have commonly perceived to be problems, I've personally had more stable systems, more growth...more success than ever before.

It's all a dance, for sure.

A lot going on. A complicated dance.

Yet, it's hardly a difficult one to understand...or to perfect, for that matter. Rather, its rooted in over a hundred years of aquarium "best practices", the laws of Nature, and good old common sense and practical "work":

Conduct regular water exchanges. Stock your aquarium carefully. Feed precisely. Observe. Be habitual about these things. They're hammered into our heads from day one.

We know these things. We're pretty good at them, too.

Yet, I think little energy is spent discussing the merits of why! I mean, it's great that we execute on these practices; however, I think it would be more beneficial to understand WHY it's so good to do these things...

And further, we almost never see discussions about how Nature- if allowed to do some of its own "work"- will help us manage and evolve systems with tremendous success. 

A dance, for sure.

Why have we not looked at it this way for so long? 

Well, I don't think that there is any "mystery" here...

Rather, maybe it's because we haven't really thought much about this stuff, in terms of how it is actually beneficial, as opposed to detrimental. And how, despite  not being the most attractive things in the world, that stuff like biofilms, detritus, and decomposition are beautiful, natural, and incredibly important components and processes in our closed systems- if we give them a chance.

Honestly, over the years, it seems that we spend so much time resisting and fearing the appearance of some of this stuff that it's not ever given a chance to display its "good side" for us.

Biofilms, fungal growth, aufwuchs, and decomposition...Is this stuff that is inevitable, natural- perhaps even beneficial in our aquariums? Is it something that we should learn to embrace and appreciate, instead of revile and resist? Isn't it all part of a natural process, functions, and yes- aesthetic- that we have to understand to appreciate?

Extra points for this one: Have you ever tried rearing fry in a tank filled with decomposing leaves and biofilms?

Try it. Question it. Work with it. But try it.

Ask yourself why it works...search for answers. There is a lot there, beyond what you read in most aquarium hobby literature. Study natural aquatic ecosystems of tropical streams and other bodies of water...You'll likely be fascinated and inspired.

The botanical-style aquarium approach that we play with is perhaps the first of it's kind in the hobby to really say, "Hey, this stuff  IS just like Nature! It's not that bad!" 

And  perhaps, it's the first approach to make us think, "Perhaps there is a benefit to all of this."

I think that there most definitely is.

Accepting that there is most definitely a "dance" in our aquariums, and becoming an "active monitor" instead of an "active intervener" has added a new and rewarding aspect to my love of the hobby.

I think that this approach to the "dance" not only makes you a more engaged hobbyist, it gives you a remarkable appreciation for the long term evolution of an aquarium; an appreciation for the pace by which nature operates, and the direction which your aquarium goes.

"Monitoring" versus "intervening"...An interesting, if not critical- choice on the path towards aquarium success.

Yeah, it's all part of the dance, isn't it?

Don't resist it. 

Embrace it. Study it. Rejoice in it. 

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

And Stay Wet.

 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

 

Short-term lapses...long-term successes!

Every once in a while, my thoughts wander towards the idea of how a botanical-style aquarium would run in the absence of completely diligent care. Like, if you let it sort of "run on autopilot" just a bit.

What would happen?

We're all about diligent, thoughtful, regular  maintenance of our aquariums, right?

I mean, we spend a lot of time, money, and energy equipping our tanks with suitable gear, embracing excellent practices, and just stay on top of everything in general. Making sure that they run perfectly, and don't degenerate into some perceived "swamp of death" or something similar.

So, really- what happens to our botanical-style blackwater aquarium with a "deep leaf litter bed" or a significant assemblage of botanicals? Let's say that we stop doing weekly water exchanges and slip to say, once a month. Let's say all we're doing is topping off for evaporation during that time period, feeding fishes; that's about it.

What do you think will happen?

Will all of the botanical material simply continue to break down, keeping the water "tinted?"

Will biofilms continue to colonize open surfaces? Will water chemistry swing wildly?  Will nitrate and phosphate rise off the charts? Will the aquarium descend into utter chaos? 

Huh?

I mean, I think I have some opinions on the matter, based on a tank or two I let run like that in tests...

And guess what?  It was literally "no big deal."

The tanks didn't miss a beat.

Of course, one could easily argue that was me and just two tests...

However, a well-run botanical-style aquarium that is properly stocked, diligently maintained, and otherwise in good condition has no reason to simply descend rapidly into chaos, right? 

I don't think any of us operate our tanks on such a "razor's edge" between success and disaster that the slightest deviation will create dire consequences, right?

Yeah. If they do- you're likely doing something wrong. Really. These systems aren't that "fragile."

And you have to consider how botanical-style tanks operate in general, right?

I mean, when you think about it, the botanical-style blackwater aquarium is sort of set up to replicate a natural habitat where all of this stuff is taking place already.

Decomposition, enrichment, nutrient import/export...

So, yeah- they're set up from day one to function in a natural way; to process and assimilate nutrients from a variety of sources.

How much more will things change by simply delaying water exchanges for several weeks? Will nitrate and phosphate accumulate?

Or, will the bacteria, fungal growths, and other microorganisms and crustacean life living in our botanical substrates continue to do what they do- break down organic waste, utilize the compounds available to them in the system, and continue to reproduce?

Is a sort of "denitrification" taking place in the botanical bed you've created? (A theory that I would love to explore more in the future)

I can't help but wonder if a botanical-style blackwater aquarium can better handle a period of "benign neglect" than many typical aquarium systems can...Again, by virtue of the fact that in their normal, everyday function, they simply are "configured" to process and assimilate nutrients in a very efficient manner.

So, by letting the aquarium just sort of do it's thing- perhaps backing off of regular water exchanges for some period of time-I can't help but think that you'd see some continued stability for a while before things start deteriorating more significantly.

Not that I'd want to do this, mind you... 

Yet, with a well-maintained, well-configured system...you could.

So, what kinds of things can we do to give ourselves a bit of "breathing room" in our botanical-style aquariums; to create stable systems which can handle periods of "benign neglect" when our lives get a bit busy?

As most of you who work with these aquariums know, the key to long-term success with them is to go slowly, deploying massive amounts of patience, common-sense husbandry, monitoring of environmental parameters, and careful stocking management. Not really much different from what you'd need to do to successfully maintain ANY type of aquarium for the long haul.

Yeah, real "news flash" there, right?

So, it all starts with the way these tanks "run in", and that will sort of "set the tone" for the care and long-term maintenance involved.

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

And, if you use too much carbon, you'll be one of those people who emails me with a starting line like, "...and I added an entire package of catappa leaves and my water is barely tinted..."

You might also experience a bit of initial cloudiness or turbidity...this could either be physical dust or other materials released from the tissues botanicals, or even a burst of bacteria/microorganisms. Not really sure, but it usually passes quickly with minimal, if any intervention on your part. Oh, and not everyone experiences this...often this is a phenomenon which seems to happen in brand new tanks...so it might not even be directly attributable to the presence of the botanicals (well, at least not 100%). Could be the sand, or other dust/dirt from the other hardscape materials or the tank itself.

Oh, and the reality is that in a tank with lots of botanical materials, the water may not always be "crystal clear." I mean, sure it'll be clear- as in, you can see across it- but it might have a sort of "soupy" look to it. This is for the very reasons stated above.

Mental shifts required...

So, that being said...what happens next?

Well, typically, as most of you who've played with this stuff know, the botanicals will begin to soften and break down over a period of several weeks. Botanical materials are the very definition of the word "ephemeral." Nothing lasts forever, and botanicals are no exception! Pretty much everything we utilize- from Guava leaves to Melostoma roots- starts to soften and break down over time.

Most botanical materials should be viewed as "consumables"- meaning that you'll need to replace them over time.

As we've discussed ad nauseum, you have the option to leave 'em in as they break down, or remove them (whatever your aesthetic sensibilities tell you to do!). Many "Tinters" have been leaving their botanicals in until completely decomposed, utilizing them as almost some sort of botanical "mulch", particularly in planted aquariums, and have reported excellent results. As we work more and more on substrates, I think we will see more and more hobbyists leaving the materials in to fully decompose.

Understanding what's going on- expecting the biofilms, decomposition, etc. is only part of the process- that "mental shift" we talk about so much. The rest is observation of your animals and their reactions, behaviors, and overall health. How are they eating, coloring up, behaving? Have you noticed any changes- positive OR negative- since starting your blackwater adventure? Are they spawning? Have they stopped spawning? Have they started dying?

I mean, shit-it's that basic.

And THAT important.

Yeah, one of the most important behavioral characteristics I think we can have in this hobby, besides patience, is consistency.

Like, doing the same thing on a regular, continuous basis.

Duh.

It's not exactly a revolutionary concept in the aquarium world, but it's a very "foundational" practice/principle, isn't it? I mean, if you're trying to create and maintain a consistent set of environmental conditions, it's pretty damn important!

Now, we receive a lot of emails from hobbyists who ask us how to keep their blackwater tanks consistent (in regards to the "visual tint"), but likely the environmental parameters, as well. Sure, this may seem almost ridiculously intuitive to most hobbyists, but it's such a common concern with hobbyists, that I can't help but consider that we might be overthinking it just a bit.

I mean, environmental consistency is not too difficult to achieve, even in an aquarium with lots of botanical materials.

You just have to remember a few things.

There is a continuous and dynamic "evolution" that occurs throughout the existence of these aquariums, and the direction it goes is absolutely influenced by the degree to which we as hobbyists are involved.

A more 'holistic" approach is warranted.

As we have discussed for years here (in fact- RIGHT HERE in this blog, lol), botanicals are "ephemeral" in nature, and tend to break down and decompose over time after submersion. In order to maintain "consistency" and stability of the environment, we need to regularly replenish/replace them.

So, think about it this way:

The act of replacing the decomposing leaves and botanicals not only mimics the processes which happen in nature (new materials being deposited into the waters), but it serves to continuously "refresh" or perpetuate the conditions within the aquarium. A sort of "mandatory husbandry process" that just happens to be the best way to maintain ANY type of aquarium for the long term, IMHO!

It all boils down, IMHO, to a sort of "checklist" of "best practices" to set up your tank for long-term success...and resiliency when you're less-than-fanatical about weekly husbandry:

1) Start slowly, gradually building up your quantities of botanical materials over a period of weeks or months, until you reach a level that you like aesthetically, and which provides the type of manageable environmental parameters you are comfortable with.

2) Employ basic, common-sense husbandry protocols, like weekly small water changes, careful feeding, use and replacement of chemical filtration media.

3) Stock your aquarium with fishes gradually, over a period of months, preferably with smaller fishes that can "grow with the aquarium" and produce less metabolic waste during the critical first few months as your system establishes itself.

4) Regularly monitor basic water parameters over the first couple of months to establish a "baseline" of how your aquarium functions and runs chemically. Continue this practice throughout the lifetime of the aquarium.

5) Regularly remove and/or replace decomposing botanicals (or NOT- depending upon your preference) with new ones, to help keep the same visual "tint" and consistent TDS/pH parameters.

6) Note any trends or deviations from the "baseline" over time and adjust as needed to stay within a fairly tight range.

7) Stay calm, move slowly, and make adjustments with finesse.

So, yeah, I'm a fairly obsessive husbandry guy. I love my weekly water exchanges. However, I don't get too upset or freaked out if, for whatever reason, I miss a water exchange or two from time to time.

Because I configure my botanical-style aquariums for the long term.

It's an interesting question...and perhaps an interesting experiment for the intrepid hobbyist. Don't ask me why this was on my mind this morning...I mean, I did my water exchanges over the weekend, really!

Really!!! I mean it! 

Until next time...Relax a bit.

Stay calm. Stay cool. Stay observant. Stay habitual. Stay informed. Stay diligent...

And Stay Wet.

 

Scot Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

 

Downstream thinking...

I realize, I spend an obscene amount of time talking about lots of exotic aquatic habitats- particularly seasonally-inundated forest floors and the like. However, when you think about all of the inspiring types of aquatic habitats or ecological niches that we have to model our aquariums after, it's interesting that we seldom talk about one of the most obvious ones...Streams!

The definition of a "stream" is: "...a body of water flowing in a channel or watercourse, as a river, rivulet, or brook..."

And of course, these little bodies of water flow through jungled areas, where they're bound to pick up some leaves, twigs, and other plant parts as they wind along their path. Leaves, the "jumping off point" of our botanical obsession, form a very important part of these stream habitats.

It is known by science that the leaf litter and the community of aquatic animals that it hosts is, according to one study, "... of great importance in assimilating energy from forest primary production into the blackwater aquatic system." 

"Shit, here Fellman goes again..."

Leaf accumulations also function as a means to preserve the nutrients that would be lost to the forests which would inevitably occur if all the material which fell into the streams was simply washed downstream. That's a hugely important ecological role, isn't it?

The fishes, crustaceans, and insects that live in the leaf litter and feed on the fungi, detritus, and decomposing leaves themselves found in streams are very important to the overall habitat.

Now, streams are not only fascinating from an ecological perspective- they are interesting when you explore their composition, formation, and what influences their function and gradual evolution over time.

Hint... a big part of it is the substrate...Yeah, like, what's on the bottom...And how does that influence the overall ecology of the stream. 

And how do we work with this stuff in our tanks?

Well...Again...back to the bottom for just a bit.

One of the things that I always find a bit interesting in our aquascaping is that many of us just sort of seem to apply little thought to the substrate of our aquariums. I mean, if you're a planted aquarium geek, you'll spend a huge amount of time creating an "active" bottom, composed of varying fertilizers, aquatic sands, etc.

However, the majority of us tend to simply find a substrate that looks cool to us, wash it, throw it on the bottom, smooth it out somewhat, and move on to the other aspects of aquascaping...

Done.

Oh, sure, a few competition 'scapers will play with the contours a bit as they arrange rock (I'm thinking about the Iwagumi gurus here); however, this is more a of a "design" aspect than an attempt to replicate the bottom of a stream or other body of water as it appears in Nature.

it seems that very little attention is paid by the majority of hobbyists to the bottom of streams and rivers as they appears in Nature, and how the substrate "works" with the entire environment.

I admit, I've been kind of guilty of this, and it's only been recently that I really gave more than a passing thought to what goes on "down there" in nature, especially in streams and rivers. It's a lot more interesting, when you examine the subject more closely- especially from the perspective of how these structures came to be, and what implications they have for fish populations...cool stuff.

Now, sure, you know of my obsession with varying substrate compositions and enhancement of the substrate...You've likely seen my recent work with with different materials, like leaves, botanicals, clays, and sediments that I've shared with you here and elsewhere. It's an idea that I just can't get away from! 

However, the physical composition of the substrate materials is but one aspect of these interesting aquatic systems...

Stream and river bottom composition is affected by things like regional weather, current, geology, the surrounding dry lands, and a host of other factors- all of which could make planning your next aquarium even more interesting if you take them into consideration! 

If we focus on streams, it's important to note that the volume of water entering the stream, and the depth of the channels it carves out, helps in part determine the amount and size of sediment particles that can be carried along, and thus comprise the substrate.

And of course, the composition of bottom materials and the depth of the channel are always changing in response to the flow in a given stream, affecting the composition and ecology in many ways.

Some leaf litter beds form in what stream ecologists call "meanders", which are stream structures that form when moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its "valley", and the inner part of the river has less energy and deposits silt- or in our instance, leaves.

There is a whole, fascinating science to river and stream structure, and with so many implications for understanding how these structures and mechanisms affect fish population, occurrence, behavior, and ecology, it's well worth studying for aquarium interpretation!  Did you get that part where I mentioned that the lower-energy parts of the water courses tend to accumulate leaves and sediments and stuff?

Likely you did!

Permanent streams will often have different volume and material composition (usually finely-packed sands and gravels, with lots of smooth stones) than more intermittent streams, which are the result of inundation caused by rain, etc.

So-called "ephemeral" streams, typically occur only immediately after rain events (which means they usually don't have fish in them unless they are washed into them from more permanent watercourses). The latter two stream types are typically more affected by leaves, botanical debris, branches, and other materials.

In the Amazon region (you knew I was sort of headed back that way, right?), it sort of works both ways, with the rivers influencing the surrounding land...and then the land "giving" some of the materials back to the rivers...the extensive lowland areas bordering the river and its tributaries, known as varzeas (“floodplains”), are subject to annual flooding, which helps foster enrichment of the aquatic environment.

Although many streams derive their food base from leaves and organic matter, there is a lot of other material present that contributes to its structure. Think along those lines when scheming your next aquarium. Ask yourself what factors would contribute to the bottom composition of the area you're taking inspiration from.

You'll see a variety of bottom compositions in Amazonian and other streams, ranging from the aforementioned leaves and detritus in stream margins, to sand and silt over "cobbles", to boulders covered in algae, to fine patch gravels, and even just silt.

You might even say that rivers and streams act like nature's "sediment sorting machines", as they move debris, geologic materials, and botanicals along their courses. And along the way, varying ecological communities are assembled, with all sorts of different fishes being attracted to different niches.

Interestingly, in streams, the primary producers of the food webs that attract our fishes are algae and diatoms, which are typically found on rocks and wood wherever light and nutrients create optimum conditions for their growth. Organic material that enters streams via leaf fall is acted upon by small organisms, which help break it down.

It is probably no surprise, then, that bacteria (especially in biofilms!) and fungi are the initial consumers of the organic materials that accumulate on the bottom. Like, the stuff many of us loathe. These, in turn, are extremely vital to fishes as a food source. Hence, one of the things I love so much about utilizing a leaf litter bed as a big part of your substrate composition in an aquarium!

Streams which flow over stony, open bottoms, free from natural obstacles like tree trunks and such, tend to develop a rich algal turf on their surfaces.

While not something a lot of hobbyists like to see in their tanks (with the exception of Mbuna guys and true weirdos like me), algae-covered stones and rocks are entirely natural and appropriate for the bottom of many aquariums! (enter a tank with THAT in the next international "natural" aquascaping contest and watch the ensuing judge "freak-out" it causes! )

Grazing fishes, of course, will feed on and among these algal films, and would be logical choices for a stony-bottom-themed aquarium. When we think about the way natural fish communities are assembled in rivers and streams, it's almost always as a result of adaptations to the physical environment and food sources.

Now, not everyone wants to have algae-covered stones or a mass of decomposing leaves on the bottom of their aquarium. However, I think that considering the role that these materials play in the composition of streams and the lives of the fishes which inhabit them is important, and entirely consistent with our goal of creating the most natural, effective aquariums for the animals which we keep.

As a hobbyist, you can employ elements of these natural systems in a variety of aquariums, using any number of readily-available materials to do the job.

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

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

This was what inspired me in my last few blackwater aquariums.

The interaction between the terrestrial elements and the aquatic ones. Allowing terrestrial leaves to accumulate naturally among the "tree root structure" we have created fosters this more natural-functioning environment. As these leaves begin to soften and ultimately break down, they will foster microbial growth, biofilms, and fungal growths- all of which will provide supplemental foods for the resident fishes...just like what happens in Nature. 

Facilitating these processes- allowing the materials to accumulate naturally and break down "in situ" is a key component of replicating and supporting these microhabitats in our aquariums. The typical aquarium hardscape- artistic and beautiful as it might be, generally replicates the most superficial aesthetic aspects of such habitats, and tends to overlook their function- and the reasons why such habitats form.

When you contemplate the form, function, and the evolution which occurs in streams, you can really push yourself to try some new things in the aquarium! 

There is obviously much more to streams than the sands, branches, and leaves which accumualte in them. However, it's important to consider all of these aspects if we really want to understand these habitats from a different perspective.

We have literally an entire planet of amazing habitats from which to draw inspiration, which, in my opinion, is far more interesting and inspiring than last month's "Tank of The Month." Then again, I'm a guy whose idea of a cool aquascape involves brown water, decaying leaves, biofilms, and piles of seed pods...so what the Hell do I know...

Until next time...I hope that you look deeper...and enjoy the research. If you're hungry for a little inspiration- look to Nature. She won't disappoint.

Stay curious. Stay inspired. Stay excited. Stay creative. Stay adventurous...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics