The Tint

Processes, practices, participation...and mental shifts.

Today's piece is sort of the "Part 2" to yesterday's blog about Nature doing some of the work. We'll focus a bit more on the practical aspects of managing a botanical-style tank today...and the complimentary mindset that needs to accompany the work.

After years of experimenting with leaves, botanicals, and other natural materials in aquariums, and with a growing global community of hobbyists doing the same daily, the mental roadblocks to this approach arestarting to fall. We're seeing all sorts of tanks being created by all sorts of hobbyists, which in years past would garner far more hushed whispers and criticisms than any gasps of envy.

Nothing we're doing here is really that crazy a departure from more "conventional approaches", in terms of husbandry, care, and observation of our fishes. 

And again, it boils down to observing many basic tenants of aquarium keeping. We operate with techniques that probably foster tanks with more "organic compounds" in them than most, because we play with decomposing leaves, botanicals, and soils. Stuff breaks down. It must be acted on by bacteria, other microorganisms, and fungi in order for this process to occur.

Now, the moniker "organics" that we in the hobby have used as a metaphoric "red flag" to discourage throwing this stuff into tanks in years past is still important to understand. Sure, organics can accumulate and even be problematic- if you don't have necessary control and export processes in place to deal with them. What would these processes be?

Here's the part that's gonna blow your mind! NOT! 

Well, to start with, you need decent water movement and filtration, to physically remove any debris. Use of some chemical filtration media, such as organic scavenger resins, which tend not to remove the "tint", but act upon specific compounds, like nitrate, phosphate, etc. Or carbon. Yes, carbon, in small quantities. Your call.

And of course, water exchanges. Yeah, the centuries old, tried-and-true process of exchanging water is probably the single most important aspect of nutrient control and export for any system, traditional, botanical, etc. There is no substitute for diluting organic impurities through regularly-scheduled water changes, IMHO.

This isn't some revelation.

Botanical-style aquariums run best on common sense, patience, and tried and true aquarium husbandry techniques.

I'll say it yet again: In my experience, there is nothing inherently more challenging or more dangerous about these types of tanks than there is with any other speciality system. The fact that the water is brown doesn't mean that a well-managed tank is any closer to disaster than any well-managed clear water system.

There's no magic here.

We simply need to do the work necessary to keep our aquariums operating in a healthy state. Nope, nothing new here. In my opinion, NO aquarium of ANY type is "set and forget"; do that and you'll be in for a rude awakening with a natural, blackwater, botanical-style tank- or any tank, for that matter. You can't really take that approach in this hobby, IMHO.

You have to "participate."

That being said, I commend many of you for forging ahead with new ideas and this approach that might not be familiar to you. Moving from the theoretical to the functional takes some courage, imagination, and most of all..impulse. When it comes to trying out exotic new concept aquariums, guys like me (as you all know by now) just need to get the damn thing started and stop musing on about it.

Others spend very little time contemplating, and go full speed ahead...damn the torpedoes! Regardless of your "style" of aquarium work, self-awareness is important! I think it's in my nature to get a bit too deep into the planning. The challenge for me is not to get so bogged down in an endless cycle of "analysis paralysis" that I never get projects off of the drawing board!

Don't get into this rut, okay? Understand what's involved, what's required of you as a hobbyist, and move forward. Just remember one thing when playing with "twigs and nuts":

It's not a "plug-and-play" proposition. It requires some effort, thought, observation, and patience...

By observing and assessing on a continuous basis, you'll get a real feel for how botanicals work in your aquarium.  And what's the real "finesse" part of the equation? It's the nuance. The subtle, yet noticeable adjustments and corrections we make to keep things moving along nominally- sort of like pruning in a planted tank, or weeding a garden...it's a process.

Yeah, a process.

In fact, the entire experience of a blackwater, botanical-style aquarium boils down to a process and a pace that helps foster the gradual, yet inexorable "evolution" of the aquarium. And let there be no doubt- a botanical-style aquarium does "evolve" over time, regularly and steadily changing and progressing. As we've mentioned many times before, it might be the perfect expression of the Japanese concept of "wabi-sabi", popularized by Takashi Amano, which is the acceptance of transience and imperfection.

A mindset. A point of view. A philosophy, for sure.

And the patience to allow your system to evolve. It's absolutely the most essential skill to have if you're going to work with botanical-style aquariums. Period. There are no shortcuts, major "hacks", or ways to dramatically speed up nature. Why would you want to? 

Adopt a "long game" mindset.

Know that good stuff often takes time to happen. I'm personally not afraid to wait for results. Well, not to "just sit around" in the literal sense, mind you. However, I'm not expecting instant results from stuff. Rather, I am okay with doing the necessary groundwork, nurturing the project along, and seeing the results happen over time.

A "long game." 

That's what we play here.

And understanding that what we do in the blackwater, botanical-style aquarium world requires these mental skills above almost anything else. I mean, look at what we do: We add leaves and seed pods to our aquariums, for the expressed purpose of having them break down.

We all know that aquariums with high quantities of organic materials breaking down in the water column add to the biological load of the tank, requiring diligent management. This is not shocking news. Frankly, I find it rather amusing when someone tells me that what we do as a community is "reckless", and that our tanks look "dirty." 

As if we don't see that or understand why they might think this...

They haven't made those mental shifts just yet.

I hope they do. They're really missing out on all the fun.

Until next time...

Stay chill. Stay focused. Stay observant. Stay diligent. Stay patient...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The allure of water...

As fish geeks, we spend an absurd amount of time pouring over online catalogs of filters, plants, driftwood, and other gear. Each year, it's safe to guess that we collectively spend tens of millions of dollars on all of this stuff. Yet, one of the items on the "aquarium checklist" that seemingly receives so little attention or consideration from many is...water.

Yeah, the water. 

Now, sure, some hobbyist rightfully place the importance of good quality, properly-conditioned water at the very top of their "want list" of "Stuff" required for successful aquariums. These are often fish breeders and very serious hobbyists, who understand the fundamental importance of good water.

So, yeah- it goes without saying that the single most important component of our aquariums is also the most obvious...water! As the literal bearer of life and the environment in which our fishes, plants, and other organisms thrive, it's fundamental. it's the reason we're drawn to fishes, not gerbils, Tarantula, or Mice- or whatever other pets people keep!

Yeah, we're into water!

And I dear say that we take it for granted a bit.

Have you ever thought of how water actually gets into those bodies of water (streams, rivers, etc.) that we find so compelling?

Well, sure, the first two things that come to mind are precipitation and runoff from the higher mountains. And that's perfectly logical and correct. However, if you consider some of the other  processes by which water makes it into our favored habitats, it's actually quite interesting, and maybe even has implications for the way we prepare water for our aquariums.

Huh?

Sure, some simply falls into the body of water directly from the sky, and that's that. Some is a result of overflowing streams and rivers (like, ya' know- those flooded Igapo forests we talk about!). Inputs of precipitation falling over the area of an aquatic habitat are transferred to the habitat via a number of different pathways.

It's surprisingly complicated.

There's like a whole field of science devoted to studying this process! 

However, not all of the water has such an easy journey on its way into our favorite aquatic habitat!

Even in the case of rainwater, some of it simply lands on tree leaves in the surrounding area and evaporates. This is a process scientists call "interception", and accounts for the fact that not all water makes it to the ground. Water that does reach the ground enters the soil through a process called infiltration. slowly percolating down to soil areas known as the "saturated zone"- and as you'd imagine, this is where the fun really begins! (to a soil geologist, at least!)

The soil properties control the infiltration capacity; these include things like soil permeability, the presence of vegetation and plant roots, and how much water is already in the soil. Through what is known as "ground water flow", ultimately, the water finds it way into our favorite aquatic habitats. Soil texture ( the relative proportion of sand, silt and clay particles within the mix) affects infiltration rates. 

Sandy soils like the "podzols" that we've talked about have higher permeability than some clay soils. In some really arid areas a "crust" can form on the soil surface, decreasing the permeability. And of course, the thickness of the soil directly affects how much water the soil can actually absorb.

During that journey into the (aquatic) habitats, materials like humic substances, minerals, etc. will be absorbed into the water from the surrounding soil. Yeah...that's the interesting part: The surrounding geography and geology have as much to do with the ultimate water characteristics as anything else! Like so many things in nature, everything is somehow interrelated!

Once again, bringing it all back to a more practical aquarium point of view, I can't help but wonder if working with different types of substrate materials (soils, sands, etc.) in our "makeup water containers could yield some similar effects to those we see when we steep leaves and botanicals in the water. Could the right combination of soils in both our makeup water containers and even in the aquarium create even more realistic water conditions for our fishes and aquatic plants?

One can only wonder...

It makes a ton of sense.

We're seeing more and more specialized "aquatic soils" for plants which are designed to simulate some of the natural habitats in which they are found. Well, fishes are typically found in those habitats, too, right?

Why should the plants have all the fun?

Wouldn't it make sense to utilize some of these specialty substrates, or substrates comprised of some of these components in tanks which feature fishes and not just plants (or even devoid of plants?). What potential benefits for our fishes could be gained by using these more "technical" aquatic plant substrates in our fish-centric botanical-style blackwater aquariums? 

With water finding its way into the streams, rivers and other areas from so many sources, there is probably so much we can learn from finding out more about the surrounding areas  themselves, and how water ultimately makes it into the bodies of water we are so obsessed with. This is an area of study in the hobby that's really wide open for advancement, IMHO. The possibilities are endless here!

In a blackwater environment, the color is a visual indicator of an influx of dissolved materials that contribute to the "richness" of the environment. Indeed, a blackwater environment is typically described as an aquatic system in which vegetation decays, creating  tannins that leach into the water, making a transparent, acidic water that is darkly stained, resembling tea.

Despite the appearance, as a general rule, blackwater rivers are lower in nutrients than clear rivers. They have very low concentrations of major ions, such as sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium, and lower conductivity and typically low levels of dissolved solids. Wouldn't it be interesting, when contemplating more natural biotope/biotype aquariums, to study and take into consideration the surrounding geology and physical characteristics of the habitat?  

As we know now, the influence of factors like soil, and the presence of terrestrial materials like seed pods, leaves, and branches play a huge role in the chemical composition and appearance-of the water. It's really no different in the aquarium, right? Tannins from wood and botanical materials will leach into the water, providing the characteristic "tint" that we've become so accustomed to in our little niche.

Studying the characteristics of the igapo and varzea forests of Amazonia is just a start...these are the "textbook" examples of geologic influence on the aquatic environment- something that we can really run with in our biopic interpretations of this habitat.

Yes, I also have this irresistible curiosity about the potential of botanical-influenced substrates to foster denitrification. With the diverse assemblage of microorganisms and a continuous food source of decomposing botanicals "in house", I can't help but think that such "living substrates" create a surprisingly diverse and utilitarian biological support system for our aquariums.

I think that the idea of an "enriched substrate" will become an integral part of the overall ecosystems that we create. Considering the substrate as both an aesthetic AND functional component- even in "non-planted" aquariums, opens up a whole new area of aquarium "exploration."

And it's impact on water is already an obsession to many of us, right?

I envision that the future of mainstream aquarium practice may include creating such a substrate as simply part of "what we do." Adding a mix of botanical materials, live bacterial and small organism cultures, and even some "detritus" from healthy aquatic systems may become how we establish systems.

It's not some amazing "revolution"- it's simply an evolution of practices that we've been playing with peripherally for decades in the hobby. It's a way of looking at what's already working and trying to figure out the "whys" as we go. 

And the interactions of these materials with water and the overall aquatic environment in our tanks AND in Nature, have enormous implications for the future of our hobby. 

Water is a sort of "blank canvas"- a starting point...a "media" for our work. So many possibilities...

THAT'S the allure of water!

Stay intrigued. Stay curious. Stay innovative. Stay engaged. Stay diligent...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Bio Active...

There is something very satisfying about the way a botanical-influenced aquarium evolves and takes on a life of its own over time, isn't there?

I think almost more than any other type of freshwater aquarium I've worked with over the years, the botanical-style aquarium (blackwater or otherwise) rather quickly goes from "inert" to biologically rich. It's likely because of the input of a large number of natural botanical materials from pretty much "day one" of its existence, and the "base" of nutrients and organics which botanicals and other natural materials bring. They not only act as physical "attachment points" for microorganisms and other life forms (ie; fungi, epiphytic algae, etc.), they impart all of those much-loved (around here, anyways) tannins, humic substances, etc. to the water, essentially "modifying" the aquatic environment with their mere presence.

With decomposing materials to help "fuel" this biological "engine", the botanical-style aquarium creates a very dynamic habitat. As we all know by now, it functions and looks very different from almost any other type of aquarium we work with. 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've seldom seen the whole picture allowed to come together in a more natural way. 

Creating an aquascape utilizing a matrix of leaves, roots, and other botanical materials, is one of my favorite aesthetic interpretations of the complex flooded forest habitat...and it happens to be supremely functional as an aquarium, as well! I think it's a "prototype" for many of us to follow, merging looks and function together adeptly and beautifully.

I think that when we think about our aquariums as evolving habitats, instead of just simple glass boxes filled with water, our mindset changes, and the way living organisms adapt helps pave the way towards more realistic aquatic habitats.

Not too long ago, I was scrolling though our Instagram feed, and, as I often do, I was inspired by the wonderful work being done by our friend Paul Dema of Vivariums in The Mist in New York ( Instagram: vivariums_in_the_mist). As his company name implies, they specialize in creating pretty amazing habitats and enclosures for frogs/herps. These are incredibly beautiful, complex, and well-thought-out scapes, which, in my opinion, are the very essence of "functional (aqua)scaping!"

In the case of frog enclosures, there are many considerations that the hobbyists must think about when building them. First, you need to provide a hardscape of wood, soil, and other materials (they use some foam along with the natural  materials, like wood and stone) to hold together the "superstructure" of the jungle simulation they're creating. The concept of "bioactive" scapes is of supreme importance to frog enthusiasts, as the enclosure not only has to look good, it needs to be a functional representation of a jungle/rainforest biotope. 

"Bioactive" enclosures attempt to replicate many aspects of the rain forest floor; specifically, the soils and associates biotia. In the case of a vivarium, creatures like Ispods and other detritivores are incorporated to help break down wastes and return nutrients to the "forest floor." This not only allows healthy growth of plants, but allows extremely long-term function for these unique habitats (up to 10 years or even more in some instances). 

These hobbyists literally are doing what we do in aquairums- attempting to replicate the "functional aesthetics" of a natural habitat. Now, we may not be able to incorporate some of the organisms (ie; terrestrial isopods like "Springtails" and such) into fully aquatic displays. Of course, we have aquatic analogs, right?

Not only has Paul embraced the bioactive substrate concept- he's doubled down and created an entire line of food sources for the organisms which reside there, to really help foster reproduction and growth of these beneficial creatures!  This is fascinating stuff...

So- nurturing the animals which help take care of our systems is a brilliant idea. It makes sense to the point of being almost obvious- except that we in the aquarium world have had a harder time getting our collective minds wrapped around the concept until fairly recently. 

And it's obvious that we can integrate many of the other biological aspects/concepts of these systems into our aquariums. It's kind of the "terrestrial analog" to the type of work that we do! After all, we incorporate terrestrial materials into our aquatic displays and have for years...it's all about a point of view, I think.

Playing with new substrate materials, botanicals, and fostering-instead of fighting- many of the processes which fuel them is just one of the many "jumping off points" for our botanical-style aquariums that is becoming more and more interesting to us!

What kinds of exciting developments will we see when we embrace the aquatic version of the "bioactive" concept? 

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

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

"The Lost Tribe of Amano?"

One of the most important things we do here at Tannin Aquatics is to encourage you, as our fellow hobbyists, to feel free to experiment, scheme, and just try new stuff with your aquariums. To question old "rules", practices, methodologies, and ideas. To push the boundaries of aesthetics and function with aquariums. 

I talk so much about how Nature, in it's "unfiltered" form, is a random, unkempt, even "dirty" place. Not in the sense that it is polluted or unhealthy (usually, that is) mind you- but that it's simply not often consistent with the aquarium hobby's perception or narrative of "aesthetically attractive." 

In my opinion, this is a huge hurdle that we as a hobby simply need to get over. 

Look, I totally, completely get it when hobbyists say that they don't like the look of muddy, silty substrates, tinted water, decomposing leaves, biofilms, etc.- the kind of stuff we discuss and laud so much here. Not everyone can appreciate or find beauty in this stuff. Yet, I think we need to look ourselves in the mirror and ask ourselves what's up when we utilize certain terminology to describe the other "approaches" to methodology, design, 'scaping and aesthetics.

And- since it comes up every time I discuss topics like this, I'll make it clear now that  I am not trashing the beautiful planted aquascapes and "high-concept" diorama-style hardscape that we see at contests and all over social media. They're awesome. The talent required to produce them is incredible.

And I get that the name "Nature Aquarium" that pervades well- everything-is an homage to the brilliant influence of the great Takashi Amano, who's work I have admired for many years myself- and who originally adapted the term and, in an ironic twist, actually proffered something quite different than what is currently presented as a "Nature Aquarium" so often.

So, please, take no offense at my "soapboxing" here...We're not "Amano-bashing."

I just want to gently remind everyone that when we present our carefully planted aquarium which adheres to that style as currently interpreted and executed by aquarium culture as THE ultimate true expression of a "biotope" or of "Nature" in an aquarium, I think that we do a sort of disservice to the uninitiated if we don't at least explain it a bit more.

Now, yeah, having plants and fishes together does foster some natural functions. These tanks are gorgeous. They represent an aspect of Nature, indeed. No one questions that. However, it's the aesthetic mindset which we seem to push so hard, which pervades everything else.

I can't help but have these nightmare scenarios enter my head- as admittedly ridiculous as they likely are- about people being indoctrinated to the underwater world by looking at like 50 of these so-called "Nature Aquariums"as presented in a typical 'scaping contest, and thinking this is what a natural aquatic habitat really looks like.

Then, at some later date, these people actually find themselves visiting a wild stream or river and are not only profoundly disappointed at how it looks, but perhaps calling for some "intervention" to "rescue" the habitat because of its "deplorable" appearance (compared to what they saw in the "Nature Aquariums" as presented and anointed online)

I mean, it's weird, and probably way over-reactionary, I know.

However, the  prevailing aesthetic "bias"  in the hobby against presenting Nature as she really is in our aquariums makes me a bit sad. There really IS beauty in the silty, decomposing, earthy world of the Amazonian igarape, the Asian peat swamp, Malaysian mangal, African forest stream, etc. There is something graceful about the broken branches, accumulating leaves, and scattered seed pods on the floor of a tropical river. It's just not what we have typically appreciated because of our exposure to a more "artistically interpretive" version of Nature in the aquarium world.

Rather, I think we've spent so much effort distilling, editing, and otherwise  sanitizing Nature that we might have actually lost sight of it's true beauty, and about how and why natural systems look and function the way they do. Blasphemy to some, no doubt...However, I think I might be at least partially correct here. Notice that I'm actually a bit ambivalent to the "legit" biotope aquariums, as I think that some of the classification strategies and rules created in that world are a bit unrealistic and perhaps overreach habit and discourage some.

Amano understood these habitats. He appreciated them for what they were. Now, he loved the use of aquatic plants to represent them. They were sort of his "media" in creating his works.  However, he also understood that there are other natural materials which can be utilized for this purpose, and which may be utilized in different ways to express Nature in the aquarium. He encouraged experimentation with them. However, the majority of his personal work focused on aquatic plants.

What would Amano think of the "cargo cult"-like reverence which the aquascaping world has bestowed upon him, without evolving his works in any real new direction, or making any attempts to understand his original philosophies about Nature? Oh, sure, he'd appreciate the amazing talent, the beauty, and the effort that we see displayed by hobbyists worldwide. Yet, I can't help but wonder if, in his own way, he'd ask, "Really? Is that all?"

Please do me a favor. Do Mr. Amano a favor.

Read some of his oldest writings and photo essays. Check out his pics of blades of grass, decomposing logs, abandoned farmhouses, Japanese ceramics, and yeah, Amazonian blackwater habitats. Think about why he was photographing them? Really let it sink in. Don't just read his quotes and memorize the usual regurgitated, re-interpretated marketing-adapted, meme-inspired fanboy drivel which surrounds discussions of his work.  In between trying to select the perfect Iwagumi rocks and achieving a "Golden Ratio", there is a lot more.

He GOT it. He understood the relationship between Nature and art absolutely. It's there. He saw beauty in all forms of Nature and encouraged us to express these details in our aquariums. In many different ways.

Please seek it out in his work.

Next, just spend a few minutes on You Tube and search for videos using terms like  "wild Amazonian igarape underwater"- look at the videos that you find. Observe carefully the appearance of the substrate, the color and clarity of the water, the way leaves, branches, and other materials accumulate on the bottom, and the way the fishes interact with these materials.

Then, look at a typical "Nature Aquarium" or even the usual hobbyist-produced "Amazon-themed aquarium" video, or whatever, and see the differences for yourself. Now, it's not that they are "bad" or lacking in some way (sure, a few suck, like in any endeavor)- it's just that, in many cases are such an "edited" version of the habitat they purport to represent that you can't help but wonder why they are proffered as such. 

Now, sure, there are a lot of subjectives here, and there is no mysterious "Grand Universal Aquarium Standards Committee" passing judgment and reinforcing some standards here.  And I'm not attacking everything called "Nature" or "Natural" in the aquarium world except what we do in our favored approach. I'm just asking us to look at things with a bit less bias...really, the way Amano would want us to.  Compare the appearance of actual natural habitats to most of the works presented and you will absolutely see a difference. Not just stylistic, but "interpretive." And you might want to ponder just why it is that a lot of our "natural" or "Nature" aquariums look very little like many of these natural habitats.

I think I know why:

We "polish out" or "edit" too much.

Why is this?

It's not that we're doing anything "wrong", of course. It's not that we aren't talented. Lord knows, almost everyone who enters one of those contests is a master scaper, and does great work. The talent is there. We have the information. We have the photos and videos and research papers about these wild environments. Hell, we have access to most of the fishes that live in them! We have easy access to the widest variety of natural materials for aquascaping that we've ever had at any time in the hobby.

You can't use those things as excuses.

And yeah, you CAN run a tank with muddy, silty substrates, decomposing leaves, biofilms, tinted water, etc. Thousands of our customers have been doing this for several years now with great long-term success. These systems can operate just fine for indefinite periods of time. "Disasters" and "tank crashes" are uncommon; and quite frankly, they're the realm of the sloppy, the lazy, the misinformed.

You're far more likely to cause a dreaded "tank crash" with a so-called "high tech planted tank" and all of it's associated gadgets and dosing regimens than you are by going "nature tech" and incorporating leaves, botanicals, and sediments into your aquarium and managing the tank with good old aquarium common sense.

So, still no excuse.

I just think that many of us don't WANT to replicate Nature as it really is.

Perhaps there is a "fear" that we have about it. Maybe it's because contests don't allow it- although I think it's deeper than that. Maybe it's our egos, which tell us that "it's not that hard to create that kind of mess..." or whatever, compared to a so-called "high-concept hardscape" or planted "diorama style" aquarium? Art versus a direct interpretation of Nature? Or maybe, because we cannot control every aspect of the aesthetic experience, it bothers us somehow? Maybe we've grabbed on to just one aspect of Mr. Amano's teachings and it overrode all else he proffered?

Well, I can here it now: "Who the f--k is HE  to render judgment on this?  He's trashing everything but his weird interpretation." No, I'm not. I'm questioning and asking us to push ourselves a bit and not just "mail it in." And, you'd be surprised how much criticism we've received for this "approach" to natural aquariums over the years from "disciples" of various "schools of thought" on aquariums, because we are teaching people to be "lazy", "sloppy", "uninspired", etc.

Why?

Do I really have the answer here?

Again, I don't really know...I just have my hunches. And I'm not judging. I'm not trolling. I'm not attacking. I'm questioning.

I can't state it often enough when I write about a subject like this which instills great passions in hobbyists. And, inevitably, someone will selectively skim my blog and then conclude from a few paragraphs that it's simply an attack on what they love. Look, I'm not asking to overthrow the "world order" of aquascaping, competition aquariums, and the aquatic industry that supports it. I never was.

I'm simply and even humbly (really!) asking for us to look at things in a more open, less nuanced way. I'd love to see us aquarists -at least once in a while-  venture way outside of our comfort zones and try something a bit different. To not get caught up in names and titles above comprehending the bigger picture. To look long and hard at the aquatic habitats found in Nature. And to see the true beauty that's there before we see fit to "edit."

Ask yourself why things look the way they do in Nature, and observe how the fishes which live there interact with their environment. Consider how these habitats formed, how they function biologically, and how fishes have adapted to their habitat..Think about esoteric stuff, like why the fishes are shaped or colored they way they are. What kinds of foods they might find there.

You might just find some new appreciation for Nature as it is.

You might question why we as a hobby culture find it necessary to push away the "unpolished" aspects of Nature in an effort to achieve a more "artistic" interpretation of it.

And maybe, just maybe- you might want to try creating an aquarium that looks more like Nature, and less like an artistic interpretation of Nature. Perhaps you'll think about how "food webs" can be created in an aquarium filled with botanical materials, silted substrates, leaves, etc. Maybe you'll start appreciating the elegance that Nature has inherent in everything She creates.

And a reason for the way things look. And function.

You might come to realize that the randomness of fallen tree trunks and accumulating leaves is every bit as elegant and "artistic" as the Oyaishi, Fukuishi, Suteishi, and Soeshi stone placements in an Iwagumi design- and far more liberating to create. And you'll find that there is just as much room for creativity and your skills and talents in this world of "Nature as it is" as there ever was in the "artistic-style" aquascaping culture which has dominated the hobby for so long. 

Probably more.

Look beyond the words used to describe this stuff in "popular aquarium culture."

Research the philosophy of wabi-sabi. Think about what it means in the context of a truly natural aquarium. Not an "edited", artistic interpretation of Nature...but think about it in regards to what happens in a botanical-influenced aquarium over time. Think about what Amano meant when he shared this philosophy for aquariums many years ago. 

Indeed, his "mission statement" reflects this, even though the popular execution of this philosophy by the hobby might have veered off into art over the years:

"The origin of Nature Aquarium creation is nothing else but Nature"

I think he'd give you a wry smile when he would see your eyes light up when you have that "aha!" moment! 

Are we (the natural, botanical-style aquarium movement) the iteration that Amano was heading towards? The one that he laid the foundation for so long ago, but which attained a life of its own and took a different turn? Arrogant though it may be for us to presume such a lofty sense of import, I can't blame myself for at least wondering if our community is sort of evolving in a way Amano would have appreciated, and likely where he would have ultimately headed himself if he were still alive.

Look, do YOU. Enjoy what you do. However, please don't get so wrapped up in ANY "methodology" or "approach" to the hobby and use it as a "wrap" for everything. There is so much more out there if we open our minds. So much more to learn. To do. And to share.

So...I ask again...humbly:

Are we (I know it sounds "biblical!) the "Lost Tribe of Amano?"

Perhaps?

Regardless, I like where we're heading. I think Amano might, too.

Much respect to him.

Stay creative. Stay bold. Stay curious. Stay honest. Stay engaged...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Can you go home again?

There is a lot more out there to learn which can be applied to our aquarium hobby.

As you know, we spend a fair amount of time snooping around the scientific literature online and in libraries, looking for tidbits of information that might fit nicely into our fascination and evolving technique with natural, botanical-style blackwater and brackish aquariums.

It's a pretty fun pastime, really- and educational, too!

Coupled with my obsession with visiting, studying, and just gawking at wild habitats from which our fishes come has provided me with a great perspective from which to expand my aquarium work. There is a tremendous amount of knowledge to be gained by moving beyond the "bubble" of the usual hobby forums and such, and just taking a look at what's really out there! 

And one of the interesting things about sifting through scientific stuff is that can occasionally find bits and pieces of information which may not only confirm a "hunch" that you have had about something- these data can sometimes send you into an entirely new direction! (In fact, I know it does!)

As a lover of brackish water habitats, I've spent a lot time over the years researching suitable fishes and other aquatic organisms from this environment for aquarium keeping. I've learned a few things, ticked off my surfing buddies, stepped in a lot of smelly mud, even collected a mosquito bite or two along the way...

Now, sure, many fishes can adapt to brackish water conditions, but I'm more fascinated by the fishes which are actually found naturally in these environments. And it's always interesting when you can find our that a fish which you have previously dismissed as not having typically come from this actually does come from it naturally!

One of the big factors which is limiting the popularity of brackish water aquarium in the hobby has been the lack of availability and/or information about the fishes which may be kept in such aquariums.

Based on a recent, informal  survey I did on our Instagram feed, it seems like a lot of hobbyists are "sold" on the idea of a brackish tank, but aren't necessarily sure what fish we can keep in them. The environments are compelling...what fishes can we keep in them? 

One of those happy "surprises" is our good friend, the "Endler's Livebearer", Poceilia wingei.

This popular fish is widely kept under "typical livebearer conditions" in the aquarium ( higher pH and harder water). However, there are a number of wild populations form their native Venezuela which apparently inhabit mildly brackish water coastal lagoons and estuaries, for example, Laguna de los Patos, near Cumana, which has definite ocean influence, although it is far less salty than researchers thought it may have been in the past. And the wild populations residing there might very well be considered "endangered", or at least, limited.

Now, this kind of stuff is not "revolutionary" from a hobby standpoint, as it seems like we've known this for some time.

And although the fish are most adaptable, we don't hear all that much about keeping them in what we'd call "brackish" conditions (like SG of 1.003-1.005). It's just interesting to ponder and get your head around. It seems to me like the brackish water habitat for this species has not been embraced much from a hobby standpoint.

And I suppose it makes sense- it's far easier to simply give fishes harder, alkaline water than to "mess with adding salt" to their tanks for a lot of hobbyists. And, wild populations of these fishes are scant, as is natural habitat data, so indeed confirming with great certainty that they are still occurring in these types of habitats is  difficult, at best, sketchy at worst.

In general he question about adding salt to livebearer tanks has been debated for a long time, and there are many views on the subject. Obviously, the ultimate way to determine if you should or should not add salt to an Endler's or other livebearer tank would be to consider the natural habitats of the population you're working with.

Easier said than done, because  the vast majority of them are now commercially or hobbyist bred- especially Endler's. I think the debate will go on for a long time! Yet, with the increasing popularity of brackish water aquariums, and our continuous development of our brackish selection, "Estuary", we're hoping to see more experiments along this line for many different species!

Now, you know I've always been a fan of sort of "re-adapting" even captive-bred specimens of all sorts of fishes (like "blackwater-origin" characins, etc.) to more "natural" conditions (well, "natural" from perhaps a few dozen generations back!) I am of the opinion that even "domesticated" fishes can benefit from providing them with conditions more reminiscent of those from the natural habitats from which they originated.

I am a stubborn ass, and never will buy into the thought that a few captive generations will "erase" millions of years of evolutionary adaptation to specific habitats, and that re-adapting them to these conditions is somehow "detrimental" to them. Perhaps the ultimate example is the Discus, which has been bred for decades in "hard, alkaline water."

Is the idea of "repatriating" them to conditions more like those which they evolved under for eons somehow detrimental to them after a few dozen generations of captive breeding?

In the end, there are a lot of variables in the equation, but I think that the Endler's discussion is just another example of fishes which could benefit from experimenting with "throwback" conditions. I'm by no means anything close to an expert , or even "considerably knowledgable" on these fish, and my opinions are just that- opinions.

Yet, the idea is compelling, isn't it?

Commercially, it may not be practical to do this, but for the hobbyist with time and the inclination, it would be interesting to see where it takes you. We are very proud as a company to offer the natural materials that you can use to help replicate- in form and in function- some of these natural habitats. We want to encourage and facilitate research into this exciting area.

I look forward to many more such experiments- bringing natural conditions to "domesticated" fishes, and perhaps unlocking some more secrets...or perhaps simply acknowledging what we all know: That there truly is "no place like home!"

Stay open minded. Stay adventurous. Stay experimental. Stay resourceful. Stay creative. Stay relentless in your pursuit of information...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

A world of confessions...

Yeah, I think I have a few confessions to make...

As most of you know from reading (and now, listening!) to my little meanderings every day, I have this "mindset" in which I source/study/obsess over a fish I love, and plan an aquairum/environment around it. This process and focus has enabled me to create some pretty cool aquariums over the years, if I say so myself. However, it's also put me at odds with my love of being an all-around fish geek over the years, if that makes sense?

When we plan our aquariums, I know that many of us are super disciplined, highly detail-oriented, and attack the "fish list" with diligence and a high degree of "mission focus." Like, every fish added to the tank has to be from the general region that all of the others are from...or that the tank's "scape is supposed to "represent."

I have always been focused like that- almost to the point of having tanks run empty for months at a time when I couldn't source the specific fishes I wanted...("Yes, Poecilocharax weitzmani IS the ONLY Darter Characin I shall have!") I can be THAT focused! Like, absurdly, impractically focused.

And, I must confess:

I'm not immune to any "temptations" I might encounter along the way to my ultimate goal...

There is always that part of me which falls headlong into that "shiny object syndrome"- you know something cool catches my eye along the way, and there I am, off on a tangent, researching and considering ways to "modify" my plan...complete with justification ("Well, you know, just because I SAID it's going to be an Asian blackwater stream with Rasbora espie doesn't mean that I can't have a few of those Copella arnoldi in there. I mean, "SPLASHING-FREAKING TETRA- HELLO!" 

(Image by Zikamoi, used under CC-BY S.A. 3.0)

Yeah, sad shit like that.

Of course, that's how the classic "community tank", which we've loved for generations, is created, right? The best combination of cool fishes, regardless of origin, which happen to catch our fancy? As long as they are physically compatible, does it really matter? I mean, what's wrong with that, right? Really, does every salad we make have ingredients from the same farm?

Weak or not, it is that kind of "argument" that would make ME feel better, lol.

Right? 

But I'd have such guilt.

As I stare at my "Asian-inspired" blackwater aquarium in my family room (which I'm getting really bored of, BTW), with fishes that are "regionally" accurate, but likely would never be found together in Nature, I can't help but reflect on my philosophies on "theme" and such, and the occasional "tangents" I'd take.

In past years, I would often further justify these tangents which lead to a "broader", geographically absurd array of fishes with almost-logical thoughts like, "Well, that little tetra from Colombia looks an awful lot like some of those random Rasbora you see in Asian streams...I mean..."

Yes, I would justify these decisions to myself just like that. 

Over the years, I became more focused, of course... I'd go to the other extreme at times. I'd tell myself that, unless every fish in the tank, regardless of the fact that it's from the same region, is wild caught, then one could make an argument that this is "off plan."

Well, somehow, anyways! I mean, a South American Tetra bred on an Asian fish farm, from stock that's been there 28 generations...hmm...how do you quantify that?

Yeah, like that is a good argument/"guilt diminisher."  Absurd. LOL

And the sad truth is that, unless you're one of those people who is absolutely obsessed with complete authenticity, or is entering into one of those carefully-scrutinized biotope aquascaping contests, it likely doesn't matter all that much, right? Having generally "geographically proximate" fishes in the same tank, has always been a "decent standard" for me personally.

I've always felt that the fishes that are from the same general region- even if not from the exact locale or ecological niche-will probably not interact all that much differently than they would if they were some other random species from their habitat...right?  I mean, a Dachshund and a Golden Retriever are both dogs, and...

Um, yeah. You can argue this one as much as you want, I suppose.

Probably?

Sure, if you're like me, you'll carry with you that personal "mark of shame" and yeah- some feelings of guilt- for as long as you own the tank, or perhaps until your overwhelming horror at having made this "geographic transgression" finally takes you down and forces you to remove the "offending"  fishes into a tank of their own (hopefully with more "geographically-appropriate" tankmates , of course).

It's kind of...ridiculous...

Or is it? 

It likely is.

I mean, It's one thing to keep fishes from various blackwater habitats in say, Brazil. It's quite another to keep fishes from Brazil with fishes from, let's say- Borneo- together I the same tank!

On the other hand, are fishes from different parts of the world that physiologically dissimilar?

I mean, sure, fishes evolved over eons to take on specific characteristics that were likely adaptations to specific environmental conditions they'd encounter. Although I've often wondered wether or not a blackwater stream with a pH of 4.8 in Borneo is THAT much different, at least generally speaking, than an Amazonian igarape with the same pH.

I mean, sure there are probably some subtle flora/fauna/geology differences which impact the chemical composition on a level we as hobbyists are not able to distinguish, but are they THAT much different?

I wonder...Not that you ever would (for obvious reasons), but if you transplanted, say, a Rasbora from a stream in Southeast Asia to a jungle stream in the rainforests of Brazil, or a Nanostomus to a Sarawak jungle stream- could the fish adapt?

I mean, they may have slightly different food sources or ways of finding them, but could the fish adapt? Is this any different than the "coping" that wild-caught fishes have to do when captured and placed in most home aquariums? You know, strange food, different environmental parameters from their wild homes, and unknown, unnatural companions?

Is there a sort of "stress" that would arise under all of these conditions? Could these "subtle" stresses be the reason why so many fishes are elusive for long periods of time in the hobby, when it comes to spawning them?

I ponder this in the context of our botanical-style aquariums; our focus on more natural looking- and functioning systems...

Could it be why we are seeing more and more success with blackwater fishes being kept in more realistic habitats and environmental conditions? Could the humic substances and tannins be "something in the water" which bridges at least part of that gap between wild habitat and aquarium?

The idea of using materials like leaves, seed pods, stems, etc.- which to a great extent mimics both the form and function of the wild habitats from which our fishes hail at least gives us the ability explore the concept.

I mean, one could even take the argument about geographic suitability to our game. We could ponder if a Cariniana legalis seed pod from Brazil in our Asian-themed tank would somehow be detrimental to our fishes- or perhaps not as physiologically beneficial- as a more geographically appropriate Sterculia pod from Thailand.

We could.

Yet, wouldn't that literally be like "splitting hairs?"

I mean, where does it end? And what benefit or detriment would we be experiencing as a result of our decision to include/exclude a specific botanical, wood, substrate, or other material in our 100% authentic "geographic-focused aquarium?"

I remember not long ago reading in some forum on Killififsh that a certain African species needed selenium in its water, because the soil in the region from which it comes has high levels of the stuff. Hobbyists were discussing adding Brazil nuts and such to their tanks. I mean, we offer the so-called "Monkey Pot" -which is the "capsule" which protects the Brazil nut. Could it somehow "impart" selenium into the water?

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

And the killie is from...Africa.

Remember?

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

I think it circles back, of course.

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

And I suppose it's a matter of practicality, really. 

I mean, I've seen many biotope aquarium "contest winners" who's tank represents "...a small riffle adjacent to Rio __________ in September" or whatever, filled with Beech leaves from the suburbs of London or Prague, or wherever. And judges will often rip the entry apart if the wood is oriented in the wrong direction or there is too much sand, or whatever- yet curiously seem to overlook the obviously-and absurdly out-of-place European Oak leaves...

How can we blame them?

Ever try to source leaves from South America? Or wood? You'll understand really quickly why Catappa leaves and Guava leaves from Asia or India are the ultimate "tropical stand-in" for leaves from other parts of the world, trust me. And yeah, I know that biotope aquarium enthusiasts would utilize the exact materials in their tanks...if they could source them!

Now, we shouldn't get too crazy about any of this, really. Otherwise, it becomes quite absurd. I personally think that, as hobbyists, we get too hung up on some aspects of "stuff." We just need to chill, right? Or at the very least, place an order with Tannin Aquatics and know that we're doing our best to offer natural materials from around the world which help replicate these habitats to the best extent possible, both aesthetically AND functionally! 

Whew! I worked in a shameless advertising plug there! 

Lots of questions. Lots of theories. Lots of speculations.

Isn't this FUN? 

I think so. Maddening at times. Often frustrating. But pretty damn fun!

And I think...THINK- that looking at things from this perspective might finally ease my guilty conscience if and when I eventually make the unthinkable ultimate "transgression" of keeping a captive-bred variant of a Danio species in the same tank as a Hyphessobrycon...

"Yeah, okay, Scott."

Well, that's MY "geographic confessional." It's the kind of stuff that haunts the inner recesses of my mind, and bubbles up on occasion to face scrutiny.

Well, the reality is that, in the end, I know that I'm still going to keep my Rasbora and Tetras separate...

I mean, at least for now.

Yeah.

Until next time. Please don't feel guilty. Or, maybe you should? I dunno.

Your call.

Stay studious. Stay inquisitive. Stay bold. Stay creative. Stay resourceful. Stay engaged.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Aquatic features we don't replicate enough...

The aquarium hobby is a funny beast- especially the art of aquascaping. It exists in a world halfway between kinetic art, home decorating, gardening, and biology. And it will challenge us to create work that draws from multiple disciplines. It seems to me that we spend as much time trying to find the right rock or piece of wood to create the "look" we want as we do even deciding what we're trying to replicate.

Yet, we often overlook the amazing inspiration that is offered up by Nature herself. Inspiration to create truly dynamic, uniquely "functionally aesthetic" aquariums. Here are a few habitats and ecological niches that we think deserve more representations in our aquairums: 

Open, sandy habitats: Yeah, when you think about it, some of the most abundant and common areas in streams, rivers, and other bodies of water are accumulations of fine sand and small pebbles, with little to no "vertical relief" around. Areas like this are commonly occupied by fast-moving fishes, like Danios, or active, bottom-dwelling fishes like Corydoras.

In some areas, you'll find stands of aquatic vegetation, providing a sort of "oasis" for fishes, in which to forage, shelter, and spawn.

In some areas, you'll also find the occasional rock or two, and maybe a small branch or larger submerged log, palm fronds, etc. These create little "microhabitats" within the larger area.

Often very shallow (which bodes well for aquarium replication), often shaded by overhanging vegetation, and subject to variable currents, based on runoff or seasonal rains, these locations are interesting because they can sort of "evolve" over time into a different sort of habitat altogether.

When storms divert water into these streams, and fallen trees, branches, and other debris are tumbled into the water, flow patterns are disrupted, botanical materials are accumulated by these natural "dams", and the character of the environment changes into something altogether different.

So, you as an aquarist can take some "creative license" and attempt to replicate this "seasonal evolution" in the habitat by adding or removing botanical materials, like seed pods, leaves, branches, etc. This would make a for a very interesting and dynamic display!

Leaf Litter Bed Habitats: It might seem hard to believe, but for as much as we talk about creating leaf litter beds and their unique biology and function, we seldom see them replicated in aquariums. Without going into a lengthy analysis as to "why", let's just try to sell you on them a little bit more! 

We love leaf litter beds- not just for the unique aesthetics that they present, but for the potential "functionality" these habitats bring to the aquarium. I think that these habitats, which host a huge variety of fishes, can be "foundational" for unlocking some new secrets of aquatic husbandry. 

And by doing a bit of research on natural leaf litter habitats, you can glean some interesting tidbits of information that can be applied to aquarium design. And of course, you get perspective on the threats and challenges facing these habitats. Here's an example of one aspect of these habitats I learned about from a scientific study- the relationship between water depth and leaf litter depth- and how it can be applied to our aquarium designs:

In an area where the water depth was a maximum of 6ft/2 meters, the leaf litter depth was only about  8 inches/20cm. In a very shallow side tributary, the litter depth was about 4 inches/10cm, with the water level above it only about 12 inches/30cm!  

That's like "aquarium depth", right? Yeah.

And, think about the idea of food sources, which are abundant in leaf litter...

The benthic microfauna which our fishes tend to feed on also are affected by this phenomenon, and as mentioned above, the fishes tend to "follow the food", making this a case of the fishes learning (?) to adapt to a changing environment. And perhaps...maybe...the idea of fishes sort of having to constantly adjust to a changing physical (note I didn't say "chemical") environment could be some sort of "trigger", hidden deep in their genetic code, that perhaps stimulates overall health, immunity or spawning?

Something in their "programing" that says, "You're at home..." Triggering specific adaptive behaviors?

I find this possibility fascinating, because we can learn more about our fishes' behaviors, and create really interesting habitats for them simply by adding botanicals to our aquariums and allowing them to "do their own thing"- to break apart as they decompose, move about as we change water or conduct maintenance activities, or add new pieces from time to time.

Again, much like Nature.

Like any environment, leaf litter beds have their own "rhythm", fostering substantial communities of fishes. The dynamic behind this biotope can best be summarized in this interesting excerpt from an academic paper on Blackwater leaf-litter communities by biologist Peter Alan Henderson, that is useful for those of us attempting to replicate these communities in our aquaria:

"..life within the litter is not a crowded, chaotic scramble for space and food. Each species occupies a sub-region defined by physical variables such as flow and oxygen content, water depth, litter depth and particle size…

...this subtle subdivision of space is the key to understanding the maintenance of diversity. While subdivision of time is also evident with, for example, gymnotids hunting by night and cichlids hunting by day, this is only possible when each species has its space within which to hide.”

So, for all of the above reasons, and many others that we can't touch on in this brief piece- consider trying to replicate a leaf litter bed habitat in your next aquarium! 

Flooded forest floors, meadows, and Morichals:  Okay, these are three distinct habitats, but they have similar characteristics in common. That being, they were all formerly terrestrial habitats, which are subjected to seasonal (or longer) inundation, which turns them into a rich aquatic habitat. 

A prominent feature of many of these habitats is submerged terrestrial grasses, which tolerate some periods of submersion. Although many of the exact species of tropical grasses are unavailable in the hobby, we could select decent "surrogates" to represent them, by utilizing other terrestrial grasses, riparian plants, etc., and create a reasonable facsimile of such habitats in our aquariums.

The idea of flooded groves of terrestrial trees and shrubs, such as the "morichal", which is home to a variety of palms, the possibilities for replication in an aquarium are numerous and aesthetically interesting- challenging our skills and creativity.

So, you could either create an aquarium based on the underwater habitat around a single submerged palm, perhaps replicating it's trunk and the accumulation of materials which surround it, or, you could opt to simply represent the fronds, seed pods, and other materials on the substrate, a fascinating habitat in and of itself.

And of course, the idea of submerged forest floors, with their abundance of terrestrial materials, is where many of us DO play. However, being a bit more "literal" and trying to replicate specific locales and microhabitats within this broader "genre" is really something we'd like to see more of!

The dynamics of these habitats, with their abundant "use" of botanical materials and unique opportunities for replication, will continue to be a real "primary" source of inspiration for many in our communities, and I'm looking forward to seeing more and more aquariums based on them!

Root tangles and the water's edge: With our love for the complex and earthy habitats which arise when land meets water, and the abundance of natural materials now available for hobbyists (hey, there's that Tannin Aquatics company...😆), it's easier than ever to play with these niches in the aquarium.

Root tangles and their associated shorelines are remarkable for their "productivity" and the ability to attract fishes to forage, shelter, spawn, and live out their life cycles among.

There are so many approaches that you could take to replicating this dynamic in the aquarium. You could replicate the habitat with "roots" projecting from above the water's surface, creating an unusual "above/below" dynamic.

Or, you could focus on the roots of a tree in the "submerged" state, which is something irresistible to many hobbyists! We've done this in a pretty effective manner (if I say so, myself!) with our current brackish water system depicting the unique submerged roots of a mangrove habitat.

Or, you could focus on a sort of "fusion" of the above and below habitat, which is a most fascinating and aesthetically interesting niche to play with in the aquarium. The natural environment provides us with some incredible examples of this for iinspiration!

With so much to explore in the natural world, and so many habitats- or aspects of them- to replicate in the aquarium, we have unique opportunities to get out of our "comfort zones", study the form and function of them, and create great work. It will be really fun to see what kinds of representations our community will continue to push out to the world.

The inspiration of Nature as it is provides us with an almost unlimited opportunity to learn and express our creativity. By looking at some of these fascinating habitats with increased scrutiny, rather than simply replicating "that guy's" latest 'scape on Instagram or wherever, we're elevating the art and science of natural aquariums. We're also educating the uninitiated to the hobby about the dynamics, function, and threats that these environments face, which is perhaps the biggest "win" of all!

As always, express yourself as you see fit- but do consider some of the amazing features which Nature has created as an inspiration.

Stay observant. Stay engaged. Stay studious. Stay diligent. Stay creative...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The limits to what we can do...

As you know, I tend to push the limits quite a bit.

Maybe not with stunning, earth-shattering developments, like being the first hobbyist to breed the Glass Knifefish or something. Rather, I push the limits in terms of re-evaluating the prevailing "way we do stuff" in our hobby. I tend to look at things from a slightly different perspective. Like, "That's what goes on in Nature, so why do we always do it a different way in the aquarium?"

I mean, sure, there are many things that we do in the hobby which are a result of us working with little 40 liter glass boxes, as opposed to 378 kilometer stretches of tropical river, but the governing principles of how they work are the same, right? To put it simply, I can't create exactly the same dynamic that occurs in an open, wild habitat- but I can replicate various aspects of its function- and form.

As I speak to more and more new customers and newcomers to the idea of truly natural-style aquariums, I'm learning a lot about the hobby and the way we perceive the world. I'm finding that there is a definite hunger for not only inspiration from Nature, but a lot of questioning about why we have been so hesitant in the hobby to follow her lead in some areas for so long.

I think that the reasons why we have developed guidelines, rules, and even habits in aquarium "culture" for the past century or so is because they created boundries, of sorts, which gave the widest variety of aquarists the best possible chances at success. 

It makes sense. 

Yeah, it IS cool to toss in leaves and seed pods and soil and such, and allow them to break down in an aquarium- but that doesn't lead to an easy path to success for a lot of people. It's reproducible- but only to those who practice more careful, consistent husbandry, observation, and possess- or acquire- extreme patience. 

Not everyone who enters the hobby has such attributes in abundance, so it makes sense that rules and norms like, "Water should be crystal clear", "One inch of  fish per gallon of water" (gulp), or "Siphon out all detritus from the substrate", or "Don't feed more than your fishes can consume in 5 minutes" and such have stuck around so long.

These are typically fundamental, reproducible techniques and principles which, as suggested above- typically give the largest number of hobbyists the best chances for success if they adhere to them.

So along comes a group of "outliers" like our community, pushing the outer edges of what is considered "best practices" in the hobby, and it sort of shakes things up a bit. Like with most movements that question or poke around the status quo, practitioners of natural, botanical-style aquariums will typically find that it sort of plays out in the following "phases":

PHASE ONE: Immediate admonishment from the "establishment" of the hobby. People wonder "Why would you do such a thing?" or remind you that "You can't do that because___________ ." You know, as if to say, "Turn around! You're headed for the washed-out bridge up ahead!" I mean, what you're doing pushes against what is common practice and therefore, it must be dangerous somehow. Typically, the warnings are justified by bringing up the idea that the old "bogeyman" is out there, just waiting for the foolhardy hobbyist who dares challenge the status quo.

And hey, sometimes, they ARE right. Not every "rule" or "best practice" in our hobby is overly rigid, restricitve, or based upon assumptions. The nitrogen cycle, for example. It's like the speed of light: A "speed limit" imposed by Nature that you can't really circumvent without incurring some sort of penalty. Those who attempt, usually meet with the inevitable spanking from Nature.

On the other hand, when you question something that is more "opinion-based", the opportunity to advance the hobby is open. Like, you know, the idea of throwing in seed pods, leaves, and other materials into your tank with the intention that they serve not only as aesthetic components, but functional, biological compliments to your aquarium ecosystem.

Then, it gets interesting. If you respect Nature's rules, and apply some of the "conventional aquarium" wisdom about bioload, water quality management, and husbandry within the context of your "experiment", something amazing happens:

It works.

You achieve a biological-functional, ecologically diverse, surpsingky stable, and altogether aesthetically unique aquarium. Fishes not only "survive", but thrive, and even reproduce. Maintenance procedures don't become some difficult task- they simply evolve to fit the process you've embarked on. You develop a mindset and practical procedures. The mindset, which tells you that what you are doing not only looks different- it functions differently, too...and that it is another approach to keeping aquariums...And a successful, reproducible one, at that!

PHASE TWO: This is an interesting time. Those who persevere with this botanical-style approach, endure the questions and criticisms of fellow hobbyists, and achieve success, share their work on social media and elsewhere. The hushed whispers and stronger assertions about the dubious nature of your work that you'd initially hear when you started your grand experiment , suddenly turn to questions. Fellow hobbyists want to see more pics, hear more about how you did this, and what the benefits are. If you take the time to explain and share the "how's and why's" of this approach, you can almost see the metaphoric "lightbulb" go off in their heads!

It requires a definite mental shift. The idea of utilizing materials which decompose, add to the bioload of the aquarium, affect water chemistry, and tint the water brown certainly demands a different outlook and approach. Those of you who have played with this stuff understand this. And interestingly, you learn that the "rules" that apply to this approach are surprisingly similar to those that we've applied in other aspects of aquarium-keeping. Yet, we all find that there is a long way that you can push things and experiment.

Once you've made that "mental shift" that says it's okay to add large amounts of natural materials, experiment with water chemistry and environmental manipulatio n within your aquarium, it becomes a lot more comfortable to experiment further. You'll look at the natural environment with a different perspective- one that asks why it is the way it is- and wondering how we can replicate some of the unique habitats we encounter from a functional standpoint in our aquariums.   

PHASE THREE: The "naysayers" and "armchair critics" will still be there, pontificating and judging your work; calling it a "fad", trend", ) or "sideshow"-yet the broader hobby community starts to engage, ask more questions. They're enamored with the "look" and the idea that it can give them a greater chance for success with the fishes they work with.  The "critics" find that they really don't have the personal, practical experience with this approach to levy anything more than an "internet enabled", third-party-referenced ("I knew a guy who tried that and his tank crashed....") assault. The reality that this "fad" is actually not all that different from what we've done for decades, other than the fact that it typically looks different, and sounds a bit "contrarian." 

Suddenly, more people give it a shot. Some do their homework, plan carefully, and execute, applying time-honored aquarium husbandry techniques, and they achieve success. They'll literally help "write the book" of "best practices" for the natural, botanical-style approach. Others will fall to the "...just add a pinch of this and your fish will thrive!" mindset that has prevailed in some corners of the hobby for decades, attempt to circumvent some of Nature's "rules" concerning aquarium management, fail to deploy patience, and utterly fail, killing their fishes in the process.

Those who are looking for a "quick and easy" route to a cool aquarium will continue to fail or experience mediocre results, just as they would with any other approach. Typically, they'll loudly proclaim that the approach doesn't work, and is dangerous. And of course, they will fuel the "critics" in a sort of strange symbiosis.

However, those who realize- even after failing- that this approach requires some different thinking- different application of generally-accepted aquarium husbandry practices (like going slowly, employing regular water exchanges, etc.), and regroup, will eventually find success with this (and other) approaches. And they'll share their experiences with others, helping to add to the body of work that's out there. The critics will still be there, of course. However, their "messages" will become less and less impactful as more and more people succeed, and as long as they continue to regurgitate warnings and misinformation based on other people's experiences, rather than their own.

And yeah, the natural, botanical-style aquarium is an "approach." A way to achieve success with tropical fishes. Not the "best" approach...just one of many approaches that can facilitate success...IF we make the attempt to understand what we're doing and apply common sense and patience.

Here we are, four years into our experience here at Tannin Aquatics, and we've seen this process- these "phases" play out. And sure, we still have a long-way to go in order to master all of the aspects of this approach. We might never truly "master" them. However, with each new hobbyist who tries this; with every successful aquarium that is shared, and with every practice that is developed, studied, and refined- we assure a bright future for our "tinted" outlook on the hobby!

There are certainly some limits to what we can do...but few limits to what we can attempt. It just takes research, discipline, diligence, patience, and work. 

Oh, and a bit of courage. Maybe quite a bit.

How exciting is the future? 

Very! Let's go there! 

Stay diligent. Stay studious. Stay resourceful. Stay brave. Stay open...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

"One person's trash..."

As we move forward into the work of botanical-style aquariums, it seems that we are starting to acquire the skills, mindset, and nuances to advance the "state of the art."

One of the things that we have discussed a lot here and elsewhere is how botanicals begin to break down and decompose, and what their impact on the overall ecosystem of a botanical-style natural aquarium is.

The first thing to think about is that leaves, seed pods, and other botanical materials is that they are more or less "ephemeral" in their nature. As soon as you place these terrestrial materials in the water, they begin to recruit bacterial biofilms, slough off some of their outer tissues, and impart any bound up tannins, organics, and nutrients into the water. 

The biofilms and organic materials become an integral part of the closed ecosystem of the aquarium, and as such, influence the water chemistry and nutrient "load." Now, at first, you'd think to yourself, "Damn, all of this crap can take my water quality South really quickly!" Well, sure, it could- if you add too much, too fast, and are lax on other basic aspects of aquarium husbandry (ie; fish stocking levels, regular water exchanges, filter media replacement, etc.).

If added in a patient, measured manner (particularly in an established, stable aquarium), the bacterial population, the higher organisms (micro crustaceans, etc.), and ultimately, you're fishes, will have the opportunity to multiply and consume the food "by-products" produced by the botanical material as it breaks down. 

And this process, which should make sense to all who have studied the nitrogen cycle and closed aquarium husbandry and management, typically generates more questions to the uninitiated to our concept...It can be a bit counterintuitive- I mean, we're talking about throwing in a bunch of botanical stuff into an otherwise "clean" tank...

Yeah.

Apart from, "What botanicals should I use for a _____________ style setup?" the most common question we receive is ""Do I leave them in or let them break down in my tank?"

And of course, our simple answer is..."It's your call!"

Now, this is an important question. How we answer it- work with it- has fundamental implications for how we operate our blackwater, botanical-style aquariums.

It's as much about your aesthetic preferences as it is about the long-term health of the aquarium. It's a decision that each of us makes based on our tastes, management "style", and how much of a "mental shift" we've made into excepting the transient nature of a blackwater, botanical-style aquarium and its function. There really is no "right" or "wrong" answer here. It's all about how much you enjoy what happens naturally, versus what you can control in your tank.

I tend to favor nature. But that's just me.

I like the idea of leaving materials in my aquariums until they break down completely. Long, long ago, I made that mental shift to a philosophy which says, "Hey, it's okay to have some decomposing stuff and biofilms and...detritus...in your tank. It's natural-looking-and facilitates natural biological functions!"

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

Like any other type of aquarium, a botanical-style system relies on time-honored practices of maintenance, nutrient export, and attention from the aquarist. However, one thing that we have that a lot of types of systems don't is an abundance of potential food sources for a myriad of organisms which reside in our tanks. We are very much creating a little microcosm, and it needs to respect the "checks and balances" which Nature imposes.

And of course, we can't ever lose sight of the fact that we are creating and adding to a closed aquatic ecosystem, and that our actions in how we manage our tanks must map to our ambitions, tastes, and the "regulations" that Nature imposes upon us.

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

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

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

And while we're talking about adding botanicals, from time to time, I need to revisit the "doomsday scenarios" that could occur. Now, it's important to note that the very few "disasters" we've been told about typically happened under a few situations or combinations of them:

1) The aquarist did not prepare anything as instructed

2) A significant amount of botanicals relative to water volume was added all at once to a long-established aquarium

3) A significant amount of botanicals was added to an established tank in a very short period of time (like within a couple of days)

Now, again, there are always anomalies, but these situations are almost "set ups" for some types of issues. Typically, what happens is you'd see fishes gasping at the surface for oxygen, which becomes rapidly depleted by the addition of a large influx of materials breaking down, which can also overwhelm the biological filtration capacity of a tank. 

Usually, the "rescue" consists of increased vigorous aeration and a succession of water changes, removing the botanicals, use of activated carbon, etc...the typical "emergency fixes" for problems of this nature.

The best preventative is to go slowly. To consider impacts.

The reality is, adding botanicals to your tank and using them, replacing them regularly, etc, is no more "dangerous" than anything else we do as aquarists. You simply need to go slowly, apply common sense, follow our prep instructions, and observe your tank carefully.

Is that a guarantee of success? Of course not. Could you have some weird combination of events, local water composition, overly sensitive fishes, etc. which could give you a disastrous outcome? Of course. 

Be careful. Be responsible...And be thoughtful.

And of course, the stuff breaks down, it creates...detritus.

What exactly is this stuff?

We've been told for decades that it's bad freakin' news. Well, on the surface, the definition of detritus does seem a bit...well, dangerous:

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

Woah! 

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

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

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

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

Well first off, let's admit that the stuff  just doesn't look that nice to most of us, and that's partially why the recommendation for a good part of the century or so we've kept aquariums is to siphon it the hell out! And that's good advice from an aesthetic standpoint- and for that matter, from a husbandry standpoint, as well. Excessive amounts of accumulating waste materials can lead to increased phosphate, nitrate, and other problems, including blooms of nuisance algae. Emphasis on the word "excessive" here...(which begs the question, "What is "excessive" in this context, anyways?)

Most hobbyists don't have the time, inclination, or optimized system set up to take advantage of a small accumulation of this stuff. However, with the importance of detritus in creating food webs in wild leaf litter communities, which we are now replicating in aquariums, could there actually be some benefit to allowing a little of this stuff to accumulate? Or at least, not "freaking out" and removing every single microgram of detritus as soon as it appears?

I think so. Really.

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

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

Well, as far as the first part of your thought- Yeah, I could be a bit "crazy." On the other hand, I think I do have some idea of the implications of what I'm postulating here. First off, remember, I'm not suggesting that everyone throw away their siphons and just allow shit (literally!) to accumulate in their aquarium substrate in the interest of creating a "food web."  

No sir.

What I am curious about is if there is some benefit in a botanical, blackwater system, of encouraging a bit more fungal and microbial growth, utilizing, among other things, the organic detritus that inevitably is produced in a well-managed. well-populated aquarium.  I mean, if you're doing water changes and removing uneaten food, dead fishes, aquatic plant leaves, etc., you're already significantly reducing the "food inputs" available to the organisms on the low end of the food chain, right?

In a typical aquarium, well-maintained with regular water changes and removal of detritus, our fishes are almost 100% dependent upon us to provide food, right?

There's usually very little for them to forage on in most aquariums, other than the occasional algal film (assuming they're herbivorous) or particle of uneaten food. Creating militant, "near sterility" in our aquariums, which do at least superficially resemble true ecosystems, might actually be detrimental in some way, right? I mean, you're removing one component of a natural cycle and replacing it with a high-octane, "shotgun approach" substitute of just taking everything out.

Can it be said that this actually Creates, perhaps (?) an unnecessary "dependency" of sorts on this human intervention, right? At the very least, are we actually making the management of aquariums more challenging by sort of "fighting" nature, and simply not thinking this through all the way? Doesn't nature, if left to her own devices, tend to keep excesses of all sorts more-or-less in check? 

I'm not suggesting to abandon all husbandry practices, of course. Just suggesting we think about the "hows and whys" just a bit more...perhaps with a different viewpoint.

So, perhaps- maybe- Is there just some merit in the idea of leaving a bit of detritus in the system- say, in the leaf litter bed, to help "fuel" the fungal and microorganism growth that forms the basis of our little ecosystems? I mean, think of some possible benefits to our aquariums. Having a more complete assortment of fungi and microorganisms could lead ultimately to a more stable, more efficient aquarium, right?

Yeah, I realize that an aquarium is not an "open system", with huge volumes of water throughput, replenishment by rain, and pulses of materials being added to the system. 

However, we do replicate some of these processes- via water exchanges, media replacement, etc.

So, why don't we do more?

By, like, well, letting some stuff break down in situ. Allowing a bit of detritus accumulate. Letting the fishes and other organisms utilize it as food.

Yes. Food. And...maybe a biological support system, which can process nutrients, nitrate and phosphate, via bacterial growth. So, it makes sense to let some of this material remain in our tanks, right?

If you're not wiping out a percentage of the ecosystem's primary decomposers and  food sources weekly with ultra-intense maintenance, wouldn't there perhaps be some advantages? And don't a lot of young fishes consume "infusoria" as a part of their initial diet? Wouldn't it make sense to have larger populations of some of these organisms available to our fishes at all times in the aquarium to supplement our artificial diets? Could the fry-rearing system of the future be a tank with a big bed of decomposing leaf litter and a terrestrial soil substrate?

Much like what we've done in the reef aquarium world over the past few decades, I think that those of us who play in this little niche of the freshwater world need to look at our systems more "holistically"- and consider each component of the aquarium an integral part, fulfilling valuable roles.

Much like the "deep sandbags" and live rock of the reef aquarium world, can a deep leaf litter/botanical bed and lots of botanicals in one of our aquariums foster beneficial organisms which can accomplish...denitrification- among other things?

And, in such a deep layer of leaves or botanicals, is it advisable to replace them on a more frequent basis to prevent maintenance liabilities? For that matter, are decomposing leaves on this scale a "maintenance liability?"

Could they be considered a "carbon source"- the freshwater equivalent of "biopellets"- to fuel beneficial bacterial growth within the system, creating excellent nutrient processing capacity... as opposed to being some sort of "destroyer" of water quality?

Could we be missing something?

Could it actually be that a deep layer of botanicals/leaves is actually a key to creating a biologically stable aquarium, once you reach a certain depth, if the overall husbandry of the tank is good? Maybe? Now, I've never had any issues with a relatively small, open layer of leaves in any of my tanks (we're talking 1"-3" /2.54-7.62cm) or so. I just wonder if the dynamic changes significantly- for the better- or worse- when you approach a foot of depth in an aquarium?

Something we'll just have to see, I suppose!

At the very least, looking at our botanicals and leaves and the resulting decomposition, detritus, and organics as a "fuel" for beneficial processes is something worth doing, IMHO.

Time for more work. Time to look at this stuff more seriously. It's not time to be afraid, dismiss things outright because "they" all say you shouldn't....

Yeah, it may indeed be true that the old expression about "...one person's trash is someone else' treasure..." could be part of our "mantra" as we move forward. We might very well treasure our decomposing leaves and the associated biotic that they bring.

I believe so.

Stay curious. Stay grounded. Stay diligent. Stay progressive. Stay excited. Stay logical...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

A "Disruption Manifesto."

I think the hobby is ripe for a bit of...disruption.

No, not the, "in-your-face, this is the new best way to do this, and your a loser if you don't..." kind of disruption. Nope. Rather, a re-thinking of stuff that we've done for so many years. A little collective soul-searching on our part. The kind of questioning of the naysayers and forum "experts" who tell you that you can't do something, or that it will crash your tank, etc.

A "disruption" to the kind of complacency and status quo that has resulted in the  "rules" that dictate how an aquarium "should" look, and hundreds of aquascaping contest entries looking virtually indistinguishable from each other as they try to replicate last year's winner, or some prevailing trend. It need not be a rebellion, yet I think that we need the kind of "disruption" that supports innovation- the kind which has, over the year, discouraged adventurous hobbyists from trying out new ideas and methods for fear of criticisms.

It's time to really make mental shifts at scale. The mental shifts which accept and understand that Nature has her ways of doing things; that real aquatic ecosystems aren't the perfectly manicured, highly polished image that we have coddled and upheld as the pinnacle of aquarium keeping for so long. 

It's time to look at Nature as our inspiration. 

It's time to play with dirt, soil, mud, silt, decomposing leaves, branches, marginal plants, roots...materials which replicate both the appearance and function of natural habitats from which many of our fishes come. And, if utilized skillfully and thoughtfully, can yield functionally aesthetic aquariums far different and unique from anything previously attempted in the aquarium hobby. 

It's time to let go of the shackles of rules and habits that keep us "boxed" in; afraid to change stuff. Things that force us to look at our hobby from only one perspective, instead of many.

It's time to merge what we've learned in the blackwater aquarium world, the botanical aquarium world, the biotope aquarium world, the vivarium world, and the planted aquarium world, to create a new emphasis and understanding of truly functional natural aquarium systems.

It's time to mix a new cocktail of bold thought, innovation, tough questions, and occasional disasters to force some progress...to learn new skills, create new hobby disciplines. To share ideas and innovations- to the benefit of all. It's time for new thinkers, tinkerers, hobby entrepreneurs to go for it.

Call it change. Call it disruption. Call it whatever term works for you...What we call it isn't as important as what we do.

It's all a form of progress. A way to move this hobby boldly into the second decade of the 21st century. 

Everyone's work in this area is important. It's important to the hobby, to our aquarium "culture", the science and art...and to the fishes themselves. Looking towards Nature as it exists, instead of how we want it to be, is a challenging, often difficult endeavor that can push us way, way out of our comfort zones, forcing us to adapt to a different way of thinking.

Forcing us to take on the challenges, questions, criticisms, and even insults of naysayers; those who think we're foolish and reckless. Perhaps we are. However, we're anything but boring. And the price of the "status quo" might even be higher in a future where the natural habitats of our fishes are disappearing at an astounding rate. 

Study them. Observe them. Replicate them in form and function, before it's too late. You can always replicate the work last year's aquascaping contest winner some other time, if you're so inclined. 

The hobby needs you. 

The unknown roads are there to take on. This process is hard. It's scary. It's uncomfortable. You'll have challenges, failures, even complete disasters. You might be dead wrong.

Or you might find a new path; uncover a new approach, a new direction...a way forward that was once thought impossible or foolhardy. You can expand minds, move the needle forward. If you're spot to the challenge.

Yeah, it's not easy. 

It's also enjoyable.

It can even be easy, when you let go, ignore the negative voices, and allow yourself to think freely in this hobby. Some of the naysayers might end up being your best allies...or at the very least, great inspirations to question, to innovate...to evolve. To change.

Let go. Move forward. Evolve. Share. Rinse and repeat.

It's time.

And yeah, it's kind of disruptive.

Stay unbound. Stay progressive. Stay bold. Stay innovative. Stay brave.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics