The Tint

Having it their way! Nit-picking the "adaptation approach..."

After almost four years of our existence here at Tannin Aquatics, it's really neat to see that the idea of creating more natural aquariums in both form and function has been discussed more widely than ever. Not just blackwater aquariums, mind you- but all sorts of more natural aquarium systems.

And, of course, I'm stoked to see this evolution! Not just for what you'd think would be the obvious reasons- Oh, you know, I sell botanicals to accomplish this stuff...

No, no.

Rather, I'm stoked for the reason that we as a hobby are studying and learning and perfecting methodologies and practices for creating more functional environments in our aquariums, which is helping to unlock the secrets about caring for and breeding all sorts of fishes. We're questioning the "prevailing mindsets" that we've held regarding the way we approach things in our aquariums. We're questioning the "status quo", and sometimes just thinking why we do things the way we do?

It's an interesting mindset shift that has been constantly evolving. Again, no one person "invented" the idea of more natural-functioning aquariums, or blackwater, brackish, or any of the other ideas we go on an on about here. This is merely an evolution and a desire on the part of many hobbyists to push out a bit from where we';ve been for so long- much in the way aquatic plant enthusiasts or reef aquarium hobbyists have done this.

One of the topics that has come up more and more frequently in discussion of late is how we approach pH management and other environmental parameters in blackwater aquariums. Or, more specifically, how we adapt our animals to the parameters that we have created for them in our aquariums, and if there is a better approach to this.

I recall a conversation with our friend, the well-known hobbyist Ted Judy, some time ago. Ted had travelled to  Colombia, where he visited both wild habitats of characins, dwarf cichlids, and other fishes, and the facilities of local wholesalers who traded in them. He took some extensive environmental measurements at both the wild sites and facilities, and was able to garner some very interesting information.

His results seemed to indicate to me that we as a hobby seem to be approaching the care of some species incorrectly. Some species, particularly Angelfish and others, seem to categorically do better when kept under conditions more closely resembling those from which they have come from.

We've talked about this stuff before here in "The Tint", but it's a conversation that I find fascinating: 

The idea that just because your fishes from soft, acidic habitats are looking pretty good and have "adapted" to your hard, alkaline tapwater, and maybe even breed-doesn't mean that they can do well over time, or over generations, while kept under these conditions...

Or, quite simply, It doesn't mean that these are perhaps the best conditions for them. This is not to say that fishes can't adapt to our local water conditions, or that thee is only one way to keep them...No. My point is that this may, indeed not be the BEST way to keep fishes...even though it might be the easiest way for us.

It may indeed make more sense in the "big picture" to more realistically replicate the environmental parameters (I'm specifically emphasizing pH, alkalinity/conductivity here) of the environments where our fishes come from. And that may involve venturing into heretofore "forbidden" waters- pun intended.

We're perplexed, because in the past, we were told that more natural, soft, low pH "blackwater" parameters are somehow "dangerous"...difficult to recreate, and even more difficult to manage. I think that this is a generalization of sorts, really. As a long-time reef aquarist of several decades, I can confidently tell you that a high percentage of the time we spend as reefers is to replicate, as closely as possible, the natural reef conditions from which our corals and invertebrates come.

You can't "adapt" corals to radically different environmental parameters than those which they have evolved under. It's a case of accommodating their needs, not ours!

This is really no different.

With ammonia less toxic at lower pH levels, I've gotta think there is an advantage there somewhere to keeping blackwater fishes under more appropriate conditions...Yet, these conditions are often classified as "dangerous" or "unmanageable."  Are they really? Honestly, as we've discussed before, I don't think that this is the case...They are simply not immediately obvious or easy to figure out. We haven't fully studied it yet. We haven't really developed the most reliable and easily replicable techniques just yet to fully re-create these conditions.

We're just getting started, really. Again, drawing an analogy to my reef keeping and coral propagation work- it was really just a matter of translating some of the field research and aquarium work into procedure. Like in many other endeavors, "difficult", tedious, and "time-consuming" often weeds out a lot of people who want to keep those tough fishes in their tanks. We tend to want "simple" whenever possible! 

And the process of adapting wild specimens to aquariums, who have dealt with many physical "insults" on their way from river to aquarium, could only benefit from more natural environmental conditions.

I'll say it one more time.

This is not impossible stuff. It's simply going to require some continued work on our part to figure it out. Oh, and some courage, as you'll be challenged, scrutinized, and criticized- because it's sort of "taboo" in the mainstream to challenge some long-held assertions...

Conceptually, even in the freshwater hobby, it's not "new" to do this.

African Rift Lake cichlid fanciers have been providing more natural habitat-specific water parameters for their animals for decades with much success.

Providing them with more environmentally correct conditions to help them thrive and reproduce in captivity for extended periods of time has made the successful maintenance and propagation of Rift Lake Cichlids just that much more accessible to more and more hobbyists. 

In a broad sense, however, much of the hobby has relied on what I like to call the "adaptation approach" of getting the fishes to "comply" with the environmental parameters we can most easily supply for them. It's worked for a lot of fishes and aquatic life forms, at least in the short run. Yet, wouldn't there be some more lasting benefit to more accurately accommodating their needs versus adapting them to ours?

I can't help but question wether or not our fishes would be able to live longer lifespans, enjoy greater health, and reproduce more easily (not to mention, display better colors) if provided with conditions in the aquarium that more accurately replicate the wild habitats from which they evolved?

 My hunch is yes, but I'm not a biologist...Again, I have to ask if we have truly "bred out" their evolutionary adaptations to these environments- to which they have evolved over eons- after only a few decades in captivity, or if the fishes simply "adapted" to what we've provided them to some extent.

Again, I'm no scientist, and I have a limited understanding of genetics...but I have that nagging "thing" in the back of my mind that tells me to question this. Perhaps we have changed the genetic pool over time, but have we really circumvented millions of years of evolution? I just don't know.

And of course, I'm NOT trying to diminish the skill of any breeder or hobbyist has bred say, Discus or whatever under "tapwater" conditions...I'm just curious what the best long term approach is. I can't help but wonder how this plays out over the next few decades, as wild populations of many fishes come under increasing pressure from the environment and other factors.

We are doing great. 

We can do better.

And over and over, if you question the current prevailing mindset on this, many  hobbyists are going to tell you that it's a "slippery slope" and that you'll be unable to accomplish this. I wish I were more qualified to make such a determination, but I somehow feel that this isn't so; again, drawing from my experience with corals.

Yet, again and again, we're seeing fishes that are considered "challenging" to keep in aquariums because they favor these specialized parameters- thrive and reproduce when provided with them in our tanks. We have to reconstruct, or "back-engineer" what works for the fishes we're trying to keep. I think I'm kind of over the attitude I used to have that you need to "acclimate the fishes to your conditions" instead of providing them with the conditions that they have evolved to live, thrive, and reproduce in for eons.

I think the latter is a better way.

Yeah.

It goes back to studying the natural habitats they come from, and figuring out what the best way to replicate them is.

Simple as that.

There are no shortcuts. Honestly, it's not easy to do stuff that is a bit unorthodox or requires experimentation. Figuring out how to do this isn't just as simple as reaching for a "magic potion", or arriving at the perfect combination of three different leaves and pods or whatever to "condition the water" under any and all circumstances. And that intimidates a lot of people. Every situation, every tank, every nuance is unique, and this requires "customized" solutions for every aquarium. Sure, the methodology/strategy might be something which we can more or less "standardize"- but not the "formula."

As an example, the Rio Negro and its many tributaries provide us many different fishes that we love to keep in aquariums. The Rio Negro’s water is extremely poor in mineral content, with conductivity as low as 8 micro semions, and is extremely acidic, with pH’s ranging from 2.9 to 5.2. That's pretty damn acidic by aquarium standards, isn't it? How can you replicate water like that in your aquarium?

DO you want to?

Well, you'd start by utilizing RO/DI water and "conditioning it" with botanicals and such, which might only get you so far. There would likely be additional steps required, like the addition of acid solutions, different pH-reducing natural materials in your filter. And more detailed monitoring. And slightly different water-quality maintenance approaches. This stuff touches on the fringes of what a lot of us are comfortable doing.

And wouldn't it be easier to create and maintain these conditions with some compromising, like finding out the "average" of the pH and other parameters of the habitat you're trying to replicate and either going for it or perhaps, for the higher, easier-to-achieve higher limits of pH in the habitat, for example?

Even with a sort of "compromised accommodation" approach, you'd be providing your fishes with environmental conditions that are far more "realistic" than those typically provided in aquariums, right? Is there even a significant benefit to doing so? I believe so, but that's going to require some experimentation over time to prove.

That's what we need to do.

Yeah, easy for me to sit here and talk about, but it will require some work to back up this hypothesis! And again, we've accomplished many amazing things without going to crazy into trying to more accurately replicate these natural conditions. yet, I just can't help but wonder what we'd accomplish if we go just that much farther.

We are getting better at this as a hobby/industry. Think about it. We can create more habitat-specific water parameters right now, because we have the means and way more accurate and "applicable" information about the natural habitat from which our fishes come from than ever before, and ways to monitor it that simply weren't available to the hobby years ago.

Couple this with better management of lighting, thanks to LED's, more controllable current, thanks to high-tech, electronically controlled pumps, and very accurate temperature control thanks to better heater/controller tech- and we're assured a continued progression towards more nature-specific captive environments for our animals. Oh, and of course, there's the foods. Food is getting better than ever, and we're starting to see foods that contain a higher percentage of natural foods of many fishes- like aquatic insects, crustaceans, flies, etc. 

And you can state it enough- today's hobbyist is talented, intuitive, creative, smart, compassionate, and communicative in a way never before possible. The work being done is amazing!

It's a really exciting time to be a hobbyist.

The "next-level" breakthroughs will require just as much courage, effort, and creativity as they did in decades past, but the means to accomplish them are now at our fingertips. And the potential payoffs- in terms of fish health, greater reproduction, and a more sustainable industry- not to mention, greater awareness of, and appreciation for the precarious nature of the wild habitats- will assure us a brighter hobby future for ourselves, our fishes, and our children.

Don't shy from the challenge. Hit it head on! Accommodate, don't adapt.

Stay brave. Stay experimental. Stay focused. Stay creative. Stay relentless!

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Embracing "Aquatic Analogs"

We've talked a lot about flooded forest floors and inundated meadows in the tropical regions of the world, specifically South America and Southeast Asia. Being terrestrial habitats, these forest floors are covered with shrubs and grasses, many of which are not typically available in the aquarium hobby.

Grasses, such as Paspalum repens, a common species found in South America, and several other grasses, are quite abundant in these habitats, and are most resistant to prolonged submersion.

Now, we DO have access to some species, such as Sedges and other riparian or semi-aquatic/bog plants from genera that are found in these regions, such as Papyrus (Cyperus), Acorus, Orzyas, etc.

Since many of these plants tolerate submersion for extended periods of time, they are of great interest to many of us for use in our aquariums. Of course, part of what interests me is that these are generally very hardy plants.

There are numerous species more commonly available from commercial nurseries in North American and European nations, so creating realistic representations of these habitats in our aquariums is more attainable than ever!

Now, with this in mind, there are also lots and lots of possibilities for creating unique aquatic displays with what I would call "aquatic analogs" of these grasses and shrubs. In other words, incorporating some true aquatics to replicate the "look" of the flooded forests using representative species.

I freely admit that this is a sort of "cheat"- but when you think about it, it's a pretty good method that can be employed if you want to represent the inundation period for the theme of your aquarium, and aren't able to secure or grow the terrestrial/semi-aquatic analogs to the species found in these habitats.

So, I'm thinking about plants like Echinodorus tenellus, the "Pygmy Chain Sword", which grows in a most "grasslike" state, and certainly is representative of the grasses one might find on a flooded Panatanal or forest floor habitat in South America.

It's not hard to cultivate a little section of these plants in your representation of a flooded forest, and drop in a few leaves and botanicals, and achieve a relatively realistic-looking facsimile!

Another great candidate that has a sort of "generic tropical terrestrial grasslike" appearance would be Cryptocoryne parva. This diminutive plant actually can be grown emerged, so for "semi-flooded" igapo or varzea biotope aquariums, it would be really adaptable! And when submerged, it bears strong resemblance to Paspalum or other tropical, submersion-resistant grasses. (It's the plant in the foreground in the below pic, BTW)

I suppose the old fave, Sagittaria, could also be employed for this purpose, but some species can achieve a larger size and perhaps ultimately be not as realistic, so you'd need to choose carefully. More exotic, but readily available as tissue-cultured, would be the beautiful Lilaeopsis mauritiana, a beautiful  species often called "Micro Sword" for its appearance and size.

And of course, since we're representing a flooded forest floor or meadow, with patchy growth over rich soil and leaves, you likely don't need to have the full-on green lawn that planted aquarists strive for so ardently!

Again, since the intense growth of aquatic plants isn't the primary focus of such a display, you have a tremendous amount of "latitude" over their care when working with them in this manner! You don't need to go nuts with CO2 or massive and complicated fertilizer regimens. A good aquatic soil, sand, and or other media, accompanied by good lighting is all you need.

Employing a good cover of leaf litter, such as Texas Live Oak leaf litter or smaller-sized leaves, such as Malaysian Yellow Mangrove leaves, along with selected botanicals, you could create a very realistic representation of these habitats in your aquarium! 

I think that despite the fact that this is sort of "cheat" (and yeah, it most definitely IS! ), you could certainly create a pretty faithful representation of these unique habitats, and inspire further research into them. You need not be "hamstrung" by not being able to source or obtain the actual terrestrial plants found in these habitats...you could always turn to "aquatic analogs" for a good start!

Stay creative. Stay studious. Stay diligent. Stay resourceful...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The natural functionality of "randomness..."

It's Tuesday...A nice day to muse a bit, right? 

Here's a thought:

Just because last year's big 'scaping contest winner had the "perfect" orientation, ratios, and alignment of the "(insert this year's trendiest wood here) branch" within the tank, doesn't mean it's a real representation of the natural functionality of "randomness." 

In other words, just because it looks "good", it doesn't mean it's what Nature looks like.

Or acts like, for that matter.

One of the things that we've noticed lately in the hobby, particularly in our sector, is a trend towards more "realistic" aquariums. Not just systems which look like natural environments; rather, systems which are modeled as much after the function of them as the aesthetics.

"Functional aesthetics."

Amazing.

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

And yes- they do affect our fishes, don't they?

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

Some of the "next" things that I see our community working on are further explorations into understanding and replicating natural water parameters and what the implications are for our aquariums. I also see more developments in trying to recreate some aspects of natural "food chains" in our natural, botanical-style aquariums, by facilitating the growth and reproduction of fungi, microorganisms, and small crustaceans within our botanical "beds" and leaf litter.

"Functional aesthetics."

It's really great to see our community exploring some of these ideas that may not tie to any specific "type" of aquarium. In other words, the lessons we're learning from botanical-style aquariums can apply to a variety of aquarium endeavors, like breeding, biotope aquariums, rearing of fry, and oh yeah- aquascaping. We're moving beyond the "will it work?" mindset we collectively had about these tanks just a few years ago, and moving into a "what can we do with what we're learning" era! 

Yeah, for a good part of the first couple of years of Tannin's existence,  I spent a great deal of time worrying about how the idea of a carefully conceived hardscape slowly transforming by the actions of fungi, bacteria, and decomposition would "play" to my fellow hobbyists.  I was worried about potential mistakes and disasters that would befall fellow hobbyists if they pushed too hard, "freelanced" it a bit.

If they ignored the processes behind the aesthetics.

Fortunately, it hasn't happened all that much.

Yes, some of you may have experienced some disastrous results experimenting with botanicals- particularly when adding them en masse to an established, stable aquarium. Excesses of carbon dioxide or other nasty things can happen. I had a few bad outcomes in my early days of experimenting with this stuff, myself. There IS a learning curve- even now. Botanical-style aquariums are NOT plug-and-play systems. You can't simply dump a bunch of prepared seed pods and leaves into an established aquarium and expect "Instant Amazon." 

It doesn't work that way. 

And we're learning that, just because the water has a "tint" to it doesn't mean that you're achieving "natural" environmental characteristics in your aquarium. 

This is a concept that we need to embrace. There is a lot more nuance- a lot more things you need to do, observations you need to make, and stuff to learn in order to get there.

Really- there are no shortcuts. 

Now, all that being said, it's not just one big "science experiment", and that there is no room or "tolerance" for the "art" of it all. Absolutely not. 

You can enjoy botanicals and blackwater aquariums in as much or little "detail" as you care to venture into.  You can enjoy this or any approach however you want. I just think that there is a lot of misinformation about blackwater aquariums, botanicals, and their associated use, and I'd hate to see that taint the real enjoyment you can achieve by exploring in a more uninhibited fashion (with due respect to Nature's "rules" about the nitrogen cycle, stocking, etc., etc.- the basics of aquatic husbandry...

It's about expectations and understanding. If you're just looking for a cool aesthetic, that's okay. You simply need to understand what happens to botanicals when they are submerged in water...how they break down, what they do to the appearance and environmental parameters of our tanks. 

And yeah- they DO Look pretty cool...Even when they don't follow a perfect ratio, or a design-oriented mixture of color or texture... Randomness is part of nature...And, there really IS a functionality of "randomness!"

It's the era of "Functional Aesthetics"- and yeah, you're right in the thick of things.

Stay diligent. Stay observant. Stay curious. Stay creative. Stay dynamic...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

A healthy obsession with leaves.

Oh, man, here he goes again....

Yes.

We have a lot of discussions and inquiries around here about the way blackwater habitats work, and how the physical characteristics and water chemistry found in them affects the fishes which reside there. And funny, we're actually starting to hear definite opinions in the hobby about the characteristics of blackwater, and what constitutes such in the aquarium.

And of course, once we get into "definitions"- specifically those preferred by hobbyists (us), I start getting that old nauseous feeling again- like, "...Here we go, f ---ing this up again with our attitudes..."

Why? Well, because I think we tend to arrive at a conclusion and dig in, based on some narrow, or opinionated points of view. I've been told generalized, almost dogmatic-sounding statements, such as "You can't have a blackwater aquarium unless the pH is below 6..." 

And that's where I get a bit uncomfortable. Opinions are important. But going beyond hobby forums and digging into scholarly research on the topic (of which there are tons for those who would but take the time to search for them and read them) yields some really interesting data that we could work with!

I mean, there are characteristics which science uses to classify blackwater habitats- and pH is one factor. No argument there. However, it's not JUST pH which defines them, and you also have a surprisingly large number of documented blackwater systems with pH levels in "the sixes"- so such stubborn views on what defines these habitat-and aquariums which attempt to replicate them- are a bit generalized, IMHO.

Yeah, based on field studies, you can have a 6.2-6.6 pH, low dissolved mineral content, tinted water, etc. in your aquairum, and still comfortably call it a "blackwater aquarium."

Absolutely.

Besides the color and pH, of course, there are other defining characteristics of blackwater systems agreed upon by scientists and ecologists, such as  low electrical conductivity, and negligible dissolved minerals, such as  Ca, Mg, K, and Na. In one study I read, conducted on a number of Rio Negro tributaries, these characteristics were pretty much consistent throughout the region. Most of the habitats in the study were "acid black water streams" with high concentrations of humic and fulvic acids derived from podzolic soils and accumulations of leaves within these systems.

And, with these low amounts of dissolved minerals and corresponding low pH levels come unique challenges for the animals who reside in these systems. And, if you're going to go the route of targeting pH levels in the "fives" (or lower) in your aquarium-a legitimate goal, of course- it's important to consider how to provide "collateral conditions" to keep your fishes healthy.

How do fishes survive and thrive in these rather extreme habitats?

It's long been known that fishes are well adapted to their natural habitats, particularly the more extreme ones. And this was borne out in a recent study of the Cardinal Tetra. Lab results suggest that humic substances protect cardinal tetras in the soft, acidic water in which they resides by preventing excessive sodium loss and stimulating calcium uptake to ensure proper homeostasis.

This is pretty extraordinary, as the humic substances found in blackwater actually enable the fishes to thrive in this highly acidic water which is devoid of much mineral content typically needed for fishes to survive!

So, again- for those who seek extremely low (by hobby standards) pH levels for their blackwater aquariums, I think it would be a legitimate practice to incorporate leaves and other botanical materials in them for both aesthetics and long-term health benefits to our aquarium fishes residing in such conditions.

Oh, and this intriguing  finding in a study on humic substances in ornamental fish aquaculture really perked up my senses a bit:  "Humic substances are not real alternatives to strong traditional therapeutics. However, they show different advantages in repairing secondary, stress induced damages in fish."

A lot there. Some of which we can't truly "quantify" for aquarium practice in a neat and tidy way. 

So, how do we easily impart some of those "protective" humic substances into the water? Likely by utilizing those leaves and botanicals, right? 

Yeah, I think so. 

And this goes far beyond just the cool aesthetics they impart, too! Like, what we are doing with leaves, twigs, substrate materials, seed pods, etc. has a physiological impact on the fishes we keep. Of course, "how much" and "which ones" is the "art" part of this. Quite honestly, we simply don't have all of the answers. We have to experiment. We have to try and evaluate and go from there.

Yeah, it's an ongoing evolution. However, by re-training our minds to appreciate these natural habitats, the way the look, and more important- how they function- we can create truly amazing "functionally aesthetic" aquariums for our fishes. 

What a powerful incentive to study and enjoy both the aesthetics and environmental enhancement capabilities of the botanical materials we tend to be so obsessed with around here!

A lot to unpack, I know. Where do we start?

Well, my botanical/blackwater obsession started with leaves...

I'm very happy to see so many hobbyists embracing the blackwater, botanical-style aquarium. Not just because, hey- like, I have company that sells stuff for it- but because it's an area of the hobby that was really relegated to "novelty" status for so long, with the mainstream aquarium hobby not really seeing much value in it beyond a "that's different..." mindset.

Now, we're seeing a lot of research by hobbyists into the best way to incorporate botanicals into their aquariums. Many of us are playing with the idea of incorporating leaf litter- something that was given little more than a passing bit of attention a few years ago, if that- into our tanks. This increased level of attention to this environmental niche among hobbyists is reaping benefits for those who have played with it.

Leaves are sort of the "gateway drug", if you will, into our world.

In nature, as we've discussed many times-leaf litter zones comprise one of the richest and most diverse biotopes in the tropical aquatic ecosystem, yet until recently, they have seldom been replicated in the aquarium. I think this has been due, in large part- to the lack of continuous availability of products for the hobbyist to work with, and a lack of real understanding about what this biotope is all about- not to mention, the understanding of the practicality of creating one in the aquarium.

Long-held fears and concerns, such as overwhelming our systems with biological materials, and the overall "look" of decomposing leaves and botanicals in our tanks, have understandably led to this idea being relegated to "sideshow status" for many years. It's only been recently that we've started looking at them more objectively as ecological niches worth replicating in aquariums.

The thought behind this habitat can best be summarized in this interesting except from an academic paper on Amazonian Blackwater leaf-litter communities by biologist Peter Alan Henderson, one 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.”

In other words, different species inhabit different sections of the leaf litter, and we should consider this when creating and stocking our biotope systems...Neat stuff!

So, beyond just creating an aggregation of material which imparts tannins and humic substances into the water in our tanks, we're creating a little habitat, every bit as interesting, diverse, and complex as any other we attempt to replicate. In the aquarium, you need to consider both practicality AND aesthetics when replicating this biotope. 

A biotope that deserves your attention and study, indeed.

I encourage every "tinter" to experiment with a leaf litter-zone themed aquarium at some point! You’ll be surprised how far you can take the biotope concept, especially if you strive to be completely true to the niche you’re modeling and aspire to only keep animals found in that niche!

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

It also functions as a means to preserve the nutrients that would be lost to the forests which would inevitably occur if all the material which fell into the streams was simply washed downstream. The fishes, crustaceans, and insects that live in the leaf litter and feed on the fungi, detritus, and decomposing leaves themselves are very important to the overall habitat.

In the properly-constructed and managed botanical-style aquarium, I believe that leaf litter and botanicals certainly perform a similar role in helping to sequester these materials. This is an exciting field of study for our community!

As we've talked about before briefly, another interesting thing about leaf litter beds is that they actually have "structure" and even longevity. In several studies I read on the subject, the accumulations of leaves in various streams are documented to have existed in the same locations for years- to the point where scientists actually have studied the same ones for extended periods of time.

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

There is a whole, fascinating science to river and stream structure, and with so many implications for understanding how these structures and mechanisms affect fish population, occurrence, behavior, and ecology, it's well worth studying for aquarium interpretation!  

Oh, did you get that part where I mentioned that the lower-energy parts of the water courses tend to accumulate leaves and sediments and stuff?

It's logical, right?

And it's also interesting, because, as we know, fishes and their food items tend to aggregate in these areas, and embracing the "theme" of a litter/botanical bed or even wood placement,  in the context of a stream structure in the aquarium is kind of cool!

Yes, I could go on and on and on... I literally have an obsession with leaves I the aquarium...a healthy one, for sure! 

And I will, in future installments of this blog, as we learn more and more and accumulate an increasingly large body of work to add to our knowledge base on the topic.

Everyone's input is welcome. It's still very much "ground floor" here. I think it's still way too early to make authoritative statements and to draw stubborn conclusions about most aspects of our natural, botanical-style aquarium "practice."

Keep an open mind. Make appropriate mental shifts. Experiment freely and responsibly. Share your successes, failures, and everything in between with our fellow hobbyists.

Tint the world. Blur the lines. Dream in water.

Stay bold. Stay inquisitive. Stay diligent. Stay resourceful. Stay creative. Stay engaged...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The loneliness and romance of "first."

Ever felt a bit nervous when contemplating some new idea for your aquarium; you know, the one that no one ever tried before? The one everyone says can't be done, or "won't work", or "is destined to fail"...or the one that simply flies in the face of what's been considered  "The Way" for so long?

I mean, there's a chance that you could be the first hobbyist to pull it off. Or, more lily, the first hobbyist simply to try it. And I suppose, it can be a bit scary.

“First”.

It’s a powerful word, huh? 

Throughout our lives, we’re taught that it’s good to be “first”: Winning the race, being the first in line, the first one to finish our homework, etc. In the aquarium hobby, however, “first” sometimes carries a little more baggage with it.

A little extra challenge, right? A lot of scrutiny. Skepticism.

When you’re the first hobbyist to keep a challenging fish, or proffer a different way of doing things, you have some serious responsibility- to the animals, the natural environment, and even tougher still- the hobby “establishment”. It’s a heavy weight to shoulder!

Visionaries in our hobby have always suffered the criticisms of those who came before them.

I guess it’s human nature to question the gangly newcomers to our little utopia. If you are pioneering a new technique, keeping an animal previously thought un-keepable, or, worse yet- challenging a long-held hobby “truism”, the fact is, you’re likely to take a beating. Or, at the very least, hear a lot of hushed whispers when you walk into the room.

Sad, huh?

The fact is, somebody has to be the first. Somebody has to dip their toes in the water, trying that new technique, or trying to keep the fish once thought impossible.

Look at a guy like Jack Wattley. He was breeding multiple strains of Discus on a regular basis, when most hobbyists were just happy to keep one alive! He single-handedly unlocked so many mysteries of this fish-and shared his findings-that it made it possible for aquarists worldwide to successfully keep and breed them. 

I remember not too long ago, when my friend Matt Pederson succeeded at spawning and rearing the Ornate Filefish? This was a fish that would pretty much expose your neck to the chopping block for fellow hobbyists if you dared even try to keep one. It was considered nearly impossible to keep- an obligate corallivore, supposedly only feeding on live coral polyps. Matt not only believed that he could keep and breed the fish- he defied the naysayers and actually did it! It was a major achievement in the marine fish breeding world at the time.

Still is impressive.

Courage, my friends. And conviction. And the strength to endure scrutiny, criticism, and those naysayers who call you "foolish" or "brash" for even trying. If you have those traits- and a good idea, go for it!

On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with a bit of healthy skepticism or peer review. Preaching something that is contrary to conventional wisdom (“You can keep non-photosynthetic corals in a reef system”) is one thing- it challenges us to re-think our previously long-held beliefs. However, advocating an idea that, in most cases, will cause harm to our animals (“There is no problem letting different species of Mbuna hybridize and releasing them at random to the LFS for sale.”) is another thing entirely. And proffering advice that’s downright foolhardy {“I think we should teach our toddlers how to hand-feed Piranha! ) will justifiably qualify you for an online assault from the fish-keeping community!

However, those are extremes of absurdity.

Trying something that hasn't been done before is an entirely different game. And one you should condor playing if you're ready.

If you're ready. If you think it can work. 

If...

I’m NOT discouraging you from testing a theory or radical new idea.

What I AM encouraging is responsible experimentation. Share your data. Force progress. Where would we be if hobbyists continued to believe that the undergravel filter was THE ONLY way to maintain a healthy aquarium, or if we never tried fragging a stony coral? Or if we were afraid of tinted water? Yikes! 

Radical steps are often necessary for change. Besides, who cares if people laugh at you once in a while. Not giving a flying f--k is great for the soul, trust me.

I leave you with a favorite, rather cliched, yet perfectly appropriate inspirational quote from Apple co-founder and visionary, the late Steve Jobs:

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”  

It's okay to be the first. It's okay to look at the hobby a bit differently. 

It's okay to push the outside of the envelope.

Flying in the face of “conventional aquarium wisdom” is a tough, but entirely passable road, if you've got what it takes. Perhaps a rather lonely, sometimes bumpy road, filled with the occasional obstacle or two. But totally worth the journey.

Take it.


Stay undaunted. Stay curious. Stay diligent. Stay creative. Stay confident...

And Stay Wet

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Baggage for the journey? Or just...baggage?

As a lifelong aquarium hobbyist and fish geek, I like to think that I've seen and experienced just about everything- which is absolutely a stupid, and even arrogant assumption. However, after decades in the game, I can say that I've experienced quite a bit- and that comes with its own set of "burdens", as most of you who are experienced know.

Like- knowing what comes next...Good, bad, and otherwise.

You know that feeling when you're looking at setting up a new aquarium? The stuff that goes through your head that perhaps even keeps you up at night?

Perhaps, you're at that phase now. You have this empty tank, all of the equipment you'll be using, and a whole lot of ideas bouncing in your head.

Some are new thoughts on how you want to approach familiar problems, like like, "If I go with these pieces of wood, how will I have to position them to take advanatage of the tank's footprint, water flow, and lighting?" Others are far more esoteric, like thinking through positioning of pump returns within the display, or thinking through maintenance strategies.

Still others are...well- weird.

Case in point.

I was up late a few weeks back...Just unable to sleep for some reason. Like any good fish geek, rather than just meditating or something, I spent some time pouring over fish-geek forums/blogs, freshwater and reef- and was drawn to some "build threads" on a few forums, you know- the ones where people talk about their new projects and share their progress- to kind of get a "read" as to how other aquarists are approaching certain things.

Which is funny, actually, because one of the things I always have held dear in my personal aquarium practice is that I won't allow any of my decisions to be influenced by others...Kind of a f---ing ridiculous position, actually- because we can't help but be influenced by the work of others in this hobby, right?  And besides, as an aquatics industry business owner, it's important to get a pulse on what my fellow hobbyists are up to...

There's nothing wrong with that.

So anyways, as I pursued a few threads, I'd see the usual iterations of wood, rock, the fancy equipment shots, the ridiculously "Windex-blue" lights-on shots on reef tanks (I mean, it's  2019- we've had LED's for like two decades, and we're still into making our tanks look like Studio 54? WTF. Ever heard of "full spectrum" or "daylight?").

Oh, shit-I'm going off-topic...must.stop.myself!

And since I was contemplating employing high light in a particular future tank, I was fascinated by others' experiences in high light setups. Apart from stuff I'd laugh and comiserate about, I saw talks about IT. You know. The big "hurdle." The rights of passage in any aquarium.

CYCLING. BIOFILMS. ALGAE...STARTUP.

Yikes, I forgot about that.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We need to enjoy the journey. TO NOT be freaked out. Sure, we can get a bit frustrated that they are not going at the speed, or in the direction which we want.

But they are phases. I know this..and you do, too.

Yet this stuff  bothers many of us, huh?

And it's that way at every phase of the hobby. I mean, if we let stuff get to us...I have a lot of fishy friends who freak out over everything that seems slightly askew with their tanks. I feel for them...can this really be "enjoyable?" Maybe. Yet, despite my more accepting and almost laissez faire attitude, I understand them. We have the benefit-or burdens- of having been down this road before, and we're on guard...

We reach back into our minds- our experiences- every time our canister filter releases micro bubbles into our tank, or whenever our pumps make that funny noise...Whenever the temperature seems to be harder to dial in than we expect. Whatever it is that's going on in our tanks. We KNOW what stuff should be like, we know that we set ourselves up for success...yet we look, and ponder- and we worry.

But we DO know better.

We know that all of these wonderful things are just a phase. Our own experience- and the experience of our "tribe"- tell us this. Yet it's simply part of the game, I believe. The worry. The reflection. The doubts. The...learning- which comes about as a result of our doing something that, in reality, is among the most enjoyable of pursuits in the hobby- starting a new tank.

We know what to expect. 

And perhaps- just maybe- we know too much.

We understand all of this stuff. We experienced it many times over the years, and have watched- and even reassured- others that "all of this is normal" and to "just be patient and it will pass..."

You know- aquarium stuff.

Outright beginners actually have it much easier in this regard, I think. I mean, when just having a glass or acrylic box of water in your home is a novelty- a cause for rejoicing- you tend to live in a bubble of gentle "ignorance" (okay, maybe that's kind of harsh)- okay, let's call it "blissful lack of awareness" that some of this stuff sort of-well- sucks...

And that's a beautiful thing- because a beginner is taken by the sheer wonder- and joy of it all.

They don't stress out about stuff like micro bubbles and hair algae on their hardscape. They're not worried about that annoying stuff like WE are, because they don't KNOW that it can linger a long, long time if you don't manage the tank correctly at this phase. They're not "handcuffed" by their past experiences and the knowledge of having set up dozens of tanks over the years. Rather, they're just stoked as hell about the thought of Zebra Danios, Pineapple Platies, blue gravel, and Anacharis taking up residence in the new little utopian microhabitat they just set up in their New York City apartment.

Even with algae. Even with the cycling. All of that stuff.

Perhaps the beginner knows something we don't.

I sometimes think that perhaps, I- we- know too much. 

And I don't mean that from an arrogant perspective, mind you.

I think I, like so many aquarists at my level of hobby experience, tend to overthink every aspect of the aquarium hobby, particularly the new tank startup phase, rather than just letting ourselves enjoy the moment- the wonder, and the awe that comes from doing something special, beautiful, and, let's face it- incredibly cool! Especially those of us who play with natural-style systems-something that nine- tenths of the world will never get to experience or even comprehend.

Perhaps, maybe- adopting that "beginner's mindset" is a good thing!

I'm looking forward to the next journeys with all of the new setups I'll be doing this year and next. Looking forward to solving problems, creating solutions, trying new things, experiencing the familiar ones- and just taking each step as it comes. Not over-thinking, and not being completely ignorant, either.

Because I certainly don't want to carry the burden of my own experiences if I don't have to.

Nor should you.

Stay inspired. Stay enthralled. Stay dedicated. Stay creative. Stay undaunted. Stay...calm...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

On the "down low..."

We talk a lot in our game about "soft, acidic water" and such. Sounds good. Sound a bit scary, even, to some. It requires a bit of preparation. A bit of research. A bit of understanding of water chemistry...

And, when you play in the really low pH zone, you might need to depend upon...Archaens.

Who? Huh?

They sound kind of exotic and even creepy, huh?

Well, they could be our friends. We might not even be aware of their presence in our systems...If they are there at all.

Are they making an appearance in our low pH tanks? I'm not 100% certain...but I think they might be. Okay, I hope that they might be. 

So, WTF are Archaens?

Refresher: 

Archaeans include inhabitants of some of the most extreme environments on the planet. Some live near vents in the deep ocean at temperatures well over 100 degrees Centigrade! True "extremophiles!" Others reside in hot springs, or in extremely alkaline or acid waters. They have even been found thriving inside the digestive tracts of cows, termites, and marine life where they produce methane (no comment here)  They live in the anoxic muds of marshes (ohhh!!), and even thrive in petroleum deposits deep underground.

(Image used under CC 4.0)

Yeah, these are pretty freakin' crazy-adaptable organisms. The old sayings that "If these were six feet tall, they'd be ruling the world..." sort of comes to mind, huh?

Yeah, they're beasts....literally.

They're the crew who manage the nitrogen cycle in low pH environments.

Could it be that some of the challenges in "cycling" what we define as "lower ph aquariums" are a by-product of a sort of "no man's land" where the pH is too low to support a large enough population of functioning Nitrosomanas and Nitrobacter, but not low enough for significant populations of Archaea to make their appearance?

Maybe?

I'm totally speculating here. I could be so off-base that it's not even funny, and some first year biology major (who also happens to be a fish geek) could be reading this and just laughing...

Yet, I  still can't help but wonder- is this a possible explanation for some of the difficulties hobbyists have encountered in the lower pH arena over the years? Part of the reason why the mystique of low pH systems being difficult to manage has been so strong?

And then- you think about the pH levels in some natural, well-populated (by fishes!) blackwater habitats falling into the 2.8-3.5 range, you have to wonder what it is that makes life so adaptable to this environment. You have to wonder if this same process can- and indeed does -take place in our aquariums. And you have to wonder if we simply aren't working with these tanks in a correct manner.

Particularly, when they fall into what we'd call "extreme" pH ranges. I wonder if the "crashes" and fears and all sorts of bad stuff we've talked about in the hobby for decades were simply the result of not quite understanding the "operating system?"

I'm kind of thinking so.

Things just work differently at those lower pH levels- in nature, and in our aquariums.

Suffice it to say,  it's not "disaster time" when you get into this range- it just requires greater understanding and a different approach to nitrogen cycle management. Taking the time to learn about the arena in which you're playing. Learning the rules and dynamics, and adjusting your practices to accommodate the requirements dictated by these parameters.

've personally never managed a system with a pH much below 5.5 pH; this is where the "outer limits" of low pH aquariums starts for most, and this is likely the realm of Archaea, as the Nitrosomanas and Nitrobacter barely function at that point. We've seen advanced aquarists depend upon chemical filtration media (such as zeolites) to manage organics at these extremes.

And once again, I think that the real key ingredient (besides knowledge) to managing a low pH system (like any system) is our old friend, patience! It takes longer to hit an equilibrium and/or safe, reliable operating zone. Populations of the organisms we depend upon to cycle waste will take more time to multiply and reach levels sufficient to handle the bioload in a low-pH, closed system containing lots of fishes and botanicals and such.

This certainly gives the bacterial populations more time to adjust to the increase in bioload, and for the dissolved oxygen levels to stabilize in response to the addition of the materials added-especially in an existing aquarium. Going slowly when adding are botanicals to ANY aquarium is always the right move, IMHO. Period. Full stop.

Or, as one of my buddies so eloquently put it during one of those alchohol-fueled fish conference discussions some years back, "The idea is not to kill fish with this shit..." Yup. You don't "dabble" in very low (aquaristically-speaking) pH systems-or any specialized aquatic system, really- without a game plan. Oh, and a pretty good understanding of chemistry- like, way better than what I have. 

Take the experience you've gained in other areas to this new frontier. Use that knowledge to push out further...

Read. Educate. It's out there on the internet. If you want it. You can find it, but it's not always easy to find. Google is a starting point. There are other places to search online, too. Please don't take "the easy way out" and simply email me for some kind of magical answer. I likely don't have one. Really. There isn't one. Knowledge often has to be gained by effort. Your own effort.

And often, experience.

Now, this is the part where you get more annoyed with me, because I offer little more than a challenge. A challenge to study, experiment, and learn. 

So this leaves most of us in a position of doing what we're already doing: Managing our soft, acid (in the "sixes") water aquariums in a manner consistent with good husbandry, going slowly when adding botanicals, and generally testing and observing our fishes. Ours is a world of balancing too much- and not as much as we want- a world of observation, measurement, continuous self-education and experimentation.

We can't be "casual" or "seat-of-the-pants" when we get to the lower pH ranges in the hobby. It's not "set and forget"...Active management is required. We don't enter this arena lightly, or "dabble" in it. I think we are all already aware that each and every blackwater, botanical-style tank requires thoughtful husbandry and a generalized understanding of water chemistry. And taking this body of knowledge and experience to the lower pH arena is a smart move.

There is an extraordinary amount of stuff to learn...And a lot of good source material out there to learn from. Google is your friend. Experience your teacher.

That's the skinny on the "down low..."

Stay brave. Stay undeterred. Stay educated. Stay diligent. Stay curious...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Next level.

I've been spending an awful lot more time lately, looking at videos and images of the wild aquatic habitats that inspire me so much, and I think we're at a real "inflection point" in our sector of the hobby.

We're past the point of simply seeing "if this botanical stuff works" and are now into the "next level" of botanical-style aquarium practice. Now, to me, it's about really working on aspects of replicating the wild systems from which our fishes come. Personally, I'm ready for this! My next set of aquariums will even more fully embrace the concept of "functional aesthetics" which we talk about so much here.

I feel like I (and you, as an extension!) have made a number of moves over the past couple of years into different directions that have given me the skills and experience necessary to "put it all together" and move further out into a more unique direction.

For example, I am very, very deep into studying the substrate materials which accumulate in these habitats. They're substantially different than those that we have used in the aquarium hobby for generations. The gravels and sands that we use are fantastic, and facilitate function and ease of maintenance for the widest variety of aquarists. However, many of them bare little resemblance to the substrate materials found in the wild habitats we attempt to replicate.

In the flooded forests of South America- the varzea (flooded "whitewater" forests) and igapo (flooded "blackwater" forests), the substrates are unique. The varzea soils are lighter, more "soil-like", nutrient-dense substrate.Higher soil to sand ratio (ie; minor amounts of sand). Minerals, such as Montmorillonite are present. They have high water retention capacity. The igapo, on he other hand,  is a much lower-nutrient, claylike, and more acidic substrate material, mixed with fine, white sand (pure quartz). It has a much higher sand/soil ratio than varzea, and tends to desiccate more quickly in the dry season.

And the other interesting thing about these natural substrates is that they accumulate leaf litter differently. The varzea, which is based largely on the vegetation which is dominant in these habitats tends to have greater leaf drop which is processed and decomposed quickly. The leaves are typically larger and more deciduous.

Nutrient poor, low-productivity savanna vegetation, like palms, sedges, and submersed aquatic macrophytes form the basis of the botanical influence in the igapo, and the leaves which accumulate tend to be small, scleromorphic, and are decomposed much more slowly, often remaining less decomposed for extended periods of time, potentially years.

So, without me giving you every single detail on these habitats (we'll discuss more in future installments!), suffice it to say that, if you do your homework and read up on these distinct environments, you could utilize specific materials to replicate both the form and function of them in the aquarium.

What does all this mean?

Well, to me, it means that my next aquariums are going to be much more authentic representations of these habitats, in terms of both form and function. They will bare little resemblance to the biotopic replications I've done previously. Well, they'll have some aspects- the darker, not-quite-crystal-clear water, and the heavy influence of botanicals.  However, they'll also have much more "dirty-looking", siltier substrates, and more "habitat-specific" leaves and botanical accumulations. 

Moving forward boldly.

Deeper still, we move into the natural, botanical-style aquarium world, eschewing "trends" and forging the "best practices" and "state of the art" as we go...

So, I've been told by watchers of the aquarium world that botanical-style blackwater aquariums are the "hot trend" in the hobby, which makes me laugh to no end. And we've been given more than our fair share of credit for helping elevate this speciality...

However, as I've stated so many times-no one "invented" this approach.  Using botanicals to create natural, blackwater environments in aquariums has been something that many hobbyists have been dabbling with for decades; it's just been seen by the hobby as more of a "side show" than a legitimate "approach."

The difference is- those of us in the hobby who are crazy about this stuff have simply upped our game and played a few misconceptions, misunderstandings, and downright "myths..." And we're looking to Nature for answers, doing common-sense homework, and employing radical new techniques to achieve our goals, instead of simply listening that guy who put up a YouTube video of his "Amazon-themed tank" and therefore must be an expert...

I know, I hear the collective groans from some corners. 

Well, look- I'm not trying to tell you that every YouTuber is a shallow, attention-grabbing poser- I'm merely stating that if you want real information, sometimes, you have to go deeper and do some real research work that doesn't involve just clicking  "play" on a video. And we can't delude ourselves into thinking that just because we can create a "look" that we aren't necessarily recreating the environment.

We need to move beyond the "contest-scape-as-the-ultimate-representation-of-Nature" mindset that, IMHO, is plaguing the hobby in some respects at the moment.

There is something comforting about the knowledge that you must be doing something right, huh? Especially when you look at Nature and go beyond the superficial, and real benefits for your fishes follow. When you research and attempt to interpret some of the amazing information done in the thousands of research papers on these habitats and environments by scientists, there is much to learn and experiment with.

And yeah, it requires us to be a bit bold...take some chances...do some unusual experiments. 

Now, sure, there are no guarantees of any sort of "good result" by simply switching to more appropriate natural conditions for your fishes, but enough stories keep coming our way that I can't help but wonder...

Like, I keep hearing from fellow hobbyists-recent converts to our blackwater, botanical-style approach…and they will proudly relate to me the story that their Apistos, which have been hesitant to do much of anything, suddenly spawned a week after they started utilizing botanicals in their aquarium…

Or that "ugly grey Barb" which suddenly started to get really colorful not long after!

Stuff like that.

Now, sure- it can be a matter of fortunate timing, multiple other factors, or simple coincidence- but I hear these stories enough that I have to wonder...

I mean I probably DO sound like a bit goofy when I say this, but man, there really is "something in the water." I think that the humic substances, tannins, and other compounds which are imparted by leaves, seed pods, and wood, too- create environmental conditions that, while maybe not exactly what our fishes might encounter in say, the rain forests of Asia or the jungles of South America, are similar in some respects.

Remember, these environments are replete with botanical materials from the surrounding forests and soils- and all of these materials have some chemical impact on the water.

What specifically is it about the presence of soils, wood, leaves and other botanicals which seems to have some sort of beneficial impact on our fishes? Well, the humic substances (I know, as big a “catch all” term as “tannins”) are documented by science to play an important role in fish health- specifically, cellular repair, stress reduction, metabolism, and disease resistance. I mean, yeah- these are BIG important things for fish health, aren’t they?

Yeah.

These substances aren’t present in quantity in just “any old aquarium”, filled with gravel, plants, and a few rocks. The ones we’re referring about come from plant materials- in our case, soils, seed pods, leaves, bark, and other parts of the plants in a given habitat. This is really important. And we know for a fact that they are found in the stuff that us “Tinters” throw into our tanks.

Oh, let's touch on those soils and substrates for just a tiny bit. A little information from South America that may give you some food for thought:

If you research the types of aquatic systems that we love- flooded forests- there are two common types- varzea, which are more productive, and tend to have darker,  more nutrient-rich, more acidic soils, flooded by so-called "whitewater" rivers, and igapo, which tend to have lighter-colored, more sandy/claylike substrates, and are flooded by blackwater rivers. Both habitats feature substrates that are typically covered with leaves.

The substrates have a significant influence on the plant population which resides in these habitats.  Species richness and diversity is far greater in the varzea forests, with highly productive herbaceous plant communities (terrestrial, of course), as opposed to the igapo, which has about half of the richness, and accompanying leaf litter accumulation and other botanical materials. 

In our aquariums, this is important to consider, in terms of substrates that we choose to use to simulate these unique habitats, as well as the type and density of the botanicals that we use. Like, planted aquarium substrates, versus simple silica sand or other materials, utilized based on specific habitats we want replicate.

There is a lot of research out there on these habitats and others worldwide. We just have to be willing today a bit deeper than the hobby forum story about the guy who threw in a few twigs and leaves and claims, "Orinoco!" We will continue to summarize the materials we find from perusing the vast body of scientific papers out there on these subjects, but you can certainly go deeper on your own of you're willing to do some homework.

Yes, as you've likely surmised by now,  just throwing botanicals and leaves into your aquarium filled with tap water won’t give you an “Instant Amazon” effect. You’ll need to reduce the pH and carbonate hardness by utilizing proper water conditioning (ie; reverse osmosis/deionization). However, you will be able to impart some of the tannins, humic susbtances, and other compounds into the water to a positive effect, even if you don’t pre-condition your water via RO/DI.

As we’ve said repeatedly- adding botanicals to your hard tap water will NOT lower the carbonate hardness. It might knock down the pH by a very small number ( like maybe .1 or .2). What you will get is some tinted water. You’ll get an aesthetic for sure. However, it's important NOT to delude ourselves into thinking that just because your tank looks a certain way that it's a completely functional representation of the habitats we obsess over. This is where we separate the "You Tube" view of our speciality from a more serious approach.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: An investment in a reverse osmosis/dionization (RO/DI) unit is essential for the serious aquarist who has aspirations of creating a low ph, low carbonate hardness blackwater habitat in his/her tank. And NO, we don't sell RO/DI units, so it's not a sales pitch, lol.

And you will get some benefits of the humic substances. I’m not 100% certain why it is, but one of my scientist friends confirmed for me that humic substances, are found in all sorts of aquatic environments (ranging from soft, acidic water to full-strength seawater). Of course, it's not that easy. Which humic substances? What tannins? Like, that’s the $40,000,000 question, right?

I am not aware of any definitive study that examined what humic substances and which specific tannins are present in a given habitat somewhere out there in the tropical streams, rivers, and lakes of the world.

Could you imagine if we knew WHICH ones and in WHAT concentration are found in specific locales? It would only be a matter of time before we would know how to create synthetic formulations of location-specific “humic/tannin cocktails”, which, when added to pH/hardness-appropriate water, could, in theory, yield conditions extremely close to those you might encounter in nature.

Welcome to the aquarium hobby- "2075 edition", right? 

So for now, we will jus sort of have to guess…and take a more-or-less “shotgun approach”, and just add leaves and botanicals to our tanks in the hope that some of these beneficial substances will leach out into the water column over time while they’re submerged in your aquarium.

Hey, it’s not as sexy as the “Open-bottle-add-super-specialized-formulation-for-the- Upper-Rio-Negro", but it’s a start, right? I liken it to an artist, painting with a very broad stroke to cover a  lot of blank canvas. About the most realistic thing we can do is to perhaps utilize botanical materials from the geographic regions from which our fishes hail and maybe we'll "capture" a few of the many humic substances and botanicals present there.

It's as much an "art" as it is a "science"- and we're really just beginning to look at these habitats and our practices from this perspective...

Yeah, we’re artists.

There is so much we don’t know yet. Or, more specifically, so much we don’t know in the context of creating optimum representations of natural environments for keeping fishes. We need to tie a few loose ends together to get a really good read on this stuff…until we get to the "Dial-a-River-just-instill-a-few-drops-of-this- additive" approach.

And I'm not all that sad about it.

There is something so satisfying about playing with the natural materials, and letting them influence the water in some fashion- however random or un-scientific that may be- as they have done for eons. Using our experience, observation, and of course, our test kits, when applicable!

And always, our intuition and creativity.

Stay resourceful. Stay diligent. Stay curious. Stay bold. Stay creative...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Botanical movements, breakdowns- and mental shifts...

As lovers of natural, botanical-style aquariums, it seems like we've made great strides in fostering a mental shift in the hobby. This has the benefit of allowing us to let go of some long-held beliefs, ways of doing things, and ideas, in favor of looking at what really happens in Nature and in our aquariums. Rather than avoid something different, simply because "its always been done a certain way" and we don't want to rock the boat, we're opening our minds and going for it! 

Even the aesthetics that we embrace in our natural aquariums are a complete shift in what we've accepted in the past. One of he many things that we enjoy about  leaves, twigs, seed pods and other botanical materials that we love so much around here is that they are extremely versatile (which we've discussed ad infinitum, of course), including simply how they "fall" in our aquascapes, and the impact which they have on our fishes while they're physically present in our aquariums.

If you think about it, the fact that we are understanding of the transience and structure of our botanicals opens us up to some unique aesthetic experiences in our aquariums. Think about this: When you accidentally "redistribute" botanicals in your aquariums during maintenance, unique new "microhabitats" for your fishes are created. A simple thought- but profoundly important, really. And readily apparent to all who play with leaves and botanicals.

This concept also correlates very nicely with my personal experiences, and a number of studies on streams which I've read over the years. I love this topic (and fortunately, hobbyists like you are as geeked-out as I am about it, too!) because it's one of those things that most of us don't even think of vis-a-vis aquariums, and it's only now becoming a "thing" as more of us play with these materials!

In many topical streams, the water depth, and intensity of the flow changes during periods of rain and runoff, creating significant re-distribution of the materials which accumulate on the bottom, such as leaves, seed pods, and the like. Larger, more "hefty" materials, such as submerged logs, etc., will tend to move less frequently, and in many instances, they'll remain stationary, providing a physical diversion for water as substrate materials accumulate around them.

A natural "dam", of sorts, if you will.

Yet, most of the small stuff tends to move around quite a bit... One might say that the "material changes" created by this movement of materials can have significant implications for fishes. In the case of our aquariums, this "redistribution" of material can create interesting opportunities to not only switch up the aesthetics of our tanks, but to provide new and unique little physical areas for many of the fishes we keep.

The benthic microfauna which our fishes tend to feed on also are affected by this phenomenon, and as we know, 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, "Your at home..." Triggering specific adaptive behaviors?

Maybe?

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.

By accepting and embracing these changes and little "evolutions", we're helping to create really great captive representations of the compelling wild systems we love so much!

Leaf litter beds, in particular, tend to evolve the most, as leaves are among the most "ephemeral" or transient of botanical materials we use in our aquariums.  This is true in Nature, as well, as materials break down or are moved by currents, the structural dynamics of the features change.

We have to adapt a new mindset when aquascaping with leaves- that being, the 'scape will "evolve" on its own and change constantly...Other than our most basic hardscape aspects- rocks and driftwood- the leaves and such will not remain exactly where we place them.

To the "artistic perfectionist"-type of aquascaper, this will be maddening.

To the aquarist who makes the mental shift and accepts this "wabi-sabi" idea (yeah, I'm channeling Amano here...) the experience will be fascinating and enjoyable, with an ever-changing aquascape that will be far, far more "natural" than anything we could ever hope to conceive completely by ourselves.

Yeah, those "mental shifts" again.

It's all about understanding what happens in Nature, and appreciating how it also occurs- on a miniature scale- in our aquariums. I believe that the "material changes" which occur so often in our botanical-style natural aquariums provide us with fascinating and precious opportunities to witness the lifestyles and behaviors of our fishes in ways we have previously not seen, or perhaps appreciated-before.

Social behaviors, feeding, and even spawning events are affected as much by the spatial-physical environments in which our fishes reside as they are by the chemical aspects of the water. And the internal mechanisms and instincts which our fishes utilize to exist in their environment are as much a part of their existence as the very water which comprises their world.

Keep that in mind the next time your carefully-arranged botanical bed gets "redistributed" by an influx of new water during an exchange, or a haphazard pass of the algae scraper...or even by the errant whims of those damn cichlids!

It's not something to freak out about.

Rather, it's something to celebrate! Life, in all of it's diversity and beauty, still needs a stage upon which to perform...and you're helping provide it, even with this "remodeling" of your aquascape taking place daily. Stuff gets moved. Stuff gets covered in biofilm.

Stuff breaks down. In our aquairums, and in Nature.

Embrace whatever moves your scape forward...

Kind of neat when you look at it from that angle, huh?

Stay thoughtful. Stay fascinated. Stay curious. Stay creative. Stay engaged. Stay chill...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics