The Tint

Is it in the water?

As you know, by now, when I get on a "roll" about something, I tend not to let up on it, right? I've been bothering you a lot about the idea of "functional aesthetics" in the natural-style botanical aquarium. In other words, creating an aquascape in your tank comprised of natural materials assembled in such a way as to not only be aesthetically pleasing, but to enhance the aquatic environment chemically, biologically, or physically. 

And interestingly, I tend to stumble on stuff that reinforces this idea on a pretty regular basis. I think it's largely because I'm attuned to these kinds of "fun facts" and when I see stuff that reinforces the concept, I'll often jump right into it. 

Such a case occurred the other day when I was visiting a killifish forum on Facebook. One of the participants was discussing some new fishes he obtained, and one was from a rare genus called Episemion. Weird, because it is a fish that falls genetically halfway between Epiplatys and Aphyosemion.

Even more interesting to me was the discussion that it's notoriously difficult to spawn, and that it is only found in a couple of places in The Congo.

And even more interesting was that it is in a region known for high levels of selenium I the soil...And that's VERY interesting. Selenium is known to be nutritionally beneficial to animals and humans at a concentration of 0.05-0.10ppm. It's an essential component of many enzymes and proteins, and deficiencies are known to cause diseases. One of it's known health benefits for animal is that it plays a key role in immune and reproductive functions!

Okay, that helps with the "difficult to breed" part, right?

Selenium occurs in soil associated with sulfide minerals. It's found in plants at varying concentrations which are dictated by the pH, moisture content, and other factors. Soils which contain high concentration of selenium are found in greater concentration in plants which occur in these regions. 

Interesting. 

So, I"m doubtful that we know the specific concentrations of selenium in many of the planted aquarium substrates out on the market, and most hobbyists aren't just throwing in that "readily available" tropical Congo soil that you can pick up at any LFS in their tanks, right? 😜

So, how would we get more selenium into our tanks for our killies?

Botanicals could be one way. Like, The Brazil nut...

And the Brazil nut is kind of known to us, isn't it? The Monkey Pot has something to do with tis, right?

And, yes-  it's technically a fruit capsule, produced from the abundant tree, Lecythis pisonis, native to South America -most notably, the Amazonian region. Astute, particularly geeky readers of "The Tint" will recognize the name as a derivative of the family  Lecythidaceae, which just happens to be the family in which the genus Cariniana is located...you know, the "Cariniana Pod." Yeah...this family has a number of botanical-producing trees in it, right?

Yes.

Hmm...Lecythidae...

Ahh...it's also known as the taxonomic family which contains the genus Bertholletia- the genus which contains the tree, Bertholletia excelsa- the bearer of the "Brazil Nut." You know, the one that comes in the can of "mixed nuts" that no one really likes? The one that, if you buy it in the shell, you need a  freakin' sledge hammer to crack?

Yeah. That one.

Craving more useless Brazil Nut trivia?

Check this out: Because of their larger size size, they tend to rise to the top of the can of mixed nuts from vibrations which are encountered during transport...this is a textbook example of the physics concept of granular convection- which for this reason is frequently called...wait for it...the "Brazil Nut effect." (I am totally serious!)

Okay, anyways...woudl it be possible to somehow utilize the "Monkey Pot" in a tank with these fishes to perhaps impart some additional selenium into the water? Okay, this begs additional questions? How much? How rapidly? In what form? Wouldn't it be easier to just grind up some Brazil nuts and toss 'em in? Or would the fruit capsule itself have a greater concentration of selenium? Would it even leach into the water?

Where the ---- am I going with this exercise?

I'm just sort of taking you out on the ledge here; demonstrating how the idea of utilizing botanicals to provide "functional aesthetics" is, at the every least, a possibility to help solve some potential challenges in the hobby. 

Like, this is something that we have done with Catappa leaves forever. You've seen my numerous reviews on them and the alleged health benefits that they are purported to offer fishes. Some is marketing bullshit. Some of it IS legit...SO, could the same assumption be made for botanicals?

I think so. I think it's worth investigating; experimenting...right?

We offer a lot of botanicals here at Tannin Aquatics, many of which find their way into tropical aquatic habitats around the world. Many come from regions where specific soil types are found...perhaps they contain concentrations of various micronutrients or minerals which are beneficial to fishes in ways that haven't been thoroughly studied..or at least, the connection between the two hasn't. 

We often hear from our customers how fishes seem to spawn not long after botanicals are introduced toothier tank, or how they are seemingly healthier and more colorful, etc. Is it just the tannins? The humic substances? Or other compounds found in the botanicals? 

A ton to learn here. The possibilities are endless.

Let's get cracking at it. 

Stay curious. Stay attuned. Stay excited. Stay creative...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Color, clarity, and the stuff in between.

More mental shifts are required of hobbyists each and every day...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some hobbyists just don't get it!

As aquarists, we were pretty much indoctrinated from the start that our tanks should have "crystal clear, blue-white water", and that this is one of the benchmarks of a healthy aquarium.

And of course, I won't disagree that "clear" water is nice. I like it, too...However, I would make the case that "crystal clear" water is: a) not always solely indicative of "healthy" or "optimum" , and b) not always what fishes encounter in nature.

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

And it's kind of funny- if you talk to ecologists familiar with blackwater habitats, they are often considered some of the most "impoverished" waters around, at least from a mineral and nutrient standpoint.

In the aquarium, the general hobby at large doesn't think about "impoverished." We just see colored water and think..."dirty." 

And of course, this is where we need to separate two factors:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Okay, that was "Aquarium Keeping 101", actually.

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

Remember, just because the water in a botanical-influenced aquarium system is brownish, it doesn't mean that it's of low quality, or "dirty", as we're inclined to say. It simply means that tannins, humic acids, and other substances are leaching into the water, creating a characteristic color that some of us geeks find rather attractive. If you're still concerned, monitor the water quality...perform a nitrate test; look at the health of your animals. What's happening in there?

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

People ask me a lot if botanicals create "cloudy water" in their aquariums, and I have to give the responsible answer- yes. Of course they can! If you place a large quantity of just about anything that can decompose in water, the potential for cloudy water caused by a bloom of bacteria exists. The reality is, if you don't add 3 pounds of botanicals to your 20 gallon tank, you're not likely to see such a bloom. It's about logic, common sense, and going slowly.

Remember, too, that some "turbidity" in the water, in either a "whitewater" or "blackwater" system, is natural, expected, and not indicative of a problem. In many natural settings, water is chemically perfect but not entirely "crystal clear."  I believe that a lot of what we perceive to be "normal" in aquarium keeping is based upon artificial "standards" that we've imposed on ourselves over a century of modern aquarium keeping. Everyone expects water to be as clear and colorless as air, so any deviation from this "norm" is cause for concern among many hobbyists.

In my home aquariums, and in many of the really great natural-looking blackwater aquariums I see the water is dark, almost turbid or "soupy" as one of my fellow blackwater/botanical-style aquarium geeks refers to it. You might see the faintest hint of "stuff" in the water...perhaps a bit of fines from leaves breaking down, some dislodged biofilms, pieces of leaves, etc. Just like in nature. Chemically, it has undetectable nitrate and phosphate..."clean" by aquarium standards.

Sure, by municipal drinking water standards, color and clarity are important, and can indicate a number of potential issues...But we're not talking about drinking water here, are we?

"Turbidity." Sounds like something we want to avoid, right? Sounds dangerous...

On the other hand, "turbidity", as it's typically defined, leaves open the possibility that it's not a negative thing:

 "...the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye, similar to smoke in air..."  

What am I getting at?

Well, think about a body of water like the Rio Negro, as pictured above in the photo by Mike Tuccinardi. This water is of course, "tinted" because of the dissolved tannins and humic substances that are present due to decaying botanical materials.  

That's different from "cloudy" or "turbid", however. 

It's a distinction that neophytes to our world should make note of. The "rap" on blackwater aquariums for some time was that they look "dirty"- and this was largely based on our bias towards what we are familiar with. And, of course, in the wild, there might be some turbidity because of the runoff of soils from the surrounding forests, incompletely decomposed leaves, current, rain, etc. etc.

None of the possible causes of turbidity mentioned above in these natural watercourses represent a threat to the "quality", per se. Rather, they are the visual sign of an influx of dissolved materials that contribute to the "richness" of the environment. It's what's "normal" for this habitat. It's the arena in which we play in our blackwater, botanical-style aquariums, as well.

Obviously, in the closed environment that is an aquarium, "stuff" dissolving into the water may have significant impact on the overall quality. Even though it may be "normal" in a blackwater environment to have all of those dissolved leaves and botanicals, this could be problematic in the aquarium if nitrate, phosphate, and other DOC's contribute to a higher bioload, bacteria count, etc.

Again, though,  I think we need to contemplate the difference between water "quality" as expressed by the measure of compounds like nitrate and phosphate, and  visual clarity.

My hypothesis:

Our aesthetic "upbringing" in the hobby seems to push us towards crystal clear water, regardless of whether or not it's "tinted" or not. 

A definite "clear water bias!"

And think about it: You can have absolutely horrifically toxic levels of ammonia, dissolved heavy metals, etc. in water that is "invisible", and have perfectly beautiful parameters in water that is heavily tinted and even a bit turbid. That's why the aquarium "mythology" which suggested that blackwater tanks were somehow "dirtier" than "blue water" tanks used to drive me crazy.

It doesn't bother me anymore.

I think that, with a greater understanding of the types of environments our animals come from, that this "clinical sterility standard" for water and overall aesthetics of our systems will change. The movement towards biotopes and more naturally-appearing systems has opened the eyes of many aquarists to the amazing possibilities that exist when we move beyond our previously-imposed limitations.

The future may not be "crystal clear", but I believe that it is bright and full of potential!

Much more to explore. Much more to learn. Much more to share here! 

It's about "reprogramming" ourselves just a bit- another "mental shift" that we have to make...

Stay open-minded. Stay curious. Stay observant. Stay bold...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

"Just a few more fishes..."

We love fishes. It's our thing...

The aquarium hobby and industry are surprisingly vast, diverse institutions. Being a global hobby and industry, there are many, many "players" involved in this thing. Have you ever stopped, just for a moment, and contemplated just how many fishes are bred and collected each year worldwide which end up in the ornamental tropical fish trade?

And when we talk about "breeding" of tropical fishes, we're not just discussing the big commercial hatchery level, mind you- we need to take into consideration "basement breeders", advanced hobbyists, and even the casual "dabbler" in the hobby. Cichlids, Guppies, Catfish, Tetras, Bettas, and thousands of species in between. It has to be a pretty staggering number, huh?

Where the mind really blows is when you think about just how many fishes are being produced and collected, versus how many people are in the tropical fish hobby, or simply keep tropical fish worldwide...I read somewhere that in 2012, a study concluded that 1 in 10 British citizens keeps tropical fish...Wow! And that's just in Great Britain. Consider continental Europe, North America, and the Asian marketplace...I mean, if it's even 1 in every 20...or 30, for that matter..."that's still a shitload of people", as a good friend of mine would say!

Yeah, that's a lot of fish!

Like, tons and tons of fish.

Although I can't help but think to myself, Where do they all go?

I mean, how often do we purchase fishes for our aquariums? Weekly? Monthly? More frequently? How many fishes does the average hobbyists purchase at one time? No one really has stats on this stuff...Or, if you find numbers, they're not too helpful, really. Now, I'm not trying to write a "white paper" here with detailed quantative research data.

Like most of my blogs, this is a combination of opinion ("Fellmanfluff", as one of my friends gleefully calls my ramblings...), observation, and good old-fashioned fish geek assumptions! However, if we just think about the possible numbers here, it IS quite staggering! And that is the point of this piece: To just sort of ponder the concept for a bit. 

We hear so much about pressure on natural habitats of fishes and wild populations. I think managed collecting is good, captive breeding is better...but again- just how many fishes are "in circulation" at any given time?

And this is just fishes.

I didn't even mention corals or other inverts.

I can tell you from my own experience co-owning a major retail coral propagator/importer, that we produced many thousands of frags a year in our 6,000 square foot, 15,000-U.S. gallon facility here in Los Angeles...That's just frags of corals, mind you...We sold maricultured colonies, too. Our focus was on sustainability...We could barely keep up with demand at times...And we were just one, mid-sized company doing this, in a field of many- in the U.S. alone.

Just how large is the appetite for this stuff?

It's got to be pretty huge, huh?

As a member of the vibrant tropical fish community on various social media platforms, I'm often struck by the sheer quantity and frequency of "for sale/for trade" listings on say, Facebook groups, specialty clubs, and forums. It seems like every day, some hobbyist somewhere is selling at least a few varieties of fishes, or giving them away, trading them, etc.

Now, some of these are "already in circulation", ie; fishes that the hobbyist bought or acquired from the LFS, breeder, etc., and maybe couldn't keep healthy, had no space for, or just got tired of. Yet, there are a lot of listings for cichlids and catfish, for example, that were spawned by the hobbyist who is listing them. And some of these are geographic morphs, captive-bred strains, variations, unidentified wild subspecies, etc.

That's even MORE fishes in "circulation", right?

And interestingly, I've talked to many vendors who sell tropical fishes over the year and they literally will cite clubs and basement breeders as "challengers" to their business models. I find this fascinating and actually kind of cool. But man, that IS a lot of "channels" for a LOT of fishes!

How do we absorb all of these fishes? How many tanks are there out there?

Well, if my decades of haunting fish clubs and shows is any indication...quite a few! I know dozens of fish geeks that maintain at least 5-6 aquariums, and quite a few who have 30-60 tank fish rooms!

But, still...

Then again, as fish geeks- we love to acquire new fish.

Think about your own habits at those club auctions and raffles...No matter how crowded your fish tanks are- you manage to find room for "just a few more" of those cool Tetras, Rasbora, or whatever...besides, they were only 3 dollars for like 10 of 'em! Can't pass up a deal like that, right?

Nope.

As fish geeks, we're almost "genetically programmed" to accumulate fish! Even when we declare that we're "done" with acquiring new ones. I've seen this phenomenon play out hundreds of times at club meetings and hobby conventions worldwide for decades...

And I sometimes think about this: When we can't find the space for our new fishes, and don't sell or give away any...what do we do with our "old" fishes? I'm not suggesting anything sinister may be afoot...I'm merely pondering about how we absorb so many fishes? How does this all go down?

Do we just "find space", or..?

Nah. I can't believe that. No way.

Well, maybe?

Nah. No chance...Right?

Yet, one can't help but wonder where the hell all of the fishes go.

I mean, I'm as active a hobbyist as anyone, but I personally haven't purchased or acquired any new fishes in a couple of months. I may be a bit "anal retentive" in my selection process (you recall we've discussed this before), but there must be a few thousand other fish geeks like me worldwide, right? So maybe, it's just a couple million of you guys "hogging" all of the fish?

It IS a big planet, filled with possibilities, right?

I guess we purchase a lot of new aquariums each year, too. And filters, pumps, heater, additives, plants, wood, food...and even botanicals!

Okay. I'm good with that.

Totally.

Yet, on mornings like today, I sit back with my coffee and do the "amateur math" in my head...and wonder...

Where DO all of the "extra" fishes go? Who has them? 

Well, no answers today...Your guess is as good as mine. Yet, interesting to contemplate, huh? 

I think so.

Until next time.

Stay resourceful. Stay curious. Stay enthusiastic. Stay excited. 

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

To a deeper level...

If it's Thursday, it must be time for me to get up on the old "soapbox" again...

This is for all of us. Me, you- everyone in the hobby who shares all of those pretty pics of our tanks on a regular basis via social media.

We all share a special responsibility to be a bit better.

When it comes to the art and science of creating and maintaining aquarium systems, I think that we need to do more than just create aquascapes that will satisfy our aesthetic tastes and tout the visuals. More important, I think that we need to create aquariums which meet the continuing needs of our fishes, by embracing natural processes which dictate their function.

This is sort of why I've spent a lot of energy railing on the hobby trend of creating "diorama-style" aquascapes- with the emphasis on appearance above all else. I have a real problem with these types of concepts as they're shared on social media- NOT because I dislike the look (Okay, I admit that I DO dislike some of them!). Rather, it's because little energy is expended by the talented creators on discussing the function behind them in greater detail. And worse to me, little mention is made of their lack of long-term viability, and the "game plan" is often simply to rip them apart and do a new scape when the contest period is over.

Or, more succinctly- many are executed only with short-term goals in mind (ie; a contest, etc.), with little consideration paid to their long-term function, while they're shared via social media as aspirational models for fellow hobbyists.

I see this as a sort of problem.

Why is this a problem?

I think that it's a problem because it relays the message to the typical hobbyist on Instagram, Facebook, or whatever, that your aquarium is really a piece of art.  We are in a highly visual culture, and these media are geared towards aesthetics. It's up to us to take things further.

Look, do your tank the way you want..And tear them down quickly if you like..However, if you're going to blast it on social, at least discuss some of the function and thought behind the aquarium. Share that the intent is to make the tank look awesome for a short or defined period of time, then to take it down. 

By only highlighting the superficial aesthetics and effectively transmitting the message that an aquarium simply needs to look nice, rather than to be an evolving, ever-changing ecosystem which needs to embrace biological and environmental processes over the long-term, we're overlooking the most important part, IMHO.

More "capital" needs to be spent by all 'scaper/content creators on sharing the concept of "functional aesthetics"- how the "look" of the tank can be dictated by the ecological/biological functions that drive it, and how a closed aquatic microcosm functions over time. Just showing rocks, plants, and wood arranged in a certain way doesn't relay this.

Sure, we can attract new hobbyists with the "look"- but we need to discuss/demonstrate the function as well.

We need to go further.

And lest you accuse me of asserting that everyone needs to talking only about the nitrogen cycle, stocking, etc. at the exclusion of everything else, or rather than featuring beautiful, inspiring imagery- that's assuredly not my point. I'm suggesting, rather, that we need to also show how an aquarium can be set up to replicate many functional aspects of Nature while still having a certain "look" to it, and that these factors are every bit as crucial as the aesthetics. Oh, and that Nature calls the shots- even when we don't think about it. 

Ammonia and Nitrite don't give a crap about your Iwagumi rock arrangement being in conformity with someone else's idea of what is "correct."

As aquarists, we need to highlight the art and science of aquarium design and husbandry. We need to highlight the real natural habitats and consider/discuss why they look the way they do, and to consider what it is that makes them a suitable environment for fishes. To gloss over these important details is to deny us all the opportunity to truly learn from Nature.

To learn. To feature. To share what we know with others...

Those are things that we ALL need to do in order to create a more sustainable, viable, long-term hobby with successful outcomes for as many people as possible. We have to be able to look at ourselves a bit more critically- to look beyond the pretty pictures and consider the "science" behind the "art." To understand how our tanks are a functional microcosm of the real world- something that is obvious to all who look at this on a deeper level...

It's a win for us. It's a win for the hobby. And most important- a win for Nature.

Stay creative. Stay inquisitive. Stay involved. Stay diligent...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The root of my obsession?

In the murky, tinted world of jungle streams, flooded forests, and shallow rivers, there are a number of common features that, as a Natural-Style aquarium lover, you're inexorably drawn to.

Like...root tangles!

Yeah, there is something incredibly compelling about the way terrestrial trees and shrubs interact with the aquatic environment. Not only do they help "secure the soils" from falling away, they foster epiphytic algae, fungal growth, and biofilms, which supplement the foods of the resident fishes. And of course, they provide a physical habitat for fishes to forage, seek shelter, and reproduce among. In short, these roots create a unique "microhabitat" which harbor a diversity of life.

And they look pretty aesthetically cool, too!

So yeah- this makes them an irresistible subject for a natural-looking- and functioning- aquascape!. And relatively easy to execute, too!

With a variety of interesting natural materials readily available to the hobbyist, it's easier than ever to recreate these habitats in as detailed a version as you care to do. 

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

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

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

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

Now, we see many aquariums which feature wood and leaves, of course. However, I think we don't see a tremendous use of smaller branches, roots,  and "twig-sized" pieces, and I think that is something we would definitely like to see more of in our aquariums. There is something remarkably realistic about the presence of these smaller materials in an aquarium.

The complexity and additional "microhabitats" they create are compelling and interesting. And they are very useful for shelling baby fishes, breeding Apistogramma, Poecilocharax, catfishes, Dicosssus, an other small, shy fishes which are common in these habitats. 

Small root bundles and twigs are not traditionally items you can find at the local fish store or online. I mean, you can, but there hasn't been a huge amount of demand for them in the aquascaping world lately...although my 'scape scene contacts tell me that twigs are becoming more and more popular with serious aquascapers for "detailed work"...so this bodes well for those of us with less artistic, more functional intentions!

And of course, that was the inspiration for our "Twenty Twigs" product- one of our most popular botanical items. Why? Because there is something incredibly beautiful about the tangle of roots and branches that you can create.

And I think we are starting to see more adventurous use of different materials, such as Catappa or Red Mangrove bark, to more accurately simulate these habitats.

There are many, many creative nuances that we can apply to the recreation of these unique habitats! As always- look to Nature for your inspiration!

Stay excited. Stay inquisitive. Stay creative. Stay inspired...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Grab n' Go: Collecting your own botanicals!

As long as hobbyists have been, well- hobbyists- we've created techniques, shared ideas, explored, examined, and when warranted, criticized ideas that seemed kind of weird, irresponsible, or unscrupulous.

I love that. Don't you? We all should.

One of the things I am fascinated by in the hobby-seriously- is the culture of the "armchair critic." You know, the hobbyist who, emboldened by the "firewall" that a keyboard provides him or her, uses this "defensible position" to lob all sorts of stuff at fellow hobbyists, businesses, thought leaders, etc.- for reasons not entirely known, yet likely steeped in some form of personal insecurity rather than a true desire to help their fellow hobbyists.  

In the case of vendors, it's usually to "call bullshit" on some practice, product, or idea that the self-appointed "advocate" thinks is an injustice of some sort. Many times it IS deserved, and there is some good to this sort of self-policing. Other times, there is a more sinister or petty motive- a desire to hurt others, play out some frustration with themselves, or to be relevant, etc.  

Yet, the fact that we have a little bit of self-policing, self-reflective mindset in the hobby is not a bad thing! 

When we first started Tannin Aquatics, I pretty much KNEW that we'd be on the receiving end of "incoming fire" from some of these people. You know, we sell "twigs, leaves, and nuts" and that's outrageous...It is super easy to criticize this business model! From day one, we had "critics" who "assessed" our business, its practices and products, and made the determination that everything we could offer can be collected from the empty lot next door to their home, and that we're essentially "selling ice to Eskimos" as the expression goes. A "gotcha!" thing.

And of course, as a business owner, your natural inclination is to ignore, protect, engage, or whatever. Seeing misinterpretation, myth, and misinformation about your area of expertise- and your business- proliferate, is something you almost have to engage on. Yet, you have to temper it with a bit of self-awareness and logic, too! In my instance, I saw- and still see- little value in trying to tell fellow hobbyists that the Magnolia leaves or Oak twigs that I offer are somehow "different" than what someone with the dual blessings of time and geographic fortune can collect. It's not honest or helpful to do that.

As someone who has tried to be as open and honest about the stuff we've offered as possible, I don't really feel "exposed" by these assertions. Yeah, I mean, this stuff exists in Nature and you can grab it if you want. Of course, that never stopped the self-appointed "consumer advocate" types from claiming that we're simply trying to rip off or exploit unsuspecting hobbyists.

NEWS FLASH: As we must have mentioned 100 times or more in this column and elsewhere over the years- OF COURSE you can collect your own botanicals- we encourage you to do so if you can! However, if you can't don't have access to them, or the inclination- that's what we're here for.

Despite how delicious it might be for conspiracy-loving "keyboard warrior-hobbyists" to claim, there is no "secret" or "mystery" that we're trying to perpetuate to keep you from "discovering" this. We're pretty confident that our business can survive just fine if hobbyists collect some of their own stuff. And, judging by our market share and growth trajectory, I'd say that this mindset is just fine.

Proper identification is an important part of utilizing botanical materials in your aquarium. We've tried a lot over the years, believe me. And we've seen a fair number of them being given goofy names. In fact, almost every one of our "product names" are not "fictitious" names at all- we utilize the actual species name-tongue-twisting or linguistically ugly though it may be (I mean, Dregea Pods, are you f- ing kidding me?) of the plant/tree/shrub from which the botanical comes from, and identify the geographic sourcing as well. I don't know what others who ply their trade in this hobby sector do, but we're not about it.

And, as a hobbyist, I certainly understand that this hobby can be pricy, and that anything we can do to save a few bucks is not a bad thing. Not everyone sees the value in paying $5.00 or more for something like Oak twigs, Alder Cones, Loquat leaves, etc., if they have a clean, reliable, easily accessible source for these things in their own neighborhood. We totally get that!

What's "different" about the materials that we offer?

In a nutshell..No too much, from a "capability" standpoint.

Let's start by saying that our stuff is not "magical." It's not "manufactured" in some factory or something. There is no "special powers" that our botanicals create. 

So, IS there anything "different?"

Well, yeah.

Well, for one thing, you don't have to go to the time and effort to search, identify collect them, and sort them yourself. Sure, this is not necessarily a tedious process- but it can be an inconvenience for many of us; especially those hobbyists who live in urban areas where access to clean and reliable collection sites is limited or otherwise problematic. Or for those who simply don't want to spend their free time rooting through that nearby vacant lot or urban forest area in an attempt to save a few dollars.

And of course, with our stuff, you get them delivered to you in a tidy package. We study, test, aggregate, and curate stuff from all over the world, and go to great lengths to obtain this stuff, so you don't have to. You get the confidence that comes from knowing that these were ethically/sustainably sourced by vetted suppliers, and that the materials were not collected from areas which are polluted or insecticide-laden- all super-important considerations when utilizing botanical materials in your closed-system aquarium!

Oh, and you get the support of a company which lives, breathes, and sleeps botanical-style aquariums! You get the instructions, community, and the information provided by (now) around 700 blogs on every aspect of this stuff. We think that this defines "value added" in this context for sure! It's got to be worth something, right?

Well, maybe it is worth something to you. Maybe not. Maybe you simply want to collect your own, period. Maybe you have great access to something that we don't. Judging by the number of "Have you tried_________?" or, "I have a_________ tree in my yard and was wondering if they are useable in the aquarium?" emails we receive weekly, it's obvious that there is enough interest in this "DIY" sort of thing!

And again, we say go for it, if you can!.

With that in mind, we dedicated some space in today's edition of "The Tint" to share a bit of ideas on this topic. Keep in mind that we are in The Western U.S., and this is written from the context of materials and such consistent with what is really available in North America or Europe. Obviously, if you live in tropical Asia, Africa, or South America, there are different nuances to this.

So, disclaimers aside- there are a few general words of advice we have for you if you are going to collect your own stuff:

-Make sure that you are legally permitted to gather the materials that you're considering, and that you aren't trespassing on someone else's property while doing so.

-Make a positive identification of the botanicals that you're going to collect. A good "nature guide" or field guide to plants of your region can really help. And there's this thing called "Google" that might work well, too. Don't be lazy.

-Confirm that the area you are collecting from is not sprayed with pesticides or subject to runoff from other toxic substances or pollutants. This is super important! If you're not sure, just don't grab them. It's simply not worth it, IMHO.

- Collect the botanicals you're focusing on as naturally-fallen materials. This is particularly important with leaves, as we've discussed many times in this blog. When leaves fall naturally, they have consumed many of the sugars and other compounds which are not beneficial for our aquariums, and actually are more detrimental than helpful.

-Never collect anything from a tree or shrub which is protected, endangered, or otherwise restricted from being disturbed in your area. This is pretty obvious, but we'd be negligent if we didn't mention it here!

Okay, all of the reality checks aside, what materials can you typically collect?

LEAVES: Of course you can grab leaves. Magnolia is an obvious one for many people in North America. There are plenty of references for identifying the specific species you have in your area. We've personally tried a few varieties, and have determined that no one variety is substantially better than another.

The important thing is that you collect them as naturally fallen, not "green", and that you rinse them and take the time to wipe them off and dry them a bit more before use. Their waxy dermal layer retains moisture, and they can get moldy if packed away too soon after they've fallen. The mold is not necessarily harmful, and can typically be wiped away and eliminated via boiling during the prep process, but it is unpleasant!

Oak, Beech, Ash, and many other leaves are commonly used by aquarists. At the risk of over-generalizing, numerous species of naturally fallen, dried leaves are perfectly safe for use in aquariums. There are literally hundreds of possibilities here- but I can't give you the pros and cons on each one. Some may have toxins or oils in their tissues which can be problematic, even deadly. The reality is that you'll need to research, collect, prepare, and experiment with them on your fishes carefully. 

Don't like the idea of experimenting with your fishes like that? Well, we know this place online where you can get leaves that are "fish safe!" 😆

CONES: Some of the most popular botanical materials used in aquariums are cones of various trees: Alder, Birch, etc. Like leaves, there are a lot of varieties out there to choose from; many are safe, but some might not be...So, yeah, it's on you to do that critical experimentation and safety assessment for yourself. Cones typically need to be collected as naturally fallen, dried, and risked carefully and dried again before use.

BRANCHES/DRIFTWOOD: Again, there are numerous varieties of trees which yield great results when used in an aquarium setting. The caveats, besides selecting varieties that are not known to be ichthyotoxic, or otherwise environmentally polluting when submerged, are that they need to be properly sourced, collected, and prepared in order to be safe. What varieties? Again, it's incumbent upon us as hobbyists to do our homework to determine what's appropriate. 

Obtaining dried, naturally-fallen branches and driftwood, collected legally from pollution-free sources are some of the important factors to consider. Also, bark typically should be removed or substantially stripped, as it often contains surface pollutants or other materials which are not desired in the aquarium. Oh, and you don't want to collect wood that is "green"- more or less "fresh"- as it needs to be largely depleted of many of the sugars and other compounds found in fresher woods. Substances like sap are extremely toxic to fishes, and any wood leaching sap- regardless of variety, should be treated as "unsuitable."

I hope that this admittedly generalized, brief summation of collecting your own botanicals for aquarium use is helpful to you! Sure, many of the materials that we play with are from tropical, rather geographically-challenging locales from around the world, and you're not likely to visit, let alone collect from- these areas. That's where we come in, of course!

There are lots and lots of botanical materials which you can legally collect and safely utilize in your aquarium. Hobbyists have done this for many decades! It makes sense that you should seek out readily obtainable free materials for use in your tanks, if only just to supplement the more "exotic" materials which we offer. Not only is it a good way to save some money- it could get you into the "Great Outdoors" and maybe even create a new hobby for you! And it can be educating!

It's beyond just "collecting stuff." It's important to understand how these materials occur, what benefits they can offer, and how they play a role in the wild terrestrial-and aquatic- ecosystems of the world. 

Stay engaged. Stay inquisitive. Stay curious. Stay resourceful.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Just add water...literally.

In the jungles and rain forests of the world, streams and floodwaters meander through. In regions such as The Amazon, this has become an integral part of the ecosystem.

As these waters work their way through the soils, fallen trees, accumulated leaves, branches, and seed pods, the water absorbs tannins, humic substances, dissolved organics, and other compounds which contribute to the now aquatic environment...

We know this. These are dynamic, interdependent habitats. 

These terrestrial habitats are "seasonally inundated" by the significant rainfall common to this region; some of these forest floors may be submerged for almost half a year...that's a LOT of water! Like, 3%-4% of the water in the Amazon Basin at any given time...And these are precious, diverse natural treasures, so replicating one in the home aquarium is another way to learn and teach more about them, isn't it?

Igapo forests have a pretty significant amount of trees; one study found that over 30 species of trees are found in these areas, creating coverage of something on the order of 30%, and are known to have soils that are acidic in nature, yet low in nutrient content (because they don't receive a seasonal influx of nutrients like regions called "varzea", which are flooded by sediment-laden "whitewater" rivers).

The water depth can vary from as little as 6-8 inches ( 15.24cm- 20.32cm), to almost 20 feet (6.96m)!  This influx and egress of water can happen fairly rapidly. And of course, as a result of the materials the waters flow through, they have a lot of tannin and humic substances in them from all of that soil and plant materials.

As aquarists, this dynamic environment is incredibly inspiring! The "igapo" habitat can really help you flex your creative muscles, offering the dual challenge of creating something unique, while holding back and not going too crazy with tons of detail. Rather, a fewer, stronger elements, punctuated with some smaller details provided by the botanicals, can create an engaging, mysterious, and inspiring display!

As we've discussed before, Amazonian leaf litter beds are home to a surprising variety and population density of fishes, with some studies of igapos yielding as many as 20-40 different species of fishes in a 200 square meter area!  And, the majority of the specimens found in these studies are small, averaging around 40mm-100mm (1.5"- 3.9") in length!

This is interesting from an aquarist's perspective, because we can create a pretty dynamic and interesting environment, with lots of cool small fishes, if considerations are made for tank size, filtration and husbandry. 

The trees-or their branches and leaves-once submerged- literally bring new life to the waters. The materials that comprise the tree are known in ecology as "allochthonous material"-  something imported into an aquatic ecosystem from outside of it.  (extra points if you can pronounce the word on the first try...) And of course, in the case of trees, this also includes fruits and seed pods that fall or are washed into the water along with the branches and trunks that topple during inundation.

These materials are known to ecologists as “coarse particulate organic matter”, and in the waters of these inundated forest floors there is a lot of CPOM, and the community of aquatic organisms (typically aquatic insects and crustaceans) has a high proportion of “shredders”, which feed on the CPOM and break it up into tinier bits called (wait for it...) "fine particulate organic matter."

Some of these "shredders" and their larvae are a direct source of food for fishes, providing a nutritious food source for growing populations in these waters.

And of course, some fishes directly consume fallen fruits and seeds themselves as part of their diet as well, aiding in the "refinement" of the CPOM.  Think about the Pacu, for example, which has specialized mouthparts suited to crushing hard-shelled fruits and seeds. Other organisms make use of the fine particulate matter by filtering it from the water or accessing it in the sediments that result. These allochthonous materials support a diverse food chain that's almost entirely based on our old friend, detritus!

Yes, detritus. Sworn enemy of the traditional aquarium hobby...misunderstood bearer of life to the aquatic habitat.

There's a lot going on here, huh?

And, although the forest floor receives substantially less sunlight than open rivers, the nutrients and available light are utilized by algae, which may colonize the surfaces facing up into the sun. True aquatic plants are essentially non-existent in the flooded forests.  Rather, the presence of terrestrial grasses and plants, which can tolerate periods of submersion, are the most common plants here.

And of course, branches, bark, and ultimately, the tree itself, will gradually decompose over long periods of time. Hollowed-out sections will be inhabited by fishes and exploited for the shelter they offer. Other fishes utilize these "microhabitats" as spawning areas, and provide defensible spaces to rear their fry.

And interestingly, when you think about it, fish movement, species "richness," and the size of the fish population are affected by the physical and biological influences of fallen trees! How interesting that the lives of aquatic animals are so inexorably linked to the terrestrial environment!

And the deep beds of leaves and plant parts that may be "corralled" by fallen trees- a sort of natural "dam"- will  affect the types of fishes which reside there. Some fish species, which cannot tolerate the lower oxygen concentrations found in these areas of deep leaf litter, will reside elsewhere, allowing a sort of natural "resource partitioning" that lets more tolerant species (such as knifefishes, catfishes, etc.) take advantage of the food sources in these deep beds.

Other fishes take advantage of the physical barrier that a fallen tree presents to shelter from predatory species. Numerous behavioral and even physiological adaptations have taken place over eons to allow fishes to exploit these changes in their environment caused by fallen trees!

It's pretty fascinating stuff. You could literally spend a lifetime studying, replicating, and learning from these habitats, and never run out of new ideas or inspiration...They're constantly emerging, changing, and evolving.

And it's all part of the reason that I spend so damn much time pleading with you- my fellow fish geeks- to study, admire, and ultimately replicate natural aquatic habitats as much as you do the big aquascaping contest winners' works. In fact, if every hobbyist spent just a little time studying some of these unique natural habitats, I think the hobby would be radically different. 

Time for a change, isn't it?

Stay inspired. Stay creative. Stay curious. Stay diligent...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Thinking inside the box, and other aquascaping problems. A personal journey.

Do you ever come to the realization that there are some things that you tackle in the hobby that, for whatever reason- you're just not good at? Really, those moments of brutal honesty when you tell yourself, "This just isn't my 'thing', even though I'm attacking it...."

That's me with certain aspects of aquascaping. For some reason, there are some tanks that I just cannot wrap my head around. It's weird.

So, I have this really nice cube-shaped aquarium in my office that I've been playing with for a couple of months now, trying to figure out what to do with it. Unlike most of my other aquariums, which are set up to represent specific habitats, this one is intended to be a purely fanciful creative exercise using botanicals.

Should be easy, right? Except there's one small problem:

I simply can't scape small, cube-shaped tanks.

I just can't. Or, I can't do it in a way that leaves me satisfied...

Like, every attempt I've tried in this tank looks so forced. So contrived.. It's weird. I can't get past it. Something about this configuration and size that I can't hang with...

Long, low tanks? Check. Standard rectangular tanks? Got it. Even large cube tanks make some sense to me. Even Cylinder-shaped tanks. Yeah. I've done them.

Little, "nano-sized" cubes?

Nope.

No chance.

It's like I have some sort of "mental block" or something...I just can't seem to work with these dimensions. And it seems so strange, because the cube shape, in and of itself, lets you approach things from a few angles- literally.

It seems like an easy choice for scaling, right?

I mean, you can do the obvious- some big pieces of wood crossing over and exiting he water. We see that all over Instagram, and well- yawn.

You could pack it with plants, and create a proportioned "jungle", with the tallest ones in the center rear.

Cliche.

(Add that to the fact that planted aquariums are as interesting to me as studying the art of shoelace tying, and it makes sense...) They are pretty, though.

You could do a little vertical-relief "shoreline" thing- and fairly effectively, I might add. But to do it in a way that doesn't look so crammed-in and overly-composed, it's like you really have to work it, carefully selecting every single piece of wood, rock, etc., and making sure you're careful during assembly, lest a clumsy hand send your almost-completed work tumbling back down to the starting point again.

This can't be that difficult. Literally, a child could do it, right? And do it well.

It's me. 

Like, a reef tank or coral tank in this space would be stupidly easy to pull off for me. Like, I think I could take on almost any big-time freshwater aquascaper in the world and leave them crying. Take your Iwagumi and Glostostigma and... okay, yeah.  I'm that confident of that. Arrogant, even! I can make it work in almost any tank configuration. Seriously.  But a convincing FW scape? No chance. A huge challenge. If I had to do this in a contest setting, I'd get smoked in minutes by everyone. I suck.

Why is this? What's my "hangup" about it?

Now, maybe it's that I've gotten so far into the weeds that I simply can't do a purely "artistic" type of aquascape anymore? Could it be that I'm too reliant on looking at natural scenes and attempting to capture the scene or habitat in the space I have, that any "freeform" interpretive exercise somehow doesn't feel "right" to me?

It might be. 

Talk about overthinking something, right?

It might be indicative of some kind of deeper "aquascaping problem", right? LOL

Yeah, I think it might be. I mean, if you unleashed the tank and same materials on almost any aquarist, especially a hardcore scape- they'd come up with a dream scape that would blow you away in no time.

But here's the thing. Despite me spending hours and hours playing with this stupid little box- none of them were frustrating- Not in the "wring your wrists, pace-back-and-forth" way! Nope. In fact, I've enjoyed every minute! So, that's a huge thing! It's the goal of a hobby, right? Oddly relaxing and enjoyable. 

It's just what I come up with, when I'm out of the initial creative high moments...sucks.

Yeah. That's the thing.

This is where I stopped last time...It's just, well... urghhh... Maybe I should "just fill the damn thing", as one of my buddies suggested.

Probably couldn't hurt, right? See it wet. Give it a chance to age and evolve a bit...

So perhaps that's the solution. And the problem?

I just didn't happen to like the outcomes I've been achieving when I went for purely "creative" aquascapes. It's an interesting statement about mindset. And reading into thing too much...and taking shit too seriously! That's the easy "Facebook comment" takeaway: "You're taking this way too seriously- it's supposed to be fun!"

A real "champagne problem", right? I mean, there are 100,000 other things in life more worth thinking about. But hey, this is where I am at the moment. 

A chance for more self-awareness, right?

And the solution? Keep doing. Keep enjoying...Keep thinking inside the box- and not overthinking.  Maybe this documenting my personal "mental minefield" is helpful to you?

But, man, if I can just move that one piece of rock...

Until next time.

Stay creative. Stay unflappable. Stay diligent. Stay relaxed. Stay in the moment...

And Stay Wet. 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

What's in a name?

Every once in a while, I'll get into these discussions with other hobbyists about the various minute of the hobby...Particularly about areas that I'm fascinated by, of course. Like, oh, I dunno-blackwater/botanical-style aquariums, for example!

A couple of friends and I had one of those chats recently and somebody remarked that the term "blackwater" is being used quite a bit nowadays - thrown around quite casually.

And I suppose it's true...The term "blackwater" in the aquarium context is becoming more and more commonplace, as aquariums featuring these types of conditions are falling more and more into the mainstream of the hobby, and far less of an obscure "sideshow" as they were in years past.

This is always a good thing, I think. 

Now, on the other hand, in the aquarium hobby, people love to sort of "take possession" of various ideas, techniques, etc., and make a land grab for "mind share" in a sense. Suffice it to say, the concept of "blackwater aquariums" is subject to just as much analysis, classification, and discussion as any other aquarium movement.

And I've always been a bit leery of "appropriating" for hobby use what have been largely scientific names/descriptors of things...I mean, not always, but some stuff becomes a bit problematic. In the reef world, where I come from, you learn to be less than cavalier about tossing stuff about if you don't have the goods to back up your assertions!

For some reason, in the reef side of the hobby, in addition to pure hobbyists, you have a lot of scientists who happen to be reef hobbyists, and many take great pains to instill accuracy in things we do, while still understanding that it's supposed to be a hobby...They're super cool and helpful.  Still others are incredibly offended by non-scientists even using scientific terms or concepts to describe stuff, and will just level you in forum discussions if you assert an opinion that is contradictory to what they know from their work. These discussions can get ugly might fast, too. "You know that Vanadium is only found in seawater in concentrations of 0.0003 ppm, and that can only mean..."

Yeah, that hardcore. It's weird. Shit can get ugly real fast.

However, it instills in you as a hobbyist not to casually toss around scientific terms and ideas if you don't have a really good handle on them. That being said, a term like "blackwater" or "blackwater aquarium" doesn't have a real "official" descriptor, in hobby parlance. I mean, really.

So, when I see us talking about "blackwater", I feel that occasional pang of "reefer's remorse" if I think I go too far. The reality is that the term "blackwater" as defined in science reference literature is a really vague and somewhat broad definition. In fact, you could really argue that it's not really a scientific term at all, merely a "catch all" term to describe a set of characteristics of an aquatic ecosystem.

In fact, about the most cohesive set of characteristic descriptors I can find anywhere indicates that "blackwater" is typically acidic water with low ionic concentrations of sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. It has low conductivity and relatively low concentrations of dissolved solids. That's pretty accurate, IMHO!

Typically, blackwater occurs when vegetation or other terrestrial materials accumulate in rivers and streams, then decompose and leaches tannins into the water, making a transparent, acidic water that is darkly stained, resembling tea. There are other factors, like soil and geological factors, which contribute to blackwater aquatic systems as well, of course.

And that pH-based descriptor isn't all that narrow, either! Aquatic ecosystems that have blackwater in them can vary in pH from as low as 2.9 to 6.5 or higher. It's all over the map, if you examine specific aquatic habitats with blackwater in them! I mean, a peat bog win Asia- most definitely a blackwater ecosystem- might have a pH of around 3.5, whereas a blackwater river, such as the beloved Rio Negro, might have a pH of around 5.1! And a small jungle tributary might have a pH somewhere in between, like 4.7 or so.

I recently saw a discussion in a facebook forum in which a hobbyist described a tank with dark water, no real mineral content, and a pH of about 6.1, and the guy was just getting slammed by some wise-ass who claimed that these were not "blackwater conditions..."

And I was like, "WTF? Here we go..."

Yes, I sat on the sidelines in that discussion, but monitored the sad and inevitable argument that ensued.  The guy who was attacking was a real jerk...And offered litter but attitude and loud bluster to back up his position, which was really not too strong. And the reality is that, based on the set of characteristics/factors used to describe blackwater habitats that we ferreted out above, the hobbyist who was being assailed's tank parameters definitely fell well within the generally accepted ones that are applicable to blackwater ecosystems.

The reality is, if we try to apply a specific pH or TDS level to the definition of "blackwater ecosystem", we'd be woefully inaccurate. There's simply too broad a range to do this. 

So, the takeaway in all of this?

"Blackwater" seems to a have a broad set of descriptive characteristics that are more of a "range" as opposed to a specific factor or factors, and it is irresponsible to try to narrow this description down too much.

And... from a "hobby culture" standpoint:

We need to have a good understanding of what we talk about. And we need to ditch the pretentiousness. No one owns the damn title of "blackwater aquarium characteristics" or whatever. Sure, some people might understand more about specific topics than other do, but your obligation at that point is to share, encourage, and mentor others- not to be a pretentious loudmouth bully.

Full stop.

Stay curious. Stay educated. Stay inspired. Stay gracious. Stay creative. Stay smart...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

"Wood" you believe this...? You can....

Among the many things that we obsess over with our aquariums, selecting and utilizing driftwood occupies a good amount of our attention and mindshare. You'd think it was a simple thing- pick a nice piece of wood, prepare it and plunk it down in your tank...done.

Well, it CAN be. It ISN'T. But it can be...

My philosophy on what wood type to utilize in your aquarium is, as you might expect from me- a combination of personal aesthetic tastes and functional attributes of a given specimen.

Yeah, I think it starts out with the most simple question: What type of wood appeals to you? Sure, you can address this angle by asking yourself what type of habitat or ecological niche you're trying to recreate in your tank, and what "configuration" would be most appropriate to do the job? That's kind of my starting place. 

Example? Well, let's say you're trying to recreate the look of a tree stump or fallen tree section. You'd likely want to select a piece or pieces of wood that are thicker, "heavier-looking", and larger in size and stature to recreate such a feature. If you're trying to recreate the land/water interface of a flooded forest, and want to represent roots, then you'd likely select specimens of wood which are thinner, perhaps more twisted and gnarled in shape. 

Ironically, our most popular wood type- Manzanita, is- in my opinion, probably the least "realistic" wood you can use, in terms of how it looks/works when placed in an aquarium. I mean, we typically place the piece of wood on it's side, surround it with rocks and plants, and that's that. So, it's cool...but does it represent how a piece of wood would typically look/occur in a wide flooded forest, steam, or lake? 

Maybe.

I mean, if you look closely at a lot of displays that use this wood, they look sort of like a bunch of little peices all stuck together. Which, I suppose, is part of the "charm" of the stuff. You have to envision it after a month, covered with a "patina" of biocover, surrounded by decomposing botanical botanicals...

But really, I think it makes more sense to look at different orientations for this wood- like, vertically ( And, NO! Not like a freaking wedding centerpiece, with the wood projecting out of the water like a submerged tree or something. I'm talking the branches DOWN, like the overhanging branches or roots of a tree dangling into a flooded forest floor or stream). This is what our Creative Director, Johnny Ciotti, did in one of his recent scapes, to great effect.

I just love Manzanita, but I think it's become a more purely aesthetic choice more than any other attribute it brings.

What about Spider Wood?

It has a most unusual root-like configuration, which lends itself well to all sorts of aquascaping applications.

Now, I've always liked this stuff, and we've pretty much always sold this stuff as  "Hand-Selected Pieces" (ie; random ones we pic FOR you!), which are just as good as when we used to sell them as WYSIWYG...And better for you, because it costs less when we don't have to photograph each piece!  I mean, they ALL pretty much have unique attributes and almost every piece looks good from one or more angles.

You almost can't go wrong, really.

Even with a guy like me selecting for you!

Now, I'll be the first to tell you that "Spider Wood", although stupidly easy to work with, has its own set of quirks. It has some really gnarled shapes- which is awesome, but you need to think about it if you're trying to use a few larger pieces in your 'scape. Often the pieces are rather challenging to "fit together" if your goal is to make it look like they are part of one "organic formation", if you will, so you really have to use some forward vision if that's your goal and you're using the larger-sized pieces.

My understanding that what the aquatic trade refers to as "Spider Wood" is the roots of Rhododendron (aka Azalea), a genus of over a thousand woody plants found in Asia and North America. Like everything else in the aquarium hardscape trade, the exact species or origins are kept shrouded in a sort of deliberate mystery. Typically stupid aquarium industry mind set, IMHO. Why doesn't anyone mention this? I'm flummoxed.

Uh-oh, I feel a rant coming on....

I mean, I make it a point to tell you that you're buying Oak leaves or Mangrove leaves. I'm not trying to create a trade secret. We sell convenience here. Don't want to pay for them? Go collect your own?  Can't collect your own, buy them from us. No biggie.  Want to buy a desk? You can buy it from Ikea for half the price of the other furniture store, but you have to build it yourself. Want the convenience of a "ready-to-go" product? Pay more at the conventional furniture place.

Same with leaves. Or wood.

WTF is wrong with this confidence of this industry that everything is some big damn enigma? Like, OMG- 4 people might collect their own leaves and deprive me of $24 in income... the horror.  Or, people might find out that Manzanita can be purchased in bulk from a florist supply place and you'll save $4 if you buy 6 of them, or whatever... It's okay. Fellow hardscape vendors...let's grow the f- --- up!

Okay, that was therapeutic!

Oh. back to Spider Wood.

Now, that being said, it's no mystery why the stuff is popular! It looks pretty cool...once you figure out how to use it! You can get it in larger sizes, and these smaller "nano" sized pieces...different sizes for different looks.

And, as an added "bonus", this stuff releases a lot of nice, water-tintitng tannins...something that freaks the f--- out of most hardcore aquascapers (much to my sadistic delight, as you know), but something that our tribe just loves! Oh, and the plant (and I think likely by extension, the roots) is known to offer "..possible anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities" which may be due to the antioxidant effects of flavonoids or other phenolic compounds and saponins the plant contains...

If you recall, some of these same substances are known to occur in Catappa leaves, and there are documented fish health benefits of catappa, validated in scientific research.

SO...hmm...maybe?

Oh, and it does tend to recruit a fair amount of gooey fungal/biofilm growth shortly after submersion, often to the horror of the unaware...So, if ever there were a candidate for "pre-soaking" wood before using in the aquarium, "Spider Wood" is it. Granted, this growth will usually subside after a few weeks of submersion, and some well-timed scrubbing with a soft-bristled brush.

And what about other wood types? Like Mopani Wood? 

Also called "Mopane", it comes from a species of tree, Colophspermum mopane, found in hot, dry parts of Africa- specifically, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Angola and Malawi. In fact, the tree only occurs in Africa, which gives you some idea as to its relative scarcity in the aquarium trade.

The Mopane tree only grows in hot, arid climates and surprisingly alkaline soils, further restricting its range. An economically important tree to its native nations, it offers many characteristics that make it unique for a range of uses. It's a surprisingly heavy wood, and is termite resistant (really important in Africa!), and has been used by man to build everything from houses to flooring. From an aquarist's standpoint, we love this wood, not for it's intricate shapes, but for its rich, gnarled texture, and distinct "two-tone" color, not to mention its durability...the stuff can last for years and years in an aquarium!

It's a very dense wood, and sinks really easily. Preparation required is pretty simple: A good rinse and maybe a light scrub with a soft bristle brush, to remove debris and such, followed by immersion in fresh water. Like any wood, Mopani will impart some tannins into the water after it's submerged, so if you're not into "the tint", you probably want to soak it in freshwater for a week or two to "crack off" some of the initial burst of tannins and other organics contained in the wood structure. You could also boil smaller pieces, followed by a soak in fresh water for a few days, but I'm more of a "soak and wait" kind of guy with this wood, myself. Regardless, it's still gonna leach tannins for a long time...just part of the game with any wood.

Use of Mopani is really about aesthetics, IMHO.

Occasionally, I'll get an inquiry from a catfish enthusiast, asking me if this is one of the woods these fish will gnaw on. The answer, according to my many Pleco friends is that, yeah, in the absence of other, softer woods, they may pick at it; however, for all practical purposes, your Panaque L204, Ancistrus, or other cat would prefer something softer as a chew toy!

One of the biggest concerns a lot of aquarists have about Mopani is the price. Yup, this stuff is kind of expensive relative to other woods used in the aquarium. Why is this? Well, first off, it has that restricted range- Africa. Ever import something from an African nation? It's expensive, fraught with economic risk, and subject to a lot of paperwork hassles to legally obtain goods from this region. Plus, it's kind of heavy, as we've stated before, which adds to the transportation and shipping costs. You're generally not going to see huge pieces of Mopani wood offered for sale in the aquarium trade. Typically, it's more common to see pieces from 5"-25" in length. 

Because it's a commercially important wood in its native region, and is increasingly being used in things like flooring and furniture, there is concern about the sustainability of Mopani harvest on this species. There are several African nations that have commissioned sustainability studies regarding harvest of Mopani and other woods, and these are ongoing.

As we are always concerned about the ecological impact and sustainability in regards to the sourcing of our botanicals, we'll be monitoring these studies and will make sure that we continue to obtain our wood from sources and suppliers operating in nations that support the sustainable and ethical harvest of this wood, and we'll discontinue offering it should the ecological impact be threatened by its continued harvest. As you can see, we're not currently offering this stuff..We are currently in the negotiation phase with a supplier who can meet our ethical concerns.

While the impact of the aquarium trade on the wood may be statistically undetectible- it still counts, and every little conservation effort helps. We want to do our part to help preserve this resource for generations to come, and if that means discontinuing offering this product indefinitely, rest assured, we will. And quite honest, the wood has mysteriously fallen out of favor in recent years..The scarcity and necessary expense of the wood no doubt contributes to this. We have literally had individual peices of this wood on our site for a year or more before they sold...even at reduced prices or during a rare sale...so..

Yeah, I kind of went on a tangent about some of these wood types, right?

Well, it's important to really to you that there are many types of wood which you could use in your aquascapes...There is really no one perfect type, IMHO. I mean, even good old-fashioned Pacfic driftwood is terrific in a variety of situations. It has a strong presence and can really replicate fallen tree trunks and massive root systems effectively. It just doesn't have some sexy name.

And of course, the other old standby, Malaysian driftwood, that knotty, interestingly-textured wood is perfect for all sorts of scapes. It's easy to saturate, interesting to look at, and loaded with tannins.

I can go on and on reviewing each type of wood used in the hobby, but that would be rather boring, repetitive, and likely cause me to go off on other regrettable tangents and rants and alienate still more of you!😆

Suffice it to say, that wood, when being submerged in an aquarium, will likely leach tannins into the water. It'll make the water dark...So, you "know the drill"- use activated carbon in quantity if you don't want this tint in your aquarium. 

And biofilms and fungi, which we've written about dozens of times in this very blog- will likely make their appearance at some point. We've talked ad nauseam how to deal with this stuff...

Yeah...that's like a whole different discussion we could have.

Bottom line? Choose the wood you like, which you feel best represents the habitat that you're trying to recreate. Understand that it will require preparation (soaking, etc.) before its really "set for use"- and that ideally, this should occur in a operate container instead of the aquarium it's ultimately destined for. Realize tannins and biofilms happen. While most wood types have their own "behavior" in the water, they all are comprised of the same substances, so there are generalities that make one type as good as any other. 

Be creative with how you use wood.

Combine it with other materials- or blend different wood types. Be original.

Kick some aquascaping ass.

Stay bold. Stay curious. Stay unique. Stay undaunted. Stay logical...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics