The Tint

Catappa Leaves- Nature's "Miracle Cure!" Um, NOT!!!!! Dive Deeper!

I hate exaggerations, the perpetuation of myths, and the attribution of capabilities to techniques, products, etc. in the hobby which are only marginally based in fact. Especially when these ideas are pushed out by people who may not have all of the facts, the personal experience, and/or the background to back it up. 

These things become very detrimental to the hobby.

Now look, I realize that many of these things are offered up with good intentions; not with some nefarious purpose in mind. I mean, sure, sometimes you'll see someone who has a vested interest in selling something proffer these kinds of things, which flat-out sucks.

On the other hand, many of these offerings are simply "regurgitations" by well-intended hobbyists who simply didn't bother to do their "due diligence" and research the facts before pushing it out on the web.

Well, that sucks, too. Right?

As a guy who sells leaves for a living, I've had to be careful to not ascribe miraculous attributes to the stuff I sell- because it's not only not helpful- it can be downright misleading and certainly counterproductive for the hobby and industry by doing so!

And I see a lot of counterproductive garbage being put out there at scale. It's important to address some of this stuff from time to time, especially when it's about our use of botanicals in natural-style aquariums. We have an obligation, of sorts, to elevate our practice of utilizing natural materials in aquariums, and that often means diving just a bit deeper when seemingly "too good to be true" assertions are made. 

Here is one of my fave misunderstood botanical claims:

Catappa leaves can "cure fish diseases."

This is one which has been perpetuated for years (often by people who sell leaves online and elsewhere -hey, I'm in that group, huh?).

It bothers me.

Although, it actually has some validity to it. I said "some"- because we in the hobby and industry tend to selectively "cherry pick" stuff we like from science and run with that, often overlooking some of the more sobering realities in favor of the "sizzle."

Yup.

Clarification is required.

It has been known for many years by science that botanicals like catappa leaves (and others) have compounds in their tissues which do have some potential medicinal functions, like saponins, phytosterols, punicalagins, etc.  Fancy names that sound really cool- these compounds found in Catappa leaves are often bounced around on hobby sites as the "magic elixir" for a variety of fish ailments and maladies.

That's where the danger of regurgitation sneaks in.

Now, I can't entirely beat the crap out of this idea that Catappa leaves have some health benefits for fishes, as these compounds are known to provide certain health benefits...in humans. And for a long time, it was anecdotally assumed that they did the same for fishes. Now, sure, humans aren't fishes, as we all know...Yet, believe it or not, there have been studies that show benefits to fishes imparted by substances in Catappa and other leaves.

I stumbled across a university study conducted in Thailand with Tilapia which concluded that Catappa extract was "useful" for eradicating the nasty exoparasite, Trichodina, and found that the growth of a couple of strains of Aeromonas hydrophila was also inhibited by dosing Catappa leaf extract at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml and up. In addition, this solution was shown to reduce the fungal infection in Tilapia eggs!

And it is now widely accepted by science that humic substances (such as those present in Catappa leaves and other botanical materials) are thought to have a wide range of health benefits for fishes in all types of habitats. We've covered this before in a great guest blog by Vince Dollar, and the implications for the hobby and industry are profound. Although they are not the "cure all" that many vendors have touted them as, leaves and other botanicals do possess a wide range of substances which can have significantly beneficial impact on fish health.

So, these claims are not entirely erroneous; however, it's important NOT to make over-inflated assumptions about Catappa, and to assume that they are "miraculous things" that we can add to our tanks to do achieve smashing success at curing sick fishes.

(Believe me, I'm actually wondering if the title of this blog will come back to haunt me, with SEO resulting only in the "Nature's Miracle Cure" part hitting, and this thing being misinterpreted in a bad way. 😱)

Rather, I think that as Catappa leaves and other botanical materials break down in our aquariums, they impart some of these beneficial compounds into the water, perhaps fostering a more healthy environment for fishes which are accustomed to blackwater conditions. Perhaps they perform an almost "prophylactic" role at preventing disease and supporting overall fish health, as opposed to functioning as some sort of "cure all." 

And that leads to questions, of course:

What "dosage" do we apply? How many leaves steeped in how much water yields aconcentrated solution of 0.5 mg/ml or more? How long do these materials need to be in the aquarium to accomplish this? And is there truly some measure of effectiveness?

We're learning the answers to some of these questions together.

Breaking through the barrier of assumptions, hyperbole, and fluff that has often clouded this tinted world before we all came together and made a real effort to understand the function as well as the aesthetics of this dynamic, engrossing hobby niche. 

Let's keep working together to push the state of the hobby farther than ever, backed up with facts and personal experiences! When we aren't sure about something, there is absolutely no shame in saying, "We're just not sure..."

Everybody wins that way.

Stay curious. Stay diligent. Stay honest. Stay studious. Stay persistent...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

My mangrove obsession, and the basics of Mangrove care.

I admit, I am not the go-to authority on anything about aquatic plants.

In fact, you'll be best served by asking anyone- like, your non-aquarist neighbor, the dog groomer, or even the barista at your local coffee house- questions on aquatic plants before you think of asking me for advice on them! This should hardly come as a surprise to those of you who know me personally! I'm not known for lush, pristine-looking, meticulously-planted aquariums! 

I have kept plants many times over the years. My current home "Asian-themed" blackwater aquarium actually has aquatic plants in it- but they fail to ignite my passion for some reason. Yet, I don't know a Riccardia from a Riccia. And it doesn't really bother me. I appreciate aquatic plants. I enjoy looking at planted tanks...They just don't make my heart skip a beat with excitement. "Estimative Index", "Dry Start", "Walstad Method?"

Might as well be speaking another language.

Yeah, that's my "jam" on aquatic plants.

That being said, there is one "plant"- well, a tree, actually that grows in aquatic environments, which I have become obsessed with over the years...The Mangrove.

Specifically, the "Red Mangrove", Rhizophora mangle. The one we'll focus on here and refer to as "Mangrove" for the purpose of this piece.

Hardly what you'd call an "aquarium plant"- I mean it's a tree.

That being said, the Mangrove is an amazing tree that certainly has applications for aquariums- specifically, brackish aquariums. Now, without going into a long, long, recap of what mangroves are and how they function (You can Google this stuff and get hundreds of hits with more information than you could ever want), let's just say that mangroves are a group of trees and shrubs which live in the coastal intertidal zone, in areas of warm, muddy, and salty conditions that would simply kill most plants.

They possess specialized organs which allow them to filter out sodium, absorb atmospheric air through their bark, and generally dominate their habitats because of these and other remarkable adaptations.

There are about 100-plus different species, all of which are found between tropical and subtropical  latitudes near the equator, as they are intolerant of cold temperatures. Mangroves put down extensive "prop roots" into the mud and silt in which they grow, giving them the appearance of "walking on water." These root tangles help them withstand the daily rising/falling tides, and slow the movement of the water, allowing sediments to settle out and build up the bottom contours of the local ecosystem.

And of course, the intricate root system not only protects coastlines from erosion, it plays host to a huge variety of organisms, from fungi to bacteria to crustaceans to fishes. The fishes use mangrove habitats as a feeding ground, nursery area, and a place to shelter from predators.

Okay, you get it. But how do we use these trees in the aquarium. And wait a minute, you're talking about a tree? WTF?

Well, yes. I am. No, fist off, before you part going off on me about their unsuitability for aquariums or some ethical implications for their "removal" from the wild, let's talk for a second about how we acquire them and how they grow. First off, removing a growing mangrove tree or seedling from the natural environment is unethical, illegal in most areas, and essentially idiotic.

NO one should even consider doing that. Period.

Rather, we acquire mangroves as propagules- buoyant seedlings which grow through the fruit, and can produce its own food through photosynthesis. When the propagules are mature, they fall into the water, and can remain in a dormant state, withstanding desiccation, for more than a year! Propagules are buoyant and can float until they find suitable "anchorage." When it's ready to take root, a propagule will change its internal density to float vertically, rather than horizontally, to make it more likely to root in suitable sediment. 

As aquarium people, we start with these free-floating propagules, which are abundant and legal to collect in places like Florida, where the adult plants are protected from harvest or pruning. The advantage of propagules is that they can be stored in a moist environment and easily shipped in damp paper towel, and stored that way for extended periods.

So, once you have one of these pickle-like propagules, how do you use it?

First off, you don't need to "root" it, or "plant" it in substrate. You simply need to anchor it in the water column in a vertical position, and allow it to extend roots down towards the bottom on its own pace. I have typically done this in relatively small containers of water, like a jar, vase, or pitcher, before translating it to the aquarium. 

You'll know that the propagule is ready to transplant when it becomes a "seedling"- with little roots showing up on the bottom, and leaves beginning to unfurl on the top of the propagule. You can sprout the propagules in all sorts of light conditions- typically even room ambient lighting (as in a windowsill) will do the trick.

Fluorescent, LED, or other aquarium-rated "daylight" lighting will accomplish this, too. Of course, the part with the leaves needs be anchored above the water line (yeah, people ask me this question regularly). Like everything we do in the "natural-style" aquarium game, patience, diligence, and observation are essential when keeping Mangroves.

If using an artificial light source, be sure to mount the light well above the container or aquarium where the mangroves are kept. This not only results in a more natural-looking growth form- it keeps the leaves from growing literally right into the light and frying themselves (I've done that many times, lol).

Once they are placed in the aquarium, you should anchor them near the water surface, not in the substrate. As discussed many times before, I've chosen to attach my propagules to (legally-collected) mangrove root pieces in my brackish- water aquarium, and that works really well.

Allow the roots to "find' the bottom for themselves. This will encourage the growth of a strong, almost "woody" prop root system that these trees are famous for. It may take many months for them to achieve "touchdown and penetration" into the substrate, but they will- and a stronger plant ensues as a result of allowing them to do it themselves!

One little word of advice: Be sure to sprout your mangrove propagule in the same water conditions (ie; marine, brackish, fresh) as you will be keeping them in perpetuity in your aquarium. They categorically don't adapt well to habitat changes once they have begun to grow.

Now, what kinds of substrates should you use? Well, keep in mind they come from muddy, sedimented, nutrient-rich environments in Nature, so they can handle just about anything. I've personally utilized everything from marine biosediments to aragonitic sand, to mixes of pond soil or aquatic plant soils. You can mix in peat and all sort of substrate enhancement materials to provide sustenance and proper rooting for these hardy trees. A little online research can yield lots of great tips on substrate mixes for mangroves in the captive environment.

The beauty of mangroves is that they're pretty hardy- which bodes well for their care in the aquarium! You need to do little more than illuminate them, anchor them in a vertical position above substrate, and mist the leaves on a regular basis. This process helps to keep dust, salt build-up (which is exported via the leaves), and insects off of the leaf tissues.

Now, again, we'll often hear arguments that keeping a tree in an aquarium is kind of crazy. I admit, a full-grown mangrove tree is virtually impossible to keep in a home aquarium. However, these trees grow incredibly slowly, reaching "houseplant-like" sizes after a year or more in captivity. And, with frequent pruning, you'll see that they can be maintained in almost a "bonsai-like" size indefinitely- all the while putting down the extensive, intricate  root systems that they are so famous for.

One of the cool benefits of mangroves in the aquarium- much as in Nature- is that their roots will recruit and foster the growth of microorganisms, fungi, algae, and other epiphytic life forms, providing a foraging place for fishes, and the ability to contribute to the biodiversity and healthy function of your aquarium ecology.

In addition, the "leaf drop" which mangroves are known for accomplishes the same thing it does in Nature: Helping to provide leaf litter, which encourages the growth of microorganisms and other life forms, and tinting the water via exudation fo tannins and humic substances. As you might guess, I encourage the fallen leaves to accumulate and decompose in the aquarium! 

Notice I don't talk about utilizing mangroves as a "nutrient export" mechanism in your aquarium? This is because it would take many mangroves (like, more than your tank caudal accommodate) over many years to provide any noticeable nutrient export effect on your tank. Rather, we choose to focus on their unique aesthetics and their ability to foster the growth of other, beneficial life forms.

Sure, we could probably go on and on about keeping mangroves in your aquarium (and probably will again I the future), but I hope that this admittedly superficial "quick start" guide will encourage you to research more about these remarkable trees and try them in your aquarium. 

If you're fascinated by these amazing, adaptable trees, can obtain them legally and responsibly, and are up for the challenge of keeping them over the long haul, mangroves are a fascinating and attractive addition to your specialized natural aquarium! 

Until next time...

Stay curious. Stay patient. Stay resourceful. Stay diligent...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

To catch a fish...

When it comes to selecting fishes for my aquariums, I'm probably as weird as anyone else. I'll geek out about it for a while. However, I typically have a good idea what I'm going to add to my tanks long before they're set up. I'll typically design and build an aquarium around a specific habitat, ecological niche, or fish species.

The research process can take months- years even. 

Yet, by the time I'm done, I typically know exactly what I want to add to my tanks, and stay "on plan."  There's very little "editing on the fly" with me. I think it's a holdover from growing up in the hobby. As a kid with one or two tanks, I HAD to be disciplined about the fishes I selected. This sort of discipline has served me pretty well.

Of course, sometimes, the fishes that I want are very difficult to find! Remember my rantings about Crenuchus spilurus, the Sailfin Tetra...a fish that I spent decades waiting for?  That's an extreme example, of course. Yet typically, this self-discipline actually creates short-term annoyances while I wait for my target fishes to become available! It's  often has resulted in my fully 'scaped and prepared tanks sitting fishless for weeks before the first ones go in...

You can relate to that. I know that you can! 

I am a huge fan of characins, especially in my natural-style, botanical-influenced "blackwater" aquariums. They're perfect for these tanks, as we've discussed many times. They are often found in these environments in nature. They're small fishes which aesthetically "fit" almost any-sized system and provide perfect "scale" for my aquascapes. I like them...no issues here.

Where I run into difficulty is during that age-old debate: Let's say my tank can accommodate 50 characins of the size I am contemplating. Is it more interesting to have a dozen of four varieties, 16 or so of three varieties, or 10 of five varieties of characins? Or, do I just make it a "monospecific: tank and go for one large school of a single species?

Same with Rasbora or other small fishes.

Or... 

It's overthinking at its finest...and it's enough to make my head spin.

Traditionally, I've taken the middle ground in stocking density.

I mean, this gives me a perfectly tolerable, yet still aesthetically-pleasing "ratio" of variety to "aesthetic bliss." Depending on the size and configuration of your display, I've found over the years that having numerous varieties of fishes in a modest-sized (or even a large sized) tank is actually kind of...well, distracting! Seems like it's always nicer to have more specimens of less species.

If we study how fishes are distributed in natural habitats, does it support this type of thinking? Well, not really..or sort of, depending upon how you look at it. In studies I've read on leaf litter systems in the Amazon region, a 200 square meter area was found to be home to about 20 different species of fishes! That's  surprising population density and variety. Another researcher observed that Apistogramma are often found in nature at population densities of up to a thousand individuals in an area of less than 10 square meters!  

That's a LOT of fish!

Now, in the case of the leaf litter studies, there is a reason for the species richness:

Utilization of different parts of the litter bed by different species plays a huge role in the distribution of fishes in this habitat. In the Apistogramma study it was similar, in that the fishes were distributed throughout a leaf litter bed of almost a meter deep! Obviously, our aquarium are a lot smaller, and few of us could duplicate 3-foot deep leaf litter beds (nor would many of us want to..well, maybe I would, but...).

And if you extrapolate down the size of the habitat to aquarium dimensions, you'd be working with a lot of species in a relatively small space in the "diversity" model, or a hell of a lot of Apistos in the "compact population" model! 

And then there are those Lake Tanganyika shell-dwelling cichlids...which live in huge aggregations in the shell beds...They sort of have their own model, right? I mean, they do really well when kept densely...Social behavior and spawning play a huge role in their population density.

There are numerous factors that contribute to population diversity and density of fishes in nature. In captivity...very few, right? I mean, really it's our call, limited by available tank space, finances...and in some instances, our relative audacity!

The reality for us is some sort of compromise. (Yeah, I hate that word, too)

We need to juggle aesthetics, the ability of our aquarium to physically provide space for the given fish population, as well as the biological and mechanical filtration capabilities we can offer. Not to mention, the potential for aggression, predation, etc. is higher in such a densely-populated model.

So- back to square one, right?

Yeah, for me, it is.

Modest numbers of several small species...It's the fish geek in me who wants maximum "bang for the buck", as they say. I am okay walking that delicate line between what I want and what I can provide..And doing it in a responsible, ethical manner. And then there is always that one resident fish- or group of fishes, which develop an "attitude" towards newcomers, making the addition of anything kind of nerve-wracking, right? 

So, you're doing a lot of mental calculations in this game!

I may fantasize about the 500-fish school of Cardinal Tetras as the sole occupant of a larger tank- but that's a pretty tough pill to swallow! Expensive, too! And the reality is, many of the fishes I like simply aren't found in such huge aggregations, anyways. They're often the realm of "fantasy aquariums" dominated by high-concept, yet decidedly unnatural aquascaping.

Arrghhhh...I simply need more tanks. The solution is more tanks. That's it.

To catch a lot of fish, you need a pretty big net...and a big tank to go with it!

Stay curious. Stay diligent. Stay resourceful. Stay patient. Stay curious...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Durability, longevity, and the ephemeral...

When you are using terrestrial botanical materials in your aquarium, it's virtually a given that some "tint" is to be expected. Of course, decomposition is to be expected, too.

How long botanical materials last while submerged is one of those geeky topics we love to discuss amongst ourselves in this community; and quite honestly, there is no real 100% predictable course of progress for how they will behave.

Stuff like leaves are perhaps the most ephemeral of all the botanical materials we utilize in aquariums, often nearly completely decomposing in a month or two in most systems. However, even with leaves, there are significant variations in durability. At the low end of the "durability scale", you have leaves such as catappa and guava, which typically are almost gone in weeks.

And of course, there are some very durable leaves- namely, Malaysian Yellow Mangrove leaves and Texas Live Oak leaves, which are remarkable in their persistency, often hanging on for months before breaking down to next to nothing. This is important to know when you're developing a layered leaf litter bed, as you won't have to replace as often as you would with the less durable ones.

And of course, the seed pods and other botanicals we use tend to be quite variable in their durability as well. One would think that the "harder shelled" botanicals, like Cariniana pods and Sterculia pods are super-durable and last a good long time- which, for the most part, they do. However, many factors, ranging from the water chemistry, amount of "grazing" done by resident fishes on their surfaces, and the degree of biological activity (ie; presence of microbial and small crustacean populations) in the aquarium.

 Nothing lasts forever, of course. Every terrestrial botanical eventually breaks down completely, imparting organics, tannins, lignin, and other compounds into the water. That to me is the charm of what we do. 

Those of us who look at Nature as it is, and choose to embrace it in our tanks, instead of some sanitized, stylized representation, find true beauty in this ephemeral characteristic that botanicals bring. Just like in the wild, the way terrestrial materials break down and "devolve" under water is fascinating, biologically useful...and beautiful.

There is much to learn from this process. And the patience, understanding, and knowledge that we gain from observing Nature do her thing in our tanks is a priceless experience.

Nothing lasts forever, but the enjoyment of the process lasts a lifetime.

Stay enamored. Stay curious. Stay patient. Stay observant...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The Aquarium Hobby "Book of Answers!"- Spoiler Alert: There isn't one.

I have a bad feeling that today's piece is going to get me into trouble with a few people out there, but hey- has that ever stopped me before?

Nah.

Of course, like most of my rants, this is a circuitous romp around a few issues, attempting to make a point that may or may not be obvious...

Isn't it sort of amazing that the aquarium hobby contains so many practices, processes, and procedures that we not only take for granted- we simply "learn as we go" in many cases. I mean, there's some stuff in the hobby that we don't really have a set of "instructions"for, if you will- it's merely a matter of following the lead of others, rolling up your sleeves, and jumping in.

Now, there's nothing at all wrong with that, conceptually, of course. Yet I do find it a bit odd that we, as aquarium hobbyists, dance the fine line between art and science, and often do it without the benefit of "instructions" in the traditional sense...

There is no specific book of "answers" regarding hobby practices, when you think about it. Sure, there are some books on how to do a few things, but not a ton of material out there explaining what to expect, how to proceed, and specifically, "what wheels to turn and switches to throw" when performing certain hobby tasks.

In my 4-plus decades of keeping tropical fish, I've come to the realization that I'm...well, "semi-competent", from a "Do It Yourself" perspective.

Of course, there is another extreme- a by-product of our modern online culture...hobbyists who posses a certain "laziness" or lack of initiative to do some research on basic stuff, that often surprises me. If the answer is not literally right in their faces, some people just not going to search.

Yeah, I admit that I am occasionally annoyed when I receive a DM on Instagram or wherever, when a fellow hobbyist, upon seeing one of our posts, asks something like, "I see you're using Guava leaves in that tank. How do you prepare them for use?" 

Really?

"I have a f---ing website with all of this stuff right there. You see the name of our feed? Tannin Aquatics? Click on the damn link!"

(Face palm moment). *$%^**%#

And maybe my attitude is a bit bad, but...

Lack of initiative sucks. 

Now, with YouTube and social media showing lots of people doing things like taking apart an Eheim for cleaning, setting up a CO2 system, and building an aquarium stand, there is a tremendous amount of reference material out there for those willing to do a simple search for it. We need to kill the culture of laziness that permeates the hobby nowadays.  There is really no excuse for this in the Google/Alexa/Bing/Wikipedia world we're in.

So much good stuff available to us all. Nearly instantly in many cases.

I am truly awed by the skills of some of the hobbyists who produce this stuff, too.  Mad skills. And, I can at least vicariously feel like I've done some of the cool stuff they can. Yeah, skilled hobbyists him make it look so effortless...And make you feel like YOU can actually do it. Their infectious child-like enthusiasm makes me feel...at least for a few minutes- like I've GOT skills! I dutifully watch these videos, awe at the skills...and then I get scared. Sure, that's a whole different phenomenon, tangentially related.

"Yeah, you can do this stuff...!"

Well, maybe YOU can, but not me...

Yup. Reality.

Look, I am one of those aquarists that has the "Quasi-DIY Gene", and I know it. I can scheme out and plumb my reef aquarium, set up a canister filter, coordinate a flow pattern with off-the-shelf electronic pumps, dial in a CO2 regulator, etc. I can almost program a controller without throwing it at the wall, so I suppose that's "progress."

I mean, points to me or you for at least looking up how some of this stuff works for ourselves.

In serious corners of the aquarium hobby, this is considered fairly "basic" stuff. Not everyone is up to the task, however. Nothing wrong with self-awareness. When it comes to the really hardcore stuff, like building a reliable and safe auto top off system, contracting a custom stand, or assembling my own LED lighting array, that's where I beg off and seek the guidance of fellow fish geeks, like my friend Dave, who loves that kind of stuff.

My head spins at the very thought of some of these things.

Self-awareness is huge. Know your limits.

Classic example: Any of you who have suffered through my miserable "videos" and photos understand why I decided to work with a guy who I consider the best of the best- Uber-talented photographer/creative director Johnny Ciotti- for all of Tannin's main image work.

I know what I personally suck at, and when it's time to bring in the pros!

Of course, there are those skills we get through effort.

Like most of you, I've acquired a fairly extensive set of rather obscure skills, like understanding the nuances of ball valves, the value of waterproofing an aquarium stand interior, and adjusting an electronic heater controller. These are skills you sort of accumulate by either observing other fish geeks, or just by jumping in and doing.

And surprisingly, more often than not, stuff just works! 

A lot of it is likely just "luck", but hey...

When I co-owned a large coral propagation facility, this sort of "luck" served me well...like 70% of the time...

Yeah, occasionally would figure out how to get something like a calcium reactor or dosing pump going on the first try, be it through luck or just having the right set of obscure skills required to make it work. Often, I'd defer the actual task to an employee that actually knew what he/she were doing, after suggesting some sort of semi-coherent set of instructions (usually a shallow regurgitation of something I heard elsewhere): "Yeah, it's just matter of replacing the _____ and making sure that it's on real tight..."

I mean, I think I actually fooled myself many times into believing I was showing some "leadership", when the reality was, I'm virtually certain that my employees were probably thinking, "This guy doesn't have a clue, either..."

Much of the stuff we do, we simply have to jump in and try.

Not bad, right?

And here's the thing:

There there is really no master "book of answers" for aquarium projects, or even for many of the pieces of equipment that we use? I mean, books will talk in sweeping generalities about the need for a multistage canister filter in an Mbuna tank, or a kalk stirrer or reactor for a reef, and maybe even have a computer-generated diagram showing where it is located in the setup scheme.

However, you never see things like, "In order to make the reactor work, you'll need a ______ pump, two feet of 1/2" vinyl tubing, two ball valves, and enough room in your equipment area to accomodate a 4" x 20" reactor body. The assembled unit should be placed approximately 4 inches to the side of the sump, with enough clearance to____________."

Ok, you get my drift. 

In defense of those who do ask questions about what seems super obvious to some of us...There are some surprisingly glaring omissions by us as industry people that perhaps continue to foster a "disconnect" that leaves some scratching their heads.

Many sophisticated aquarium products do come with a diagram, maybe some basic introductory stuff about why it's good to have the piece of equipment (C'mon, you KNOW that already, or you wouldn't have purchased it, right? You STILL need to be sold on why a GFO reactor is a good thing for your reef aquarium after you bought it?), and if you’'re lucky, at least a couple of assembly "pointers." Really rudimentary stuff.

Not helpful for some of us who are not masters of the obvious!  

I'd go so far to say that when the "instructions" with the piece of equipment consist of a diagram and "bullet points", I'm scared shitless...! The manufacturers would be far better off providing detailed assembly and placement information for the purchaser, IMHO. Oh, sure, there are some manufacturers of complex equipment who do this, but they appear to be few and far in between. It's almost like it's expected that, as a fish geek, you have this "hidden knowledge database" programmed in your head to figure out how to assemble and operate everything. 

However, what you don't have "programmed", you can always find by tapping into the vast body of hobby knowledge that is "out there"- Have you noticed that? It's like you must acquire the arcane knowledge that you need by internet search, haunting the LFS, or hanging with your fish-keeping buddies and visiting their setups, right?

Fun, yes, but often frustrating. And you have to be willing to look for it.

People often ask me how and why I can write blogs about some of our rather arcane topic in our little section of the hobby pretty much daily. And I can tell you what my motivation for this behavior is:

Yes, there is really no formal "aquarium book of answers" out there. None. 

Yes, lots of books talk about the theoretical and broad implementation of this gadget or another- lots of articles about some of the concepts...but no one has really written a concise treatise with turnkey information about how to construct a properly equipped "high tech planted" or reef aquarium system.  

( I can hear it now- "It's called the internet, Fellman!") 

Well, yeah...exactly.

You have to do some digging.

And we can all do our part to help.

If you have some knowledge about some subject in the hobby- no matter how obscure or insignificant it might seem to you- put it in writing/video/rant/tweet/whatever your preferred method of communication is. Someone out there will likely be looking for an answer to a similar conundrum you've faced at some point.

Yeah- contribute to the body of knowledge that our "tribe" needs. And even more important- encourage fellow hobbyists who have a question to take a few minutes to at least try to look up some of this stuff for themselves. Sure, be helpful, answer some simple questions...but point out that it's also available out there with a few keystrokes in most instances...Stop the madness of the lazy DM asking the obvious! "Teach a man to fish..."

Woah!

That would upset the entire balance of the aquarium universe, because suddenly, hobbyists would have no excuse but to acknowledge that there is a legitimate resource to turn to for reference on how to do_______, how to fix ________, or what not. You'd no longer have to go though excruciating trial and error while building what you feel is a properly-equipped aquarium, or breeding your Taeniacara candidi or whatever.

Oh sure, there are some of you who would scoff at the idea of sharing the obscure, saying that the painful accumulation of this knowledge and the skills to pull off these projects SHOULD be gained through blood, sweat, and tears- you've gotta pay your "dues" by searching for obscure information by failing a few times on the way.

Blah, blah, blah...

Okay, wierdos, think about THIS: How would you feel the next time you fly from say, L.A. to New York, if the two guys up front were "paying their dues" during YOUR flight? You know, "kind of figuring it out as they go?" Or, if the guy in the surgical scrubs patting your arm as you fall asleep on the operating table is "sort of perfecting your procedure" as he goes?

Yeah, not so good, huh?

Capiche?

So my request is that EVERYONE out there in this big aquarium-keeping hobby world, creates an article or articles, or launch online discussions on exactly how to incorporate some of the "fundemental" concepts and ideas we discuss into our systems. Not only would it be good for the hobby, it would be awesome for the animals we keep, and manufacturers of aquarium equipment would realize the value, too- and possibly increase sales, because hobbyists would actually have a good guide as to how to incorporate said piece of equipment or practice into their systems.

Win-win, right?

Yeah.

Now, this is funny, coming from a guy who has written hundreds of arcane and obscure blog posts on how to throw in sticks and nuts and stuff into your tank, attempting to provide answers, but often resorting to vague answers such as, "There are so many variables..."

Sigh. Yeah, there are still tons of things for which we don't have concise answers.

Ok, enough of this nonsense for now. I'm off to figure out how to incorporate a carbon reactor into a nano system I'm working on...Isn't there a way to do it. I'm not going to look it up, because I don't have the time. I'll just ask someone...

Urrghh....

So, I say to you: Take some initiative. Search for knowledge. Share said acquired knowledge. Complain more. (I mean, it can't hurt to do that, right?)

Stay educated. Stay fascinated. Stay un-confused!

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Interpreted Nature and the bounty that is brackish...

We've played around with the idea of what I've called "evolved" brackish tanks for some time now. I know, the term "evolved" might actually sound a bit pretentious, I suppose- but I think it describes our approach pretty accurately. Allow me to digress for just a minute or two.

Traditionally, in the aquarium hobby, when you've mentioned that your thinking of trying a brackish water aquarium, it's provoked little more than a raised eyebrow or a feigned level of interest from fellow fish geeks, and I kind of can see why. Although aquarists have been playing with brackish tanks for decades, in my opinion, what's been missing is a focus on the actual habitat we are interested in, and how it functions.

Functional. Yeah.

Just like what the hobby was doing in the blackwater area for years, I think we've been collectively focusing on the wrong part of the equation for a long time- just "salt" and basic aesthetics. And quite honestly, the hobby "knowledge base" on the wild brackish water habitats and how dynamic, interesting- and yeah, awesome-looking they are has been sadly lacking. 

Brackish water (arguably possessing a 1.005-1.010) is a sort of "middle ground" that for decades in the hobby has been well-travelled, yet widely mis-understood. I've played with brackish water for almost two decades, in between reef keeping and my blackwater stuff, and in researching both the hobby work that has been done, and relevant scientific papers out there on the wild habitats, have sort of made this conclusion that it's simply been an afterthought, at best for aquarists.

Although there is a good amount of information on brackish-water habitats from which brackish water fishes come, in the hobby, (with the rare exception of some biotope enthusiasts) we've sort of distilled brackish-water aquarium aesthetics down to white aragonite sand, a few rocks, and maybe some hardy plants...and it's been mired in that aesthetic hell for decades.

And of course, that's why we launched "Estuary", our little foray into the brackish water aquarium "sector" (of which there isn't one, FYI). 

Our approach to brackish has  be a little different than the "throw in a couple of rocks and white sand, a few teaspoons of salt per gallon, add some Monos and Mollies, and you're good to go! Brackish biotope" idea that you've seen for a long time in hobby literature. 

As you suspect, our approach is to really take a look at the function and appearance of these unique aquatic habitats, and then construct aquariums which mimic these factors in a unique and more compelling way. To do this, we want to really focus on helping you replicate and understand the complex web of life that occurs in brackish water habitats, and how you can replicate parts of it in the aquarium.

We'll evolve the practice and appreciation of this unique niche just like we've all done with blackwater. In fact, the approach that we take to brackish is unlike what has previously been taken before, but one that is already quite familiar to you as "tint enthusiasts."

A system that embraces natural processes and functionality...And just happens to have a different aesthetic, too! Less emphasis on sterile, white sand and crystal clear water, and more emphasis on a functional representation of a tropical, brackish water ecosystem: Muddy, nutrient rich, and stained a bit from tannins. Beautiful in a very different, yet oddly compelling way. A "tinted" brackish water aquarium.

And it all starts with the Mangrove. 

Mangroves, which grow at the water's edge, have roots that are either submerged or very wet most of the time, which makes them the perfect habitat for all sorts of aquatic life forms- mussels, oysters, crabs, fishes, etc. They draw oxygen from the air through small areas of spongy tissue on their bark.

I've been obsessed with these trees for years. I was the guy who, on a surf trip to the South Pacific, would bring along his dip net and a swing-arm hydrometer to wade into some insect-infested, sometimes smelly, decidedly nasty muck to conduct a little amateur "field research" in between surf sessions, much to the chagrin of my travel companions!

Yeah, I did get a few bug bites from time to time. Worth it. I mean, what's not to like about mangroves? And seeing them in context is a huge thing for the natural aquarium enthusiast! 

Mangroves are what botanists call "halophytes"- plants that thrive under salty conditions. And they LOVE high-nutrient substrates! In many brackish-water estuaries in the tropics, rivers deposit silt and mud, which generates nutrients, algae, and other small organisms that form the base of the food chain. This food chain is very similar to what we've been talking about in our botanical-style blackwater aquariums: fungi, bacteria, and epiphytic life forms.

They're simple to sprout from seed pods, known more accurately as propagules. We'll discuss the handling, securing, and sprouting of mangrove propagules in the aquarium in a future piece.

The nutrients the mangroves seek lie near the surface of the mud, deposited by the tides. Since there is essentially no oxygen available in the mud, there is no point in the mangroves sending down really deep roots. Instead, they send out what are called "aerial roots" (that's what gives them their cool appearance, BTW), sort of "hanging on" in the mud, which also gives the mangroves the appearance of "walking on water."

We're just scratching the surface here on mangroves, and in a future piece, we'll touch on the optimum ways to sprout and grow these fascinating plants in aquariums.

And of course, where you have trees- you have leaves. And where you have mangroves...you have mangrove leaf litter! We've offered the dried leaves of the Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) for a couple of years now, and it's proven justifiably popular with our community, much in the way catappa and guava have.

Mangrove leaf litter facilitates the growth of these bacteria, fungi, and other life forms which contribute significantly to the aforementioned food chain in both the wild and the aquarium. Allowing it to accumulate, decompose, and contribute to the biological richness of our brackish-water aquariums is part of the charm and fascination with these systems!

Oh, and it adds a tint to the water!

And, since we're talking about materials accumulating on the substrate, let's touch on the composition of the substrate.

There is a lot to be learned from the composition of the substrates in which Mangroves grow, much like we've learned about blackwater substrates in our journeys...In many habitats, the "mud layer" is actually peat ( as much as 3 meters deep, in some instances!) overlaid with a shallow (0.5 m) layer of sand. Mangrove soils with a high content of organic matter  are very common.  (I think that planted aquarium hobbyists can be a huge help in understanding and evolving the materials we need to recreate this habitat in our tanks, BTW.)

In my personal brackish water aquarium, I've assembled a substrate which is both interesting to look at and mimics, to some extent, the composition and function of those found in the wild. I realize that, for many hobbyists, using "straight-up" mud in your tank is going to be challenging at best, disastrously messy at the worst, so I utilized less "tempermental" materials to construct mine.

I started with two of one of the finer, commercially-available marine "biosediment" products- one by CaribSea, the other by Kent Marine. These were substrate materials that were formulated to mimic the mineral composition and substrate size of the materials found in these unique habitats.  Love these products!

The average particle size of the minerals used in these formulations is similar to the natural reef sediment composition present in reef flats, seagrass beds, mangrove estuaries, and lagoons. (All of which, by the way, are epic habitats that any fish geek should consider replicating in his/her aquarium!)

I mixed in a small amount of pond soil into the biosediment materials, to give the mangroves some good "nourishment" when the roots "touch down." I also mixed in some planted aquarium substrate (ground up a bit) for the next layer. For this, I incorporated Ultum Nature Systems "Control Soil"- a product that I've been pretty obsessed with in my freshwater work to mimic the natural substrates of flooded forests.

Hey, should we offer this stuff on our website? Let us know!

Continuing on, we topped our substrate with Carib Sea "Sunset Gold" sand, to create a somewhat brighter look which mimics the appearance and structure of the natural estuary ecosystems. It's the perfect "topper" for a rich and varied substrate!

And I've heard the "warnings" from people on attempting to replicate the habitat in this manner in the aquarium:

"It won't work in a brackish tank! It will create anaerobic conditions! Too much nutrient! Ionic imbalance...Tinted water means dirty and unstable!"

Etcetera...

Man, this sounds oddly familiar, doesn't it?

Just like when we started sharing our vision of a botanical-style aquarium (blackwater or otherwise), we heard plenty of protestations, warnings, and critiques from both well-meaning and not-so-well-meaning hobbyists alike-many of whom never even kept a brackish tank themselves. And hey, it's great that we look at stuff critically. However, we also need to follow our instincts and feel free to experiment and play our hunches. Risks are always present. Yet, taking risks in the face of critics is one way we advance in the hobby. 

And there is sooo much more to discuss here. We haven't even touched on the fishes and other organisms you can keep. I'm simply trying to tempt you with teasers about the cool environment we hope to see you replicate! 

More to come.

Stay salty. Stay curious. Stay creative. Stay excited...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Getting over "The Block"

It is fascinating to watch the evolution of natural-style aquariums in the hobby. For decades, hobbyists have been talking about Nature and mimicking various components of it in our tanks. And for many years, I think we have been collectively a bit timid to get (literally) "down and dirty" with our aquariums.

This is changing, and will continue to do so.

Tiem to remove some mental "blocks" we have carried around for the better part of a century in the aquarium hobby.

Leaves scattered on the substrate of an aquarium is not exactly a super high concept in Aquascaping...Or, is it?

I think it actually is. Sometimes, the seemingly most simple moves are the most complex, dynamic ones. With leaves, it's a bit different than other aquascaping practices, such as using specific rocks, wood, or aquatic plants. It's different because leaves are far, far more "ephemeral" than just about anything else we use.

There is now "new growth of leaves" on the bottom of an aquarium. Only the dynamics of decomposition, biofilm growth, and the influence on the aesthetics and chemistry of the water.

This is another one of those foundational aspects of the natural style of aquarium that we espouse. The understanding that processes like decomposition and physical transformation of the materials that we utilize our tanks are normal, expected, and beautiful things requires us to make mental shifts.

We need to get over the "block" which has espoused a sanitized version of Nature. I hit on this theme again and again and again, because I feel like globally, our community is like 75% "there"- almost entirely "bought in" to the idea of really naturally-appearing and functioning aquarium systems. Understanding that stuff like the aforementioned decomposition of materials, and the appearance of biofilms- comprise both a natural and functional part of the microcosms we create in our tanks.

Employing natural materials which tend to recruit these life forms during their time in our tanks is actually one of the joys of our hobby pursuits, IMHO.

I'd like to see more and more use of less common materials, like soils and various bark types, to simulate more unusual aquatic environmental niches in a more realistic pattern. I think that, in the very near future, we'll see more realistic simulations of vernal killifish pools, muddles, rice paddies, and other fascinating, yet underrepresented habitats!

I think that getting over the 'block" and thinking outside the box in aquarium habitat design and execution will be a leading force in propelling the hobby forward in coming years.

We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Stay creative. Stay observant. Stay restless. Stay diligent...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

"Beginning" as a beginner?

An interesting question I received recently concerned wether or not I think it's a good idea for a full-on beginner to the aquarium hobby to start with a botanical-style aquarium. Or, perhaps more salient to what we do- a natural-style aquarium utilizing botanicals.

It's a good question.

I mean, I've often touted how I feel that, once these systems are established, they are remarkably stable, relatively easy-to-maintain aquariums. Of course, there are some real qualifiers here.

The first being, "After the system is established."

Establishing a botanical-style aquarium, blackwater, brackish, or otherwise- certainly requires some basic understanding of the principles of aquarium management. Specifically, the nitrogen cycle, an understanding of water quality assessment and management, and stocking.

Some things you can't really "teach"- like patience. You need, well- a shitload of it...in the aquarium hobby in general, yet especially in the natural, botanical-style aquarium sector. And the patience part? We feel that it's seminal. Foundational.

Essential.

I don't think you can "teach" it. 

I mean, perhaps you can be taught about why patience is so important. We can provide some expectations and explanations of how these systems establish, appear, and operate over time. We can offer guidelines about "best practices" and procedures. 

However, the best teacher, as with so many things- is experience. You have to dive in and do it.

Perhaps some things might be easier to an outright beginner; someone who has no preconceived notions about how an aquarium is "supposed to look", or what is considered "natural", "beautiful", etc. There is a beautiful, almost innocent objectivity that we bring to the game when we are flat-out beginners, right? We have little basis for comparison, other than our own observations and personal tastes. 

And that's actually an advantage, in some respects, IMHO.

In my opinion, the hobby has been- for better or worse- influenced by schools of thought which seem too dogmatically dictate what is "good", "bad", and "correct." And, in a strange sort of way, hobbyists who stray off of the generally accepted, well-trodden paths established by our hobby forefathers are often greeted with skepticism, cynicism, and sometimes, outright disdain!

Yet, there is also something rather disconcerting to this salty old hobbyist; a trend in recent years, fueled by social media, showing the "finished product" of gorgeous aquascaped tanks, with maybe just a little sampling of "construction" pics, but little mention of the actual process; the challenges, the "ugly" parts- the work- of establishing one of these aquariums. The result of this superficial ("dumbed down") presentation of aquariums conveys the message that it's just all about artfully arranging some materials and POW! Finished awesome tank.

Sure, the fundamentals of aquarium keeping and the mindset behind establishing successful systems isn't as "sexy" or 'Gram-ready as pics of the finished product, but to operate from the position that everyone who sees these tanks has that underlying knowledge already is at best "glossing over" the realities, and at worst, downright irresponsible.

To jump into any aquarium- botanical-filled or otherwise- without having basic knowledge about stuff like the nitrogen cycle, fish stocking protocols, and husbandry techniques- is flat-out stupid, IMHO.

I challenge all of my fellow hobbyists who are influential in this social-media-powered world to commit to touching on some of these underlying themes, challenges, and expectations on occasion when featuring your amazing work. Just taking a few seconds to explain this stuff; one pic in your feed showing a tank cycling, or with the plants not looking perfect, or the water not crystal clear- can go a long, long way to gently give a dose of reality and expectation management in the splashy world of aquascaped aquariums.

Now, I realize that there is plenty of material out there on "how to start an aquarium" or whatever- but I think it needs refreshing, updating, FEATURING- for a new generation of hobbyists who are getting the bulk of their information from Facebook forums, Instagram feeds, and YouTube shorts. It's important for the future of the hobby. It will assure more people get in- and STAY in the hobby. We need to evolve how we present the concepts as much as we need to evolve the concepts themselves.

Sadly, it has to be reinforced constantly.

I can't tell you how many times a week I answer questions like, "I just received my Enigma Pack! Can I just add this stuff to my 5-gallon tank? What do I need to do..?" And I have a freakin' website with gigabytes of stuff on this very topic and other related topics, accumulated over years! And we're evolving this too. I had to check my ego a bit, and accept that not everyone likes to read a daily blog.

Getting some of the fundamental messages across required us to adapt.

We've spent a lot of money and time on an upcoming botanical preparation infographic, hours filming new videos, and soon, new upscale packaging that will feature the prep infographic- because it's an adaptation to how people consume information nowadays. We all need to evolve. More succinctly, we need to preach the underlying fundamental stuff...but in an evolved way. 

Part of the reason we've spent so much time over the past few years in this blog chatting about the processes, the pitfalls, and the expectations you should have when establishing the systems we advocate is to give everyone a very clear picture of what's involved.

Makes sense. We are literally asking you to dump dead plant materials into your aquarium; to NOT touch on all of this fundamental stuff and discuss the potential issues would have been irresponsible at every level.

So, yeah- getting back to the initial point of this whole thing- you certainly CAN start with a botanical-style natural aquarium for your first project, but you absolutely need to familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of aquarium practice. And you CAN be successful.

You just can't delude yourself into thinking that it's a simple matter of tossing leaves and twigs into a tank, filling it up, and BAM! "Instant Borneo" or whatever. Like, the nitrogen cycle, formation of biofilms, environmental stability, etc. don't apply to you... (Yeah, there are a LOT of neophyte hobbyists- end experienced ones, for that matter-who harbor such beliefs! I've talked to quite a few over the years...)

As those of us in this game already know, it's a process.

A journey. A learning curve.

One that acknowledges that success is entirely achievable for those who make the effort to study, familiarize themselves with the basics; one that is almost guaranteed to kick the shit out of you if you leap without learning.

It doesn't matter if you're an innocent neophyte, unfamiliar with this stuff - or even a seasoned hobbyist with decades of experience. You CAN be a "beginner"- and one who's quite successful. We, as a community just need to do some of the "heavy lifting" to help everyone along! 

Advancing the state of the art of the hobby- and updating the existing practices-is a process that everyone can and should contribute to.

Let's all do our part.

Stay empathetic. Stay aware. Stay realistic. Stay educated. Stay excited. Stay inspirational...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

"Just good enough..."

I was discussing some of my fave themes in the hobby with a friend the other day- and the topics of patience, tolerance, and analysis came up again and again as we reflected upon our own hobby experiences and mindset.

I've always been a sort of consistent, yet flexible hobbyist...adhering to many long-held personal beliefs, while accruing new knowledge and making adjustments to my mindset as needed.

I think I've evolved a bit, believe it or not!

What is your hobby mindset?

Are you the type of hobbyist who is a technical, "go-by-the-book" type, analyzing every facet of something before you move? Everything has to be "perfect" or it's a no-go? Or, are you more spontaneous; the kind of hobbyist who looks at something, tells yourself, "It's just good enough", and make your move?

Can this behavior evolve or change over time?

I think so. Here are some examples from my  fish-geek life:

Selecting fishes has always been indicative of my personal weirdness.

I recall driving my LFS employees crazy when I was younger, because I’d spend literally hours in the store, scrutinizing every aspect of a fish before I’d pull the trigger…or not (that must be why I drove ‘em crazy!).

I would scrutinize at every fin ray, every gill movement…I’d look at every twitch and scratch and correlate it with known disease symptoms versus regular behaviors for the said species…I would sometimes bring my reference material (like Axelreod’s books for FW, and maybe the early Albert Thiel stuff after the dawn of the “reef” age, notes from Bob Fenner’s books in my hand later on), and would just geek out.

It was a bit...odd, I admit.

Of course, I would second guess everything the LFS employees said because “the books” said otherwise, even though the employees worked with these animals every day of their lives, and were in the ideal position to speak from genuine firsthand experience…

My first brush with aquarium-keeping “dogma”, I suppose.

My how things change! I've since become the king of "anti-regurgitation" of stuff you have no personal knowledge about in the hobby!

And of course, I knew at an early age that I’d never be an “impulsive aquarist"- one who just makes quick, tank-altering decisions on the spur-of-the-moment. I think that mindset might have come about because, when you’re a kid, you have a 10- gallon tank and $5.67 that you’ve painstakingly saved for months to spend. You need to be absolutely sure of your purchases. 

Hey, I think I was a "millennial" before the title existed!

I was very thorough! Perhaps, a bit too thorough.

Even as an adult, with a 225 gallon tank, and much more to spend, I still found myself doing the same thing (okay, maybe with my iPhone in tow, instead of some well-worn reference book). You should have see me when I would go to the wholesalers here in L.A for my prior business….it could take me half a day to pick like 5 fish or 2 brood stock coral colonies!

At least when we would obtain stock from our usual sources overseas, we had built up personal relationships to the point where these guys knew our tastes and tolerences, so that it actually became easier and less aggravating to order from them than simply to the wholesaler’s facility! Yes, you can "evolve"...I now routinely purchase the bulk of the fishes for my personal aquariums sight unseen from online sources, relying solely on the skills and communication from suppliers I've developed a trust relationship with over time.

More than "just good enough..."

Equipment choices for my tanks are even more subject to analysis and absurd scrutiny, because hey- how often do you purchase a new filter or an LED lighting system? (OK, wait- don’t answer that-especially if you're a fellow reefer. We LOVE to buy new equipment as causally as hardcore F.W. guys buy frozen brine shrimp). But seriously, when you’re sending the big bucks on a critical piece of life-support equipment, you want to get it right!

And, with lots of money and the lives of your fishes on the line, it makes sense. The problem is, there are so MANY choices of different categories of stuff...and then, some manufacturers have incremental variations on specific products that require more thorough analysis before purchase...It's a big deal, right?

Of course, impulsiveness- or lack thereof- can permeate every aspect of being an aquarist, including setup and configuration of your tank. Personally, I"m all over the map on that. I may not be overly impulsive in terms of additions and purchases, but I CAN be spur of the moment on tank decisions. What exactly do I mean by “tank decisions?”

For example, I’ll be scraping algae or some other mundane maintenance chore in my tank, and suddenly, I’ll notice a rock or driftwood branch that seems “not right” somehow…”Hmm, what if I move this guy over here…?” Of course, this almost always leads to a spontaneous “refreshing” of the aquascape, often taking hours to complete. Often, after numerous iterations- I'll end up right back where I started (Okay, sometimes, not as good...).

Somehow, I find this relaxing. Weird. So it’s entirely possible to be analytical and calculating on some aspects of aquarium keeping, yet spontaneous on others.

I believe that this behavior applies to many of us. I mean, I HOPE it does, lol.

And of course, there are aquarists who are entirely impulsive, which is why you see entire 200 gallon tanks full of every plant and fish imaginable, with rock wool pots sticking out from every conceivable angle, and all sorts of gadgets and stuff. Of course, I cannot, in all honesty, say anything negative about them, because some of these impatient types keep the aquatics industry in business, lol!

On the other hand, we spend insane amount of times preaching patience, acceptance, observation, slow moves, etc. So, like on a "macro" level, I think it's all about slow, deliberate moves...On the micro, short-term level...it is often a faster, less rigid mind set. A real "yin/yang" approach, which, if kept under control and not allowed to go off the rails, can result in real progress in the hobby. 

A balance, where "good enough" can result in "better than we imagined." Of course, we should always push ourselves to do our best work, and to put the interests of the animals under our care above our own. The same mindset that looks at a new botanical tank full of biofilm-covered leaves, says, "Natural!" and stays the course is the one that will likely cause you to evaluate all of your hobby-related moves and make the decisions in a way that makes the most sense for you.

Enjoy. Embrace. Evolve.

Stay quirky. Stay open-minded. Stay honest with yourself. Stay uniquely YOU...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Underwater influences...

II think we can't talk too much about how the physical structures of aquatic habitats influence well- EVERYTHING! I mean, water flows through all sorts of submerged physical structures, ranging from tree trunks to leaf litter assemblages- and that has a huge physiological-chemical influence on the habitat overall as well.

It's very easy to overlook this simple fact in our quest to create cool-looking tanks!

You could take your aquarium design vis-a-vis hardscape further and manipulate water flow patterns and such to allow botanical materials to accumulate in certain areas, or allow stands of certain types of plants to grow in specific locations within the aquarium. Understanding (or at least, observing) how physical barriers, like wood and rocks are oriented by water currents, local geology, and even weather, and also impact the movement of water in a given area, could help you create some interesting scapes.

Lately, it's been all the rage among competitive 'scapers to "break the waterline" with wood. And it's cool. I like it.  It has a neat look. Yet, I have to admit, albeit a bit sheepishly- that after seeing several hundred pics of tanks with driftwood heading out of the water (and having done some myself), I can't help but think it's become too much of a "formula":  "Assemble group of rare aquascaping rocks, insert manzanita branches in vertical orientation with respect to 'Golden Ratio' and break water line. Done."

Yawn.

Or I Might even say, "vomit"...'cause you know I won't hold back on how I feel about this stuff. How can we save this from becoming another "Scott-hates-the-'social-media- aquascaping-world'-and-sounds-like -an-asshole" rant?

What about approaching this from the standpoint of how and why this would happen in Nature?

I mean, ask yourself under what circumstances would a piece of wood break the waterline? If you study streams and other bodies of water, the reasons are relatively few, but fairly apparent. Likely, one of a few scenarios: 1) A big branch falls into shallow water, with part of it sticking up out of the water.  2) A fallen branch, limb, trunk, or entire tree is covered by water when seasonal inundation submerges the forest floor 3) A tree or shrub growing along an actively-flowing river or stream becomes partially submerged by a large seasonal influx of rain or tidal increase.

It's the same for rocks, and the distribution of substrate materials, botanicals, and leaves. If we ask ourselves how and why these materials accumulate the way they do in nature, the answers create many interesting and inspiring situations for aquascaping.  Making the study of natural structures in aquatic habitats part of our inspiration "lookbook" and incorporating them into our "tradecraft" has, IMHO, always yielded more interesting, long term functional aquariums.

In addition to these purely artistic interpretations, (which are beautiful for the most part-I'll give you that) even more amazing, more functionally aesthetic and realistic aquariums can be created by simply looking at what caused these habitats to form in nature, and assembling and placing the components you're using based upon that.

The idea of simulating fallen tree trunks and logs and branches  in aquariums is as old as the art of aquarium keeping itself. However, I think the approach of looking at them not just as "set pieces"- but as the foundational cornerstone of a biological and physical habitat gives new context to the practice. Rather than just, "Woah, that peice of wood is a great place for my cichlids to hide!", perhaps we could think about how the wood provides foraging or a corralling feature for leaf litter, soil, etc.

Everything from driftwood to twigs to roots has an important place in simulating the function and look fo the aquatic habitats we love so much. Simply looking at this stuff from a purely aesthetic standpoint sell it short, IMHO.



Combinations of these materials (contained in various ways) could create an interesting functional AND aesthetic terrestrial component that could influence the water chemistry and ecological diversity of our systems.

Asalways, the big opportunity here is not only to create a realistic, compelling display- it's to further unlock some of the secrets of nature and study the interactions between land and water.  It's about incorporating function into our displays, and appreciating the aesthetics which accompany it!

Stay inspired. Stay creative. Stay observant. Stay diligent. Stay open-minded...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics