The Tint

Just add leaves...

(Dedicated to Takashi Amano (July 8, 1954 – August 4, 2015)

When you consider the types of aquariums that we work with, I would imagine that it is probably funny to outsiders, or those new to our obsession, to hear us going on and on about utilizing dried leaves, twigs, and seed pods in our aquariums with words such as "methodology" and "technique" and the like.

I can't help but think that the great Takashi Amano, who spent years studying many aspects of Nature and her influence on the aquatic environments, would really love this stuff. I think that he'd love the unique aesthetics, sure- but I think he'd especially love how these ephemeral materials we play with can influence the way our aquariums function. It's the essence of his embrace of the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi. I think he'd gently scold the hobby and perhaps lament how it has embraced mostly the more superficial aspects of Nature, beautiful as they are- as opposed to "the whole picture."

I suppose that there are occasional smirks and giggles from some corners of the hobby when they initially see our tanks, with some thinking, "Really? They toss in a few leaves and they think that the resulting sloppiness is "natural", or some evolved aquascaping technique or something?"

Funny thing is that, in reality, it IS a sort of evolution, isn't it?

I mean, sure, on the surface, this doesn't seem like much: "Toss botanical materials in aquariums. See what happens." It's not like no one ever did this before. And to make it seem more complicated than it is- to develop or quantify "technique" for it (a true act of human nature, I suppose) is probably a bit humorous. 

On the other hand, it's not just to create a cool-looking tank. We don't embrace the aesthetic of dark water,  a bottom covered in decomposing leaves, and the appearance of biofilms and algae on driftwood because it allows us to be more "relaxed" in the care of our tanks, or because we think we're so much smarter than the underwater-diorama-loving, hype-mongering competition aquascaping crowd.

Well, maybe we are? 😆

I mean, we are doing this for a reason: To create more authentic-looking, natural-functioning aquatic displays for our fishes. To understand and acknowledge  that our fishes and their very existence is influenced by the habitats in which they have evolved. 

Wild tropical aquatic habitats are influenced greatly by the surrounding geography and flora of their region, which in turn, have considerable influence upon the population of fishes which inhabit them, and their life cycle. The simple fact of the matter is, when we add botanical materials to an aquarium and accept what occurs as a result-regardless of wether our intent is just to create a different aesthetic, or perhaps something more- we are to a very real extent replicating  the processes and influences that occur in wild aquatic habitats in nature.

The presence of botanical materials such as leaves in these aquatic habitats is fundamental.

In the tropical species of trees, the leaf drop is important to the surrounding environment. The nutrients are typically bound up in the leaves, so a regular release of leaves by the trees helps replenish the minerals and nutrients which are typically depleted from eons of leaching into the surrounding forests.

And the rapid nutrient depletion, by the way, is why it's not healthy to burn tropical forests- the release of nutrients as a result of fire is so rapid, that the habitat cannot process it, and in essence, the nutrients are lost forever.

Now, interestingly enough, most tropical forest trees are classified as "evergreens", and don't have a specific seasonal leaf drop like the "deciduous" trees than many of us are more familiar with do...Rather, they replace their leaves gradually throughout the year as the leaves age and subsequently fall off the trees.

The implication here?

There is a more-or-less continuous "supply" of leaves falling off into the jungles and waterways in these habitats, which is why you'll see leaves at varying stages of decomposition in tropical streams. It's also why leaf litter banks may be almost "permanent" structures within some of these bodies of water!

And, for the fishes and other organisms which live in, around, and above the litter beds, there is a lot of potential food, which does vary somewhat between the "wet" and "dry" seasons and their accompanying water levels. The fishes tend to utilize the abundant mud, detritus, and epiphytic materials which accumulate in the leaf litter as food. During the dry seasons, when water levels are lower, this organic layer compensates for the shortage in other food resources. 

During the higher water periods, there is a much greater amount of allochthonous input (remember that?) from the surrounding terrestrial environment in the form of insects, fruits, and other plant material. I suppose that, in our aquariums, it's pretty much always the "wet season", right? We tend to top off and replace decomposing leaves and botanical more-or-less continuously.

Now, of course, where is where I get into what I will call "speculative environmental biology!"

What if we stopped replacing leaves and even lowered water levels or decreased water exchanges in our tanks to correspond to, for example, the Amazonian "dry season" (June to December)...And if you consider that many fishes tend to spawn in the "dry" season, concentrating in the shallow waters, could this have implications for breeding?

Could this be a re-thinking or re-imagining of how we spawn and rear our fishes?

I believe so.

I further proffer that we need to look a lot deeper into the idea of environmental manipulation for the purpose of getting our fishes to be healthier, more colorful, and especially, to spawn. Now I know, the idea is nothing new on a "macro" level- we've been increasing and lowering water temps in our aquariums, adjusting lighting levels, and tweaking environmental parameters to get fishes to spawn for a long time.

(Awesome pic by Mike PA Calnun)

Killie keepers have played with this concept in the drying and incubation periods in annual killifish eggs. That's some serious "next-level stuff" that's been done for a long time! Specific environmental manipulations for definitive results (ie; controlled egg hatching, etc.)

However, I don't think we've been doing a lot of real specific environmental manipulations...like adjusting water levels, increasing nutrient loads (ie; "pulsing" adding leaves and other botanicals), fostering biofilm growth, manipulating current, dissolved oxygen, food types, etc. for the expressed purpose of general husbandry and yeah- the spawning many other types of fishes.

I think that there are so many different things that we can play with- and so many nuances that we can investigate and manipulate in our aquariums to influence fish health and spawning behavior. I think that this could even add a new nuance to a typical biotope aquarium, such as creating an aquarium which simulates the "Preto da Eva River in Brazil in October", or whatever...with appropriate environmental conditions, such as water level, amounts of allochthonous material, etc.

Not just an aesthetic representation designed to mimic the look of the habitat- but a "functionally aesthetic" representation of a natural habitat, intended to operate like one..Full time.

Nuances. Micro-influences. Subtle steps. 

The possibilities are endless here! How do we start?

Well, we make those "mental shifts" and accept the dark water, the accumulation of leaves and botanicals, the apparent "randomness" of their presence. We study the natural habitats from which they come, not just for the way they look- but for WHY they look that way, and for how the impacts of the surrounding environments influence them in multiple ways.

There is a tremendous amount of academic material out there for those willing to "deep dive" into this. And a tremendous amount to unravel and apply to our aquarium practices! We're literally just scratching the surface. We're making the shifts to accept the true randomness of Nature as it is.  We are establishing and nurturing the art of "functional aesthetics."

My real hope for the future? 

That one day, when some kid somewhere adds some Latifolia pods, Selatan Catappa bark, or Banana stem pieces to her wild Betta tank, for example, and someone asks why, they'll respond with something like, "Because these materials mimic the allochthonous inputs which occur in their wild habitats, and provide foraging and humic substances which will manipulate the aquarium environment and encourage the development of biofilms and other microorganisms for their long-term health" 

That's a mouthful.

Okay, I doubt some 11-year-old will respond exactly in those words- but I think that she'd suggest that the idea of using botanicals to do more than just create a pretty look in the aquarium is important. My hope is that this mindset will percolate into the consciousness of the general hobby, for the good of all who play with tropical fishes. Not just for us obsessed weirdos!

Perhaps one day, among the things we indoctrinate neophyte aquarists to play with as fundamental skills, besides water exchanges, quarantine, and careful stocking, will be things like "adding appropriate botanical materials to the aquarium to facilitate more natural conditions for the aquatic organisms we keep."

This is, indeed what we mean when we talk about how we operate at "The delta at the intersection of science and art."

You're there- because you're HERE.

This is the mission of Tannin Aquatics.

Study the natural. Embrace the ephemeral. Think of the possibilities. It starts with observing and studying nature. And your aquarium.

Then, just add leaves...And open your mind...

Amano himself, I think, would appreciate this.

Stay studious. Stay curious. Stay creative. Stay diligent. Stay consistent...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Behind the Botanical: "Just Call me Kielmeyera..." Really! Meet the Kielmeyera Pod.

When it comes to names for our botanicals, I occasionally (for like, just a few seconds)  wax sentimental over the romantic, yet (looking back) utterly absurd Portuguese names we made up for most of our botanicals when we first started out.

One of my faves was "Encontro Pod."

I honestly have no idea how I arrived at that nom de guerre, but it stuck for a few years! However, like all goofy names, it doesn't give you much to go with, other than creating romance. And really, I'd rather create excitement and encourage experimentation and curiosity than another confusing product name! (FYI, you'll still find the old stupid names in our "Preparation" section, as I didn't bother to edit them, with a snazzy new infographic debuting soon!)

Known to science as Kielmeyera lathrophyton, and henceforth and forever to be known on our site as the "Kielmeyera Pod", it's an interesting, decidedly exotic-looking botanical with what is admittedly a most un-romantic and tongue-twisting name. Hailing from Brazil, it's actually a fruit segment of the Kielmeyera tree. They're another perfect "surrogate" for the many types of fruits which fall into tropical waterways, with their very interesting look.

A botanist would describe the fruit segments as being "lingulate"- tongue-shaped. Yeah, they really do look like that! 

(The drying fruit capsule, showing the segmented structure. Image by Ramon Junior)

Locals in the region where they are found describe the tree/fruit as "Pau-Santo-da-Serra." It's an attractive tree with that unique fruit, which has that nice combination of "exotic" and "interesting"- perfect for utilization in aquascaping, right?

The genus Kielmeyera  (a member of the Family Calophyllaceae )is endemic to South America mainly in the Brazilian "cerrados" (savannas), found mainly in secondary formations in well exposed terrain on slopes and the tops of elevations where the soil is rather clay-like. So, yeah, you're not likely to find it in a tropical stream, but you never know.

An evergreen tree with a roundish, sparse crown, Kielmeyera achieves a height of about 40 feet, and is used for construction throughout its natural range. It's more commonly used for its aesthetics; used in landscaping.

(Image by Jorge Silva, used under CC BY S.A 4.0)

Kielmeyera contains phenylcoumarins, neoflavonoids, and a few other fancy-sounding chemicals which, I'll be damned if I know what the hell they're for. Nonetheless, a surprisingly large amount of research has been done on the tree, from a chemical standpoint! They are known to have a large number of coumarins- aromatic organic chemical compounds- which have a sort of vanilla scent, which were used in flavoring food in the past...Interesting!

Yes, they do smell quite nice.

Although not widely used medicinally, an extract from the bark has been tested for antimicrobial properties against such nasty organisms as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. As you may suspect, it was minimally effective, if at all.

What we DO know that these pods can deliver is tannins. At least, the type which can color the water. These pods are apparently filled with some pretty significant quantities, as they will most definitely impart an orangish-brown color to the water when submerged. They bring that "generic tropical" aesthetic that we love so much around here!

They are also interesting from the standpoint of utility in our aquariums. We find them to "play well" in our aquariums over the long term, holding up very well to submersion, and blending in nicely as part of a bed of mixed botanicals. They are surprisingly durable, and do recruit some nutritious biofilms on their surfaces when submerged over extended periods of time. Although they soften up, they will retain a large amount of "structural rigidity. This durable nature makes them a sort of "semi-permanent" component of a leaf litter/botanical bed.

Another "functional" feature of Kielmeyera pods are that they are eager grazed on and even partially consumed by shrimp. Apparently, they're quite tasty to these guys! (maybe it's the "vanilla" scent?)

The preparation of these botanicals is pretty straightforward. Like most other botanicals, boiling is the best way to prepare them. And it takes a bit of time; we recommend boiling them for at least half an hour to get them waterlogged enough to sink. It could occasionally take longer, depending on the state of the pods when you prep them.

That being said, the time spent preparing them is well worth it! These botanicals are  aesthetically unique, functional, and- well, apparently tasty to a number of our aquarium inhabitants! 

In our world, you can't ask for much more than that! 

Until next time...when we go behind another botanical! 

Stay curious. Stay creative. Stay excited...

And Stay Wet.

PROJECT 2019: New Year. New things to accomplish...

It's hard to believe we're entering our fourth year in this cool hobby specialty! With the growing interest in blackwater/botanical-stye aquariums all over the world, we're seeing things happening on so many levels in so many areas of the hobby. 

And my, how things have changed...

Initially, virtually everything we collectively did was sort of "proof of concept" stuff; just seeing if we could throw leaves, seed pods, etc, into our aquariums and not have an outright disaster on our hands!

We seem to have passed that "barrier to entry" just fine!

Although hobbyists have been adding leaves and such to aquariums for years and years, it was always seen as sort of a "sideshow" or a kind of "anomaly" in the greater context of the aquarium hobby. Fear, rumor, misinformation, exaggerated claims, and simple disinterest dominated this topic.

It's all changing now. Rapidly.

We as a whole are using blackwater, botanical-style aquariums to accomplish all sorts of cool things. And we're still learning. Learning to manage the chemical interactions and buildup of organics in a closed system. Learning about the unique interactions between the inhabitants of our tanks and their environment.

Nowadays, it's also about refining techniques; using botanical materials to achieve specific goals, and using botanicals to create blackwater environments to accomplish things (both new and previously tried) that haven't been done before. We are literally scratching the surface of what is possible, and our knowledge, although expanding rapidly, is still very much in its infancy. 

What are some examples of concepts that are emerging as interesting places to play in the current iteration of the blackwater "universe?" Well, let's take a look at some of the most exciting and promising avenues that hobbyists are taking as they push out into the "dark frontier!"

In no particular order...

Very low pH setups: This is currently the realm of super-experienced, highly experimental hobbyists, who are perhaps trying to unlock secrets of very demanding fishes, such as Altum Angels and others, which are known to come from- and thrive- in pH levels below 5.0. And, to achieve and maintain such pH levels, we're learning that the careful administration of acids is required.

And the management of low pH systems, with the additional benefit of humic substances provided by botanicals, is a real "frontier" in the hobby. Even in the greater context of the blackwater aquarium world, it's seen as such. But it's not the frightening sideshow it once was.

Understanding water quality management and the way in which denitrification occurs in closed systems in very low pH is challenging. On the surface, it seems really scary. I believe it's more of a function of the fact that we haven't done much with this in the past, and we simply don't have a "path" to follow just yet. We need to understand a different class of organisms which "run the cycle" in this environment, and how to manage them in our tanks.

I suspect, that at some future point, there may indeed be more specific procedures, and perhaps even products available to manage the water quality, nitrogen cycle, and overall aquarium environment of lower- pH blackwater systems. It's a highly specialized area, but one which seem to be getting more and more attention from its fans. We've seen hobbyists venture into "difficult and scary" hobby specialties before...Will this be the "reef aquarium" of the 2020's?

We hope!

Planted blackwater systems:  This is a huge one. We've already said that 2019 is simply going to be known as "The Year of the Planted Blackwater Aquarium." 🤓

As more hobbyists are attracted to the aesthetics of blackwater aquariums, we're starting to pull in more and more aquascapers and planted tank enthusiasts. They're examining all sorts of ways to get plant growth in blackwater habitats. Now, it's long been known that many of the South American blackwater rivers, such as the Rio Negro, are essentially devoid of aquatic plants, or have extremely limited varieties of them.

And I think that this perception might have discouraged a lot of aquatic plant enthusiasts from going further. Which is sad, because there are numerous plants which thrive in blackwater habitats.

Interestingly, I've read a number of scientific papers which suggest that one of the largest factors limiting growth of aquatic plants in blackwater environments is...wait for it-light penetration. Yeah, not pH, not lack of nutrients. Simple light penetration. And planted people know that you can obtain growth in aquatic plants through application of good lighting, CO2 administration, and rich substrates.

I don't think it's much different in our little niche.

We're starting to see all of these things being utilized on a more serious basis in blackwater, botanical-style aquariums, and the early results are that this is very promising! In fact, many have already been there, playing with plants like Cryptocoryne, Bucephelandra, Rotala, and others, which have long been known to thrive in various low-pH blackwater habitats. And there are numerous others.

You can feel a "momentum" of sorts in this area that is exciting to see!

 Fish breeding technique:  It's never been a "secret" that many fishes, such as Tetras, Bettas, killifishes, Rainbowfishes, Apistogramma, and many other fishes breed more ready and prolifically in blackwater systems. For decades, hobbyists have augmented or "conditioned" their fishes in aquariums in which leaves and peat and such were added to lower the pH and induce spawning. However, with the greater understanding and practice of keeping blackwater, botanical-style aquariums, we are seeing more and more "full-time" systems of this nature being utilized to keep fishes in for the expressed purpose of getting them to settle in and reproduce.

We're looking more and more at providing fishes with the conditions to which they have evolved over eons to live  and reproduce in on a full-time basis, rather than "adapting" them to our tapwater conditions. That's a big thing. And since we've been doing this, we're seeing spawnings of fishes which come from these habitats occurring on a very frequent basis.

As techniques for maintaining such aquariums have evolved, I think that the mindset of many who's primary hobby is to breed certain fishes is evolving to. Perhaps we're seeing a greater acceleration of what already was an evolving "mental shift", letting go of some old preconceptions, and thinking about the long-term benefits of maintaining fishes full-time in blackwater conditions.

Rearing fry: With so many hobbyists who breed fishes utilizing materials like leaf litter and various botanicals in their spawning setups, it is not surprising that we are beginning to see fry being reared in botanical-style aquariums as well. The presence of decomposing leaf litter and other botanical materials not only provides protection and foraging areas for fry, it's known to foster a variety of microbial life forms which provide them additional nutrition in their early life stages, much like they do in nature.

It's no just a longer a matter of these materials providing incidental beneficial microbial growth for fry which emerge in the spawning tank. Now, we know a number of breeders who are utilizing "deep leaf litter beds" in fry rearing tanks for fishes like Apistos and characins. Not only do the youngsters get the benefits of humic substances imparted by the leaves and such, they have a continuous safe foraging area.

With some forethought, breeders might "inoculate" their rearing-tank botanical beds with various beneficial microorganisms like Paramecium, rotifers, Daphnia, etc., to provide a full-time foraging substrate in the rearing tank! Interesting stuff that we're pretty excited to see more of! 

 And to think, it all sort of started with hobbyists preparing and throwing some botanical materials in their tanks and realizing, "Yeah, this seems a lot like what we see in nature!"

Of course, there are many other areas in which you- the members of "Tint Nation"- are pushing the boundaries in aquarium technique by utilizing elements of blackwater, botanical-style aquariums, and many more techniques to discover, develop, and refine.

With so much interest in  our "dark world", we're seeing an exciting influx of new people, new energy, and new ideas, which will enrich and enhance the art and science of aquarium keeping, for the benefit of everyone who participates in this awesome hobby!

What interesting "specialty" are YOU working with in this context? What ideas are you trying to refine? 

Be sure to always share and discuss your findings- good and bad- so that we, as a community can benefit and learn together!

That's your set of projects for 2019...and beyond! I think we're going to see some very cool developments and interesting breakthroughs!

Stay engaged. Stay excited. Stay innovative. Stay open-minded. Stay generous.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Breaking from tradition...

There are some things that are almost "universal constants" in the aquarium hobby. You know, routine husbandry tasks: Cleaning filters, feeding, quarantine, and water exchanges.

Yeah. I said it.

Water exchanges.

That dreaded pairing of words that hobbyists worldwide for generations have went to great length to avoid. That simple, yet somehow off-putting process that has spawned numerous "inventions" over the decades promising to "reduce or eliminate" them. 

It's literally the aquarium husbandry equivalent of making your bed. No one really likes to do it, but the benefits are significant and well documented. 

So, we do them.

Now, I personally have always been a firm believer in some forms of nutrient export being employed in every single tank I maintain. Typically, it's regular water exchanges. Not "when I think about it', or "periodically", mind you.

Nope, it's weekly. 

It's like my habit. Part of my schedule. A "thing" I do.

Now, I'm not saying that you can essentially disobey all the common sense husbandry practices we've come to know and love in the hobby (like not overcrowding/overfeeding, etc.) and just change the water weekly and "everything's good."

What I am saying is that incorporating regular water exchanges into your system gives you the ability to dilute any potential accumulating organics/pollutants before they become a significant negative impact on water quality.

They simply give you a bit of a "buffer", essentially. A margin for "error."

I don't need to go into the numerous well-trodden reasons about why water exchanges are a good thing in the aquarium. However, I do need to give us a collective whack upside the head and encourage each and every one of us to think about this stuff from the perspective of an overall closed ecosystem. Think about what the nitrogen cycle is and does, and think about the impact of inputs and exports into and out of our closed systems. 

And I might have some thoughts here which may make water exchanges perhaps just a bit less of a mental- and physical- burden on you.

Hear me out.

You know all of the stern admonitions you receive about "removing detritus" in water exchanges?

Well, let's consider blowing up that argument just a bit and leaving some of it in the tank!

WTF? 

First off, let's look at what this stuff actually is. In the aquarium context, the definition of "detritus" is pretty telling:

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

Woah! 

It's one of our most commonly used aquarium terms...and one which, well, quite frankly, sends shivers down the spine of many aquarium hobbyists. (translation: "Leaving it in will assure Doomsday for your aquarium! You're f ----d!")

And judging from that definition and the mindset we've cultivated about detritus for the last, oh, century-  it sounds like something you absolutely want to avoid having in your system at all costs. I mean, "dead organisms" and "fecal material" is not everyone's idea of a good time, ya know?

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

And hey, don't these decomposers serve to break down leaves and provide a secondary food source for many fishes?

Oh, snap- they DO!

Wouldn't it make sense to have larger populations of some of these organisms available to our fishes at all times in the aquarium to supplement our artificial diets? Could the fry-rearing system of the future be a tank with a big bed of decomposing leaf litter and a terrestrial soil substrate?

Hmm...

Think about the potential benefits of allowing some of this stuff to remain in your aquarium. 

Seriously.

Look at the natural habitats which our fishes come from; how they function...why they exist successfully.

Think about the organisms which feed upon it, their impact on the water quality, and on the organisms which fed on them. Then, think about the fishes and how they utilize not only the material itself, but the organisms which consume it.

Consider its role in the overall aquarium ecosystem...

Is detritus a "nutrient trap?" A place where water quality is slowly destroyed? A ticking time bomb that will bring down your tank?

Or is it...a place for fishes to forage in?

A place for larval fishes to seek refuge and sustenance in? Kind of like they do in nature, and have done so for eons. Yes, I know that we're talking about a closed ecosystem here, which doesn't have all of the millions of minute inputs and exports and nuances that nature does, but structurally and functionally, we have some of them at the highest levels (ie; water going in and coming out, food sources being added, stuff being exported, etc.).

I think we really need to think about our systems- particularly in the blackwater/botanical-style aquarium world- as little microcosms which replicate- at least on some level, some of the process which occur in nature to create a specialized but highly productive and successful- not to mention, dynamic- ecology. 

There is so much more to this stuff than buying in unflinchingly to generalized statements like "detritus is bad."

Most hobbyists don't have the time, inclination, or optimized system set up to take advantage of a small accumulation of this stuff. I understand that. However, with the importance of detritus in creating food webs in wild leaf litter communities, which we are now replicating to some extent in aquariums, could there actually be some benefit to allowing a little of this stuff to accumulate?

Or at least, not "freaking out" and siphoning up every single microgram of detritus as soon as it appears in our tanks?

I think so.

Really.

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

You know, like the many thousands of us worldwide who keep blackwater, botanical-style aquariums, many field with aquatic plants lately?

There's usually very little for them to forage on in most aquariums, other than the occasional algal film (assuming they're herbivorous) or particle of uneaten food. Creating militant, "near sterility" in our aquariums, which do at least superficially resemble true ecosystems, might actually be detrimental in some way, right?

I mean, you're removing one component of a natural cycle and replacing it with a high-octane, "shotgun approach" substitute of just taking everything out. Wouldn't a more functionally stable system benefit from keeping this stuff in?

Maybe? 

It's a mental shift.

A perspective of open-minded curiosity...and a willingness to look at things a bit differently and go beyond the usual and generally accepted ideas on stuff. It's not always pretty. It's not always right.

I'll give you that much.

I'll keep going for just a bit more before leaving it to you for contemplation...

Question: Are we actually making the management of aquariums more challenging by sort of "fighting" nature, and simply not thinking this through all the way? Doesn't nature, if left to her own devices, tend to keep excesses of all sorts more-or-less in check? 

Is there some advantage to allowing our aquariums to harbor a greater diversity and population of life forms, in order to have a more complete "functional capability?" Is this the road to an "out-of-control over-populated" closed system? DO we dare experiment? Or, is it simply more advantageous to buy that new, high-powered canister filter that holds six liters of carbon, and create pristine, "drinking-water quality" conditions in the tank and call it a day?

No, I don't think so.

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

So, next time you begrudgingly reach for the siphon hose...think about how this whole little "closed aquatic ecosystem thing" works.  Another consideration which address some of the most fundamental, long-held beliefs and practices in aquarium-keeping, might help us make not only more "mental shifts", but true breakthroughs as we rediscovery the utility of the elegant, yet "complex simplicity" that nature has engineered over the eons.

Ponder that the next time the calendar says "Water exchange day!"

A "clean" break from tradition...or just supporting nature in a more productive, more beneficial, and more efficient manner? 

Bold aquarists wanted.

Stay curious. Stay excited. Stay diligent. Stay observant...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Behind the Botanical: "My, that's a sexy husk you have there...": Meet the "Bael Tree Pod."

In the world of botanical materials that we keep in our aquariums, some items are just solid, reliable, long-lasting, and beautifully "generic" in appearance. One of the "poster children" of this classification is our friend, the "Bael Tree Pod."

Actually, the dried fruit husk from the "Bael Tree" (AKA "Stone Apple" tree), Aegle marmelos of India, this remarkably functional botanical is perfectly suited for a wide variety of aquatic uses!   Although native to India, it's found in other Asian locales, such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia.  They hail from dry forests on hills and plains, also in mixed deciduous and dry forests...

(There fruit on the tree. Image by Forestowlet. Used under CC BY-SA 3.0)

Considered sacred by Hindus, the Bael tree is important in Hindu culture. The leaves are indispensable offerings to the Lord Shiva. The tree is commonly grown in the grounds of temples in countries such as India and Thailand, where the fruit is used to make a very refreshing drink for the monks.

That fruit...

The tree produces a fascinating fruit that lives up to the "Stone Apple" moniker:  The fruit ranges in diameter from 2"-5"/ 5- 12cm. It is globose in shape, with a thick, hard rind and does not split upon ripening like most fruits The woody shell is smooth and has a gray or green color until it is fully ripe, when it turns to a light yellow color. Inside the fruit are up to 20 sections filled with an aromatic orange pulp.

(The hollowed-out shell and one continuing the fruit. Image by Asit K. Ghosh, used under CC BY-S. 3.0)

The fruit has been described as tasting sort of like marmalade! Boning (2006) describes the flavor of the Bael fruit as, "Sweet, aromatic and pleasant, although tangy and slightly astringent in some varieties. It resembles a marmalade made, in part, with citrus and, in part, with tamarind."

Yeah. Cool. Yet all we're interested in here is the husk, so I'll dispense with the delightful culinary review and move forward!

The shells of the dried fruits with the pulp removed are used as cups and small containers across their native range. Of course, us aquatic hobbyists, on the other hand, have found our own unique uses for them. Much-loved by frog keepers as a hiding place or water dish, they look pretty cool when used in the aquarium, as well! They're sort of reminiscent of the fruits and seed pods that fall into tropical streams and waterways where overhanging trees are abundant.

And of course, that's what we love so much about them...There is something about them. They're incredibly useful, albeit a bit "obvious-looking" spawning caves, hiding places, etc. They have a unique look about them which is definitely far more interesting than a flower pot, right?

Yeah. 

Historically, they're a popular choice for frog enthusiasts! We almost always include a few when you ask us to create an "Enigma Pack" for you for frogs! 

Now, the neat thing about these botanicals is that they are- wait for it- rather durable, even after being submerged for extended periods of time. That being said, there is a catch...They're incredibly buoyant, and a bit of a challenge to get to sink. You could boil them for an extended period (20 minutes is a starting point), followed by an overnight soak in tap water, perhaps weighted down with a small rock or something.

Bottom line: They won't always sink easily.

Of course, being persistent hobbyists, we don't give up so easily. You can always keep said rock in the cavity of the pod to hold it down in your tank after preparation; I know plenty of hobbyists who simply dig it into the substrate partially and call it a day, too! Herp people, of course, have it the easiest- you just plop it down where you want it. They serve as great "hide holes" planters, and even little water dishes/feeding stations for frogs!

The humble husk of this intriguing fruit holds many possibilities, making it one of our more popular, if not unusual, botanical items! Sure, it has a sort of "artificial" look about it; however, I think it's a great- if not temperamental alternative to the clay flower pots and spawning cones. 

It's truly "sexy"- in a "utilitarian" sort of way! Not bad for what amounts to a humble husk!

What use will you find for the Bael Tree Pod?

Stay creative. Stay thoughtful. Stay curious. Stay focused...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The departure....and reaching common ground.

If you read my meanderings every day, you know I tend to go on and on about  how I feel that truly "natural style" aquariums are both aesthetically equivalent and functionally superior to those strictly set up with just an "artistic look" in mind.

Sure, you can marry the two somewhat. However, the one thing that I think we need to constantly remind ourselves of is that, typically, nature looks nothing like our interpretation. It's simply not neat, ordered by color, height, and texture. 

Aquatics plants grow based on the availability of nutrients, light, and a suitable substrate. We all know this. We all know that they tend to aggregate in certain areas because those areas meet their needs. It's a no brainer.

Yet, like terrestrial gardeners since time immemorial, we place them carefully into our aquariums in specific, measured aggregations, often arranged by color or texture. Right next to our geometrically perfect, ratio-correct wood and rocks. 

Pulling away from the popular, well-trodden path is always a "departure" of sorts that takes many of us out of our comfort zone. It can be a bit scary. It can open you up to criticism; to the inevitable "hushed whispers" from fellow aquascapers.

Why is this a problem?

Now, don't get me wrong. There is no hate here. I'm a huge fan of aquascapers who do artistically-fabulous aquaecapes. This is not a critique. Just a question. I question, because I spend a good portion of my free time (which isn't that much these days, lol) looking at aquascapes and aquariums on my social media feeds, and I can't help but reflect on this as I study the work of some very talented hobbyists. There is an incredible body of work out there.

It just seems to me that there is a an opportunity to embrace the beauty in randomness, and yet many seem to eschew this randomness for the comfort that is provided by some sort of design and order. There seems to be no reason for this. You have a shitload of talent! For talented hobbyists to avoid trying something different like this, it's like keeping the "training wheels" on your child's bike when we know she can competently and safely ride without them.

Take the training wheels off!

Just look at Nature in the same manner- and with the same reverence- that many 'scapers do when they laud last month's big "fantasy scape" that's all over social media. There is so much inspiration there.

Consider the way aquatic plants grow in nature, for example.

In this image by our friend, Tomas Minesi of Republic of Congo, we can see the Ludwigia growing (in very shallow water, mind you!) in a sort of a monospecific aggregation, while spreading out along the margins of this stream. 

in a wider shot, you can see that the plants grow into conditions which favor their growth and continued existence. Nature pays no mind to our artistic interpretations, "Golden Ratios", arrangements, trends, etc.

And it's still compelling and alluring.

As we've established and evolved our vision of the blackwater/botanical-style aquarium, it's really fun to see the incredible diversity of approaches that everyone takes towards creating something cool. I mean, one would think that to use botanicals, you just "prep 'em and plop 'em" in the tank, and that's it!. Well, as we both know, there's a lot more to it than that!

I suppose that we can look at the use of botanicals in our aquariums from two approaches, really:

*Purely aesthetic

*Purely functional

That sounds right; however, I think that the two actually go hand in hand.

Huh?

In the case of botanicals, you can't ever lose sight of the fact that you're literally adding a piece of natural material into your closed ecosystem. These materials WILL impact water chemistry, biological activity...oh, and the "structure" of your aquascape.

We don't fight that.

Over the years, I have coined (well, I like to arrogantly THINK that I coined it-perhaps I simply appropriated it from somewhere...) the term "functional aesthetics" to describe this dichotomy. That is: This stuff gives your tank a certain look (in terms of the visual  appearance of the "hardscape" and the color it imparts to the water), while impacting some of the environmental parameters simultaneously.

And this idea is not really "new", in terms of tangible affects of adding "stuff" to our tanks. I mean, every time we add a piece of wood to our aquarium, there is some leaching of tannins and other compounds into the water. Lover's of "crystal-clear, blue-white water" may do everything in their power to neutralize the impact immediately via activated carbon or other chemical filtration media, but the fact is, there is an impact caused by using these materials in our aquariums.

In our instance, we've made the conscious decision to embrace what nature offers up and "accept" the tinted water, decomposing botanical materials, and detritus, and their impact on pH (when conditions are suitable) and possibly even the nutrient load imparted by these materials. Others resit it, trying to make natural materials conform with their personal interpretation. This is where we part ways, so to speak, with many friends in the broader aquascaping universe, and chart our own course. 

A departure.

However, it doesn't need to be that way.

We need to find common ground.

When I have occasion to explain our "botanical-style" approach to a hobbyist not familiar with it, especially one who is devoted to that "high concept, blue-white water look", they're with me right up until the part where I describe the impact these materials have on the color of the water. It's an aesthetic that many simply cannot get past.

And I get that. And the idea of a "jumble" of decomposing seed pods, bark, and leaves, often covered in biofilm, is simply not everyone's idea of a good-looking aquarium.

You can show some aquarists hours of underwater footage of Amazonian igapo flooded forests, Asian peat bogs, and African rain forest streams, which our tanks tend to resemble, and they still won't be able to get over the "fantasy diorama aesthetic" that's been perpetuated as the most "natural-looking" aquarium for a couple of decades now.

Again, I can't fault them at all.

Many of those tanks that are the darlings of the aquascape world are artistic masterpieces. However, they bare as much resemblance to a wild habitat as a potted plant does to a rain forest, IMHO. I don't hate on the wonderful work or aesthetics of these tanks at all.

I just strongly disagree with the public perception (and the attitude I've received from some corners) that these 'scapes are the ultimate statement of "natural aquascaping." And some of the downright nasty accusations I've received from some people from this "world"  over the past few years calling what we do "reckless", "undisciplined", and "aesthetically lacking" makes me realize we're doing exactly the right thing here! 😆

There are many possible "ultimate statements" in aquascaping. Look at many of the wonderful, painstakingly-researched and brilliantly-executed aquariums from hardcore biotope aquarium fans. Again, perhaps not everyone's cup of tea, yet true biotope aquariums are some of the most incredible, natural-looking aquariums you're ever likely to encounter. Even if they're more about what nature looks like than they are about conforming to Japanese garden principles or European design standards or whatever.

That's a point where we can all perhaps find some common ground.

To me, the idea of "functional aesthetics" is every bit as appealing as any purely artistic scape concept out there. And when you see the work by aquascaping masters like Johnny Ciotti, Mitch Mazur, Cory Hopkins, or Jeff Senske- aquascapers which can hold their own with anyone on the planet- fusing art and Nature togetether, you'd have a hard time disagreeing and thinking that the two must be mutually exclusive. Each one of these guys has embraced the use of botanicals in their own way, forging their own interpretation of "functional aesthetics."

 Mixing art and design with function, it's pretty cool!

What is increasingly exciting and interesting to me is to see more and more of you playing with planted blackwater aquariums. Not only are you simply "going for it", and trying regardless of "what they say"- you're learning exactly what the impacts of blackwater environments are on the growth of some of our favorite aquatic plants. Really good stuff. And work that is serving to bridge the gap between two worlds of aquascaping!

We're seeing more and more of this type of "crossover" aquascaping work, and I think it's doing more than just "making a statement" or inspiring others. It's helping open up minds, opinions, and-perhaps most important of all- call some attention to the unique wild habitats of our aquarium fishes- some of which face grave threats from humankind's interventions. This is perhaps the ultimate benefit of embracing the idea of more naturally-functioning and appearing aquariums- biotope and otherwise.

Getting some inspiration from the environment when designing our tanks is something that we've done for a century, yet in recent years, we've eschewed it for a more "stylized interpretation"- which seems to make the idea of looking at nature and replicating it more directly "fresh", and oddly compelling once again!

A departure? Perhaps, right?

Rather than inspiring hobbyists to simply mimic other people's tanks, getting inspiration from Nature helps to call attention to the natural habitats as they are, and encourages aquarists to find out more about them; how they work, what is happening in them, etc. And if that inspires some people to set up a botanical-style aquarium-despite their initial "aversion" to the "unconventional" aesthetic- it's a victory not only for the hobby- but for Nature as well.

If we are honest with ourselves, and aren't afraid to tell things like they are, I think that hobbyists worldwide can really unite and share ideas and respect from a wide range of different approaches. We can embrace lots of ideas without being overly dogmatic.

Reaching out across the "tint gap" with a mangrove branch, Cariniana Pod, or whatever (metaphorically AND literally, lol) can go a long way towards opening up minds and helping embrace the talent, knowledge, and work ethic that exists in the aquarium world. Being open-minded to many aspects of the aquatic world builds better hobbyists, a better hobby- and calls greater and greater attention to the precious natural aquatic habitats of our planet.

Literally blurring the liens between Nature and aquarium.

Comprehending the idea of "functional aesthetics" a good start. And, in reality, it's really just the jumping off point on a journey that will forever continue. And we're all better off if we take that journey together. 

Reach out to a friend who might be a bit close-minded, unfamiliar with, or otherwise put off by our style and interpretation of nature. Share with him our her the concepts, challenges, and ideas we work with. Challenge him/her to look at a video or image of a natural habitat, to understand the infinite diversity and opportunities that Nature offers, and attempt to replicate it in an "unfiltered" manner in an aquarium.

However, try to understand his/her perception of aquascaping and aesthetic, and appreciate why they might find some of the stuff we accept without reflection somewhat scary. Share our idea of "functional aesthetics" with a seemingly close-minded friend. You might just find that we're not really that far apart in our views.

Find common ground. 

And grow.

THAT is actually a "departure" of sorts, isn't it? 

Until next time...

Stay creative. Stay original. Stay observant. Stay collegial. Stay diligent...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

A most persistent myth...

One of the things I love most about the whole blackwater/botanical-style aquarium "genre" is that, even though hobbyists have been playing with them for decades, there has been virtually no discussion or serious analysis of the techniques, characteristics, and process involved in creating and maintaining them short of "Throw some peat moss in your filter..." (1960's-1980's) or, "Toss in 5 catappa leaves for every 10 gallons of water" (1990's-2,000's).

I mean, sure- in all fairness, there have been some articles and such from time to time about blackwater aquariums, but no real serious, consistent discussions of them. And in something as broad-reaching as the aquarium hobby, limited discussions on a topic generally leads to three possible things happening, in my experience:

1) Assumptions and long-held beliefs and misconceptions are perpetuated/regurgitated- often by those who have little, if any experience with the subject.

2) Only the bad experiences, warnings, and negative aspects of the topic are given play among hobbyists. "Myths" become  a major part of the narrative.

3) The topic becomes an arcane "sideshow specialty", garnering little interest while maintaining its aura of mystery and the persistent assertions that it's challenging and foolhardy to work with.

That's what happened with blackwater aquariums, for sure!

We've covered this before a few times, but for some reason, the myth persists that adding catappa leaves and pods and other botanical materials will create instant nature-like conditions in your hard, alkaline, city tap water.

It's a myth.

Oh, now sure, tannins and humic substances are imparted to water, even hard, alkaline water. Even in brackish water. So, yeah, it looks all dark and tinted, even though the pH and hardness might be quite high.

That's a different subject for another time, but you get the idea. Looks are only just that- looks! We can't get too caught up in the superficial aesthetics of tinted water and overlook the contributing factors and function.

So, why can you have dark, rich-looking water and still have it be hard and alkaline?

To understand why, we need to all re-familiarize ourselves with the concept of carbonate hardness.

Now, before we get too far, I'll dispense with the obligatory disclosure/confessional that my knowledge of water chemistry is quite basic, and I'm not preferring that anything discussed here is the "last word" on the subject. It's an explanation of some facts and ideas based on my limited college chemistry, and understanding of these things from being a practicing aquarist.

I admit that, at a certain point in the discussion about this stuff with really knowledgable people, my eyes start to glaze over...There are plenty of you out here who could "school me" on this stuff, and I encourage your input on these more esoteric, yet very important aspects of the hobby.

We will all benefit.

Ahh, back to that bit on carbonate hardness...

This is one of those terms, along with "general hardness" (GH), that we see bandied about all over the internet and in books and hobby discussions...It's super-confusing to me, as there are multiple ways of determining the hardness of water (in general, but for us, it's for aquarium purposes).

"Hardness", is essentially a measure of the total concentration of specific minerals dissolved in the water, including calcium and magnesium, as well as other minerals like potassium and sodium. It is said that the concentration of these minerals in a given quantity of water contribute to the "hardness."

There are a few ways of measuring this.

As a reef hobbyist, I was long ago indoctrinated to utilize KH (from the German word "karbonate") to measure the carbonate and bicarbonate ions in a given aquatic system, which function as "buffers", and keep the pH from dropping. And KH is a component of GH, to make matters more confusing (KH can never be higher than the "general hardness" of the water because of this fact). And a lot of test kits will measure both...as if a guy like myself needs more confusion in his life...

The easiest way to make "hard" water "soft" for us fish geeks is to invest in a reverse osmosis/deionization unit (RO/DI unit). This gives you water with little to no (ideally) general hardness, setting the stage to more easily reduce the ph utilizing botanicals and such. In general, it's fairly safe (gulp) to state that soft water is usually acidic, and "hard" water is usually alkaline.

And of course, that's where the fun (and confusion) begins!

A lot of people ask about utilizing leaves and other botanicals to lower the pH in their aquariums. It's a good question, and one worth addressing. As you are no doubt aware by now, many of these natural materials release substances such as  tannic and humic acids into the water, which can acidify it- IF the water has a low enough KH.

I'll say it again:

Most botanicals won't do much to significantly reduce the pH if you start with hard, alkaline water, as the KH will prevent the acids released by these materials from reducing the pH. 

As many of you know, it is entirely possible to have darkly tinted water that is hard and alkaline. Although the humic substances and tannins imparted by botanicals are present in water with those characteristics, it's a big difference between the water being a certain visual color and it being soft and acidic. 

I get a bit frustrated with the idea of commercial "blackwater extracts" creating a  sort of "instant" Amazonian type of water or whatever. I get frustrated because, although these products definitely work at tinting the water- and possibly even lowering the pH under the circumstances outlined above (water with little to no carbonate hardness)- they tend to perpetuate the myth that you can "just add a bit of this and a pinch of that" to your tap water, and you'll have a blackwater aquarium that will make your Neon Tetras spawn, or whatever.

If it were that easy, we'd have all been keeping blackwater tanks and spawning Rummynoses and the like really easily decades ago.

There is way more to it than that. 

Blackwater environments are a result of many factors, ranging from the geology of the surrounding soils to the composition of the materials which accumulate in the streams and rivers, or inundated forest floors.

Our practice of utilizing botanicals to achieve a more dynamic blackwater environment is not an exact science, either. Rather, it's an art form- a nuance, if you will- and it has its own set of guidelines, effects, and limitations. Creating a botanical-style, blackwater aquarium is not even as easy as tossing in some seed pods and leaves into a tank filled with RO/DI water, either.

Rather, it's an amalgamation of a number of different practices. You need to consider the overall aquatic environment that you're contemplating. You have to think about things like the influence of rocks, substrates, etc. You need to study how these dynamic habitats exist in nature, beyond just their dramatic and alluring appearance.

If only it was so easy, right? 

On the other hand, the fact that you need to learn a few things and understand the challenges and limitations imposed by Nature in order to achieve the desired conditions tells us that this is as much an "art" as it is a "science." Filled with nuance and observation and a certain amount of "going with our gut."

And that is the beauty of this blackwater/botanical-style aquarium stuff that we are so obsessed with. If it were just about adding a certain amount of "this or that" to our tanks and calling it a day, we'd see blackwater aquariums in every home that has fish. 

We still might get there. However, we'll get there by experimenting, observing, and sharing our experiences with other hobbyists. By not looking for "shortcuts" or "hacks." We'll get there by good, old-fashioned work. And by dispelling "myths", assumptions, and misconceptions with facts and a body of work that informs, inspires, and excites other hobbyists.

What could be more fun than that?

Stay curious. Stay excited. Stay interested. Stay bold. Stay diligent....

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Expectations...Evolutions...Explanations?

One of the more exciting times in the life cycle of a botanical-style aquarium is a couple of weeks after the initial setup. It's that fascinating time when the nitrogen cycle is established, the tank is "running in", and the botanicals and leaves lose that crisp, "brand-spankin' new" look and start to acquire a "patina" of biocover, or simply begin to "soften up" a bit.

The early weeks and months in the aquarium's life cycle really "set the tone", in my opinion, for how the tank is likely to function over time. It's a magical time when your tank begins it's progression from just a concept to a living, breathing microcosm. The biological processes are kicking in, and the business of life- the establishment of micororganisms, biofilms, and yeah- even algal growth- is increasingly evident. 

I am a big believer in stability, and deploying patience, using time-honored nutrient control/export techniques, and applying a healthy dose of observation and common sense all contribute to the ultimate stability and success of our blackwater/botanical-style aquariums just as they would to any other type of system.

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

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

While we're on the subject of the nitrogen cycling of new tanks, one of the things I've noticed about my botanical-style/blackwater aquariums is that they "cycle" very quickly. Like, often in less than a week. I think it's got something to do with a large influx of botanical materials in a new system. The same factors that would endanger an established system might simply contribute to a rapid growth of bacteria.

Interestingly, over the years, I've also found that nitrate accumulation tends to be almost nonexistent in my botanical-style aquairums. Now, I don't know if that's something which you've noticed, too? I simply have never seen a nitrate accumulation more than 0.2mg/L!

Despite what I hypothesized would happen in my early years of playing with this style of aquarium, when I really got into blackwater, botanical-style aquariums, I found that they always produce little to no detectible nitrate, despite utilizing a lot of botanical material within the tank that was breaking down. I would have thought, at least on the surface, that there would be some detectible nitrate. Now, this is interesting, but I'm not the only one who has reported this. Many of you have.

My hypothesis is that, yes, the material is breaking down, and contributing to the biological "load" of the system- but with an abundance of microorganisms living in, on, and among the botanical materials in the aquarium, and with regular frequent water changes, there is a very efficient processing of nutrients occurring. This is purely speculation on my part, but I think it's as good a guess as any, based on the repeated similar results I've achieved in every single blackwater/botanical-style aquarium I've kept for the last 7 or 8 years!

I'm sure that a more sophisticated explanation, revolving around the presence of "on- board carbon sources" and other biological processes is the reason. I think that we're sort of looking at a freshwater equivalent of a reef aquarium in many respects, where, instead of "live rock", a lot of the microbial population and biological processes occur within and upon the surfaces of the botanicals themselves.

Almost like "biopellets" in a reef tank, perhaps the botanicals are not only a carbon source for beneficial bacteria- they're also a sort of biological filtration "substrate" for them to colonize on. Again, speculative, and needing some more rigorous scientific investigation to verify one way or another, but it's been my "working hypothesis" for several years.

In my opinion, once they get through the initial startup phase, blackwater/botanical-style systems seem to run incredibly smoothly and in a very stable manner. If you adhere to a regular, yet simple maintenance schedule, obey the long-established common-sense "rules" of aquarium husbandry, and don't go crazy with radical overstocking or trying to speed up things too much by dumping tons of botanicals into your tank in a brief span of time, these systems run almost predictably, IMHO.

And speaking of "maintenance"-  I'll concede that one of the "bummers" of botanical-style aquarium keeping is that you will likely have to clean/replace prefilters, micron socks, and filter pads more frequently. Just like in nature, as the botanicals (leaves, in particular) begin to break down, you'll see some of the material suspended in the water column from time to time, and the bits and pieces which get pulled into your filter will definitely slow down the flow over time. The best solution, IMHO, is to simply change prefilters frequently and clean pumps/powerheads regularly as part of your weekly maintenance regimen.

Remember, you're dealing with a tank filled with decomposing botanical materials. Good overall husbandry is necessary to keep your tank stable and healthy- and that includes the dreaded (by many, that is) regular water exchanges. At the very least, you'll likely be cleaning and/or replacing pre filter media as part of your routine, and that's typically a weekly-to bi-weekly thing.

And, during my water exchanges, I'm merely siphoning water from down low in the water column. I'm a sort of "leave 'em alone as they decompose" kind of guy. And I'm not going to go into all the nuances of water preparation, etc. You have your ways and they work for you. It's not really rocket science or anything, but everyone has their own techniques. The one "constant" is to perform regular water exchanges in your botanical-style aquariums.

Just sort of goes with the territory here.

And what about water testing?

Personally, I think it's a really good idea. For many hobbyists, water testing is a periodic thing, done on an "as I feel it" basis. Personally, I think the benefits of a more regular testing schedule yields a lot of good benefits for us.

Your testing regimen should include things like pH, TDS, alkalinity, and if you're so inclined, nitrate and phosphate. Logging this information over time will give us all some good data upon which to develop our expectations and "best practices" for water quality management. It's important for the hobby overall to document as much information as possible about how our botanical-style/blackwater aquariums establish and operate. This gives the widest variety of hobbyists the most reasonable set of expectations about these systems.

Remember, it isn't just about a new aesthetic approach.

It's about understanding and processing what's happening in the little aquatic ecosystem you've created. It's about asking questions, modifying technique, and playing hunches- all skills that we as hobbyists have practiced for generations. When you distill it all- we're still "just keeping an aquarium;" yet one that I feel is a far more natural, dynamic, and potentially game-changing style for the hobby.

One that we need no longer be afraid of.

It's about understanding what to expect, how our systems evolve, and how we manage them.

And most important- how we enjoy them.

Managing a botanical aquarium offers opportunities, challenges, and educational experiences that we can use to push the "state of the art" of botanical, blackwater aquariums- and to add to the growing body of aquarium knowledge about managing these unique systems over the long term.

And sharing your experiences- good and bad- will provide those who follow with more confidence to follow in your footsteps, creating their own aquariums, pushing the limits in their own way- and growing the global "tint community"- and aquarium hobby in general- through their efforts.

Stay diligent. Stay methodical. Stay curious. Stay helpful. Stay collaborative. Stay open-minded...And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Botanical aquarium husbandry basics...addressed again!

In this ever-evolving world of botanical-style, blackwater aquariums, there are a lot of questions about "best practices" and "how to's" which we see time and time again. Sooo... I thought, why not address a couple of the most common ones today?

What kinds of maintenance practices do you use in a blackwater/botanical-style aquarium? 

The key to ultimate long term success in the hobby at any level, IMHO, is not just having the ultimate system and the hottest equipment, as we've less-than subtly discussed many times- it’s the effort-the work- that you put in as a hobbyist to provide your animals with the best possible care. And the common thread seems to be that most of the successful hobbyists that I know share that basic philosophy.

And it all starts with that time-honored, yet oddly-reviled practice of regular water exchanges.

I'm stunned at the number of rather experienced hobbyists I know who simply aren't even close to consistent in performing water exchanges, yet complain about "problems" with their aquariums. It seems strange to even mention this, but it's a theme that has played out in a huge percentage of the "tank-decline nightmares" I've been called upon to troubleshoot over the past 10 years or so. Some hobbyists just don't want to do them, make excuses for not doing them, or just don't care...until the "shit hits the fan..."

Seriously.

The mind boggles.

So...do small water exchanges frequently.

Since the typical botanical-style/blackwater aquarium is set up with an initial "inventory" of leaves and other botanicals, we are accustomed to gradually "building up" the amount of these materials in our systems over a span of time. Patience! And, because of the very nature of botanical materials (they decompose underwater...), it is necessary to regularly replace them, much as you would filter pads, activated carbon or other chemical filtration media.

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

Fortunately, these materials are now more easily available to hobbyists than in years past! (In fact, we know a place...)

Much like in nature, the way you maintain your botanicals in your system can influence these things as well. There is a continuous and dynamic "evolution" that occurs throughout the existence of these aquariums, and the direction it goes is absolutely influenced by the degree to which we, as hobbyists are involved.

I think that the keys (from a maintenance standpoint) to really long-term success and stability of your blackwater/botanical-style aquarium are as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

That sort of covers the "maintenance thing" for today...Let's get to the #2 most commonly-asked question:

What do you do with the "prep water" after you've boiled, steeped or soaked your new leaves and botanicals?

We receive a lot of questions about this topic, and I always answer this honestly, based on my personal practices over the deuces with leaves and botanicals:

I use it to water the garden. It doesn't go into any of my aquairums.

Yes, I don't use the "tannin tea" as a sort of home-brewed "blackwater extract" in my aquariums. Why, you ask? Well, here is my "theory"- and it's really a theory, I admit...Although I think I'm right, I admit that I have no rigid scientific study to back it up:

Although most of our botanicals are fairly clean when we receive them from our suppliers, You need to remember that they are natural dried materials which fall from trees, etc. As such, they may contain in their surface tissues atmospheric pollutants and dust, etc. from laying on the forest floor or in the facilities of our suppliers, etc.. Is this stuff "toxic" in some way?

Unlikely, I suppose.

However, it's on or in the surface tissues of the botanicals and leaves, right? At the very least, we always say to rinse stuff before you add it, and then boil or soak. (Oh, the 'just add the leaves to your aquarium without boiling or steeping them" thing is something I've played with a lot over the years," just because"- and I admit I've never had a single problem. However, I will still never recommend that practice, for the reasons outlined above.)

The main reason we boil or steep our botanicals in boiling water is to break down some of the surface tissues of the leaves and botanicals, to make them more likely to absorb water and sink, and to realize and surface pollutants bound up in them. 

So, my theory is that your 'tea" does consist of a lot of good stuff- like tannins, humic substances, etc from the surface layers of the botanicals or leaves, AND it also contains whatever pollutants (dirt, etc. as mentioned above) that were present in these tissues as well. So, ask yourself: DO you want to add this stuff to your tank? I personally don't. Or, I should say, I personally don't want to take the chance of adding a solution of concentrated dirt to my tanks.

And what's the "dose" that you should use, anyways? Isn't it easier and far more natural to just add the botanicals themselves to your tanks, and let these materials leach into the water over time ("Yeah, Fellman...but at what amount?" Urrghhhh.)

Yeah, that's the old reefer in me...

Cautious in many ways, reckless in others. I remember lots of stupid "post conference" chats with reefers until crazy hours of the morning. We'd always have discussions about the effluent from our protein skimmers...Some reefers tune their skimmers to remove dark, nasty concentrated "skimmate"; others run it "wet" and almost clear. Both sides claim they're removing "undesirable stuff" from their tanks.  It's essentially an extract of organic and other materials...So we'd ask each other- would YOU add the "skimmate" to your tank?

And the answer from all sides was always a resounding "Hell no!"

So, that's my mindset in a nutshell.

It's less about an actual "detected risk" as it is about engaging in a practice that, to me, seems like your just adding some concentrated pollutants to your tank along with the desirable stuff. Trying to eliminate a possible cause of pollutants from going into my tanks is always a good idea, IMHO. Yeah, and I know the usual response is, "Well, you're wasting a lot of the tannins when you dump out the prep water into the garden..."

My response?

Try this: If you follow my advice and dispose of the prep water, and then place your botanicals into some fresh water for a little "post boil soak"- see just how quickly the water tints up like 90% of the time. IMHO, I don't think that you're wasting much tint-producing tannins at all by ditching the "tea." I just don't.

Yet, we still go back and forth on this. 

I suppose there is no real "right or wrong" answer to the topic, exasperating though this may seem. It's really a matter of personal comfort, preference, and...habit. One could argue both sides effectively...One of the better ones I heard was that when you boil stuff (and water boils at 212F/100C), you're wiping out most bacteria and possibly breaking down most pollutants...so why would this stuff be problematic at this point? Well, then it's a solution of concentrated dead bacteria and dirtwhcih you're adding to your tank at that point, right? 😜.

I still just "go with my gut" on this one. And, by the way- our succulents have never looked better, lol.

What's your take on this...?

Stay diligent. Stay curious. Stay consistent. Stay bold. Stay creative...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The delta at the intersection of science and art...

On the heals of Jonny Archer's well-received guest editorial yesterday, I thought it might be a good time to reiterate, once again, part of what Tannin's "POV" is in this "movement" towards more functionally aesthetic aquariums. A few of you asked about our inspiration. And, with such a huge influx of new fans into our community, it's as good a time as any for us to discuss and even to demonstrate our philosophical leanings.

Well, you asked!

I believe that aquarists are wildly curious about the natural world, but that they tend to "overcomplicate" what is unknown, not well understood, or outside of the lines of "conventional aquarium aesthetics and practices"-and literally "polish out" the true beauty of Nature in the process-often ascribing "rules" and "standards" for how our interpretations of Nature must look. 

Suffice it to say, there are NO rules in rediscovering the unfiltered art beneath the surface. Our "movement" believes in representing Nature as it exists in both form and function, without removing the very attributes of randomness and resulting function that make it so amazing.

We are utterly inspired by this.

We are about the preservation of biofilms, decomposition, and that "patina" of biocover that exists when terrestrial materials contact water. Understanding that these materials break down and influence the environment...and that this process doesn't always conform to our hobby interpretation of what is "beautiful." An appreciation of the ephemeral, the transitional. 

#blurthelines

It's a sexy hashtag that we've embraced over the years for Tannin- it sounds cool. Yet, it's one which, in my opinion, captures the ultimate "essence" of our philosophy.  A way of capturing aspects of nature in our aquarium in a manner that accepts it as it is, rather than how we want it to be.

Simplicity. Complexity. Creativity. Transience. "Randomness."

We receive so many PM's, emails, phone calls, and other inquiries from hobbyists when we run pieces featuring pics and discussions about natural environments as topics for modeling our aquaria, excited about the details, and how they can be replicated in an aquarium.

This is a really cool thing.

And the cool thing that we've noticed is that every aquarium pic that is shared  by our community, which incorporates botanical materials and other elements of nature in a similar matter is studied, elevated..often celebrated- as a representation of the genius of nature in all of its random glory.

It makes sense.

In my own rebellious way, I can't help but think that part of this enthusiasm which our community has for this stuff is that aquarium hobbyists in general have a bit of a "rebellious streak", too, and that maybe, just maybe- we're a bit well, "over" the idea of the "rule-centric", mono-stylistic, overly dogmatic thinking that has dominated the aquascaping world for the better part of a decade.

Maybe it's time to look at nature as an inspiration again- but to look at nature as it exists- not trying to sanitize it; clean it up to meet our expectations of what an aquarium is "supposed to look like." And by the same token, understanding that not every hobbyist wants to-or can-go to the other extreme-trying to validate every twig, rock, and plant in a given habitat, as if we're being "scored" by some higher power- a universal "quality assurance team"- which must certify that each and every rock and branch is, indeed from the Rio Manacapuru, for example, or your work is just some sort of travesty.

Not that there is anything wrong with this pursuit, or that I take any issue with talented hobbyists who enjoy that route. I identify with them more than the "high concept" aquascape crowd for sure! I simply believe that there is a "middle ground" of sorts, where nature is the primary influence, and accepting it and attempting to replicate it "as it is" -becomes the goal.

It's at the delta at the intersection of science and art.

I believe that its essential to take inspiration from the reality of nature, not just its distilled "essence."

Maybe it's time for us to once and for all accept that things are not aesthetically "perfect" in nature, in the sense of being neat and orderly/ratio-adherent from a "design" aspect. Understanding that in nature, you have branches, leaves, rocks, and botanicals materials scattered about on the bottom of streams in a seemingly random, disorderly pattern. Or are they? Could it be that current, weather events, and wind distribute materials the way they do for a reason? Could our fishes benefit from replicating this dynamic in our aquariums?

And, is there not incredible beauty in that apparent "randomness?"

Now, I realize that a glass box is NOT a flooded Amazonian forest, mangrove estuary, or Asian peat bog. I realize that we're constrained by size and water volume. We've touched on that hundreds of times here over the years. However, it can look and function like one to some degree, right? The same processes which occur on a grander scale in nature also occur on a "micro-scale" in our aquariums. And we can understand and embrace these processes- rather than resist or even "revile" them- as an essential part of the aquatic environment.

It's entirely possible to accept the appearance of biofilms, "murky" water, algae, decomposing botanical materials, and can be managed to take advantage of their benefits. You know, accepting them as supplemental food sources, "nurseries" for fry, and as interesting little ways to impart beneficial humic substances and dissolved organics into the water.

Please don't misunderstand me here.

I'm not attacking "the establishment" and saying that every perfectly manicured competition aquascape sucks. I'm not saying that if a tank doesn't have blackwater, biofilms, and brown leaves that it's "uninspired" or "fake" somehow. I'm merely questioning the insanely high level of esteem which the broader aquascaping world seems to attach to conforming to some rigid style, replicating the work of others, and being rather close-minded to the work of Nature, and that of hobbyists who try truly different things in their tanks.

Some of the most amazing comments we receive after sharing underwater pics of the wild habitats of Amazonia and elsewhere are from hobbyists who, at first, thought that some of these pics were from someones' aquarium! In a few instances, some of the close ups of botanical-themed aquaria are virtually indistinguishable from wild scenes!

That says a lot. It shows how far we've come.

What an incredible dynamic!

Blurring the lines between nature and the aquarium, from an aesthetic sense, at the very least- and in many respects, from a "functional" sense as well, proves just how far hobbyists have come...how good you are at what you do. And... how much more you can do when you turn to nature as an inspiration, and embrace it for what it is.

I'm not telling you to turn your back on the modern popular aquascaping scene; to disregard or dismiss the brilliant work being done by aquascapers around the world, to develop a sense of superiority or snobbery, or conclude that everyone who loves this stuff is a sheep...

Noooooo.

Not at all.

I'm simply the guy who's passing along that gentle reminder from Nature that we have this great source of inspiration that really works! Rejoice in the fact that nature offers an endless variety of beauty, abundance, and challenge- and that it's all there, free for us to interpret it as we like. We simply need to accept that it's not all perfect "rule of thirds" or perfect plant groupings, highly geometrically conformative rock layouts and wood orientations.

Some of us just happen to like things bit more "natural" than others...

Blur the lines.

Continue to take pride in what you do.

Don't let dogma and the prevailing mindset of  "what's cool" distract you from doing what you love and believe in. Embrace, enjoy, and accept the thoughts, attitudes, and works of others, while constantly questioning and striving to do what moves you.

Find what makes your heart sing, and do it. You'll never be "wrong."

Meet Nature where it is: The delta of the intersection of science and art.

#blurthelines

Stay excited. Stay bold. Stay inspired. Stay humble. Stay fascinated.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics