The Tint

The biggest question....The biggest impact...

It's pretty obvious that we are collectively gaining more and more experience in selecting, preparing, and utilizing botanicals in our aquariums. And the neat thing is that we have evolved in terms of what works for our new systems and how to integrate them into existing aquariums.

That being said, there are still lots of questions from those new to the botanical fray, which are important and foundational to our "botanical practice!" Apart from, "Hey, Scott, what are your favorite botanicals?", the question we receive the most here at Tannin Aquatics is, "How many do I need for my ___ gallon aquarium?"

And you'll just love my well-thought-out and concise answer:

I don't know.

No, seriously! Not being "evasive" or "noncommittal" here, either!

Apart from a few safety concerns about too much/too fast/too soon, there are few real "absolutes" when it comes to this stuff.

The reality is, it depends on a lot of factors, ranging from the size of your aquarium, to the habitat you are trying to replicate, or the concept your are trying to execute. And of course, there is your personal aesthetic. Let's examine some of the main factors that will influence your decision about "how many botanicals" to add to your aquarium.

Honestly, there is no "secret formula" that we've developed to tell you exactly how many of which botanical will produce a given amount of "tint" in the water. No "botanical calculator" like there is for how much sand to use in a reef tank...that sort of thing. It's virtually impossible to do this, because the degree to which the botanicals influence your water chemistry, overall aesthetics, and the color of the water itself are influenced by a myriad of factors, including the pH, amount of flow, what types (and how much) of chemical filtration media you employ (if any), the size of the aquarium, where you place the botanicals (i.e.; in a filter or reactor, or just on the substrate), etc.

This is part of the reason that I just despise the asinine "recommendations" you see on those vendor sites about how many Catappa leaves or whatever to add to your tank. No one knows this. Not some guy in Malaysia. Not the "expert" aquarist on YouTube. Not this guy who worships botanicals. No one! Period. End of discussion. There is no "universal formula" out there to determine how many to add. It's purely arbitrary.

And I will be the first to admit that I think we totally fell into that trap just a bit when starting Tannin: "Use X number of Catappa leaves for every X gallons of water..." Urrghh! I  think it was because we wanted to give a sort of starting point for testing them...and perhaps set how many of each item would be in a pack, which I suppose is responsible to a certain extent. Yet, with all of the potential variables... yeah. I really HATE these types of recommendations. I am regularly revising our product descriptions to nix those awful advisories, as they are not only unprofessional- theyre inaccurate, ridiculously subjective, and simply impossible to generalize.

Yes, I'm mad at myself about it! 

SO, how do you decide how many to use? It really boils down to a few things (in no particular order):

What is your "base" water chemistry, and how much are you trying to influence it by using botanicals? We've written ad nauseam about the fact that botanicals will have extremely limited impact on the pH of your water if it has high carbonate hardness, and will have no impact whatsoever on the carbonate hardness itself. They may increase TDS as they decompose, but the impact on the "big two" factors above is generally quite limited! 

If, however, you are starting with water that has little to no carbonate hardness (ie; RO/DI), the impact of botanicals may be significant and you'll need to experiment and measure. You might, indeed, develop some crude "Use X number of catappa leaves per gallon to lower the pH by approximately____" formulas for yourself over time, although there will be no super-lab-grade accuracy and precise ability to replicate results every time..

What type of "look" are you trying to achieve? It goes without saying that if you are trying to replicate an Orinoco Basin "blackwater" tributary, with it's accompanying lower pH and tint, then you'd probably want to either go heavier on the botanicals (i.e., volume of botanicals to water volume), or employ botanicals which have shown to inflect water coloration and chemistry more significantly. For example, you'd be advised to use greater quantities of Catappa leaves, Catappa bark, Coco Curls, "Fundo Tropical", "Ceu Fruta ", Alder Cones, "Rio Fruta", Banana Stem pieces, etc.

Do you want the botanicals to be the main aesthetic feature, or just a compliment? We've seen quite a few aquariums where the goal was to utilize the  botanicals (particularly the larger, more "permanent" ones, such as "Jungle Pods", "Savu Pods", "Tapete Pods", "Ra Cama", etc.) as the major part of the "hardscape." Obviously, the ratio of botanical material to water volume has a real impact on the aquatic environment, and should be a significant consideration when you're using a lot of stuff in your scape. 

At this point in the discussion, I should point out that it is absolutely possible to utilize aquatic botanicals in your aquarium- even in significant numbers- and not let them tint the water significantly, or at all. By utilizing chemical filtration media, such as activated carbon, Purigen, Poly Filter, or a combination of them, you can enjoy the aesthetics of aquatic botanicals without any tint.

I know this for a fact, of course, because I've done this myself as part of testing, and because we've featured some of the beautiful aquariums from Aquarium Design Group and by the talented Andrea Freel, which employed significant amounts of botanicals, are typically devoid of tint by using the aforementioned filter media.

Are you adding botanicals to an existing aquarium, or starting from scratch?  This is an important consideration, because when you are adding botanicals to an existing aquarium, you must consider the impact on the water chemistry, bioload, and "maturity level" of your aquarium (ie; its capacity to process nutrient inputs). As we have stated numerous times here in "The Tint", adding a large number of botanicals all at once to an established, stable aquarium (or even a new, not-fully-established, but populated one) can have very negative impact on the inhabitants. 

This is not some new and unique concept just applicable to what we do here. If you add a large enough quantity of just about ANYTHING to an established aquarium, there will be an impact on the water quality. It may sound a bit harsh, but pretty much every single one of the very, very few "wipeout scenarios" we've seen in the three years we've been in business experienced by aquarists utilizing botanicals could be attributed to a rapid, large influx of botanicals being added to an established, stable aquarium. 

What ensued in these instances was a rapid depletion of oxygen and an increase in CO2 as a result of a huge increase in bioload way, way faster than the biological filtration capacity of the aquarium could absorb. The result was fishes gasping at the surface, many essentially dying quickly. This stuff is serious. Although it's fun to add botanicals to your 'scape, and get the tank looking awesome quickly, the reality is that you need to proceed slowly and observe the impact on your fishes all along the way. 

Another caveat? There is no substitute for proper preparation of your botanicals before using them in your aquarium. This is a vital step in the process, and can help avoid many potential problems. The boiling or steeping process helps soften the botanicals in order to help them saturate and sink, as well as to release any  pollutants (dirt, etc.) from the surface tissues of the botanicals. Remember, we're talking about adding dried plant materials of terrestrial origin to water!

They are going to react. They will release substances that will influence water chemistry and coloration, but you can control the degree to which they do so through some of the aforementioned methods. Also, longer "post boil soak" periods can help leach out some of the initial burst of tannins released from these materials with the passage of time.

We repeat it so much, but I cannot stress enough the need to go SLOWLY. There is no need to rush and dump everything in at one time, or in huge quantities. Particularly in an established aquarium, where your animals are used to a certain stable range of parameters...It goes without saying that if your introducing materials which can influence water chemistry and quality, you will need to go slowly and exercise common sense.

And, since botanicals are actively "breaking down" in your aquarium over their "service lifetimes", it's important to employ good husbandry techniques (i.e.; monitoring of water quality, water changes, regular filter media changes, etc.). Just remind yourself that aquatic botanicals create a "dynamic" environment, and you'll enjoy using them that much more!

So, in answering the "biggest" question of our craft, we ended up doing another quick run down on a few of the important the aesthetic, environmental, and practical considerations of using aquatic botanicals in your aquarium.

As usual, I probably created almost as many questions as answers, but I'd like to think that we opened up your eyes to some of the considerations Which arise when using these amazing natural items in your aquariums to create fascinating, ecologically diverse displays.

Stay fascinated. Stay cautious. Stay methodical. Stay observant. Stay enthusiastic...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

"The detritus dilemma?"

Some six months into my brackish water mangrove aquarium, and I'm starting to achieve many of the results that I was hoping to. This was a tank assembled to demonstrate as visibly as possible that the more "traditional" hobby concept of a brackish water aquarium was sort of- well, dull and boring. Grey, white, and not particularly interesting. 

Yeah, it was my stated goal to change this unfortunate perception!

I decided to demonstrate that the botanical-style approach which we have used so successfully in our blackwater aquariums is every bit as applicable and can be every bit as dynamic, interesting, and successful with brackish! It involved incorporating many of the ideas we've played with for some time in our blackwater tanks, and perhaps taking it a bit further, with the inclusion of mangrove propagules as the living "stars" of the display. As we've discussed previously in this blog, mangroves are amazing plants which are an integral part of a highly dynamic and complex ecosystem.

One of the first decisions I made with this aquarium was to NOT siphon out the "organic debris/detritus" (total "catch-all" phrase, huh?) that accumulate during the normal course of existence of any aquarium. My rationale was that, the bulk of this material was fish waste and broken down leaves and botanicals, as opposed to uneaten food and such. My whole point of the brackish water Mangrove aquarium "exercise " was to create a simulation of the organic-heavy, exceedingly rich substrates in which they are found, while still creating a manageable closed system that didn't turn into a sewer!

I kind of figured that I don't overfeed. I don't over-stock, and I perform regular water exchanges on a weekly basis. I employ practices which assure as much environmental consistency as possible. And yeah, the physical environment has a very slight amount of fine organic debris/detritus on the substate. I've purposely siphoned the stuff out before, and by crude estimation, I'd say that well over 80% of what there actually is there, accumulating on the substrate, is the aforementioned botanicals and leaves In a decomposed state. A sort of "mulch", if you will. I do see Nerites snails and some fo the fishes foraging in this material from time to time... but it's not all that noticeable unless you look really carefully.

I think these replicate, to some extent, the types of rich substrates in which mangroves grow and thrive. If you recall from my previous ramblings about this tank, we decided to utilize a variety of fairly rich substrate materials, including some commercial "marine biodsediment" additives, aquatic plant soil, sand, and a fracted clay gravel for the "top-dressing.

The reason for this section of "rich" substrate materials was twofold:

First, I wanted to create a functional mud-like substrate that would facilitate both denitrification and the ability to  provide a habitat for minute life forms. I felt that this would also be a more natural setting for a brackish water aquarium. My original intent was to plant some Cryptocoryne ciliata, a species well-known for its ability to adapt to a low salinity brackish-water environment. This plan was ultimately abandoned when I decided to increase the specific gravity of the aquarium to 1.010, considerably higher than the documented SG at which this plant is known to survive (typically 1.002-1.005).

The second reason for employing such a rich substrate in a "non-planted"  aquarium such as this was to set up the system for the point when the mangrove propagules, which I anchored to the upper part of a dead mangrove root/branch "structure", would put down prop roots and ultimately touch down and penetrate the substrate layer. I knew this process would take many months, of course, given the depth of the tank.

I also added some dried Malaysian Yellow Mangrove leaves to the surface, with the intention of letting them do their thing and decompose on the substrate and "do their thing" to help enrich the habitat with tannins and humic substances. A crew of Olive Nerites snails was added to the system as a means to control the algae and "work over" the decomposing leaves, and they are remarkable for their ability to do both. 

So, what we have seen over the first six or so months of this aquarium's existence has been the development of a remarkably stable, biologically active, and rich habitat. The mangroves have done what we thought they'd do: Put down prop roots, and grow many leaves, some of which do dry up and fall...and of course, we do allow the leaves to accumulate on the bottom, just like in the natural habitat we are attempting to replicate to a certain extent.

Mangrove ecosystems are remarkably complex, diverse systems which process nutrients by decomposing and utilizing organic matter. Many organisms, like fungi, bacteria- even sponges, work together to utilize the vast food resources produced in these habitats. And larger creatures, like crabs, amphipods, etc., break apart leaf bits, providing a "gross dismantling" service that contributes to decomposition of these materials, leading to detritus.

Now, in the confines of an aquarium, we can't likely keep every single type of life form that we'd encounter in wild mangrove habitats- but we can incorporate some of them to perform some of the same functions. I find this both challenging and compelling! Again, it's sort of that "functional aesthetics" thing...coupled with my ability to tolerate the brown water, decomposing leaves, etc. that are essential by-products of this environment.

In wild mangrove habitats  a significant amount of detritus is readily consumed by a group of detritivorous animals and fishes before it is being rematerialized completely in to inorganic nutrient form. And production and accumulation of detritus in these systems has been correlated by scientists to increased growth of the mangroves themselves.

Now, interestingly enough, as I've experienced with my blackwater, botanical-style aquariums, I've seen a remarkable stability in terms of the environmental parameters, and a definite sold growth in the mangrove seedlings, which has been especially impressive since the roots began "touching down" and penetrating into the substrate layer.

What I'm seeing- and what I planned on seeing- is the substrate playing a very important role in the overall setup...With the mangroves growing at a significant pace, laying down thicker and thicker root structures. I have been diligent about not overfeeding the tank, but I do little to no siphoning of the substrate. Even the nutrient-rich fecal pellets of the snails are allowed to accumulate...Yeah, this is a far, far different approach than I've ever taken with any aquarium!

And I'm okay with that.

Although it seems very weird simply stating, "I'm not siphoning the bottom of my aquarium and allowing the detritus produced by decomposing leaves and such to accumulate." - I have no particular feelings of negativity attributed to this practice. I'm quite okay with it, because it's a well-managed aquarium, with the other basics of aquarium husbandry attended to.

This is truly one of the most stable, easy-to-maintain systems I've ever kept. And really, everything has been remarkably predictable! The biggest surprise was the very rapid establishment of the mangroves- in particular, the robust development of the leaves.

Now, I attribute this to multiple factors: The depth of the aquarium, which forced the roots to grow downward significantly to establish themselves, the lighting, which I believe is excellent, and the environmental parameters, which are stable and well-suited for mangrove growth. And finally- certainly NOT the least important factor- is the rich substrate they encounter once the roots touched down. Allowing leaf drop and subsequent decomposition is mimicking exactly what happens in the natural environment. I believe that the lack of disturbance of the substrate has been and will be a continued factor in the overall "performance" of the system.

It's been a grand experiment, the tinted water and rich substrate...both of which have run somewhat contrary to the vision and execution of the majority of brackish water aquariums I've seen in the hobby in recent years. There is so much more to be learned from this aquarium over the long term...

Perhaps the best lesson is the confidence that you can gain from executing on an idea- no matter how unconventional it might seem- if you have a fairly solid understanding of what to expect. The mangrove habitat is surprisingly well studied by science, and there is a ton of research literature out their on the ecology of these unique plants and the role that they play in their habitats. And of course, a lot of information about the habitats themselves.

Why haven't we seen more brackish water aquariums that, well- look like brackish water ecosystems? Let alone, attempt to replicate some of their function? I think that it's an example of the aquarium hobby creating a stylized interpretation of this habitat for many years, as opposed to putting a bit of confidence I the environment itself and using that as an inspiration for an aquarium setup! A certain hesitancy about utilizing decomposing leaves and such in our aquariums.

Some three years in to our botanical-style aquarium "revolution", the global "tint" community is gaining confidence in utilizing leaves, botanicals, and other natural materials to not only achieve a certain look- but to replicate as much as possible the function of these impressive and alluring natural ecosystems.

We're learning that stuff like detritus is not necessarily a bad thing, and that letting it accumulate under the right circumstances shouldn't be cause  for a dilemma- particularly when it's affiliated with a closed ecosystem which an process and utilize it much I the way nature does I the mangrove estuaries of the tropical world...Something worth replicating, huh?

I think so. More on this topic in the future!

Stay bold. Stay studious. Stay curious. Stay resourceful. Stay diligent...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman 

Tannin Aquatics 

The call to be...who you are.

Recently, I've been on the receiving end of an incredibly large number of very gratifying emails and PMs from hobbyists, readers, and aspiring aquatics business people. It seems like, in the course of a recent Facebook Live interview, my views on the hobby and how we approach it as hobbyists and business people really resonated! 

Obviously, I'm flattered...But I think my philosophy on this hobby and business can best be summed up in these three words:

“Stay the course.”

You hear that expression in lots of endeavors, ranging from sports to business, to investing. It’s sound advice, a great philosophy.

How did they accomplish this? What was their secret weapon? Skill? Talent? Of course. Belief and will? Yeah, belief that they were as good as anyone, and the will to buy into a system, understand it, and stay the course regardless of challenges. 

Think about it. Having a vision, then developing and executing a plan to achieve it is a powerful thing. And it’s totally applicable to the aquarium hobby...in every way possible.

Everyone wants a beautiful, healthy tank, and there are so many ways to get to the same place. We can embrace any number of philosophies. As a hobbyist, when you are setting out to create an aquarium, you have so many choices in equipment, livestock, technique, etc. that it’s almost overwhelming, isn’t it? I mean, you could try a different "approach" setting up a new tank every week for years!

The most important thing, in my opinion, is to have a goal. And not only to have a goal…but to have a commitment to that goal. Not to waiver when things go wrong, or when others question your techniques and methods.

In sports, they call it “mental toughness.”

In this hobby, it seems like, whenever you're tryin a new approach or idea, you are constantly “reminded” by well-intended armchair “experts” that what you’re doing isn’t the "right way", or that you’re embarking on an exercise in futility…

You know, the whole "naysayer" thing. We've all heard that, huh?

Why is this? And why is it so prevalent in our hobby?

I thought that there might be at least two possibilities:

Perhaps people are jealous, because you’re displaying the courage to try doing things a bit differently. Or, maybe it’s just that some of these detractors need to feel better about the dogmatic way that they run their aquariums- or their lives, for that matter, and the lack of original thinking they bring to the table?

Or, maybe they WANT to see you fail, because your idea CAN’T be right.

After all, THEY weren't the one that thought about it…Are hobbyists really this mean spirited and negative? I should hope not. But I must tell you, I have experienced a bit of this from hobbyists in the past. Hobbyists that, for whatever reason, just felt that it was their obligation to dissuade you from following your plan.

We've talked about this a lot, because it comes up a lot. 

“Mental toughness” is surprisingly important in aquarium keeping…Not only to keep the naysayers at bay, but to keep focused. It’s so darned easy to be detracted in this hobby. So easy to “drink the Koolade” and buy into the collective mindset because “that’s how it’s done.” 

Why not be the one who tells yourself how it's done?

We heard it at Tannin all the time while plotting the startup: “You can’t sell the product mix you offer…No one wants to pay for leaves and seed pods, you can't get people excited about this idea, etc. It’s a waste of time pursuing obscure products from overseas suppliers; you can’t sustain the pace, it will drain your resources….” Or, my personal fave- from a very jaded Industry insider: “You can’t have guarantee policies that favor the consumer- they’ll abuse it and you’ll just bleed money…”

Woah! Said a lot about HIM!

Stuff like that.

So pessimistic, really. If we would have listened to all of the unsolicited "advice" were were given, you'd see a very different company than you do now, believe me.

As a hobbyist, you just can’t let yourself buy into that sort of thinking. It will not only hold YOU back- it will hold the hobby in general back, because if you’re beaten into submission any time you dare think against the prevailing “norms”, you’ll never take that next step that can push the hobby ahead in some manner.

Also, at the risk of beating a very well-flogged horse (at least in this blog), I hate to see some hobbyists feel that you need to keep “such and such” a fish, coral, or plant in your tank because it’s “hot” right now. This seems to be super relevant in the reef side of things, where trends come and go very quickly. It’s really weird, in my opinion- but super obvious to anyone who's observed reef keeping "culture" over the past few years.  Are we so unsure of our own “coolness” that we feel it necessary to replicate everyone else’s?

I hope not.

Inspiration is one thing. But doing something because you think others will give you respect is not. 

In my opinion, this is exactly what we should NOT be doing as hobbyists. For goodness’ sake, just keep the fish and plants that YOU like. Build your system the way that you want to. As long as you’re not doing something dangerous or downright cruel and reckless, responsible experimentation is a good thing. You’re not keeping a tank to pander to the masses or win a “tank of the week/month/year” award. If you are, there is something else wrong with you, IMHO!

So, the idea here is to simply be yourself. Enjoy the hobby. Don’t be trapped by someone else’s definition of what is “cool.” I can’t help but implore you to be yourself above anything else, in both the hobby and in life. Realize that things that YOU do inspire so many every day. We're honored to share your pics and ideas every day in our social media feeds!

They're amazing!

Push on through the algae. Persevere when the first biofilms appear- especially if you haven't seen them in an aquarium before...Be patient while your aquarium evolves. Regardless of what others tell you. You have a plan. You have a goal. You have talents.

You're driven. And you're excited! 

It is ridiculously appropriate to end this piece with the  well-worn, oft-used, perhaps even cliched- yet consumate- Steve Jobs quote: 

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

Says it all, huh.

Stay the course. 

Stay creative. Stay diligent. Stay enthusiastic. Stay independent...

And most important…

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics

Meeting your aquarium where you are...

During a recent pod cast interview, I was asked a question which...well, kind of blew me away. In essence, it was, "Do you set up a tank around a fish, or do you create a tank and then select fish for it?"

Which comes first? The chicken or the egg?

And this is a really interesting concept, right?

I mean, when I conceive an aquarium, I think I personally tend to develop an aquarium based on the habitat or niche that I want to replicate, as opposed to developing a tank around a specific fish.

I guess I have the mindset that you create the environment that interests you, and the fishes which live in this environment dictate their addition. 

And this makes a ton of sense to me. You create a habitat based upon accumulations of leaves, seed pods, branches, etc. So the logical question is, "What type of fish or fishes live in this habitat?"

Examining the environment itslf; what's there...WHY it is there, and how it evolves, and continues to evolve, seasonally, annually, or whatever, is really interesting stuff.

And the answers will become quite obvious with research and exploration. To me, this is a sort of "expeditionary" approach; almost an adventure! Like, "Let's go to_________, check it out, and see what lives there!" I think that this approach leads to the creation of aquariums which replicate nature on a level that is quite different from a tank simply based on say, Flowerhorn cichlids, Tiger Barbs, or whatever.  

Or, is it?

I see how you can argue this form both angles, of course. I guess it's about placing emphasis on either the habitat or the fish? Does it even matter?

I think it's about placing emphasis on one or the other, but you might disagree.

My orientation has always been about the "wholistic" aquarium, and how to set the scene and "evolve" it over time. The reality is that, water chemistry parameters notwithstanding, most fishes can adapt to a variety of physical habitats.



Like, Discus, which are found in habitats replete with vertical roots, riparian plants, branches, etc., can adapt just fine to an environment in an aquarium consisting just of stones, for example. Will they behave differently? I think it's likely, but that's the basis for an interesting study, huh?

What do you think? Where do you see this lining up during the process of creating an aquarium? Does it even matter?

Not earth-shattering, but a great, if not thought-provoking fish geek discussion topic, I think!

Let's hear your thoughts!

Stay thoughtful. Stay curious. Stay bold. Stay resourceful. Stay excited...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The "function" behind "functional aesthetics": Clues from nature!

Some three plus years into the existence of Tannin Aquatics and our ongoing mission to throw light on the formerly dark world of blackwater, botanical-style aquariums, and there are more and more new people entering the game. This is a very exciting time, because we are no longer in the "Will doing this kill my fishes?" mode, and are more into a "How can I utilize these materials and ideas to do____________?"

And, in order to make sense of it all, we spend a great deal of time examining the processes which occur when leaves and other botanicals are added to the aquarium. And this is important, not only from an aesthetic standpoint, but from a functional/operational standpoint. It definitely differs from our practice in decades past, where the idea of throwing in materials that affect the water quality/composition was strictly a practice reserved for speciality hobbyists, like killifish breeders, Dwarf Cichlid keepers, etc., who wanted to create special conditions for breeding.

Yeah, you won't read about this esoteric stuff in just "any old aquarium blog", right? 

Nowadays, we're advocating the addition of such materials to our aquariums as a matter of course, for the everyday purpose of replicating natural processes for our fishes. We understand- or are attempting to understand- the impact on both our aquariums' ecology and the husbandry involved.

Yeah, sort of a different approach.

We add a lot of biological material to our tanks in the form of leaves and botanicals- perfectly analogous to the process of allochonous input- material is something imported into an ecosystem from outside of it. Exactly what happens in the tropical streams and rivers that some of us obsess over!

There's been a fair amount of research and speculation by both scientists and hobbyists about the processes which occur when terrestrial materials like leaves and botanical items enter aquatic environments, and most of it is based upon field observations. As hobbyists, we have a unique opportunity to observe firsthand the impact and affects of this material in our own aquariums! I love this aspect of our "practice", as it creates really interesting possibilities to embrace and create more naturally-functioning systems, while possibly even "validating" the field work done by scientists!

It goes without saying that there are implications for both the biology and chemistry of the aquatic habitats when leaves and other botanical materials enter them. Many of these are things that we as hobbyists observe every day in our aquariums!

A lab study I came upon found out that, when leaves are saturated in water, biofilm is at it's peak when other nutrients (i.e.; nitrate, phosphate, etc.) tested at their lowest limits. This is interesting to me, because it seems that, in our botanical-style, blackwater aquariums, biofilms tend to occur early on, when one would assume that these compounds are at their highest concentrations, right? And biofilms are essentially the byproduct of bacterial colonization, meaning that there must be a lot of "food" for the bacteria at some point if there is a lot of biofilm, right?

More questions...

Does this imply that the biofilms arrive on the scene and peak out really quickly; an indication that there is actually less nutrient in the water? Is the nutrient bound up in the biofilms? And when our fishes and other animals consume them, does this provide a significant source of sustenance for them?

Hmm...?

Oh, and here is another interesting observation:

When leaves fall into streams, field studies have shown that their nitrogen content typically will increase. Why is this important? Scientists see this as evidence of microbial colonization, which is correlated by a measured increase in oxygen consumption. This is interesting to me, because the rare "disasters" that we see in our tanks (when we do see them, of course, which fortunately isn't very often at all)- are usually caused by the hobbyist adding a really large quantity of leaves at once, resulting in the fishes gasping at the surface- a sign of...oxygen depletion?

Makes sense, right? 

These are interesting clues about the process of decomposition of leaves when they enter into our aquatic ecosystems. They have implications for our use of botanicals and the way we manage our aquariums. I think that the simple fact that pH and oxygen tend to go down quickly when leaves are  initially submerged in pure water during lab tests gives us an idea as to what to expect. A lot of the initial environmental changes will happen rather rapidly, and then stabilize over time. Which of course, leads me to conclude that the development of sufficient populations of organisms to process the incoming botanical load is a critical part of the establishment of our botanical-style aquariums.

Fungal populations are as important in the process of breaking down leaves and botanical materials in water as are higher organisms, like insects and crustaceans, which function as "shredders." So the “shredders” – the animals which feed upon the materials that fall into the streams, process this stuff into what scientists call “fine particulate organic matter.”

And that's where fungi and other microorganisms  make use of the leaves and materials, processing them into fine sediments. Allochthonous material can also include dissolved organic matter (DOM) carried into streams and re-distributed by water movement.

And the process happens surprisingly quickly.

In experiments carried out in tropical  rainforests in Venezuela, decomposition rates were really fast, with 50% of leaf mass lost in less than 10 days! Interesting, but is it tremendously surprising to us as botanical-style aquarium enthusiasts? I mean, we see leaves begin to soften and break down in a matter of a couple of weeks- with complete breakdown happening typically in a month or so for many leaves. And biofilms, fungi, and algae are still found in our aquariums in significant quantities throughout the process.

So, what's this all mean? What are the implications for aquariums? 

I think it means that we need to continue to foster the biological diversity of animals in our aquariums- embracing life at all levels- from bacteria to fungi to crustaceans to worms, and ultimately, our fishes...All forming the basis of a closed ecosystem, and perhaps a "food web" of sorts for our little aquatic microcosms. It's a very interesting  concept- a fascinating field for research for aquarists, and we all have the opportunity to participate in this on a most intimate level by simply observing what's happening in our aquariums every day!

Now, I understand that this is an aggregation of a lot of facts coming from different directions, being interpreted for our purposes. However, these interesting tidbits of knowledge are things that we can utilize to correlate what we observe every day in our aquariums, and to better understand the actual function of them, aren't they?

It goes beyond just the interesting "look" of our blackwater/brackish, botanical-style aquariums...it is a way of understanding and embracing the processes which occur within them, and allowing all of the life forms which reside within them to benefit from them.

Stay patient. Stay engaged. Stay curious. Stay observant. Stay methodical. Stay diligent...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Vivarium "cross-training" and the fish geek...A new "jumping off point?"

As I often do, I contemplate ways of setting up our botanical-style blackwater and brackish aquariums in different ways. I tend to focus on that concept of "functional aesthetics", which we've talked about a lot on these pages.

It's the idea of creating an aquascape that is not only good-looking and interesting, but one which provides environmental enrichment and ecological advantages for its resident fish population.

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

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

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

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

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

And frog/herp enthusiasts love decaying leaves and botanicals as much as we do! If they were into fishes, you KNOW they'd be working with blackwater/brackish, botanical-style aquariums! How could you not want to study some of their technique? 🤓

And the process takes time and patience, as you might expect- just like what we do-yet the results are well worth it. We're familiar with this concept, aren't we? Vivarium enthusiasts respect not only the composition and "construction" of these habitats- they very much embrace their complex biological function. When the soils and plants and water features (often little waterfalls and such) are completed, these are some of the most engaging 'scapes of any kind that you'll ever encounter.

Oh, and botanicals and leaf litter.... 😍 Yeah.

And, of course, for us fish geeks- there are many lessons to be learned from our frog/herp enthusiast friends that we can benefit from. Perhaps one of the biggest takeaways for me from studying these builds is a realization that what these guys are doing is literally building, from the ground up, a forest floor! 

With my obsession about seasonally inundated forest floor habitats for our tropical fishes, it becomes quite obvious why I'm so enamoured with them, right? There's a lot to "unpack" and incorporate into focused, fully aquatic displays, IMHO. 

By studying what these guys do and incorporating similar techniques and concepts into our pure aquatic builds (be they full-on aquariums or paludariums), I think we could come up with some truly incredible-looking and functioning displays which could, quite literally, break new ground for our fishkeeping work!

You could easily incorporate many of the things we've already talked about- careful selection of hardscape materials and aquatic /terrestrial soil combinations, riparian or true aquatic plants, botanically-enriched substrates, leaves, seed pods, palm fronds, etc., and create a remarkably realistic "dry" forest which you simply and literally "add water" to for an extremely accurate representation of nature.

The idea of building an aquarium as you would a vivarium and flooding it may not be some breakthrough concept; however, I think there is enough inspiration and ideation there to motivate aquarium hobbyists to contemplate this. I mean, a flooded forest floor aquarium is best created by building the damn forest floor first, as opposed to filling a tank with water and working "backwards", right? 

I think so! 

And doing some studying of the rain forests in the geographic area that you're interested in replicating is never a bad thing, right? These dynamic, often threatened environments are critical to the health of our planet, and I could hardly imagine a more useful way for a fish geek to learn more about their place in our aquariums than to attempt to replicate some aspects of it in an aquascape, right?

Approaching an aquarium from this different angle by "cross-training" with frog/herp enthusiasts' techniques is a very solid approach. The crossover potential is there, as is a pretty good understanding of how these features can be recreated in captivity. A merging of the two hobby specialties and further developing techniques that draw from both disciplines is exciting and beneficial for the hobby.

Where water meets land has always been a very special place..A literal jumping off spot into the aquatic world. In this case, it would be a starting point on another evolution in the art and science of botanical-style, blackwater aquariums.

Time to flex those creative 'scaping muscles and look at things from a slightly different angle.

Who's in?

Stay inspired. Stay bold. Stay creative. Stay open-minded. Stay curious. Stay resourceful...

And Stay Wet. (or partially dry, as necessary!) 

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Why do we dislike water exchanges so much?

Ever noticed that there are certain aspects of the hobby that we as aquarists simply don't like to hear? Things that come up. Stuff we are supposed to do.

Practices that are "mandatory." 

And it's part of the game...It's stuff that's been pounded into our heads collectively for decades. And for each and every "golden rule" or "recommended best practice", there are exceptions, "in additions to...", modifications, and incredible numbers of reasons why the "rule" should be banished altogether from our culture...

I receive a lot of questions about various topics from all sorts of hobbyists. Recently, I have fielded a number of queries about husbandry in blackwater, botanical-style aquariums; specifically, practices which I thought should be required for us to follow in order to achieve success. 

Now, I'll be the first to tell you that I despise "rules" in this hobby in the strict sense. However, I do love best practices. I love nature's rules, which govern everything we do. In fact, I'd venture to guess that we perhaps spend more time trying to circumvent natures 's "rules."

And you know the one that I"m talking about specifically:

Water exchanges.

Like, this is probably the number one universal "let's try to get around this" item in the aquarium hobby. For whatever reason, we as a culture seem to be remarkably adverse to performing water exchanges. I mean, to some extent, I get it. They are somewhat tedious for some people, require a bit of planning, some manual labor, and extra towels! 

That being said, I think we tend to not really focus on the positives of water exchanges. I don't need to rehash that stuff here, but it really makes sense, right? However, when you look at the sheer amount of products that are marketed to "eliminate or reduce" water exchanges, and the insane amount of hobbyist-generated discussion around ways to accomplish the same, you realize that there is SOMETHING there. 

Why do we dislike them so much?

So, is it the sheer drudgery of water exchanges? The manual labor? The potential mess? Some sort of desire to just focus on other, more interesting aspects of aquarium care and husbandry? Over the years, in both my writings and practices, I've thought of ways how to represent water exchanges as one of the joys of aquarium keeping- You know, stuff like, "You're re-setting the chemical parameters of your tan when you do a water exchange!" or, "Water exchanges simulate natural rain and influx/outflow of water in wild habitats!" Or even, "Water exchanges allow you to regularly interact on an intimate basis with your aquarium!"

Like, I can put a positive spin on this- but the bottom line is that aquarists almost universally seem to hate them and accept them as a necessary evil...and spend lots of time, money, and effort on ways to make them easier or eliminate them altogether...

Now, this is rather curious: Hobbyists who play in speciality fields- like breeding, or "high tech planted tanks", most reefers, and our botanical-style aquarium crowd- seem to embrace water exchanges as just part of the game. Like, you will typically not see tremendous efforts to circumvent them being made- at least not publicly! 

We probably have reconciled- particularly as botanical-style aquarium enthusiasts, that water exchanges have huge value to what we do...and they are simply part of the game. 

Further, I can't help but think that the idea of water exchanges can simply be viewed with a different mind set. Really looking to nature and attempting to view them as more-or-less a simulation of how natural systems work.

I think it's really that simple! 

If you embrace the botanical-style aquarium idea and like it for the simulation of nature, then it goes without saying that the water exchanges we execute further represent this, it becomes a lot easier to stomach the idea of siphon hoses, lugging around buckets of water, and the occasional (?) spill?

More to come on this. 

In the mean time...

Stay diligent. Stay focused. Stay curious. Stay methodical...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Going through phases...

Most of you who read my meandering know that I spend a great deal of time focusing on, postulating about, and talking half-authoritatively about what I believe are the "evolutionary" phases and processes of botanical-style, blackwater/brackish aquariums. And I think it's because there is so much about them that differs significantly from the way a traditional aquarium establishes itself, matures, functions, and...evolves.

In general, our aquariums break in and mature, they sort of go through phases, don't they? I mean, sure- there is the brand spoken' new, "first water" phase, where the tank is essentially biologically at "near zero", with freshly-added sand, wood, etc. Likely, if you're playing with botanicals, you're adding them at this time, too. And then there is that initial phase, when the first intentionally added life forms (often simply bacteria from either some old filter media or one of those bacteria-in-a-bottle products) make their appearance. And of course, then we have the addition fishes!

And then it goes on from there.

Now, this idea of breaking in and cycling aquariums has been understood, analyzed, and studied since the dawn of modern aquarium keeping. Sure, there might be a dozen different variations of the sequences and details, but essentially it's all the same. 

The phases that I am interested in, for the context of this discussion, are the ones which seem to occur long after an aquarium is cycled, "broken-in", and otherwise well-established- specifically in the context of this botanical-style aquarium we play with. These more mature phases are fascinating to me. These represent the aquarium at a point of ecological "maturity", when the biological processes that are so crucial are stable and well-established.

Without going in to any one of the dozens of aspects of a "mature" aquarium's definition, let's just say it's a system that you're not on edge about every day, and leave it at that! 

Of course, an aquarium which utilizes botanicals as a good part of its hardscape follows a set of phases, too. And I've found that once a botanical-style aquarium (blackwater or brackish) hits that sort of "stable mode", it's just that- stable. You won't see wildly fluctuating pH leaves, nitrates, phosphates, etc. To a certain degree, the aquarium has achieved some sort of "biological equilibrium."

Now, one thing that's unique about the botanical-style approach is that we tend to accept the idea of decomposing materials accumulating in our systems. We understand that they act, to a certain extent, as "fuel" for the micro and macrofauna which reside in the aquarium. I have long been one the belief that if you decide to let the botanicals remain in your aquarium to break down and decompose completely, that you shouldn't change course by suddenly removing the material all at once...

Why? 

Well, I think my theory is steeped in the mindset that you've created a little ecosystem, and if you start removing a significant source of someone's food (or for that matter, their home!), there is bound to be a net loss of biota...and this could lead to a disruption of the very biological processes that we aim to foster.

Okay, it's a theory...But I think I might be on to something, maybe? So, like here is my theory in more detail: If you look at the botanical-style aquarium (like any aquarium, of course) as a little "microcosm", with processes and life forms dependent upon each other for food, shelter, and other aspects of their existence. And I really believe that the environment of this type of aquarium, because it relies on botanical materials (leaves, seed pods, etc.), is more signficantly influenced by the amount and composition of said material.

Just like in natural aquatic ecosystems...

The botanical materials are a real "base" for the little microcosm we create. And of course, by virtue of the fact that they contain other compounds, like tannins, humic substances, lignin, etc., they also serve to influence the water chemistry of the aquarium, the extent to which is dictated by a number of other things, including the "starting point" of the source water used to fill the tank.

So, in short- I think the presence of botanicals in our aquariums is multi-faceted, highly influential, and of extreme import for the stability, ecological balance, and efficiency of the tank.

And then there is that other tangential theory I've played with in my head for a while- and unfortunately, not being a scientist, I have no way of testing it: I can't help but wonder if a layer of materials such as leaves performs some degree of denitrification, much as a deep sand bed might in a reef aquarium. I mean, you have a matrix in which microorganisms, fungi, and small crustaceans can grow, feed, and multiply. And conditions within a layer of leaves might approximate those found within a layer of fine sand, including possible aerobic zones, void spaces, etc...

Could this be?

Could a bed of leaves and botanicals be the equivalent of a deep sand bed for denitrification and other nutrient-utilization processes? I think it's a possibility. I know that there have been some studies of natural deep leaf litter beds and theories postulates about them performing such functions, as well as influencing the pH of their surrounding waters via the process of fermentation.

There's a lot there for a knowledgable and ambitious hobbyist/scientist to work with.  Of course, on the most simple scale, we as hobbyists can test parts of the theory for ourselves...I can fall back on my couple of decades of playing with these tanks and personally never have had wildly fluctuating environmental parameters, high nitrates, etc. I just haven't...despite what seems like it should be something that goes with the territory: I mean, we keep tanks with decomposing leaves- something that would freak out a lot of hobbyists who haven't made the "mental shifts" that we have!

Damn, I think this is cool stuff; I just am not sure how to scientifically validate my theories, lol. Been thinking a lot about it as I manage my current brackish-water aquarium, now about 6 months old.

Nonetheless, I think botanical-style tanks go through phases in their "evolution" just like more traditional systems. Yes, they look differently...because they fundamentally function differently. Or more accurately, they are allowed to function differently! 

What cool discoveries are yet to be made in this area? What processes will be amplified, exposed, and studied, based on our acceptance of what nature really does; really looks like, and really can do?

I don't know just yet- but I'm pretty excited thinking about it!

Stay thoughtful. Stay bold. Stay engrossed. Stay appreciative. Stay enthused...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Taking stock: The idea of aquatic diversity, density, and the fish geek's remarkable ability to make things more complicated than they should be...

Have you noticed that, as aquarists, we tend to approach the stocking of our aquariums as an exact science of sorts?

Like so many hobbyists, I personally enjoy virtually every aspect of aquarium-keeping- yes- even water exchanges! However, one of the parts of this game that always drives me a bit crazy is developing and executing on a stocking plan! Now, it's not the aspect of, "I want more fishes than my tank can handle!" No, I'm pretty disciplined about that going in. With me, it's more of a question of, "Which of the 14 candidate fishes do I want to add to the tank?"

Is this a unique "Scott-Fellman-is-a-bit-wierd" problem, or do we all have this, to some extent? I suspect we all do...Okay, I HOPE we all do!

I mean, I generally know the types of fishes I want.

As you all probably know, I am a huge fan of characins, especially in my botanical-influenced "blackwater" aquariums. 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?

Do I go for Rasbora instead of characins?

Or... 

It's overthinking at its finest...and it's enough to make my head spin. It's the same with most varieties of fishes that we maintain in the hobby, isn't it?

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 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 distracting! Seems like it's always nicer to have more specimens of less species.

If we think about how fishes are distributed in nature, 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. 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. In the Apistogramma study it was similar, in that the fiefs 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 few of us want to..). 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 i 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...So...

There are numerous factors that contribute to population diversity and density of fishes in nature. In captivity...very few, right? I mean, 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. 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. I'm about 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 dance 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...

I fantasize about the 500-fish school of Tetras someday as the sole occupant of a larger tank- but the reality is the fish geek in me finds that a pretty tough pill to swallow!

Arrghhhh...More tanks. The solution is more tanks. That's it.

So I'm now narrowing down my final choices for my home blackwater tank...seeing how many of which fish makes the cut. Yeah, that's my "task."

This is going to be interesting. And a bit agonizing...

Todays dissertation on density, diversity, and just me being a general pain in the ass.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Stay curious. Stay disciplined. Stay engaged. Stay creative. Stay patient...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

It's okay to make a little mess sometimes. It can lead to something beautiful and cool.

It's very interesting to see the idea of botanical-style, blackwater aquariums starting  to take root in the hobby. The once-obscure, largely misunderstood idea of creating biologically diverse blackwater aquariums by utilizing leaves and other botanical materials is gaining acceptance rapidly. 

In fact, we're really amused at the use of the term "botanicals" to describe...well, botanicals- when the previous descriptor for these materials collectively was- well, there wasn't one! Now, as we've said repeatedly over the years, no single person or company "invented" the concept of tossing these materials into the aquarium tocrate a certain aesthetic and/or environmental impact. 

We have been asked by so many if we "invented" the idea, which is both flattering and frightening at the same time, lol. And of course we didn't invent the idea. What we DID do is study, curate, and elevate the use of these materials. We've attempted to go beyond just grabbing "a little of this and a bit of that" to toss into our tanks. Really, sort of creating a little world of our own around this stuff, which is part of our  "creation story" here.

Perhaps the most rewarding thing to me as a fish geek and business owner is that so many of you are interested in some of the same stuff that I am- or at least, curious about it...and you've found that Tannin is a sort of "home" for your interest! We've developed a little "tribe", if you will, of original thinkers, tinkerers, innovators, and rebels. Everyday aquarists with big ideas and a love for all things aquatic.

I love that!

I love the idea of decaying leaves, botanicals, wood. I love the influence that these materials have over the aquatic environment. It's earthy, organic, and natural, in both aesthetics and function. 

It does sound a bit strange, I admit, musing and waxing poetic about this stuff, but embracing it and studying the way many of the natural environments which some of our most popular tropical aquarium fishes hail from inspired me immensely to experiment. After a lifetime of fish keeping, I developed an interest in more accurately portraying these unique environments.

I began wondering why these types of tanks were seen as a novelty; why every "blackwater biotope" tank shown on the forums was greeted with both accolades for being different, and polite, but reserved discussion about the aesthetics being a bit "odd."

You know, those sort of "hushed whispers" normally reserved for things that most don't approve of, or even taker pity upon! 

And of course, the fact that the aquarium world, by and large, questioned the look and performance of this type of aquarium became an irresistible inspiration for me to experiment!

And it wasn't just because I was drawn to the look, feel, function, diversity, and dynamic of the leaf litter, blackwater stream environment.

It was because I knew, almost instinctively, that this seemingly random, messy, and sometimes "transitory" environmental niche has potential to change the way we keep and breed many fishes. This "New Botanical- Style" aquarium is an aesthetic, a research project, and a mindset, all rolled into one.

And everyone can contribute to this interesting area of aquatic practice!

And we are really excited about the increasing interest and momentum in the area of brackish-water, botanical-style aquariums. We're seeing a lot of cool stuff starting to come out of  our "Estuary" line, and the future is exciting in that arena, too, as we collectively start to redefine what a brackish-water aquarium is all about!

Every aquarium that is shared.

Every idea that is thought about and executed. Every "anomalous spawning event." All of these things contribute to the " body of work" of the botanical-style aquarium. 

And I love the fact that this approach is still seen as somewhat "contrarian" to the more conventional aquarium interpretation of a "natural" aquarium, despite the growing global popularity. I'm fascinated by the "mental adjustments" that we need to make to accept the aesthetic and the processes of natural decay, fungal growth, the appearance of biofilms, and how these affect what's occurring in the aquarium.

I love the fact that it needs to be managed; it's not a static, "set-and-forget-", aquascaping-contest-type of aquarium. It's every bit as dynamic as a "traditional" high-tech, or so-called "natural-style" aquarium. You need to monitor, observe, react, tweak, etc. Bioload, pH, temperature, and other environmental parameters dance together to make it work...just like any other aquarium.

If done in a haphazard, careless  fashion, without an eye towards long-term functionality, an aquarium set up in the "New Botanical-style"gradually falls away into a sort of..."mess."

And that might not necessarily be a "bad" thing, either!

I've learned what many of you have over your fish keeping careers: The occasional "mess" is- or often leads to -something beautiful, functional, permanent, and utterly engrossing. So the term "mess", as we might commonly use it, should not be viewed as negative. It's more of a "transition", IMHO! "Mess" is actually a vehicle to propel us in different aquascaping directions.

A reflection on what nature really looks like!

And making those mental adjustments along the way is a healthy, normal part of the art of aquarium keeping. It has been forever...Since we've started Tannin three years ago, many hobbyists have shared their cool aquatic displays and aquascaping projects with us. Projects which reflect your individual taste, skill, and the merging of aesthetics and natural processes.

We love that!

Some are traditional concepts with a few new twists (awesome planted tanks, or more natural-looking African stream biotopes, for example), some are the embodiment of ideas we don't see enough of (like ripariums, vivariums, and paludariums). Still others are experimental, off-the-wall concepts that inspire, educate, and delight.

I love that the real possibility of making a "mess" exists at every turn when we as hobbyists try something new and different. As we've talked about previously, a "mess" in this sense, although occasionally tragic, usually just means that the original idea didn't work "as conceptualized"; that further enhancement, modification, and iteration is required. Or perhaps, nature "edited" the idea into a format that functions better for the longer term...Perhaps different than you originally thought about, but way better.

Maybe it changed. Maybe it differed from your original expectations...But it was likely for the better...

Yeah, it got a bit "messy."

And that's okay. It's part of the game. 

It's okay to make a little "mess" sometimes. It can lead to something beautiful.

Today's simple, but important-to-grasp idea.

Stay excited. Stay innovative. Stay curious. Stay open-minded. Stay creative...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics