The Tint

Some cold, hard advice during a very warm time of year.

Well, Summer seems to be taking hold around the world. It's pretty hot. That being said, sometimes, it's important to look at our hobby in the cold light of truth...You know...reality check. 

It's never a bad idea. Take it from me- your fish geek buddy...

I've been told by friends that I have sort of developed an almost "life coach" kind of personality of being everyone's aquarium-keeping confidant over the years. I know a lot of you turn to me for advice, discussion...a shoulder to cry on...and for stuff for your aquariums, too (well, that's a good thing!). Like Mary Poppins, most of my advice is dispensed with a "spoonful of sugar", and it goes down fairly easily, if not, on occasion, controversially.

Occasionally, I'll simply beat the shit out of something. And that's pretty healthy, really. There are way, way too many "how to.." articles in this hobby that dispense sugar-coated information and re-churned ideas based on the "way we've done it.." No challenges or suggestions to try some different approaches...or even to question anything. Okay, it's safe. Much of the "accepted" advice is terrific for everyone. And, there is a lot of great information out there. However, I still think that the stuff that isn't said as often (or at least, written about) is every bit as useful as the stuff you constantly read about everywhere. Besides, it's a bit more interesting to be direct and challenging at times, right?

Sure, over the years, I have always been upbeat and positive, and will continue to be that way. It's just that, when you see the same mistakes being made, disappointments being unnecessarily experienced by fellow hobbyists, you eventually reach a point where it's time to ditch the unicorns, smiley faces, and stuffed animals and dispense some blunt advice now and again. 

Sugar-coating our own follies and giving the typical warm fuzzy isn't always what you need. I realized, both in my personal practice, and in the "advice" I've been dispensing to fellow hobbyists of late, that I've had to take a more pragmatic approach to really do everyone some good.

So the tone of this piece might be a bit more, um... "blunt" than what you're used to. On the other hand, it's formulated to be helpful, not patronizing, and that means we sometimes all have to get some "tough love" in order to progress in the hobby. It's a distillation of advice sifted from a whole lot of emails and phone calls I've received over the past few months, peppered with a sprinkling of recent personal experience and practice.

I think it might help some of us. It might tick off some of us, too. It might be typical easily digested "Fellman-Fluff", and that's good, also! So here is some of my better advice, and I think much of it is worth at least pondering:

If it’s dying- get it the f--- out of the tank…Yeah- that sounds really bad, and it almost sounds like I’m endorsing a euthanasia protocol of sorts. Not exactly. However, much of this advice arose out of necessity. In the coral farming game, for example, if you have a struggling coral frag that might have flatworms, red bugs, or some other pest, you simply cant risk letting it take down other frags. And its the same in a display freshwater tank, IMHO. Ditch dying plants, etc.

Remove sick or struggling fishes for treatment elsewhere. It's not fun. It often involves ripping the hell out of your aquascape. What's the alternative? A full-on disease outbreak, or even worse? Remove the sick lifeforms. Treat them in a dedicated hospital tank. It's humane and responsible. Spontaneous "self cures" seldom happen. You KNOW this. You HAVE to. ’The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one…” (OMG did I just quote Mr. Spock from Star Trek? Yeah, I did.)

Ditch really bad ideas…quickly. Yup, kind of like the Facebook corporate mantra of “move fast and break things”, I think it’s time we let stuff go that doesn’t work. Life it too short. I am not saying to disregard patience (Lord knows, I’ve written a ton about that over the past few years right in this forum). All I’m saying is that you need to let go of ideas that simply aren’t working out, taxing time, energy, money, space, and “mind power.” Better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all…but better to let something that was failing die a quick death than to have it function as a “black hole” of your hobby energy (and budget!). Harsh words coming from me, but they’re true. If an idea doesn’t work after numerous iterations and a lot of time and draining of resources...Kill it. KILL IT! Move on to the next one...

Seek advice and counsel from other hobbyists, but don’t talk anyone’s word as THE ultimate. Because the reality is, there is plenty to learn in this hobby from a lot of people. There are people out there in "Aquarium-Keeping Land" doing stuff you never even heard of, and maybe they are having great results. Does that mean you should listen to everything they say and try to replicate their efforts, or embrace all of their philosophies? Of course not. No way. Take everything- from everyone- in this hobby- with a grain of salt. Learn to evaluate aquarium keeping strategies in the context of “Will this work for ME?” Far better than to just blindly follow ANYONE. 

The counterpoint. Now, all of that being said, DO make use of the resources that are out there. For example, I get lots of emails and pm's asking "How do I start a blackwater aquarium?" And of course, I advise that our web site has hundreds of blogs and a ton of information to explore about every aspect of botanical-style, blackwater/brackish aquariums.  Make use of it.

Don't take it as "the gospel", but use it as a starting point for your exploration in this realm of the hobby. It's distillation of years of experimentation and playing with this stuff on our part, and of our growing community from around the world. And it's all free. You don't have to even buy stuff from us to get access to it. This is a resource for the botanical-style aquarium community. 

If you want something on your tank done right…do it…the right way. Yeah. Doesn’t matter if you’re the guy doing it, or if you hire someone else. Just make sure it’s done correctly. I’ve seen so many people put time and effort into aquatic projects that were not only doomed to fail, but they simply couldn’t work by virtue of design, function, or even budget. This sort of dovetails with my third point about killing bad ideas…

Okay, it’s an "addendum", really: If you’re not going to do something the right way, just don’t bother. Really. Ouch. It sounds negative, I know- but you’ll be much happier in the long run, trust me. You need to read and learn and commit to a process before you try a new approach, or throw stuff into your tank and expect some sort of result. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard aquarists tell me that “(Insert product here) doesn’t work. I’ve tried it. It sucks.” Upon further investigation, it turns out that the aquarist was using the product, but either not in the correct manner, or only part of it. If you’re using a regimen or system that needs to have multiple components or systems working together, use them! You can’t expect a complete result out of a partial effort.

Today’s full-on "slap" of cold reality, courtesy of your local aquarium-keeping enfant terrible!

Summer can be a hot time of year...and it's always a good time for some cold, hard advice. I hope you take this in the spirit in which it's intended, and benefit as a result!

Stay honest with yourself. Stay bold. Stay committed. Stay engaged...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Small thinking for big aquariums...

You hear me talk about this idea all the time...keeping small fish in large aquariums. Now, this is not some kind of unique, revolutionary position in the aquarium hobby. However, I think it's something we take for granted at the least, or simply assume is  more-or-less common practice.

It isn't, IMHO.

I was inspired to write this piece by a video I watched not too long ago on YouTube, where the talented fish geek/You Tuber set up a bunch of tanks- many of them  larger, and stocked with...lots of big 'ol fishes. He was talking about all of the emails he was receiving from fans who wanted to see him keep this-or-that "monster fish" in a specific large tank...I suppose a lot of people call this "aspirational", and who am I to question peoples' tastes?

I'm the guy who likes brown water, decomposing leaves, and biofilms, right?

Well, I will be honest. I found it a bit...(ouch) cliched...

Cue hateful emails.

I really couldn't think of another word for it. I mean, this was  so...expected.

And don't get it twisted.  I'm not hating on the idea...Well, not entirely!

I'm writing this as I'm in serious planning for a larger tank botanical pack, at the request of a number of hobbyists, so I'm certainly not biased against large tanks... Perhaps I'm a bit more biased against some larger fishes...However, what really makes me curious is this "I have a big tank so I HAVE to keep large fishes in it" equivocation that so many of us have in our minds.

And yeah, I have a custom-built 152 US-gallon, 40"x40"x22" tank in my garage, waiting for the right idea...and I've had 240 and 225 US-gallon tanks over the last decade as well, so this isn't written from the perspective of a guy who thinks a "40 breeder" is like, really freaking BIG! 

I mean, have you noticed that, typically, when an aquarist keeps a larger aquarium, say a 75-150 gallon (283-378L), the inhabitants are almost always larger fishes? Now, again, this is logical, right? If you have the capacity to maintain larger fishes in your aquarium, it makes sense. And of course, a lot of people maintain larger aquariums specifically to keep larger fishes!

Just like the "nano tank" crowd keeps tiny fishes in their little boxes. Duh. The "chicken-or-the-egg" theory, I suppose. And my favorite are the arguments put forth by some of my fish geek friends who proffer, "Keeping tiny fishes in a huge tank is just a waste of space!"

Urghh, how can I argue with that?

Just look at the facts:

Cichlids, like the Mbuna are typically on the larger side, or keep serious territories or social orders which require larger tanks. Arowanna and other large "monster fishes" flat-out need large amounts of physical space. Others produce a lot of metabolic waste, and larger tanks are required for environmental stability and disolution of said waste.

Discus and Angels simply need large spaces to accommodate their vertical morphology, etc. Even full-sized specimens of my beloved Knifefishes need large aquariums if you intend to keep them for anything close to a natural life span without imposing cruelty on them.

The ethical arguments are fairly clear here. 

I totally get it.

Well, wait for just a second. I get it, but let's think about the aesthetics, too. Let's look at the other side of the coin...

Why would you NOT keep lots of little fishes in a big tank? And why are the "big" fishes seen as "aspirational", and smaller little guys are just sort of seen as...well..."basic" or something.?

Have you priced Tucanichtys tucano lately? Cha-Ching!

Or, have you ever seen a school of 200 Cardinal Tetras in a large planted aquarium? Rasbora?  Or (if you like your characins larger) a shoal of Congo Tetras? For that matter, who has the balls to create a 100 gallon tank dominated by a school of Ruby Tetras or even those aforementioned Tucano Tetras (if you have the financial means, that is?).

It would be pretty amazing, and I'll bet that even a lot of small-fish-hater hobbyists will at least make a passing complimentary statement, like, "That looks pretty cool."

And to you fellow reefers out there, we pretty much all agree that smaller fishes in big tanks are the way to go, right? Wait, don't answer that...

Okay, where am I going with this tortured discussion?

Well, I'm just giving my occasional encouragement to do the "big tank/small fishes" thing once in a while. I for nothing else besides the sheer novelty, think about the impressive scale it would provide...I mean, a lot of little fishes in a well-scaped large aquarium can be a pretty realistic representation of a natural Asian peat bog, Igapo, or a section of an African stream or temporal pool.

Etcetera.

You know, scaled-up versions of the smaller tanks we all play with.

There is no right or wrong. It's like arguing which color is better, blue or green (it's blue, BTW). 😜

I'm just curious who in our community is keeping, planning, or has kept a big tank with the little guys in it? Did you find it to be a "waste of space" like the argument goes, or was it/is it as impressive as I think it is?

In the end, it's all about what YOU like. What YOU want to keep. And most important, the needs of the fishes.

However, it is fun to ponder...And besides, small fishes are cooler. 

There, I said it. ✌️ Peace, out, mutha------s! 

Stay thoughtful. Stay curious. Stay opinionated...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

A little refresher...

Hard to believe we're past the halfway point of 2018, and in Tannin's third year of operations! It's been a fabulous growth trajectory...The blackwater/botanical "sector" of the hobby has gained a lot of momentum, with hobbyists all over the world trying new things all the time. We're pretty proud to have played a small part in helping to bring it "out of the darkness!"

Truth be told, our community (YOU guys!) did most of the "heavy lifting" here!

And we know that the idea of using leaves and other “aquatic botanicals” in aquariums is not exactly new.  It's not some "invention" by us, or anyone else. We'll hazard to guess that it just sort of happened by chance. One day, some fish breeder was looking for a way to simulate the natural waters where his/her fishes came from, threw in a few old leaves, and lo and behold- his fishes started looking better, showing stronger colors, breeding, etc. 

Yeah, no one can really claim to have “invented” the process, but our community is sort of hell-bent on perfecting it, right?

Botanical-rich environments are important and productive in nature.

The areas of leaf litter, in particular, foster an enormous variety of fishes. Some species of small Apistogramma, for example, almost exclusively inhabit the matrix of leaves and branches, and many other fishes, from Discus to Knifefishes, may spend their whole lives living in these biotopes without ever encountering an aquatic plant.

It’s a brown, murky world to them, and they're just fine with that! And apparently- so are we! 🤓

Now, we freely accept that, when you start throwing things like leaves, branches, seed pods, etc. into a closed aquarium system, there will be some impact on the pH, the color and clarity of the water, and, of course, the overall aesthetic.

It’s not for everyone, as we have discussed ad nauseam!

However, if you are looking for significantly different results from your breeders, trying to create a more realistic biotopic aquarium display, or are simply being a bad ass, and want to take the plunge into something different, botanical-style tanks are a good way to go!

You also need to understand that, if your goal is to create a "blackwater" aquarium with soft, acidic conditions and a lot of tannins (or if you're adding these materials to an existing aquarium with these types of conditions), that there are characteristics, practices, and implications that you need to be aware of.

Bad stuff CAN occasionally happen if you're not careful (and sometimes, even if you are). Patience, observation, and of course, monitoring are all essential components of a successful foray into blackwater, botanical-style systems.

And it stands to reason that if you're going with an acidic, low-alkalinity environment, you need to be aware that it's not "set and forget." You need to monitor basic water parameters, such as pH and alkalinity (hardness) on a regular basis. If you're not prepared to do this, maybe you just want to run a "hard-water/tinted" aquarium, with more of an aesthetic component provided by the botanicals than a chemical one.

No problem! it's a good, responsible compromise.

All of the scary-sounding caveats aside, we've found that, once they're established, blackwater aquariums are among the more stable, straightforward-to-manage systems you can own.

At the risk of sounding a bit crassly commercial, we offer what we hope is the widest variety of aquatic botanicals available anywhere, and we know that each one requires  some consideration and some preparation before use.

We'll revisit the most basic of preparation concepts for the benefit of anyone who's new to the game...It's evolving regularly, like everything else we do!

One sweeping generality, however: Always rinse any of our aquatic botanicals before use, even after boiling or soaking. By the way, a "post-boil soak" in fresh water with a bag of activated carbon is a recommended step, too. Although we obtain our products from sources known to be free of pollution, impurities and pesticides, you can never be too careful, and the extra step is worthwhile, in our opinion.  Any dirt and trapped organics can leach out just a bit more during this soak...

Also, to the dedicated "botanical lover", we make this recommendation that can preserve domestic tranquility: Purchase a nice quality cooking pot and some wooden spoons! Having your own dedicated "Aquatic Botanical Prep Pot" is a wise and thoughtful investment! 

And then there is the simple, but "cardinal rules" of botanical aquarium keeping:

Always go slowly- add a limited quantity of your botanicals to your aquarium at first, to gauge their impact on your animals.

Upon introduction to your aquarium, your botanicals will begin to soften and gradually break down...yep, that's right. They will decompose, just as they do in nature. Although many can last weeks; even months- some even years- in general, aquatic botanicals should be viewed as sort of "transient" residents of your aquatic community, and will periodically need to be replaced. All part of the charm and mystique!

Nothing ever goes exactly how we'd like with natural materials, and there are times when you'll think you've emptied a pile of yuck into your tank. Yeah, bring on the biofilms!

We're not 100% certain why, but in some systems, you'll get a heavy dose of "biofilms" all over your botanicals after they've been down a short time. These biofilms are caused by bacteria, and are not dangerous to your fishes. It's perfectly natural- you see it in the wild all the time- and accepting that you'll see this stuff in your tank s just part of the "mental stretch" we have to make when we play with botanicals in our aquaria.

Probably 90% of the time, it's like a "phase", and will ultimately dissipate without much in the way of intervention on your part. You can siphon it out as you see fit, or even employ some ornamental shrimp to graze on it (snails like 'em, too). Curiously enough, we've found through our experience and that of our customers that the biofilms tend not to occur as often when the water is already tannin-stained. So, perhaps "leaves first" is not a bad way to introduce botanicals into your system.

If you really can't handle the "biofilm phase", should it occur in your tank, we recommend pulling out botanicals, inspecting them, and then giving them a rinse/scrub with fresh water ( a soft toothbrush can help). After rinsing, we recommend a day or two soaking in a container of freshwater before replacing them in the tank.

As long as they don't have a nasty, hydrogen sulfide ("rotten egg") smell, you can re-introduce them without concern. Most of the time, pods will have an earthy, almost "potting soil-like" smell, even when they've been covered with nasty biofilm. If you're really having issues with your botanicals, contact us and we can figure out the best course of action together!

After the "biofilm phase", you will sometimes experience a "beard algae" phase, too (yay!), which will result in some of your botanicals covered in a coating of yucky algae. Fortunately, just when you think you're ready to cry and give up, the algae almost always spontaneously vanishes after a few weeks, with surprisingly minimal intervention on your part. Sure, you could scrub the stuff off, but it may simply come right back.

You could also incorporate some algae eating fish to help attack it (We've used Otocinculus cats for this purpose with great success, believe it or not!). In the end, it's simply about playing a "waiting game" should the algae rear its ugly head...Patience is important. In time, it will go away, although, much like in nature, you will almost always have some of this stuff in your system. It's kind of a part of this type of approach to aquariums, and is, believe it or not- natural, and very much a part of the aesthetic!  

Seriously.

Another annoying thing about botanicals is that there are many that simply won't sink, even after an hour or more of boiling. You can continue to leave them "steeping" in water for as long as it takes to "get 'em down", or you could put them in a mesh filter bag and keep them in your canister or outside power filter to continuously pass water over them. All of these tricks can help- and no doubt, you'll develop some of your own, too! 

Okay, we've given you the good, the bad, and the necessary...and the annoying- about preparing and using aquatic botanicals in your aquarium. There is still much we can all learn as more and more hobbyists work with them! It's an evolving art and process- one which we can all contribute to!

Stay intrigued. Stay excited. Stay engaged. Stay curious...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

In the shallows of streams...

It's no secret that we love small aquariums around here. For a lot of reasons, really...not the least of which is that they can serve as a sort of reliable and easy-to-iterate "test bed" for lots of new ideas. 

You're also likely aware of the fact that we're crazy about small, shallow bodies of water, right?

Especially little rivulets, pools, creeks, and forest streams. The kinds which have an accusation of leaves and botanical materials on the bottom.

You know, the kind where you'll find fishes!

Happily, such habitats exist all over the world, leaving us no shortage of inspiring places to attempt to replicate

In Africa. many of these little streams and pools are home to some of my fave fishes, killifish!

As mentioned above, these little jungle streams are really shallow, cutting gently through accumulations of leaves and forest debris.  Many are seasonal. The great killie documenter/collector, Col. Jorgen Scheel, precisely described the water conditions found in their habitat  as "...rather hot, shallow, usually stagnant & probably soft & acid."

Ah-ah! We know this territory pretty well, right?

I think we do...and understanding this type of habitat has lots of implications for creating very cool biotope-inspired aquariums. And why not make 'em for killifish?

So, for the most part, these fishes are often found in very shallow jungle streams. How shallow? Well, reports I've seen have stated that they're as shallow as 2 inches (5.08cm). That's really shallow. Seriously shallow! And, quite frankly, I'd call that more of a "rivulet" than a stream! "Virtually still, with a barely perceptible current..." was one description. That kind of makes my case.

What does that mean for those of us who keep small aquariums?

Well, it gives us some inspiration, huh? Ideas for tanks that attempt to replicate and study these compelling shallow environments...

Now, I don't expect you to set up a tank with a water level that's 2 inches deep..And it would be pretty cool...For more of us, perhaps a 3.5"-4" (8.89-10.16cm) deep depth is something that can work? Totally doable. There are some pretty small commercial aquariums that aren't much deeper than 8" (20.32cm), and you could adapt other containers for this purpose, right? 

We could do this with some of the very interesting South American or Asian habitats, too...Shallow tanks, deep leaf litter, and even some botanicals for good measure.

How about a long, low aquarium, like the ADA "Cube Garden 60F", which has dimensions of 24"x12"x7" (60x30x18cm)? You would only fill this tank to a depth of around 5 inches ( 12.7cm) at the most. But you'd use a lot of leaves to cover the bottom...

And another idea for you...Nano brackish tanks!

Here is a pic of my experimental brackish water Epiplatys annulatus setup from several years back. (Yes, there are actually some populations which come from brackish coastal streams! ohhhh!) This one I actually filled to the top, used a fine layer of fine, white sand, and kept the water at a specific gravity of 1.003. It was kind of an odd dichotomy, really, because I used some botanical items in the sort of "island" of rock I created in the lower light area on one side.

You can guess where the fish spent most of their time! I incorporated what I now call "Mariposa Pods" a few little "Savu Pods", and some Coco Curls into the "island", which had a mix of terrestrial and true aquatic plants, with slightly different water. I guess you could say that it was kind of my first attempt at a botanical-style brackish water aquarium! Not exactly an aquascaping triumph, but an execution on  an idea that was in my head for a long time.

(Yeah, I've always liked pushing in different directions!)

You could, of course, do a far more refined version of this early experiment, one with mangroves and leaf litter and mud- all of the elements we've talked about, but in a small scale.

Yes, this is another blog where I'm sort of all over the place; must be the early pre-coffee start.

The big takeaway here?

Research jungle stream or pool ecology. Learn which fishes are found in them. Try replicating those super-shallow aquatic environments with nano tanks. Keep the water in the tank shallow. Add leaves and stuff. Observe. Explore. Enjoy. 

Stay excited. Stay curious. Stay creative. Stay engaged...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Chasing the food...A most compelling aspect of our blackwater habitats and the aquariums which replicate them

With this whole blackwater thing really starting to explode worldwide, it's fun to look at some of the different habitats that we can draw inspiration from. Geographically, few areas of the world make one think of "blackwater" more than South America- specifically, The Amazonian region. 

And why not, right?

This is an area that spans tens of thousands of square kilometers and has an enormous variety of what environmental scientists call "macrohabittas." Many of these which are better known to aquarists are comprised of what we call "whitewater", which is typically pH neutral, rich in nutrients and suspended matter (like silt and such). These are commonly associated with the so-called varzea- seasonally flooded forests inundated by whitewater rivers.

And of course, the habitats which fascinate us the most are the macrohabitats of the blackwater habitats associated with the igapo flooded forests- waters extraordinarily rich in humic substances, relatively poor in nutrients, and quite acidic! 

And, as we've discussed previously, the fish population and diversity in these igapo regions, long thought to be somewhat "impoverished", is actually very diverse and significant. Studies have revealed that many fishes are found in the submerged litter bank of these regions, forming dense local populations which are specialized and live on the allochthonous inputs (defined as material that imported into an ecosystem from outside of it) from the inundated forest floors.

The fishes have adapted to live in an environment with varying leaf and wood density, and seasonal variations in depth.

And the food production of these habitats!

The  seasonal flooding brings fishes into contact with a greater abundance and diversity of allochthonous food resources, especially within forested watersheds, and this is significant to their life cycle. 

With regards to the types of fishes we find in these habitats, scientists have found repeatedly that the majority seem to be characins, followed by Loricariids, cichlids, and "everything else."

Let's just touch a bit more on the allochthonous inputs that our fishes utilize in the wild, and can no doubt benefit from In the aquarium, as well.

One of the important food resources in natural aquatic systems are what are known as macrophytes- aquatic plants which grow in and around the water, emerged, submerged, floating, etc.

Not only do macrophytes contribute to the physical structure and spatial organization of the water bodies they inhabit, they are primary contributors to the overall biological stability of the habitat, conditioning the physical parameters of the water. Of course, anyone who keeps a planted aquarium could attest to that, right? 

One of the interesting things about macrophytes is that, although there are a lot of fishes which feed directly upon them, the plants themselves are perhaps most valuable as a microhabitat for algae, zooplankton, and other organisms upon which fishes feed on. Small aquatic crustaceans seek out the shelter of plants for both the food resources they provide (i.e.; zooplankton, diatoms) and for protection from predators (yeah, the fishes!). And leaf litter, botanical materials, etc. serve as perfect  shelter for these macrophytes in which to grow and multiply.

Perhaps most interesting to us blackwater/botanical-style aquarium people are epiphytes. These are organisms which grow on the surface of plants or other substrates and derive their nutrients from the surrounding environment. They are important in the nutrient cycling and uptake in both nature and the aquarium, adding to the biodiversity, and serving as an important food source for many species of fishes.

In the case of our aquatic habitats, like streams, ponds, and inundated forests, epiphytes are abundant, and many fishes will spend large amounts of time foraging the biocover on tree trunks, branches, leaves, and other botanical materials. Although most animals use leaves and tree branches for shelter and not directly as a food item, grazing on this epiphytic growth is very important. Some organisms, such as nematodes and chironomids ("Bloodworms!") will dig into the leaf structures and feed on the tissues themselves, as well as the fungi and bacteria found in and among them. These organisms, in turn, become part of the diet for many fishes.

And the resulting detritus produced by the "processed" and decomposing pant matter is considered by many aquatic ecologists to be an extremely significant food source for many fishes, especially in areas such as Amazonia and Southeast Asia, where the detritus is considered an essential factor in the food webs of these habitats. And of course, if you observe the behavior of many of your fishes in the aquarium, such as characins, cyprinids, Loricarids, and others, you'll see that in between feedings, they'll spend an awful lot of time picking at "stuff" on the bottom of the tank. In a botanical style aquarium, this is a pretty common occurrence, and I believe an important benefit of this type of system. 

I am of the opinion that a botanical-style aquarium, complete with its decomposing leaves and seed pods, can serve as a sort of "buffet" for many fishes- even those who's primary food sources are known to be things like insects and worms and such. Detritus and the organisms within it can provide an excellent supplemental food source for our fishes!

The dynamic of input and utilization of materials from the surrounding forest is fascinating and profound for those of us who wish to mimic these habitats in our aquariums...And it actually plays right into our very human behavioral patterns, too!

What do I mean? Read on...

During the rainy season, overflowing streams flood the rainforest floor, accumulating materials which the fish communities utilize for food and shelter. And materials which fall from the surrounding trees and banks are major contributors to the productivity of this ecosystem. As the waters recede somewhat, temporary streams flow through these areas.

It's well known that in many habitats, like inundated forests, etc., fishes will adjust their feeding strategies to utilize the available food sources at different times of the year, such as the "dry season", etc. And it's also known that many fish fry feed actively on bacteria and fungi in these habitats...so I suggest (one again) that a blackwater/botanical-style aquarium could be an excellent sort of "nursery" for many fish species! 

And then there are those insects...

Insects and their larvae, from both the the aquatic habitat and the surrounding terrestrial habitats, are an important part of our fishes' diets.

I'd like to see much more experimentation with foods like ants, fruit flies, and other winged insects. Of course, I can hear the protests already: "Not in MY house, Fellman!" I get it. I mean, who wants a plague of winged insects getting loose in their suburban home because of some aquarium feeding experiment gone awry, right?

That being said, I would encourage some experimentation with ants and the already fairly common wingless fruit flies. Can you imagine one day recommending an "Ant Farm" as a piece of essential aquarium food culturing equipment?

Why not right?

Indeed, the whole process of these external inputs can be-should be- replicated in our botanical-style, blackwater aquariums.

As more materials fall from the trees and surrounding dry areas, the greater the abundance of fishes and other aquatic animas which utilize them is found. And materials will continue to fall into the water and accumulate throughout the period of inundation, maintaining the richness of the habitat as others decompose or are acted on by the organisms residing in the water.

Not unlike an aquarium, right?

It makes me think that our process of adding and replacing new materials to our botanical-style blackwater aquariums is a very good representation of what occurs in these habitats.

I firmly believe that the idea of embracing the construction (or nurturing) of a "food web" within our aquariums goes hand-in-hand with the concept of the botanical-style, blackwater (and brackish!) aquarium. With the abundance of leaves and other botanical materials to "fuel" the fungal and microbial growth, and the diligent husbandry and intellectual curiosity of the typical "tinter", the practical execution of such a concept is not too difficult to create.

We are truly positioned well to explore and further develop the concept of a "food web" in our own systems, and the potential benefits are enticing! 

Appetizing?

Stay curious. Stay excited. Stay creative...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The joy of learning....The value of doing. The benefits of patience.

Every once in a while, I think about the responsibility that I have as a vendor I the aquarium industry, and as a hobbyist preaching some different ideas.

It's actually pretty substantial.

Like many other vendors, I offer  products to people and can’t educate them on every single aspect of basic aquatic husbandry. It’s really hard to do that.

I try to give them the fundamentals of the stuff we offer.

I do write lots of blogs and articles, and lecture all over the world, so I know I’m doing something to reach some people…but I sometimes think it's not enough. I think that I need to do better. I probably need to write more about basic sort of stuff than I do about whatever the hell is on my mind? Don't know. I do know that we all need to tell hobbyists like it is, without sugar coating everything.

There are dozens of posts and “build threads” on forums and Facebook groups that DO provide great information to hobbyists, along with plenty of articles by experienced aquarists discussing any number of arcane and fascinating aquarium-related topics. Yet, for all of this, we see what appears to be a very "superficial" understanding of the aquarium hobby by so many hobbyists.

I even see it in our narrow field...I literally receive 2 or 3 emails or messages a day, which ask me questions like, "I love what you're doing with Tannin. What do I need to do to create a blackwater aquarium?"

I mean, it's a serious 'palm-to-face moment."

Of course, I first start thinking to myself, "Do I not have good information on my site? Have I not discussed the basics enough?" "Is my website useful enough?" Then, I look at the 600-or so articles on all manner of arcane topics about this niche, the long-winded product descriptions, and detailed preparation instructions for botanicals. The inspiration sections and discussion on our website and social media...

Seems okay, if not just a bit byzantine.

And then, I realize that there are just some people that you can't reach, no matter how you try to make information available to them. They simply don't want to do any work to research something they're supposedly into...they just want the quick and easy answers.

And it kind of makes sense...I mean, these are often some of the same people who haven't even bothered to learn the most basic tenants of aquatic husbandry- you know, the nitrogen cycle, fish compatibility, acclimation, etc.

I truly feel sorry for these people, as well as the animals that are exposed to potentially fatal situations out of pure ignorance. I have always felt that, when I'm fascinated by something, I research as much as I can about- like, every aspect of it...I mean, that's how must of us do it, right?

Well...

The counterpoint to my assertion is usually is that the person doesn't "have the time" to spend researching all of this arcane stuff, and...

I really think that it's some product of our culture.

We don't need to do things the way we used to. Times have changed. Everything needs to be fast and friction-free...Think "Alexa" or other AI platforms that will ultimately take the "drudgery" out of daily tasks...

I mean, they have their place. 

But for a hobby that's supposed to be enjoyable?

Really?

It’s far more interesting- and apparently, more immediately gratifying- to learn about what gear can get us where we want, and what fishes, corals, and plants are available. How to get the tank "finished" as quickly as possible. I think that we tend to perpetuate this by... well- no great way to say this- dumbing everything down. We feature the superficial aspects of the hobby- how cool the tanks look, etc., while failing to get people to grasp the basics. Or even the basics of the specialized topics we are supposedly into.

Okay, I sound a bit negative. Snippy, even.

Yeah, however...

These hobbyists also miss the joy that comes with understanding and applying something that they have learned. I mean, it's a hobby. It's supposed to be fun, right?

Maybe some hobbyists are afraid to make mistakes.

Yes, although we need to cut ourselves a little slack.

We all make mistakes.

It's part of the hobby and the learning curve.

Yet, when I see so many indications that hobbyists are just not grasping the basic information that they need to be successful, I can't help but feel a sense of disappointment. I feel like we- all of us who are experienced in this great hobby and industry- are perhaps letting down a whole generation of hobbyists. The results won't just be more "mistakes"- they'll be disasters which can drive some people out of the hobby.

All of which are avoidable if we take the time to educate ourselves- and others- on the basics of this stuff.

Yikes, I’m giving us a bit of an ass-kicking!

Yeah.

I think we need to sit down with prospective hobbyists and show them that learning about the basics is actually FUN. It’s actually really cool stuff that will make their hobby experience way more fulfilling and interesting.

This is where the LFS will shine above all.

Talking-to people who live, breathe, and sleep aquarium-keeping will help. Vendors online- same thing. Forums have a responsibility for perpetuating a responsible, educational culture. Too much is at stake. When the average person is in the hobby for only 18 months before throwing his/her arms up in frustration, something is wrong.

Especially when we are selling millions of dollars of expensive equipment and livestock to the very people who are bailing out in droves. This isn’t just a fight to create more understanding and awareness..It’s literally a fight for survival of the hobby and art of aquarium keeping. 

How do we fix it?

As above...and it starts with sharing about the joy and wonder of all of these interesting aspects of the hobby.

Well, it starts with mentoring. It starts with getting people excited not only at the end result- owning a “slice of the bottom”- it starts with getting people excited about the journey to get there, and learning about how we can make the animals under our care thrive. It’s not just about the latest gadgets- it’s about the latest information on fundamental care of animals. 

It's about preaching patience.

It starts by us once and for all embracing the local fish store and the people who work there. Sure, there are the stories of ignorant personnel and such- but these are truly the exceptions rather than the rule- yet they have somehow seeped into our collective consciousness and contaminated forever our view of the local fish store. Most give invaluable, free hands-on advice. Most attempt to instill a passion that goes beyond just shilling products, as is unfairly leveled upon them. 

It continues with the culture we've cultivated. The social media forums. The local clubs and national/international specialty organizations.

As aquarists, we need to support new hobbyists with not just the generosity that we’re famous for, but the incredible passion that we curate. We need to give them the good and the bad information. We need to impress upon them that running without learning how to walk first is a painful way to learn.

Fishes, plants and corals are not just “merchandise”, and the learning curve should not include exposing them to potentially fatal situations that could have been avoided had the neophyte hobbyist been properly instructed about their requirements from the get go. We need to let beginners know that part of the joy of the hobby is learning about this stuff first hand..by doing it.

Stay passionate. Stay helpful. Stay curious. Stay involved. Stay patient...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Plant this...Really!

I will start out by being totally honest here: I don't really know that much about aquatic plants. Sure, I can tell an Anubias barteri from an A. coffeefolia, or Water Sprite from Anacharis...I can even sort of ID a few Cryptocoryne species...

But that's really it.

Java Moss? Sure. All of those other fancy mosses? Um, no.

I mean, they're all moss, right?

(all moss enthusiasts are cringing now!)

And I'm okay with that.

That being said, I greatly admire those of you who DO understand and work with aquatic plants. I've had more and more contact with fellow vendors who specialize in the plant side of aquascaping, and I'm impressed by their ability to know exactly what type of plant to use in a specific situation.

Now, a lot of the questions I receive are stuff like, "What plants can I use in my blackwater aquarium?"

And of course, I can give you some "textbook-type" answers about which ones have worked for me.

That being said, there ARE some species which are known to come from the habitats and niches that we play with. And again, if you know me, you're also keenly aware by now that I have an annnoying tendency to scan various scientific papers in a sometimes future attempt to glean little kernels of knowledge about the natural world that we can utilize in our aquarium work...

Here's one for you: 

Junk and Piedade (1993) identified 388 herbaceous species in the igapós of Rio Negro, notably species of Echinodorus, Nymphea, Cabomba, Utricularia, and Polygonum! 

That's significant, because we're talking about plants found in blackwater habitats in the wild. Some are aquatics which we have regular access to in the hobby! In fact, some of which many of us have kept at one time or another, right? If you recall from our past discussions, a couple of years ago I very successfully kept a significant population of Polygonum in my office blackwater, botanical-style "leaf litter" tank!

IAs more and more hobbyists from diverse areas of specialization get into the blackwater/botanical-style aquarium game, we're seeing more and more experimentation with plants.

And I have a sort of theory that, while a lot of plants aren't found in blackwater habitats, many, many species are adaptable to this environment in the aquarium, especially if their lighting and nutrition requirements are met.

Now, if you're trying to replicate a specific environment, or create a highly accurate biotope aquarium, such "freelancing" is to be discouraged, I know. However, for most of us who are simply content with creating a great display, it's "game on!"

Many of us are at least semi-obsessed with replicating, to a certain extent, the flooded forest (iagpo) habitats of Brazil, which, as outlined above, contain, but are not generally known for a huge variety of true aquatic plants, there is another "frontier" to play with:

Terrestrial plants and grasses that can tolerate immersion for extended periods of time. 

This is, as far as I know, and entirely new and different "playground" for aquarists, as we've typically concentrated on the true aquatic plants in our tanks. With a greater interest in these habitats, and the evolving techniques of the planted aquarium work- specifically the use and continued development of soils, the possibilities are expanding.

Plants like the semi-aquatic grass, Paspalum fasciculatum tend to be common and very hardy in these types of habitats, which flood regularly- often comprising the majority of the "plants" one sees in these aquatic environments.

Now, I don't even have any preconceptions as to how exactly you'd successfully incorporate such grasses (or species available to us as "analogs") to experiment, but I do at least have some ideas! 

I mean, is it possible to dig up some of the grasses you intend to use (oh, FYI, there are a number of Paspalum species found in North America and other parts of the New World, and no doubt some analogous species of other genera in Europe), along with their substrate materials (ie; soil) and simply drop it into the substrate that you're using in the tank? 

I think so, right? 

And perhaps you'd slowly raise the water level I the aquarium, to give the plant a chance to adapt (or begin to die, as the case may be!) to the environment?

Yeah, okay, I'm scheming.

I suppose one could incorporate some riparian/marginal plants, such as Acorus, for this purpose- some of which look remarkably like the ones we are discussing. And since they seem to be rather adaptable to or tolerant of at least partial submersion, could form interesting subjects to play with! In fact, they frequently occur on shorelines and floodplains where water levels fluctuate seasonally...a pretty good match, huh?

FYI, A good source for the plants, inspiration, and gear to create riparian style displays is the AquaVerdi website of our friend, Devin Biggs- a hobbyist who has probably forgotten more about this stuff than I'll ever know! If you recall, we used to offer some of his riparian planters and such (back when we offered gear in our selection), and they were pretty popular. Check out his site!

And of course, there is no shortage of inspiration to replicate this type of igapo habitat on these pages, or throughout the web. We've featured a lot of our friend Mike Tuccinardi's pics and videos of these locales over the years, and looking carefully at them will give you a lot of ideas!

And of course, utilizing botanicals, leaves, and palm fronds in these types of tanks is perfectly suitable. If you're inspired enough, the possibilities are endless, as many of you have demonstrated with your cool setups!

 Okay, so about all we did here this morning was touch on a few random ideas associated with plants in blackwater displays, but I'd like to believe that we might have given a few of you some inspiration to research and try something new!

As is so common in our hobby- sometimes simply looking at what we've seen before, but with a different focus- can yield all sorts of inspiring ideas which, if implemented, could lead to enjoyment, beauty...and even some breakthroughs in the way we keep aquariums.

Stay excited. Stay inspired. Stay creative. Stay innovative...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Future...perfect? Maybe. Maybe.

It’s the year 2035.

Seriously...it's, like...the future, man.

And it actually sounds like a nice number, right? Just far enough away to be “in the future”, but not so far away as to lost in the realm of science fiction, ya know?

You’re a fish geek…Yeah, the hobby still exists.

In fact, it's thriving!

The politicians in our nations' capitals and the over-zealous environmentalists finally realized, thanks to the efforts of tireless hobbyists- that captive propagated fishes, plants, and corals are helping to manage wild populations and supplement carefully- managed responsible collection practices to assure species survival for generations to come.

We have a long-established, viable and sustainable trade. Breeding of African Rift Lake Cichlids, Angelfishes, Tetras, and Rasbora has long-ago relegated significant wild collection of these fishes to history. Others are carefully managed to help maintain the wild populations and the environments themselves. The aquarium trade has collaborated with governments around the world to create guidelines for long-term stewardship of wild reefs and freshwater aquatic environments.

Fantasy? Perhaps. But it’s MY vision of the future, so indulge me for a bit, okay?

The typical hobbyist is not wearing a jet pack, driving a gravity-modulating vehicle, or walking around with a microchip imbedded in his head. Not that kind of Hollywood-esque, dark future. Unfortunately, the USS Enterprise is still 300 years away, and “getting away” still means climbing on a noisy, "high-carbon-footprint" subsonic jet to Tahiti.

What else is happening in the hobby in 2035?

Let’s take a look at some of my hoped-for predictions. You can smack me or something in 2035 if they don’t come to pass, but the way I see it, I have like 18 years before you get to call bullshit on my predictions!

Here are  just a few:

As mentioned above, captive bred fishes are the standard. More so than even today.

Perhaps even clones of world-champion guppies or Bettas.  Collection pressures on many wild populations has forced the hobby/industry to embrace captive-bred fishes once and for all as the "standard", particularly in the marine side of the hobby. The “new norm” for marine aquariums is not big, Ocean-going Tangs, Triggerfishes, and such...Nope,  it’s small, colorful, Gobies, Dartfishes, Clownfishes, Assessors, Dwarf Angelfishes, Blennies and Wrasses, the majority of which were bred in captivity by boutique breeders and larger commercial operations.

Big fishes have fallen out of favor, with hobbyists finally realizing that they are just not practical for most tanks…Keeping a Naso Tang, Pacu, or Aisan Arowanna in a 200-gallon tank is now viewed the same way as if you or I chose to live in our living room for the rest of our lives…I mean, you have a couch and Netflix, but you’ll go nuts after a few months, right?

The new mantra is “Small Fish- Big Tank.”

(Okay, maybe this one is a personal "pipe dream", but hey...)

Water movement in aquariums is via ridiculously small, low-power consumption, ultra high-tech internal pumps. It is now possible to generate widely dispersed flow rates of thousands of gallons per hour with electrical consumption in the single digits of watts. Or, you'll be able to create specific flow patterns/energy levels to match various aquatic environments, right down to how many meters per second the Upper Orinoco or whatever is pushing out... Don’t think this will happen? It already is, to some extent.

And it's only going to get better.

When I was in Hanover, Germany a couple of years back, visiting a company called Panta Rei (the guys who make those really cool "Hydro Wizard" pumps- Google them if you're not sure what I'm referring to..these things are beasts!), and saw some prototypes of pumps that were ridiculously advanced, super-efficient, and really, really small, made in a high-tech facility that had us convinced that some kind of deal must have been struck with extraterrestrials to get this technology. We even saw a prototype of a pump that was the size of a pencil eraser, which put out like 80 GPH..Sheer craziness..and it’s all coming very soon.

Woosh!

We’re all trying to give our fishes, plants, and corals the best possible environment; a replication of nature. To that end, the industry and hobby have cumulatively spent decades of energy, millions of R & D dollars, and lots of brain power trying to develop additives, salt mixes, and other "elixirs" to try to help accomplish just that. In the very near future, it will be completely possible to replicate natural reef water chemistry in the aquarium from locations worldwide with relative ease, and I think precise freshwater replication is right there, too.

Thanks to the work of Triton Labs, another German-based company, a database is being developed of super-detailed ICP-OES water analysis from reefs around the world, and pure formulations of the constituent trace elements contained within them. This will enable a hobbyists to mimic the exact chemical/trace element composition of water from a specific locality.

Picture this: You’re on vacation in The Maldives. You see an epic coral reef that you’d love to mimic in your home. you have the tank, you have the lights. You have the water movement. You can go online and look up the location and glean exact water composition information about it..Now, you know EXACTLY what the trace element levels are in that fabulous ecosystem, and have a means to replicate them in your home aquarium.

Crazy.

Will this technology and data-logging be applied to freshwater? Oh, it will. Give it a little time.

Further, just imagine if collectors, wholesalers, then fish retailers had this information all along the chain of custody from wild collection point to retail, being able to provide fishes with the exact water conditions they enjoyed in the wild- and then providing that to you! Could you imagine this technology turned loose on the Igarapes of South America or Mangrove Swamps of Asia? 

Since replicating the natural environment is a key to successful husbandry, it only makes sense that linking technology and biology together will propel the hobby/art of aquarium keeping forward.

In 2035, and maybe sooner- I have absolutely no doubt that we will see real-time connectivity between technology as diverse as satellites and aquarium controllers. Huh? For example, a storm is a-brewing down in Amazonia…Your aquarium is set up to mimic a stream down in “those parts”...Your aquarium's electronic controller/monitor (yeah, you have one...they're cheap and pervasive now) is set to monitor the conditions down there via subscription service (Much like satellite or streaming services do for entertainment programming) to link satellite weather reports and/or NOAA ocean buoy information from that region to your controller monitoring service (either third party or from the manufacturer- whoa- can you say “niche market opportunity?”). 

Through an algorithm (or whatever you computer-type geeks call it), a set of conditions is developed at the monitoring service, and your water pumps, LED lights, and yeah- even pH and/or trace element dosing, feeding and whatever other functions are tied to your controller- are adjusted accordingly. 

Biotope aquarium environmental changes...in real time!

To some extent, we have these kinds of things now…However, in the future, you’ll see pumps automatically and seamlessly adjusted to produce crazy water currents, LED-generated “lightning”, “cloud patterns”, and perhaps even water levels and temperature swings that coincide with real-time location data- occurring right in your aquarium!

Think of the implications for fish breeders and biotope geeks here!

Of course, these changes would be “stepped down” in terms of energy levels and intensities, based on tank size, so as not to create ridiculous, deadly environmental swings or monsoon flooding- but there would be changes to the environment! If it’s a bit too “Big Brother”-ish for you, I suppose that you’d receive ample warning from a forecast feature on your mobile device, so you could “opt out” of the encroaching storm if it interferes with your next house party..LOL

How many times have you had this argument with an aquarium keeping buddy at the auction, show, LFS, or even a friend’s house? “Dude, that’s an Pseudotropheus perspicax.” “No, it’s a galanos.” “Nah, I think it’s a “saulosi…”

Okay, whatever. You have. You know it.

Wouldn’t it be nice to know, once and for all if the “Blue striped whatever” really IS the “Blue-Striped Whatever”, and what species it REALLY is? Well, think about this: We have the Human Genome Project, and DNA sequencing is used for all kinds of crazy stuff. It’s only a matter of time before someone applies the DNA analysis techniques used in fish and coral-specific research to create practical and stupidly accurate ID for the industry and hobby- kind of like what Triton and others are  doing with ICP-OES for water analysis.

The impact would be dramatic and revolutionary.

(Gaphic by Abizar lakdawalla, used under CC BY-SA 3.0)

ID would forever be 100% accurate, and we could develop a body of knowledge on the husbandry of various aquatic species the likes of which has never been done before- simply because we’d know EXACTLY what species we’re dealing with. The “Limited Edition” garbage of the coral trade would be put to rest once and for all, and true “lineage” could be established for all sorts of  fishes, plants, and corals.

Vendors would be better informed, right along with hobbyists.

This ID would also be great for enforcing trade restrictions, proving that a fish or coral is from captive-propagated stock, a specific population, breeder, etc. It’s not at all far-fetched- and really has amazing practical implications!

As the technology impacting the hobby continues to evolve, I’d like to think that hobbyist will, too.

We’ve already seen it- thanks to the internet, and forums. Communication on a global scale is immediate and far reaching. Ideas that pop up to a Betta breeder in Battle Creek, Michigan can immediately be relayed to a Betta breeder in Glasgow, Hokkaido, or Burkina Faso, for that matter…Collaboration, kinship, and the perpetuation of hobby “culture” will always be possible, thanks to technology- and even more so because of the sprit of the hobbyist…unshakable, grounded in science, yet tempered with passion.

A formidable combination for the present, and into the future.

Well- those are a few of my predictions of the not-too-distant future of the hobby…Some are already coming to fruition- others are likely still a ways off- but they WILL come to pass…along with hundreds of ideas not even postulated here.

What sorts of visions do you have for the future of the hobby? Share your insights, theories, and feelings…

As always, keep an eye on your tanks, another one on the future…

Stay curious. Stay optimistic. Stay bold. Stay diligent...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

It started with ...a kiss...

There is something about those early days in the aquarium hobby that's special...Especially if, like me, you grew up around aquariums and fishes! Who forgets the first aquarium and the fishes we were exposed to, right? You know, the ones that started this whole crazy hobby adventure for us? 

I remember an aquarium, way back when I was probably 8-9 years old, which captivated my attention. It was at my sister's friend's house- right smack in the entryway to their home:  What I believe to be a 40 gallon "Show" tank (based on my recollection of its size and proportions). Metal framed..It was on one of those ubiquitous metal type stands, straight out of the early 1970's, decorated with hanging fishing nets and dried starfish- you know, pure kitsch!

Yet, this an captivated me like few other things did at the time. I used to love when my sister would drag me over to her friend's house, because I'd just park myself in front of the tank and do what comes naturally for a fish geek- Just fully "geek out" in front of it, taking it all in... Of coarse, my sister's friend also had a sister who I had a little crush on, so that didn't hurt, either😍!

In addition to the classic turquoise-colored gravel, petrified wood, and plastic plants, the tank had another appeal for me: A cool variety of fishes, including what I thought was the coolest thing out there at the time: a group of "Kissing Gourami", Helostoma temminckii. Of course, at the time, I was enamored by its goofy appearance, calm demeanor, and the iconic "kissing" behavior that would occasionally occur. 

(Pic by Green Yoshi used under CC BY- S.A. 3.0)

Now, at the time, I had no idea that this was a behavior that took place between rival males (and females, too, so I've heard) and was sort of the equivalent of a "sparring contest" - a face off between rivals for the fish, and was hardly the charming display of affection I interpreted it as. And of course, I had no idea at the time that these fish could reach a size of 8-10 inches or more and live up to 25 years! I mean, a group of 5 of these in a 40 gallon community aquarium seemed just fine at the time! I wanted some! I mean, they were only like 2 inches long! They'd "fit", right?

Ahh, ignorance.

(pic by Jorn Kussender  Used under CC BY-S.A. 2.0)

Of course, what that fish actually did for me was to further my efforts to petition my parents for a larger aquarium for my bedroom. The 5-gallon, metal frame tank I had since age 5 was no longer cutting it! I needed something larger. Time to step up to the big leagues. I knew instinctively that I could never successfully lobby for a 40 gallon aquarium, but I might just be able to make a case for a 15-20 gallon tank!

Of course, it didn't hurt that my dad was a fish geek, with 3 aquariums full of fancy guppies  in the living room of our modest suburban home at the time. He was the guy who got me into this thing- he was the guy I could make my case to!

Of course, I did press my dad for the BIG tank (40 gallons)...and of course, he "counter-offered" with a more realistic 10 gallon tank. With a little more back-and-forth, and some "incentives" in place, tied in to a better grade in math, I was able to secure approval for a 15 gallon tank! Little did I know that these negotiation exercises would come in handy decades later, when I purchased my first home (yet another benefit of being a fish geek!)!

I'm pretty sure that each of us felt we got the best end of the deal: I got my larger tank- my mom and dad got little "Scotty" to shoot for an "A' in math! Win-win.

And of course, before I finally got the tank, there was a tremendous amount of research being done about all of the new, cool fishes I'd get! I had to keep a few of my favorites from the 5-gallon, like my Leopard Danios, the Corydoras aenus, and my small school of Glowlight Tetras! Other than those guys, it was a clean slate! And of course, I was able to negotiate, through a series of concessions, being able to keep the 5 gallon in operation after the new tank was in place! Yeah, my first foray into "MTS" (Multiple Tank Syndrome"), and I was only like 9. This boded really well for my future as a fish geek!

And of course, with the larger tank, I discovered that the accessories and equipment required had to be scaled up...And THIS is where my dad cleverly got me. Being an accountant, he wanted to teach me the value of money- and the lesson I was about to learn hit home: I had negotiated the tank, but the equipment I was to supply (unless I wanted some of his "hand-me-down" stuff from his old tanks, which, of course,  I did not!). And I learned the lesson that has served me well during a lifetime of fish-geeking: Larger aquariums require larger, more sophisticated equipment and accessories, and that adds to the expense.

We all know this basic thing, of course- but to a 9-year-old who wanted Kissing Gouramis, it was a most important lesson!

Well, it took a lot longer to accumulate all the gear I wanted for the new tank, and a lot more of my allowance than I wanted to spend; a painful, but necessary tradeoff! I think this is when I really learned about discipline and patience in the hobby...staring at the shiny new, but decidedly empty aquarium in my bedroom, accumulating a little "patina" of dust as it awaited being outfitted for operation for several months.

And I didn't let those months go to waste.

I agonized over the stock list. I selected black gravel ('cause that was the COOLEST thing going at the time- and unfortunately, the priciest), an outside filter powered by an air pump (a LARGER, more expensive air pump than I had before, mind you), decided to go with live plants ( in my brand-spanking new black gravel bed.. Great decision, huh?), and painted the background of the tank a deep brown (hey, even then I had this affinity for that color, huh?).

Finally came the day everything was set up.

Very exciting! Then to get some fishes in there. I remember going down to the LFS with my mom to get my first fishes- naturally, the "Kissing Gouramis" were at the top of the list. Of course, they were not in stock at the time, so I had to wait and get some others (I think I got some Red Swordtails and some Rasboras). Still was pretty excited, but really wanted those Gouramis!

And as the months passed and more and more fishes were added to my tank, the painful realization came that I was out of room for any new fishes- let alone, the damn Kissing Gouramis. Nonetheless, on a foray out to the LFS, I found some, and was ready to pull the trigger and finally grab the fish I had been coveting for almost 2 years at this point! Of course, the owner of the LFS, a sort of scruffy, old-school-type fish guy named Karl, was acutely aware of all of my fish purchases, as well as the size of my tank. He'd have none of this nonsense from the kid with a plan.

When I went to grab the Gouramis and fulfill my destiny- "tough love" set in...

Karl was quick to tell me, "Scott- your tank is pretty much full. Besides, you know those Kissing Gouramis can get too large for your tank.."

Damn. Thwarted. By my fish dealer, no less! My source. I was done. Finished. Couldn't get those fishes. Not at his store. And quite frankly, not anywhere else, either- because... I knew better...and so did my dad. Yet another valuable lesson for my fish-keeping "career":

You can't always get what you want.

Flash forward about 8 years...As a teen, I now had a 40-gallon breeder in my room (yeah, I finally pulled that one off!). I was looking for inspiration. I thought about some more fishes to add to the interesting mix I had accumulated: Loaches, "Sharks", Some "Moss Green" Tiger Barbs, Rasbora, Pineapple Plates, and some larger Tetras. Tons of live plants...The tank looked AWESOME! Classic.

It was pretty full.  But I wanted more. Different. On a visit to the LFS,  I spied the fish of my youth...the Kissing Gourami! And the stigma of Karl the owner being there to chastise me about my tank size and population was not a factor, as he had sold the store a couple of years back! I was footloose and fancy free- and damn rebellious, too!

Time to grab a group.

And I was about to. then I noticed one of the Gouramis cowering in the corner of the dealer's tank, shimmying away. I knew what that meant. No go. Don't. And being the arrogant, "I-want-it-now" teen with the New Wave haircut and accompanying attitude, I threw caution to the wind and pulled the trigger anyways: "Bag up these 5, please", I said, motioning to the seemingly healthy ones. They'd do fine, I reasoned. They weren't showing any signs of illness.

Quarantine. What's that?

Yeah, you know what happened: Into the tank the new Kissing Gouramis went. They looked just fine. I fulfilled my destiny, and at age 15, was finally about to have the fish I had coveted for almost a decade! I earned this! I was stoked! 

That lasted all of about 48 hours, as every fish in the tank, including the Gouramis, began to clamp their fins, shimmy, and expire one by one. Along with my other fishes...No amount of "Rid Ich", "Quick Cure", or whatever other meds I had at the time did the trick- I had bet against the house and was felt a losing hand. Arrogance had gotten the best of me. 

I lost every fish but two.

Those damn Kissing Gouramis! THEY CAUSED THIS! THEY'RE A CURSE!

No, actually- my lack of judgement, impulsiveness, and youthful impatience caused it. My flaunting the basic rules of aquarium keeping- to which I had been brought up to follow practically since I could walk-did me in this time.

A painful, humbling, invaluable lesson that I would never, ever forget. Even today, when I see a Kissing Gourami, I shudder just a bit, perhaps reminded of the painful lesson form that dark period in my fish keeping career. I came to call it "The Curse of The Kissing Gourami"- but really, it was no curse- it was the predictable end product of not doing what I knew I should have done- for tempting fate and throwing caution to the wind when it was not necessary...

Super painful. Unforgettable.

It's served me well. Very well. I've long since recovered from that painful reckoning, but the lesson that it taught me about patience, skepticism, fundamental- and, oh, yeah- quarantine of all new additions- has made me a much better hobbyist. So, I do still call it "The Curse of The Kissing Gourami", but I know now what it really was: A lesson. An awakening. A blessing, really. A factor in my growth and maturity, in both fish keeping and other facets of life.

I have never kept a Kissing Gourami since. Probably never will.

However, those five fishes which paid for my arrogance with their lives helped me in ways I couldn't even comprehend back then.

And to those of you, who've learned those painful lessons. Or have yet to experience the pain, I say to you- learn.

Grow. Listen. Don't forsake the fundamentals.

Stay humble. Stay inquisitive. Stay focused. Stay honest with yourself.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Makeovers. Refinements...New ideas- and new executions?

Over the past few weeks, I've been kicking around ideas for a new aquarium. Well, for a new concept within one of the existing aquariums I have. It gets stronger every day. And it's normal...At least, I tell myself that it is.

I mean, we all do this...like, constantly, right?

Yeah.

Sometimes, it's a little "adjustment" to an existing system.

Incremental changes or aesthetic tweaks that get you into a different "groove."

Other times, you get the call in your mind to just "erase" and start fresh. Sometimes, it's for specific reasons: the current setup isn't working well for you or your fishes. It's tough to maintain, or difficult to keep up with.

Or maybe, just maybe- you're a bit "over" it.

You know, ready for something new.

Those of us who are limited in the number of aquariums that they have (or want to have, as in my case!) are often faced with a dilemma of sorts: We want to try different things, and the only way to do it... is to beak apart one of the current setups we have going, and re-do it.

That kind of sucks...but in a way, that's part of being a hobbyist, right? 

Tinkering. Tweaking. "Playing" with stuff.  

You can call it something fancy, like "iterating"- but in the end, it's really about tearing up your current aquarium and re-doing it in some different way.

And that's just part of the game, right?

Not everyone can have 30, 12, or even 5 aquariums in their home, shitty though that might be! Yet, many of us have big ideas, unique plans, and strong aspirations...lots of 'em- and the only way to execute is to do these "makeovers" on a regular basis...Or at least, when the "muse" hits!

I don't know about you, but it's always been a bit of a guilt-inducer for me to do that. I mean, you've got this aquarium that is (hopefully) all that you expected it would be. Looks great, functions awesomely, and has been perfectly manageable. And then, in the middle of this wonderful endeavor, you have the urge or perhaps the inspiration- to try something different. 

And you break out the metaphorical "eraser" and just wipe the slate clean; start fresh. 

Wow.

It was never easy for me to do this. I mean, I'm the guy that would keep tanks set up for years with only minor aesthetic/fish population tweaks along the way. Patient. Stable. Consistent.

I was proud of that.

I used to think that it was kind of weird how those competitive Aquascaper guys you see on Instagram and such could just tear down an amazing tank and start all over after just a few months, seemingly without a care in the world.

How could they just do that?

And then, the ideas came.

As the owner of what people tell me has become a sort of niche-centric, progressive, creativity-enabling/inspiring company, I realized that I needed to show some different looks that I myself did on a semi-regular basis...to sort of keep it real for me and to inspire my customers. Perhaps an excuse of sorts, but there is some legit rationale behind it!

I mean, I receive lots and lots of pics from talented hobbyists worldwide each week, showing their amazing blackwater/brackish, botanical-style aquarium work- but it is also important to show my own stuff. It keeps me in touch with the craft; the reality of what we do. And let's face it- it's more authentic when you're a "doer"- not just a "talker."

Yup.

And still, for a long time- I'd wonder just how these 'scapers could pull this off (at least mentally- the actual tank builds were still another thing entirely!)

And then I began to understand: It's about this need to "continue."

An urge to create, expand horizons...and when you're space-limited (or, "tank-limited") the only way forward is to break down the current tank and start working your new idea.

It becomes more of a process...Or maybe, a progression of sorts.

And after psyching myself up...the day comes, and I dive right in.

Out go the fishes, re-housed to a different tank (if keeping different fishes is part of the plan, that is), and the "remodeling" process happens.

And, for about the first hour, I usually feel guilty that I broke apart something cool. Something really nice. Special, even. I worry about the well-being of the animals, fist and foremost...but only for a little bit, because I know that wherever I house them, it will be in optimum conditions for them...'cause that's how I roll!

So, then the guilt gives way to a tinge of nostalgia...Remembering how nice it was to take the tank from idea on a piece of paper to full-fledged miniature ecosystem. I recall the challenges, obstacles, and triumphs...

Deep breaths.

Within two hours, I'm back to being excited again, staring at a now empty tank- you know, the proverbial "blank canvas" that we all drool over. Aquarists love this sort of stuff! We LIVE for it! At that point, it's all about the possibilities. The chance to do something really special "this time."

Can you relate to this process? This mindset? I suppose if you have 45 tanks in your basement, this manifests itself differently, but to those of us with a handful- or less- the process takes on a far more "sacred", almost ritualistic meaning.

Yet, we do it.

We plunge forward. And we realize that the best part of being gan aquarium hobbyist...is being an aquarium hobbyist. Regardless of what we're doing at any given moment.

I mean, if you're satisfied with the tank you've got the way it is- mazeltov! Good for you. If you're not...or if you just feel the urge to do something different...Do it.

Don't feel guilty like I do sometimes. Feel excited. Motivated. Stoked.

Know that you're at another fork in the road on your aquatic journey. And it's totally okay to go in whatever direction you want.

And that's pretty damn cool, if you ask me.

Keep moving forward...push the outside of the envelope. Run down that dream. Scratch the itch.

Stay forward-thinking. Stay creative. Stay relentless. Stay engaged...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics