The Tint

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 

Transformations, evolutions, and...Water Changes?

One of the "absolutes" for me in the aquarium hobby is the employment of water changes...It's like a "fundamental" practice, which sort of powers everything we do. But it's really more than just a chore to me. It's a time to evolve. To iterate. To reflect. To connect with my aquarium, and the natural world  as a whole.

Today is water change day for my aquariums.

I love water change day!

Really.

If you follow us, you're probably ready to barf because you've seen 8,000 pics of these tanks already!  And you have read about me extolling the virtues of water changes in the husbandry routine of botanical-style blackwater/brackish aquariums...

I like- no- LOVE- water change day!

Really.

Sure, setting up tarps and towels and lugging containers of water into the office sort of...sucks; however, it's a special time for me to "connect"...Not only with the tank itself, but with the whole "art" of being an aquarium hobbyist, and the natural world which the hobby is a part of.

It's also exciting, because it's a time to make "edits"- fix those little things that drive me crazy, like the piece of wood that shifted, or the rock that got a bit "uncovered", a leaf that was floating in the current.

Stuff like that.

It's a time to physically connect with the tank.

I mean, getting your hands wet, literally, feeds into some visceral, primal need I think we have to reconnect to our environment. For me, it gives me a chance to follow up on my desire to make my aquariums a more realistic simulation of nature. 

I take the leaf addition process really seriously. Like, stupidly so. I mean, I select leaves for my tank the way some hobbyists select fish.

It's that serious to me...

Adding new leaves and other botanicals, removing or repositioning other ones, gives me the ability to keep the "vibe" of a natural litter zone with new leaves falling into the water, older leaves drifting in the current, or simply decomposing, and the exchange of water...what could be more natural, right?

Like in nature, each exchange of water exports some materials from the habitat, and moves new ones in...This is a very transformative process that can keep our hobby fascinating and engrossing in an entirely different way.

And I firmly believe that making your water changes less of a "chore" and more of a sort of relaxing activity, time to reflect and think in an almost "yoga-esque" sort of way is a truly awesome way to approach the process.

And of the water itself?

To me, exchanging the water is almost a "transformational" experience...Like refereshing, reneweing, re-setting the environment...The water is almost sacred in a strange sort of way...

I have no idea why, but an obscure line from a 1980s song popped into my head...

"Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again in to the silent water
Under the rocks and stones, there is water underground.."

-from "Once in a Lifetime" by the Talking Heads

Must be the blood rushing to my head from siphoning or something...

Anyways, enjoy YOUR water change day, whenever that might be, and whatever associated activities accompany it.

Stay dedicated. Stay focused. Stay reflective. Stay happy...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The burden of our own experience...

If you've been in the aquarium hobby long enough, you're bound to find yourself "editing" what you do, in apparent deference to the past work you did, or to the "expectations" which our experience and the experience of others have placed upon us.

I think it's entirely possible to release ourselves from the "burden" of our own experience, and to allow ourselves to enjoy every aspect of this great hobby, free from preconception or prejudices. Not trying to live up to expectations that we-or others- have set for us. To just make decisions based on what our research- gut, or yeah- I suppose, experience- tells us is the "right" thing to do, then letting stuff happen, is such an important way to progress in the hobby- and to help others do the same thing.

Interesting thought, right? It seems like it should be obvious. However, I know that I myself have- and I've seen fellow hobbyists- get caught in this sort of "feedback loop", much to our own detriment.

I mean, I guess we DO sort of carry with us the self-imposed "burden" of our prior aquarium work, which often influences the new stuff we do. And I suppose, it's a tough one that can truly hold us back sometimes.

Huh?

You know, "Dude, your last tank was so bad-ass...can't wait to see what you're gonna do with this new tank!"

Sort of scary to hear that (well, for me it is...)- I mean, you suddenly feel this pressure to live up to- or exceed- your prior efforts and create something truly awesome this time around.

I don't know how the great ones, like our friend George Farmer, do it!

Being awesome sucks sometimes, right? ☺️

And, being human, you might find yourself stressing out to try to meet to exceed your last tank, and suddenly, the whole thing isn't as fun as it's supposed to be. Suddenly, you're doing things in a way that satisfies the expectations of others- and that's not too fun, right?

A classic example of the "burden of our own experience..."

And then, of course, there is the expectations or preconceptions we have about how one of our experiments is going to work out...I mean, if the last time we tried the water exchange right before that pair of Apistos spawned, then we should definitely try it again this time, right? 

Or, falling victim to "conventional wisdom" about "the way stuff is done" is another one of those "traps" that we sometimes allow ourselves to become ensnared in. Just because the hobby has done something a certain way for decades doesn't mean it's the only way- or even the correct one. It just doesn't...and failing to go with your intuition could very well deny the hobby of an important evolution or even a breakthrough. 

If you have a hunch- play it.

And, while there very well may be a decent set of "best practices" for the stuff we do in our sector of the hobby, it certainly doesn't meant that you can't modify or alter it as you see fit. Sometimes, those very slight, incremental tweaks and iterations are just what is needed to push something towards the destination we want...and can even lead to serious breakthroughs!

Allowing yourself the luxury (yeah, it seems like one) of unburdening yourself from your own past experiences allows you to "next level" stuff.

We are in a rapidly evolving hobby space, filled with excitement, new ideas, and on occasion, significant breakthroughs. And in such a space, we need to allow ourselves the opportunity to innovate, attempt new ideas, and occasionally, to fail at them.

This is how we advance.

To allow ourselves to cave in to the burden of our own experience- our expectations- or these of others- is to deny oursleves- and others- the opportunity to make new discoveries and perfect techniques and concepts which may have lasting value for generations of future hobbyists.

Release yourself!

Stay courageous. Stay creative. Stay smart. Stay relentless. Stay unburdened...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Possibilities, theories...and assumptions...

We are at that "phase" in our understanding of the blackwater, botanical-style aquarium "practice" where we are beginning to develop some best practices, experiment a bit more, question lots of stuff...and make the occasional assumption of two.

Or more.

Huh?

Well, I'll be the first to admit that we have to operate on some theories now and again...for example, I am a big believer in diversity within the aquarium. Not just "diversity" in terms of fishes and plants and such- but in the context of all things added to our aquariums.

For example, I am of the opinion that it's beneficial to have lots of different types of botanical materials in your tank. Why?

Well, my theory goes something like this:

Most plant products contain some similar compounds, such as tannins, mic substances, minerals, etc. However, I believe that many contain varying qualities of these substances, and based on the structure/durability of the specific botanical, are released into the water at different rates as the materials break down.

And of course, there are other variables that no doubt come into the equation, such as how a botanical was prepared. How dry it was before immersion, the conditions under which the mother plant the botanical came from was growing under, the time of year it was harvested, etc., etc., etc.

I mean, it's a theory...an assumption of sorts. 

However, I think it makes some sense, right? I mean, botanists know that specific plants and their leaves contain varying amounts of tannins and such. Some are more concentrated than others, and thusly, are more "potent" for our purposes...right?

Well, yeah, in theory, huh?

The reality of this is that we simply don't have all of the answers...or even all of the questions to ask to get the answers! We simply have to experiment.

We have to try stuff.

And, my theory sort of proffers that, with the potential variations in (desired) compounds present in various botanicals, that trying a variety in one situation sort of covers a number of possibilities at once.

Since I started playing with leaves and such, years ago, I've always sort of acted upon a leap of faith; a theory about what exactly they do. And this sort of tempted my work with them over the years. When I initially started, I was a bit hesitant, scared, even, of somehow poisoning my fishes and "crashing" my tanks. 

However, it stood to reason that if some of these materials (leaves, seed pods, etc) are present in natural aquatics habitats around the world without killing fishes en masse, it would be perfectly okay to use them in an aquarium...right?

Well, yes. And no. 

I mean, many of the materials that we have are not the exact botanical items found in every steam or river around the world. They are representative in many cases- facsimiles of what is found in nature. I mean, oak leaves are not found in Southeast Asia, right? 

However, they accomplish the same thing that an Astrocaryum or Ceiba leaf might in it's native territory, right?

That's what I've theorized over the years...

And happily, it kind of worked out that way. As I experimented with more and more stuff, and saw very positive results with my fishes, I felt pretty confident that something beneficial was occurring as a result of adding this stuff to my aquariums!

There were, and continue to be- questions. And assumptions. Some which we simply have to make at this point, because we just don't have all of the information necessary to state with absolute certainty what is "correct."

Now, one could assume that the leaves and other parts of the plant which find their way into natural waters might contain varying combinations of certain compounds, thus releasing different amounts proportionally into the water...However,  the essential "function" of any old leaf or seed pod breaking down in water is the same around the world, right?

Probably...I mean, likely...right?

Urghhh!

I mean, in a natural water course, you typically have more water volume than the average home aquarium, and it's an open ecosystem, with inputs from the surrounding environment, creating dilution. An aquarium is a closed system., and input/export to and from the environment is largely dependent upon us (the fish geeks) to control. And of course, being closed systems, it's entirely possible to "over-dose" our tanks with "stuff", isn't it?

Our aquariums likely can biologically and chemically assimilate and process only so much material, right?  Sure. I mean, we've seen cases where over-zealous "tinters" have seen fishes gasping at the surface because they added too much stuff to quickly and the CO2 level rose rapidly as a result.

Yeah. Stuff like that.

And that's likely how the "You need to use 'X' number of Catappa leaves per liter of water" rules came about.

Trial and error...and conservative experiments.

I mean, I hate "rules" like that, specifically for natural materials which no doubt have varying levels of the compounds that we're interested in, based on so many possible factors...But it's a starting point, I guess. Until a sophisticated scientific assay of every leaf, every seed pod, and every type of wood that we utilize in aquariums is completed, determining average concentrations of _________ In a given sample size, "dosing" recommendations are just that...Recommendations.

Possibilities.

Theories.

Assumptions. 

A starting point.

And that's okay, because this is a hobby. An art as much as it is a science.

And the idea is not to assume too much. 

Rather, it's to experiment. Test, evaluate. Observe. Adjust. Rinse and repeat.

Sometimes, it's okay to assume...

Just not too much!

Today's little lesson in putting things into perspective in our tinted world.

Stay curious. Stay analytical. Stay fascinated. Stay focused...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Tangled in my head...and my aquarium!

Ever get  some idea or vision of a way to set up an aquarium in your head, and you just can't rid yourself of it? I get these kinds of "itches" all the time.

Lately, I  have a new sort of obsession in my head about branchy, tangled wood habitats. I'm fascinated by root tangles, projecting vegetation, palm fronds, and tangles of small branches underwater. I love the idea of creating a complex "matrix" which our fishes can forage among, seek shelter, and breed in.

I've been down this road before, and I liked it.

And, I sort of executed this on my latest tank, with a mix of wood sizes,  but I'm thinking that I'd want to do something with much smaller "diameter" branches exclusively to pull off this vision.

These types of environments are extremely common in nature, especially in flooded forests and other habitats which are dry part of the year.

I Ive seen numerous hobbyists create some truly fascinating aquariums by utilizing tangles of fine branches and roots. Not only is it an aesthetically fascinating habitat,  it's truly a functional one, at that!

Our brackish-water botanical-style tank has a lot of mangrove branches/roots which extend downwards into the substrate, creating a complex look which I've really enjoyed!

There is a lot of interesting stuff you can do, aqutascaping-wise, by utilizing a complex of Fien branches. Fishes like Angels, Discus, Uarus, and others which come from environments which favor their "vertically compressed" morphology will fin a natural home in a tank set up in such a manner.

There is a lot of inspiration you can find in nature for such habitats, such as forest streams with overhanging vegetation that extends into the water.

And of course, the aforementioned mangroves are the "text book" example of this type of habitat. They even occur in freshwater environments as shown here- and the fallen leaves which accumulate among them create an irresistible scene that I'd love to re-create in the aquarium!

Now, such root/branch tangles DO take up some physical space in the confines of the aquarium, and you need to take this into account when stocking, equipping, and maintaining such systems. Access, water capacity, and filter intakes/outputs need to be considered when you move in a project like this...but that's half the fun, anyways- right?

I envision all sorts of habitat simulations that you could do by utilizing a matrix of small branches and roots in your aquarium. I'd encourage incorporating other materials, like palm fronds, to compliment the affect.

And of course, you could always incorporate a layer of leaf litter, which really seems to go perfectly with this type of niche. IN nature, we see leaves and other materials accumulate in these root tangles and aggregations of fallen branches, so recreating this in nature is kind of a "no brainer!"

I honestly have no idea why this kind of stuff seeps into my mind at times. It's not like this is some earth-shattering revelation or discovery, or even an aesthetic never before attempted. I've done it many times, and so have thousands of hobbyists...However, I think that when we consider creating such a tank with this feature in the context of our botanical world, it's a bit different.

I think that this is such a compelling idea for me at the moment that I'm even considering a little makeover on my home blackwater aquarium, to remove some of the larger wood pieces in favor of an exclusive matrix of finer branches as the main hardscape feature. It would be a relatively easy change, but I think the transformation in this instance could be noticeable and effective.

Perhaps it'll keep me creatively satisfied...for a while, anyways, until a sort the next tank...

Until then...

Always scheme. Always contemplate the possibilities. 

Stay creative. Stay restless. Stay bold. Stay excited...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Exceeding expectations? Or just matching them?

Several months in to my latest botanical-style brackish aquarium, and I'm finding that this tank is absolutely exceeding my expectations in every way. 

Sort of.

I mean, I kind of expected it to work the way it has...

I have for several years played with this brackish concept, but I am thinking that I'm now In a better place than I was previously.

Why?

Well, I think the "marriage" of the blackwater, botanical-style aquarium "best practices" and theories I've had about how to configure and manage this type of aquarium has intersected nicely with the idea of a richer, more "wholistic" brackish aquatic environment.

In other words, my ideas are kind of working!

And, without sounding arrogant or anything, this really isn't that surprising. The idea of an aquarium-freshwater or brackish- enhanced by an influx of decomposing leaves and botanical materials, as well as their associated microbial diversity, and a tint to the water imparted by the tannins from them makes a lot of sense.

It works, so it would stand to reason that it would work with a brackish water environment.

In fact, as we've sort of proffered for a while, many of the more interesting brackish water habitats that we attempt to replicate are muddy, darkly-tinted, highly biologically diverse systems- not the "white/grey", brightly-illuminated, clear water, aragonite-sand-and-rock aquascapes that the hobby has traditionally associated with this style of aquarium. 

This is not a "victory lap" or anything like that. What I intend to do by discussing this today in "The Tint" is to encourage you to "cross-pollinate" your aquarium practice by incorporating ideas from different styles of aquariums and melding them whenever possible.

Ideas like creating a tank which supports biological diversity, accepting decomposition and halophytes (salt-loving plants) working together to further enhance and take advantage of this unique environmental niche.

I would like to think that this brackish tank represents more than just a cool-looking aquascape. Rather, I hope it's a sot of "signpost" on the highway of aquarium practice...

A call to merge what we know with things we likely haven't tried before.

A  call to embrace incorporating combinations of techniques and ideas in ways not previously widely accepted.

We've seen this before, huh?

What's next? 

A lot of interesting things, as we collectively continue to evolve our hobby and push the boundaries back from what has been considered the "de facto" ways to do stuff...

I'd like to see us expand the use of botanicals into the marine/reef sector as well. In other words, utilizing mud, mangroves leaves and other botanicals to replicate more diverse and unique marine environments, such as the interface between estuaries and reefs- highly unusual "hybrid" habitats with a remarkable biodiversity, and opportunities to create more realistic aquarium simulations of these seldom-replicated habitats.

So many possibilities to work with...so much inspiration from nature to put into play in ways not previously executed.

And it all starts with ideas, a little bit of initiative, and some courage.

Stay excited. Stay inspired. Stay motivated. Stay creative...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Falling leaves, rising excitement!

The more I see fellow hobbyists playing with blackwater, botanical -style aquarium around the world, the more I see things that used to be "unusual" or "uncommon" becoming just another way to run an aquarium.

A real mindset shift!

One of the best things that I've seen come out of this whole mindset shift has been hobbyists working with leaves in their aquariums...Not just tossing a few in there; rather, creating actual leaf litter beds such as you might encounter in nature. And making stunning observations and achieving compelling results when properly executed.

Of course, there are still many hobbyists who perhaps need that final "nudge" to attempt one of these in their aquariums, so let's touch on this one more time, okay? I think that embracing this little niche in our aquariums makes a lot of sense- because they're so pervasive in nature.

Leaf litter zones comprise one of the richest and most diverse biotopes in the tropical aquatic ecosystem, yet, until quite recently, they were seldom replicated in the aquarium to any great extent. I think this has been due, in large part- to the lack of understanding by the hobby community as a whole about the way these environments exist and function in nature.

And, like any environment, leaf litter beds have their own "rhythm", fostering substantial communities of fishes. The dynamic behind this biotope can best be summarized in this interesting excerpt from an academic paper on Blackwater leaf-litter communities by biologist Peter Alan Henderson, that is useful for those of us attempting to replicate these communities in our aquaria:

"..life within the litter is not a crowded, chaotic scramble for space and food. Each species occupies a sub-region defined by physical variables such as flow and oxygen content, water depth, litter depth and particle size…

...this subtle subdivision of space is the key to understanding the maintenance of diversity. While subdivision of time is also evident with, for example, gymnotids hunting by night and cichlids hunting by day, this is only possible when each species has its space within which to hide.”

In other words, different species inhabit different sections of the leaf litter, and we should consider this when creating and stocking our aquariums. It makes sense, right? I mean, a leaf litter bed is a physical structure, temporal though it may be- which functions like a pile of wood, a reef, rocks, or other features in the benthic environment.

Like its wild counterpart, a leaf litter layer in an aquarium performs a variety of functions, including aesthetic, biological, and chemical affects. A blackwater biotope aquarium with a diverse assemblage of botanical materials performs much in the same ways as a "refugium" does in a reef aquarium environment, providing a haven for many life forms and processes, which impacting the display aquarium by providing biological support/diversity, supplemental food production, and chemical enrichment.

Blackwater, which we have come to love, is also known to reduce the amount of micro algae in an aquarium, both as a result of the chemical properties imparted into the water, reduced nitrates and phosphates, as well as the brownish visual tint, which serves as a natural "light diffuser."

And of course, understanding the progression of how things happen to leaves once submerged in our aquariums is of the utmost importance, right? And we all know by now that leaves, once submerged, DO break down.

And of course, stuff breaking down in our tanks requires a little understanding.

Tannins and humic acids are released into the water as the cell walls break down, along with other organics. Often times, a "biofilm" of bacteria will form on the surfaces of a botanical after it's submerged for some period of time. In the case of leaves with "cutting" layers, like Magnolia, for instance, the thick outer layers last a pretty long time, while the softer, inner layers tend to decompose more quickly, fostering bacteria and other microfauna in their structure.

And of course, creating leaf litter beds in an existing aquarium would require the utmost in that scarce hobby commodity: patience. Leaves are dynamic, because they're actively interacting with the aquatic environment: Releasing substances into the water, as well as providing forage for fishes, crustaceans, and microfauna, all of which contribute to the bioload of your system.

And, as every experienced hobbyist knows, nothing good ever happens quickly in an aquarium- only the bad stuff! So, we admonish you yet again to go slowly in an existing tank, letting your animals, plants and microfauna make the adjustment to a new, dynamic and ultimately beneficial environment.

Leaves and such are simply not permanent additions to our 'scapes, and if we wish to enjoy them in their more "intact" forms, we will need to replace them as they start to break down. 

This is not a bad thing. It is simply how to use them to create a specific aesthetic in a permanent aquarium display. Much like flowers in a garden, leaves will have a period of time where they are in all their glory, followed by the gradual, inevitable encroachment of biological decay. At this phase, you may opt to leave them in the aquarium to fully decompose and enrich the environment further (and offer a new aesthetic!), or you can remove and replace them with fresh leaves.

Simple.

And you know what's most interesting to me?

Aquariums set up with leaf litter beds are among the most stable, consistent aquariums I've ever worked with. Not just from a water chemistry standpoint, but from a maintenance and functionality standpoint. With simple practices, such as regular water exchanges, careful feeding, gradual stocking, and regular replacement of decomposing leaves, the essential water chemistry parameters (ie; pH, nitrate, phosphate, etc.) are incredibly stable.

And happily, I'm not the only one who's experienced this. Many of you who've played with leaf litter in your tanks are experiencing the same thing. 

THAT is exciting!

I hope that this latest of my semi-regular pleas to convince you to play with leaves in your aquariums has nudged you to give them a try in YOUR tank!

You might just discover something really cool!

Stay brave. Stay curious. Stay dynamic. Stay experimental. Stay patient...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Biofilm, beloved?

As anyone who ventures down our tinted road knows, one of the great "inevitable" of utilizing botanicals in our aquariums is the appearance of biofilms. You know, those scuzzy, nasty-looking threads of goo, which make their appearance in our tanks shortly after immersion of the botanicals (much to the chagrin of many).

Now, we've long maintained that biofilms and fungi appearing on your botanicals are to be savored and in a sense, celebrated. They represent a burgeoning emergence of life -albeit in one of its lowest and most unpleasant-looking forms- and that's a really big deal. 

The real positive takeaway here: Biofilms are really a sign that things are working right in your aquarium! A visual indicator that natural processes are at work.

And it turns out that our love of botanicals is truly shared by some people who really appreciate them as food...Shrimp hobbyists! Yup, these people (you know who you are!) go out of their way to cultivate and embrace biofilms and fungi as a food source for their shrimp. 

And this makes perfect sense, because they are abundant in nature, particularly in habitats where shrimp naturally occur, which hare typically filled with botanical materials and decomposing leaves...a perfect haunt for biofilm and fungal growth! 

Now, this isn't a revelation for us. We knew that shrimp and their keepers would appreciate these nasty-looking, misunderstood organisms. However, what we didn't' anticipate is how obsessive that shrimp geeks are about doing the best stuff for their little friends and cultivating biofilms for food! 

And it makes sense, right? Their very nature and function shows how they caudal serve as food. Biofilms form when bacteria adhere to surfaces in some form of watery environment and begin to excrete a slimy, gluelike substance, consisting of sugars and other substances, that can stick to all kinds of materials, such as- well- in our case, botanicals.

And some materials are better than others at recruiting and accumulating biofilm growth. The "biofilm-friendly" botanical items seem to fall into two distinct categories: Botanicals with hard, relatively impermeable surfaces, and hard-skinned botanicals with soft interiors.

Okay, that kind of covers like, everything, lol.

Not only are the biofilms themselves nutritious for the shrimp, with carbohydrates and sugars- the botanicals and leaves they attach to also form a great food source, as we know. Many shrimp will directly consume materials like Mulberry Leaves and our just-debuted Moringa Leaves, as well as some of the aforementioned soft and soft-interior pods.

And of course, we have curated items just for shrimp, with a new variety pack  debuting later this week!

And the idea of biofilms and such being an excellent supplemental food source for shrimp is not revolutionary...it's just something that we're finally getting around to agreeing about with our little friends! 

Accepted? Sure. Appreciated. Yes.

Beloved?

Well, maybe...right?

Stay innovative. Stay resourceful. Stay open-minded. Stay creative.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Just one...Is it possible?

In my latest weekend travel, I had the opportunity to meet a lot of aquarists, see plenty of fish rooms, more aquariums, and tons of fishes! And through it all, the amazing thing is the enormous variety of fishes which aquarists are playing with. 

It seems that almost every serious aquarist I meet works with several...perhaps even many- different species at any given time. It's in our DNA...It's what we do.

Could any of us just keep ONE species? 

If  you've read my ramblings before, or have seen one of my talks, you know that I'm always trying to push fellow hobbyists to create aquariums that are a bit out of the ordinary.

So, I present you with my latest challenge: How about a system based on the needs of just ONE animal? What would you keep if you could just keep one species of fish? Would you even be able to do it? Coming from the "reef" side of the hobby, I'll take the liberty of speaking for my people and saying a resounding "No!"

Postmodern reefers have pretty short attention spans. We like variety, we like diversity, and we like action! I wonder if it's even possible for a reefer to keep just one species of coral? I'm the ultimate reef geek, and it challenges even my crazy sensibilities! Heck, I have a warehouse with hundreds of species...I wonder if I could handle it. 

On the other hand, as freshwater hobbyists, we're far better equipped, mentally, to do this. I mean, with dedicated breeders working with Guppies, Discus, Plecos, etc., it's a non-issue.

Or is it?

Let's take the specialized fish breeder out of the equation for a minute and wade into the more populated waters of the mainstream aquarium hobby.

It seems that, short of hobbyists who breed certain fishes, you rarely see anyone keeping a tank devoted to just one species in a display tank- fresh or saltwater...

Why is that? 

How cool would it be to just create an aquarium around ONE species of fish, coral, etc? I think it would be off the hook! I mean, you'd be an expert on Lamprologus steppersi, or the go-to-geek on Nannostomus trifasciatus, or..well, you get the idea. Limited thinkers may scoff at your apparent narrow-mindedness, but you'll know in your heart that your tank with 12 Scarlet Badis in an Indian jungle stream biotope is as cool as it gets!

There are a number of benefits to keeping a dedicated species aquarium. First and foremost, the fishes will not have to deal with the competitive stresses caused by the presence of others. Fishes will be more likely to develop a natural social structure, feeding habits, and reproductive behaviors than they will in a typical captive "community" situation. It will become much easier to develop a "baseline" behavioral/growth model for the animals you keep this way. Deviations from what you will come to recognize as "normal" for the species will be readily apparent and obvious over time.

 Of course, breeding fishes and propagating plants is not only a fascinating specialty, it may be the key to survival for many fishes in the hobby, as wild collection becomes less and less sustainable for many. You hear it everywhere from hobbyists more familiar with this dynamic than I, but captive breeding is truly the future of the hobby. We've done an amazing job in the freshwater world, and the marine sector is playing catchup, steadily but surely!

By devoting a tank to one species, and possibly creating conditions conducive to their reproduction, you're embarking on a journey to learn all about them. This is truly taking the first steps towards reducing the pressures off of wild populations, so that we'll be able to enjoy them for generations to come.

Monospecific- One species....A very cool idea...And, if nothing more, it's a great excuse for another aquarium! "Honey, I'm trying to save the Xenophallus umbratilis from extinction..." Say THAT With a straight face, as you pitch the idea of yet another aquarium to your skeptical spouse, parent, or significant other!

In the end, it's just another way to enjoy an aquarium- one of many possible concepts you can try for interest, aesthetics- and just maybe- a chance to bring about the next hobby breakthrough!

So here's to you and your bravery as you take the "road less travelled!" See you en route. On the other hand, with breeders specializing in single species, perhaps it could be more popular already than we think? In the mean time, let's see your "monospecific" tanks, or hear your equally wacky ideas for one! Inspire, share...scare! LOL

Until next time,

Stay Wet

Scott Fellman

Tannin aquatics

On the generosity of perfect strangers and fellow hobbyists...

Another weekend of fish travel is just about coming to a close. Hands shaken, presentation given, ideas exchanged.

New relationships created. Existing ones strengthened. 

Time to wrap things up, hop on a big metal bird and fly home. And, as with every aquarium speaking gig, I fly home with a new sense of the wonder of the hobby, a new cache of information, and a new sense of where I/we fit into the grand scheme of the aquarium universe.

It's almost always this way. 

I should know, because I've had the rare privilege to get to travel around most of the U.S. and parts of the world, talking about aquariums at clubs and conferences. Back in my reef aquarium days, which seems almost a lifetime ago now, travel was so frequent and so common that it was just part of my weekly existence.

It's an amazing experience to talk to seat mates on an airplane, nervous because they're headed for some crazy, high-stakes business meeting, and when asked about where you're going, what you do,  to explain that you own a company that grows corals for the aquarium world, or (more recently) that you curate and sell dried leaves and seed pods for people to toss in fish tanks, and that you're going to talk about it (and be treated like a rock star while doing it).. I can't tell you how many times a fellow traveler has told me, "That's so cool, I've never met anyone who does that for a living!"

It's funny, too. Perhaps there's a certain feeling of guilt that I've developed over the years because what I do IS so cool!

But travel is travel.

Airports, suitcases, and hotels become just part of the game. I remember sometimes traveling to talk every week for whole stretches of the year...Times when I'd never really  have to put my suitcase away. I've literally know some flight attendants by first name, have a favorite seat at the United Airlines lounge in Chicago (where I frequently connected to "points east"), and prepare for each trip the same way every time.

You know, the stuff we do as travelers.

It's hardly glamorous, although when I first started, the prospects seemed so exciting and yeah, perhaps even a bit glamorous...And I suppose it is. There is something alluring about this. The basic elements of this existence are amazing, in and of themselves: I mean, get asked to speak about fish, travel to a new city half way across (or all the way across) the country, and make new friends.

Crazy.

I have a group of friends that I see at speaking gigs and conferences, and have kindled lasting relationships that exist solely at these events around the country. It's kind of cool. Fellow travelers on this journey.

Yeah, we build relationships; foster friendships. 

And learn. Experience. Share.

The traveler inside of me understands the crowded airports, navigates the teeming cities, endures the small indignities of security lines and flight delays. The traveler knows to find the new experiences, no matter how simple. To grab that cup of coffee and sit and take it all in somewhere, if only for a moment. 

And through all of the physical experiences of travel, you have the people.

A warm smile, or an act of generosity and kindness as simple as holding the elevator door for you as you slog through an airport terminal, jet-lagged and dazed, makes all the difference. Simple interactions within a sea of anonymous humanity on a long day far from home somehow reinforces the idea that the best part of our human experience is...our fellow humans.

And with this amazing experience of fish travel, you have the fellow hobbyists you meet along the way. People that you can relate to on a level different than you can with most. People so kind and generous and amazing that it almost makes you a bit sad to think that humans don't always just get along. Our common, geeky love of fish and aquariums and water changes; unexpected spawnings, brine shrimp, and plastic buckets brings us together in a way that few things can.

A commonality that you can plug into anywhere in the world that people enjoy aquariums. After 13 years of fish travel, I can tell you without hesitation that we have a culture and outlook and commonality that's amazing.

Fish people are a different breed.

You come to a new city as a stranger, are invited to a fellow fish geek's home- and immediately don't feel so strange. peering into tanks full of fishes you've never seen before, and have no clue about. Marveling at the innovative ways that problems were solved. Co-miserating about ich outbreaks, dirty filters, and late fish shipments. You feel humbled, enlightened, educated, and reinvigorated.

And them you leave, often having to literally fight off the numerous attempts to "take anything you want" from the fish room and stuff it into your suitcase. You're offered amazing fishes and plants from people that, only days ago were just names in a forum or email. People whom with you've forged that most amazing bond- a love of a common interest.

And it's like this everywhere I've gone the past 13 years.

Fish people. You guys. Us.

Wether you're lucky enough to take a jaunt around the world, or simply a walk down to the local fish store, take several seconds to reflect upon how cool fish people are. Shake a hand. Ask a question. Interact with each other. You just might learn something.

You just might experience generosity you didn't know still existed.

And if you're incredibly lucky- you just might make a friend.

Stay restless. Stay bold. Stay open-minded. Stay curious. Stay generous...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics