The Tint

Don't hate on the basics...

If you were like me- a kid growing up in the hobby, one of the things you remember being literally "drummed into your head" over and over was that you need to perform water exchanges in your aquarium. It was like fastening your seat belt in the car, closing the door behind you, or brushing your teeth...Just something you did to have a nice aquarium. It's a good habit that I keep to this day-like many of you do-and it's always paid off nicely for me.

Yet, as I've grown up and experienced more in this hobby and industry, I can't tell you how many times this "instinctive" practice of water exchanges was not only forgotten, but even sort of vilified by hobbyist over the years. A lot of hobbyists just hate doing water exchanges in their aquariums! Like really hate them. They'd rather do almost anything else. Entire aquarium product lines, schemes, and philosophies have been invented over the years to help limit- or even "eliminate"- having to do water exchanges. Hobbyists go to great lengths and expense to avoid doing them. I've seen guys literally flood their homes- like, major "insurance-claim floods", by desigining and building complex automated water exchnaging systems for their tanks that failed. Expensive, complicated, semi-reliable stuff- all to avoid picking up a siphon hose.

Damn.

It's crazy! I never got this...I still don't get it- probably because it was ingrained into me at a young age and I simply accepted it as part of the game. I mean, it wasn't that bad. It was fun-is fun- to interact with my tanks on this level regularly. Sure, laying down towels, lugging buckets, etc. sucked, but in the grand scheme of things, was it really that bad? Even in my 300 gallon reef tank, it was just part of the whole package, IMHO. How friggin' bad a thing is it to do a water exchange in your aquarium once a week or so? Apparently, quite bad to some! Amazing. I think it's our own fault. We've MADE them seem like such a difficult, complex, onerous thing...

For a long time, I gave a talk at a hobby clubs, called  Nutrient Control and Export”.

Despite its clinical-sounding title, I was frequently surprised by how much hobbyists liked it. Like, people would come up to me afterwards and tell me they were blown away-they got so much value out of it. And in my head, I was thinking, "Damn, all I did was talk about the most basic, common-sense stuff in aquarium husbandry..."

On the surface, you’d think that it was gonna be a dull affair about the virtues of water changes, etc., but we did go a bit deeper, so I suppose it is a bit of a revelation to those who have been  "acculturated" to hating stuff like water exchanges to hear that they're no big deal. We make them seem nasty. The talk (and ensuing dynamic discussions) pretty much always made me once again realize that there is a definite “philosophy” to aquarium husbandry that seems to be shared among the most successful hobbyists that I know:

“Good things done in small measures, with frequency.”

Simple words, but what do they mean to the successful aquarist? A whole lot, actually.

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

Instead of "knee-jerk" reactions to problems, like fishes or plants dying or water quality declining without any immediately evident cause, the most successful hobbyists proactively avoid many of these issues by following a regular husbandry regimen. Typically, this consists of modest (like 5%-10%) weekly or slightly larger (20%) monthly water exchanges, daily observation of major life support systems, frequent cleaning/exchanges of chemical and mechanical filtration media, and regular, but not obsessive water chemistry tests. This is especially important as we explore newer or more exotic ways of keeping aquariums.

This stuff is really basic, but I am frequently surprised, when brought in to troubleshoot an “anomalous” tank “crash” or other issue, of the seemingly complete lack of regular husbandry procedures that exist in a number of these situations. As the sayings goes, “Nothing good happens fast in an aquarium”. More often than not, in my experience- neither do bad things! They happen (in a lot of cases) over time, and the cumulative effect is what causes the ultimate decline in many cases.

Algae problems, for example, often have their roots in something simple, like lazy feeding habits (just dumping cubes of food, packing juices and all) right into the tank in large quantities, nitrogen cycle mis-management (like, OVERSTOCKING your tank!) failure to execute water changes with any degree of frequency, allowing filter media to become saturated with detritus or organics, or even the hobbyist forgetting to change the membranes and cartridges on his/her RO/DI unit, allowing lots of impurities in (I can’t tell you how many times this has been the cause of gradual declines in water quality- I saw ths a LOT in reef tanks with problems, in particular). If your source water sucks, well- you get the picture. Can’t build a solid house with a shaky foundation, right? Yeah.

Sure, sometimes there is a rare case of a ‘toxic batch of salt" (one of my favorite reefer explanations for almost any "anomalous problem" with their tanks) or an outright poisoning (housekeeper sprayed what on the aquarium?). However, typically, most water quality (and therefore environmental quality) issues result from lack of consistency in our husbandry practices.  Totally true. My point of this rant is not to beat you over the head with the basics (well, some of you, maybe a little), but it is to point out that a simple, consistent effort on your part will lead to greater system stability, animal health, and ultimately greater success as a hobbyist. I mean, a lot of you-most of you- know this already...

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

Seriously.

The mind boggles.

Force yourself to adopt good practices if you have to-most of you already do, but apply them in manageable tasks (avoid, for example the “big 4 month water change” or the annual “spring cleaning” of the tank because it wasn't done throughout the year). And do them often! Easy! Even a 2% twice-weekly, or 5% weekly water change can make a huge difference in long term stability of your system. If you don’t believe me, give it a shot for a month and see if you notice a difference in your system…I’ll bet that you will.

So get up, look yourself in the mirror, and then look at your aquarium. Ask yourself if you are making the hobby easier for yourself by following a sporadic husbandry program, or making it harder. Oh, sure, the time involved is different. You'll have to re-allocate time, which can be tricky for many. However, in the "bigger picture", the payoff is truly significant. I’ll bet that, after adopting a more regular, frequent maintenance schedule, you’ll be asking yourself more “unusual” questions, like “Why did my Apistos spawn twice this month?”, or “Damn, I have to prune that Buce AGAIN?”

Good “problems” to have, huh? Think about it.

Stay on the basics. Stay focused. Stay consistent.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Another mental shift...Searching for a bit more clarity on...clarity?

I'm not a scientist. I don't "play one on TV"- yet I have a curiosity about some obscure stuff that makes me wish that I majored in chemistry instead of marketing sometimes! 

A friend, Vince Dollar, passed along an interesting tidbit of knowledge a while back...one of those things worth considering. He noted that a study on dissolved organics in bodies of water worldwide indicated that even seemingly crystal clear waters of Florida, Central America, and even ice-covered lakes in Antartica that have not been exposed to the atmosphere in millions of years, are laden with dissolved organics, with 40% to 80% of those organics being humic substances.

As a refresher, the International Humic Substances Society (I'm not kidding, this organization exists...Crazy-ass partiers, I'll bet!) in part, defines them as follows: 

"Humic substances (HS) are major components of the natural organic matter (NOM) in soil and water as well as in geological organic deposits such as lake sediments, peats, brown coals and shales. They make up much of the characteristic brown color of decaying plant debris and contribute to the brown or black color in surface soils. They are major components of NOM in surface waters and at higher concentrations can impart a dark color, especially in brown fresh water ponds, lakes, and streams. In leaf litter or composts, the color may be yellowish-brown to black, depending on the degree of decay and concentration."

These substances, which have been proven by science to be so important to the overall health and well-being of fishes worldwide, are, in the words of our friend Vince, who has studied them extensively, "A foundational necessity. In some environments, such as Blackwater environments, they make life possible. Fish could not exist in these conditions without them. In other environments, such as Central American aquifer -fed streams and lakes, they make life better."

He further suggests that in our quest to make aquarium water look like our drinking water, we purposely remove these valuable compounds. It's interesting, isn't it? I mean, you wouldn't want to drink a cup of blackwater from the Rio Negro, so the assumption that fish would want to live in ultra-pure drinking water simply overlooks their physiological needs. They've evolved to inhabit a dramatically different environment than we typically provide in our aquariums- for better or for worse.

Interesting...

I'm not suggesting that providing pure, visually clear water is detrimental to fish health, but after studying so much on this topic lately, and observing the vibrant health of many of our fishes in "blackwater" aquarium environments that preserve the humic substances, it certainly makes me question the high regard we've ascribed to this standard; this decades-old practice. And visual "tint" is by no means a reliable, scientific measure of the presence of these substances, but it's a tip-off. Of course, blackwater, provided by the tannins and humic substances imparted by leaves, wood, and other botanicals, is arguably the most convenient, simple to deploy, and most natural "delivery mechanism for these substances that we have at our disposal as hobbyists.

Yet, the benefits of providing these substances for our fishes are, to borrow a phrase, "obscured" by our popular hobby perception that tinted water is somehow "dirty" and unacceptable to fishes and plants in aquariums. We've developed a sort of prejudice against water that is not pure, blue-white in appearance, sort of unfairly labeling anything which deviates from that "standard" as being "impure." Although, as mentioned above, humic substances (not necessarily the tannins that provide the visual "tint") are present in clear waters in the wild. Are there filtration media which selectively remove the undesirable organics (like nitrates, phosphates, etc.) and preserve some of the beneficial humic substances? Could we be "overdoing" it with carbon and such?

It's almost like our idealized aesthetic perceptions of what we feel water should look like in an aquarium have conditioned us as a hobby to sort of gently disregard what it truly looks like in the habitats from which our fishes evolved. Now, I'm certainly not asserting that keeping fishes in a crystal-clear aquarium is somehow going to ruin their vitality or render them susceptible to many illnesses, or that providing "blackwater" conditions is some sort of miracle concept that will lead to unimagined success. However, I'm at least curious about how much better our animals might do long-term (I'm talking decades in captivity of being bred, etc.) if maintained in conditions that more-or-less replicate the waters from which they evolved. We've seen a lot of Betta and Apistogramma breeders utilize these types of conditions in their aquariums for many years, and their successes have been obvious.

And sure, there are lots of examples of Discus, Tetras, etc. that have, over the years, been acclimated to and bred in municipal "tap water" conditions, often "harder" and more alkaline than their natural habitats. They look great and appear to be healthy. I just wonder, however- could they be that much more healthy if maintained under the conditions under which they evolved for millions of years? Have we really "bred out" their genetically-programmed environmental "requirements" in a few decades and dozens of generations- or could it be that, in our quest to make tropical fishes more "available", we've sort of created a kind of "forced fit" and used other means (high water quality, excellent food, selective breeding, etc. to "compensate" for the fact that they are being bred and reared in an environment decidedly different than the one in which they evolved?

And another, more random thought, which I simply don't know the answer to: To any great extent are any humic substances found in seawater- a medium capable of dissolving, at higher or lower concentrations, a very large number of organic compounds, thus making them directly available to its inhabitants? Are they something that might be present, yet "fly under the radar" because we don't test for them? Could the lack of these substances in marine tanks, which are often obsessively chemically filtered with carbon, zeolites, and the like be a contributing factor to the dreaded "HLLE" condition of marine fishes? I don't know, but it would be fascinating if this were the case...I'm checking with my marine chemistry nerd friends on this one!)

Interesting stuff to consider.

Yet again, this concept relates to that "mental shift" that we as hobbyists must make as we explore the possibilities with blackwater aquariums. Perhaps it's because I'm more attuned to it than ever before, but I see "tinted" tanks all over the place now. And they're usually from hobbyists that have chosen to specialize in certain fishes, like many South American cichlids, Killies, Tetras, etc. And I couldn't help but wonder if at least part of the reason why we don't see some of these fishes bred more commonly on a "hatchery" or "fish factory" level, if you will, is because they simply don't do as well under "tap water" conditions as other fishes. I wonder if these types of conditions are making them far less robust and spawns less frequent, smaller, and the resulting fry less vigorous than their progeny bred in more natural conditions. Conditions that smaller, more specialized breeders are more apt to provide.

Obviously, there are thousands of examples of successful spawns of soft, acidic, blackwater-loving fishes in hard, alkaline tap water. However, you just have to wonder what really makes the most sense in captivity over the long haul for fishes from these habitats. Of course, not being a geneticist or biochemist, I'm doing a healthy amount of speculating and postulating here, but when you evaluate the available information, in terms of where these fishes originate, and by what means they're most successfully being maintained and spawned over the long run in captivity, you can't help but think about it.

The discussion about what really are "proper" water conditions for our fishes may truly be "obscured" by the perceptions, attitudes, and aesthetic biases we harbor towards "pure" water. It's a world filled with speculation, anecdotal information, and a lot of scholarly, indecipherable-to-the-layperson information that may hold the answers. At least on a hobby level, we can do a certain amount of "research" as the concept of blackwater, botanical-influenced aquaria, with their capacity for production and/or preservation of humic substances grows.

YOU- the "tint community"- every one of you- are on the cutting edge, helping contribute to an exciting, hardly new, but previously long-neglected area of hobby experimentation.

I think it's all sort of neat. Even if the answers aren't "crystal clear"- just yet, anyways.

Stay curious. Stay observant. Stay creative.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Editorial- The "P Word" yet again. And a chilling trend.

Let me preface today's piece by telling you that I have no "axe to grind" with the hobby. Sadly, to some of you, I will come across as judgmental in this piece, without a doubt- even though it's not really my intention.

My intent is to drag out into the light an issue that I feel impacts the hobby negatively, and could even undermine the whole thing if left unchecked. As a lover of the hobby- fresh, salt, and everything in between- and as a rather outspoken proponent- and yeah, "armchair critic" on the "culture" of the aquarium hobby, I just felt that it's appropriate to air it out a bit, perhaps promoting some discussion. Part of this was initiated by a very strong criticism I heard recently from a reefkeeper, of what he called the "stagnant and out-of-touch" freshwater world- so yeah, there might be just a bit of angst in there! The other part of the inspiration was prompted by simply observing some trends and relating to some recent happenings.

Like many of you more experienced hobbyists, I spend a fair amount of my time (and happily so, I might add) offering advice to newer hobbyists. It's a rewarding, time-honored tradition in our hobby; a passing on of hard-earned knowledge from one "generation" to the next. A key part of our "culture."

Many new hobbyists are understandably eager to embark on their new aquarium adventures, fueled by that enthusiasm that comes from being exposed to all this exciting aquatic world has to offer. It's our responsibility- and honor- to share this knowledge with others, so that they may continue to explore, develop, learn, and ultimately- share with others their "body of work" in the hobby over time. It's cool.

And the "over time" thing is what gets me going. Of late, I've spoken with several new hobbyists who were primarily looking for "hacks"- shortcuts...ways to go from "0 to 100" in a few weeks. They wanted a "complete" aquarium system- planted, Mbuna, blackwater/botanical, in these instances- without being "bothered" by what some of them chillingly referred to as "non-essentials". Yeah, the term "non-essential stuff" came up in one form or another during the conversation with at least 3 of them. "NON-ESSENTIAL?" I was like, "What does THAT mean?" Seriously, what's a "non-essential element of establishing and managing an aquarium? To them, it was everything not tied towards building the damn thing, and accumulating the "stuff" needed to get to the "finished product" at all cost. You know, stuff like considering the more specific, long-term needs of the animals to be kept.

"Non essential" stuff, indeed.

I realized that I've seen this attitude before, quite recently. 

And I'll tell you that it's not everyone. It's a rather small, but unfortunately, highly visible minority, thanks to the effectiveness of social media in todays world. Yet, it highlights a trend that is a bit well- chilling- if you really look at it objectively.

I'm somewhat astounded by the lack of one simple thing- patience- that some people in the hobby display. Is our time is SO valuable that we can't even wait for natural processes to play out so that we have a "finished" aquarium (not exactly sure what that means, anyways- like an aquarium can ever  be "finished")? And in some corners, we seem to value the "shortcuts" to get us to some "destination" more than we do the acquisition of knowledge, experience, and wisdom to get there. Not to pick on anyone (well, okay, maybe just a bit), but 3 of these individuals came from the "reef" side of things. As someone who spent many years in that sector on both the hobby and business sides, I can tell you that the lack of patience- and the desire to "hack" shortcuts- is pervasive in some parts of that end of the hobby. And it's influenced the "culture" more than some would care to admit. Argue if you want, but it's true, IMHO.

Look at many of the most popular developments in the reef world. A huge chunk of them are for all sorts of new gadgets and tech- pumps, numerous lighting systems, reactors, etc. All designed to help make life easier for the reefer, helping us accomplish more with greater ease. They are, I believe, intended to help hobbyists solve real-world problems. Hobbyists who understand the fundamentals of aquatic husbandry, and who could benefit from advances in equipment that make some things easier. Yet, a small and rather vocal minority within that community leaves one with a nagging feeling that the hobby is evolving towards a "accumulate gear to get all the shit done" sort of affair -as opposed to learning and practicing the art. People want these shortcuts- "hacks"- if you will- that will speed things up, bypass the "learning curve" to some extent- and arrive at desired results far more quickly, without needing to really understand the process.

I could give specific examples, but would likely step on a few toes of people I like, lol. And it's not their fault. Great technology is designed to make life easier- to help people enjoy stuff. In the right hands, brilliant results can be achieved. What's disappointing  to me is how these things have been "hijacked" by the very impatient minority of hobbyists, who use them as a means to circumvent the process of learning how to manage a tank. I don't believe that's what the amazingly talented developers and marketers of these pieces of equipment intended for their creations. Meanwhile, the work of the hundreds of talented reef people who are developing cutting-edge coral care and propagation techniques, breeding and rearing marine fishes, and unlocking the secrets of animals previously thought to be unsuitable for captive life are dishonored by the attitudes and actions of a loud few.

We see this creeping into some parts of the freshwater world, too. For example, a lot of planted tank enthusiasts will rightfully use CO2 systems and other gear to administer required nutrients and such to grow their plants. It's a lot to learn. A newbie, as any planted tank person will tell you, needs to understand just what his/her plants need and why they need them..not to  mention, how much and how often. These are things that are learned beyond the instruction sheets that come with the gadget. You need to understand plants- to know the game. It takes a little time, education...experience. yet, increasingly you see on the forums those who simply think that buying all of the expensive name-brand gear will help them circumvent the acquisition of knowledge and experience and simply achieve the result. Throw some money at the "problem" and it takes care of itself!

Patience. We all need patience. 

Now, there are some of you out there who will come back with, "C'mon Scott- lighten up. You're way to judgmental. People should enjoy the hobby the way they want to. There are no "rules" that govern how people engage in the hobby. Are you afraid of technology?"

And of course, my answer is a resounding, "I agree. People should enjoy the hobby the way they want to." And "No, I'm not afraid of technology." That's not the point. The point here is that using the technology as a shortcut or metaphorical "crutch" without having an understanding of the basics is not a recipe for long-term hobby success. And the "work" of these people is being held as "aspirational" because they drop some big money on a problem.

And it hurts everyone eventually, wether we see it immediately or not. Sure, it will sell a lot of gear short term, and throw a lot of money into the aquatic industry "ecosystem" for a while. But it's not a recipe to build long-term hobbyists. When a hobbyist fails and leaves the hobby- as many do- even those who spend a ton of money- it hurts everyone. It hurts the hobbyist, who feels somehow "cheated", and passes on the myth that aquariums are tough to maintain. It hurts the industry, because it's one less hobbyist who will spend a lifetime buying things for his/her fave hobby. It hurts the hobby, because its one less individual who can help others by sharing his/her experiences. And most important, it hurts the priceless animals that we love, lost to simple impatience, because fundamental skills were sacrificed at the expense of some pricy gear, intended to circumvent the "learning curve" that is simply part of the game.

It's easy to paint this seemingly negative picture when you see what's happening. I was talking with a friend not long ago, and we were sort of pondering the current state of the aquarium hobby. We both come from a diverse hobby background, most recently spending a lot of time in he "reef" world, arguably the hobby's "glam" sector. It's a sector that seems to have almost "cultivated" a strange sort of disregard in some areas for learning the hobby in favor of just buying stuff. We both still love it and at least look at it somewhat objectively.

Falling in love with freshwater again, you start noticing the obvious "cultural similarities" and differences, and yet, we couldn't help but make a obvious observation that shows a strange contrast: If you go on a reef hobby forum, you'll see tank "build threads" (like you do in FW forums), but the reef one will be titled something like "Joe's 54- gallon Starphire Rimless Corner Reef Tank." It will typically start with  a pic of some nameless hobbyist's reef aquarium in some corner of the world as the "inspiration"-filled with absurdly expensive equipment and rare, pricy corals and fishes. Then, the thread will feature a discussion and pics of the numerous high-priced DC pumps, reactors, over-the-top LED lighting system, grey schedule 40 PVC fittings with orange handles, monitors, over-the-top protein skimmer, etc. as they are acquired.

Eventually, you'll start seeing progress on the build: Nice plumbing work, a beautiful stand, water testing equipment, etc. Rarely is a game plan discussed. It's all about speed- getting to the "finished product" by any means. Quickly. Eventually, some rock is placed in the tank, and typically, a really nice fish or two...followed by lots of corals. Like, a lot. Trying to fill the tank as quickly as possible. And, unfortunately, we've sort of enable these practices along the way by "ohhing and ahhing" and asking questions, like, "How do you like the "Ocean Masher 700 DC pump? Is it worth the price?" Or, with statements  such as, "Wow, when I pay off my college loans, I'm gonna get a tank like yours one day!"  Treating these builds as aspirational, despite the obvious lack of a foundation they're built upon. Rarely do you see questions like, "What corals are you putting into place first? Are you trying to replicate a reef crest environment or a lagoon...?" Or even, "How do you plan on curbing the aggression of your Euphyllia with all of those Acropora so closely mounted on the same rock?" 

Stuff like that. You know, critical stuff that you want to think about before spending $25,000 on a system. The guy is being hailed as some sort of hero because he spends an audacious amount of money on his tank. It's weird, IMHO. (Asking questions or making gentle, useful suggestions which can help prevent disaster is not arrogant, judgmental, or unkind. It's responsible, compassionate, and the right thing to do.)

And then, in a number of these cases, something bad inevitably happens during the process- an algae issue, disease problem, or some other typical problem that you'd expect to occur when lack of understanding, poor planning and disregard for procedure meet. Again, an almost sadly-predictable scenario plays out: Frantic pics of hastily-assembled "hospital tanks", algicide or pest-eradication equipment acquisitions, etc., etc. are shown, along with what amount to shockingly "beginner-like" questions on what could have happened and what to buy to fix the problem. The aquarist typically will chalk it up to "bad salt", "poor quality fish from the LFS", etc. Anything but the folly of starting a tank with a five-figure budget, lack of eduction on the basics of aquarium husbandry, little experience, and even less common sense.  And then, worst of all...often, the high-octaine "hero" sort of...fades away.

Ouch.

The typical freshwater "build thread", by contrast, typically will have a title like, "Jane's 75 Gallon Rio Tapajos -Themed Cichlid Tank". The thread often starts with a pic of a fish, plant, or natural environment that provides inspiration, followed by a detailed discussion of the fishes that will be kept in the system. The environmental parameters and how they will be maintained also make a up a fair amount of the "introductory" portion of the thread. Later, the hobbyist spends maybe 5-6 entries talking about the tank and it's equipment. Thereafter, it's typically about how the tank establishes, cycles, etc., and how the animals are added. Progress pictures can take months, but typically show great attention being paid the animals and overall environment. The emphasis is typically on the art, not the gear.

Look, it's not all unicorns and "Beanie Babies" here in the FW world, with everyone nice and perfect and cool...And not every reefer who spends a ton of money on his/her tank is a fool following a predictable path to failure. We've all seen examples of ill-conceived, expensive FW tanks, too. However, the apparent brazen disregard for the basics of aquarium practice that is evident so often in the high-octane reef build threads is often tempered by a surprisingly large amount of support and constructive criticism  from the FW community during the process, often mitigating some of the potentially sad consequences of attempting to flaunt the fundamentals of aquarium practice. Maybe 100-plus years of hobby culture makes a difference.

There is a palpable "cultural difference" between these two hobby segments. Of course, there are thousands of amazingly talented, supportive, and highly enthusiastic reefers out there, with beautiful tanks (yeah, some even packed with expensive gear) who enjoy tremendous success, and great care for their animals. These hobbyists, who comprise the majority of the hobbyists out there, know and practice the fundamentals, preach it to others, and deploy a huge amount of patience all the way. Unfortunately, as in so many things, the "louder", more spectacular minority of people/things/ideas get the majority of the exposure. A few bad apples spoil the thing. The danger of this complete lack of understanding and patience is that it contaminates our hobby thinking. And if enough people fail...the hobby slowly dies. Or worse yet, these failures add fuel to the fire of detractors. Spectacular, animal-killing failures and the negativity perpetuated by those who experience them simply confirm the fears and mis-interpretations of the critics who would love to see the aquarium hobby just go away. Thanks, "Nemo."

I am sure that my assessment of this trend that has emerged from the reef world is probably NOT going to endear me to some of my reefkeeping friends. Some people will say I'm over-reacting and alarmist...I understand, but respectfully disagree. Yet it's my opinion that we can do some positive stuff here to stop it. I'm not trying to create a divide between the two interdependent hobby "worlds", asserting that all reefers are superficial Silicon Valley-enriched techno nerds, and that all FW hobbyists are perfectly manicured experts and "throwbacks" to a gentler, kinder time.  However, of late, seeing this regrettable and all-too-familiar "NOW! NOW!" attitude seeping into the rapidly evolving freshwater culture is a "red flag" that I had to point out. Somebody has to, and it might as well be me. I'm not afraid of taking the heat, and I want to be on the right side of history, lol.  It needs to stop in the reef world, and it needs to be thwarted in the FW world.

Look, it's not like either side of the hobby is in danger of an imminent, massive collapse. It's just that a shift towards a more superficial "understanding" of fundamental hobby principles is something that will, ironically set us back. Hobby "thought leaders" (Fresh, salt, and everything in between) have a responsibility to continue to preach patience and education, lest we endanger the very hobby we love so much by embracing an impatient, "I-can-solve-it-with-a-piece-of-gear" attitude. There is so much good stuff already going on- it cannot be drowned out by a few loud, yet preventable failures. We're so much better than this. We cant be that easily impressed. Expensive toys will only get you so far without understanding of fundamentals and the patience you learn along the way. 

It's remarkably easy to combat this bad stuff, too:

The best way to stop this is simply to provide constructive criticism and friendly, supportive assistance when prompted. If you see someone headed towards an inevitable disaster, gently but firmly point out why, and offer ways to circumvent it. Don't just regurgitate stuff you've heard online or wherever...offer actionable advice based on your personal experiences and observations. Positive, affirming observations and gestures go a long way. We do this already...we just need to employ it more and more.

We need to preach the one fundamental skill for which there is no "hack"- Patience.

Patience. 

Focus on patience, responsibility, and the acquisition of basic aquarium fundamentals. The real values that the hobby cherishes. Honor them. Hold them up. Scream them from the highest mountain. Teach them tirelessly to newcomers to the hobby.

Stay vigilant. Stay persistent. Stay patient.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

A "refresher" on biofilms and the creatures who love them.

Biofilm.

Even the word conjures up an image of something that you really don't want in your tank. Something dirty, yucky...potentially detrimental to your aquarium's health. 

And, let's be honest with ourselves here. The damn dictionary definition is not gonna win over many "haters":

Well, apart from the unpleasant-sounding description of the stuff, the concept of biofilms and how they form is actually kind of interesting. Not "charming." I didn't say that. But interesting for sure.

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.

It starts with a few bacteria, taking advantage of the abundant and comfy surface area that leaves, seed pods, and even driftwood offer. The "early adapters" put out the "welcome mat" for other bacteria by providing more diverse adhesion sites, such as a matrix of sugars that holds the biofilm together. Since some bacteria species are incapable of attaching to a surface on their own, they often anchor themselves to the matrix or directly to their friends who arrived at the party first.

Sorta sounds like Facebook, huh?

(The above graphic from a scholarly article illustrates just how these guys roll.)

And we could go on and on all day telling you that this is a completely natural occurrence; bacteria and other microorganisms taking advantage of a perfect substrate upon which to grow and reproduce, just like in the wild. Freshly added botanicals offer a "mother load"of organic material for these biofilms to propagate, and that's occasionally what happens - just like in nature.  

Yet it does, so we will! :)

Is there a "darkside" to biofilms? Of course.

Like anything else, too much of a "good thing" can cause problems in rare instances. Frightening, "aquarium armageddon scenarios" could play out. For example, in an extremely overcrowded aquarium (or a very small one) with marginal husbandry and filtration, with a huge amount of biofilm (relative to tank volume) caused by an equally huge influx of freshly-added botanicals, there is always the possibility that bacteria within the biofilms can multiply extremely rapidly, reducing the level of oxygen in the rest of the aquarium, which could lead to a dramatic reduction of CO2 being released out of the water. This, in turn, could lead to CO2 levels rising quickly and sharply, potentially causing asphyxiation to the animals in the tank- including the lovable nitrifying bacteria that support it.

Now, that's a true "doomsday scenario"- brought about by a non-sustainably-managed/populated aquarium, improper preparation and rapid, excessive additions of botanicals, and complete lack of common sense on the part of the aquarist, in terms of husbandry.

So yeah. There IS a darkside to biofilms. If you create circumstances to foster one.

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.

Yet, understandably, it may not make some of you feel good.

First off, take comfort in the fact that this is typically sort of a passing phase, and can take anywhere from a few days to 2-3 weeks before it subsides on it's own to some level that you can live with. Realize that biofilms are present in every aquirium, to some degree. Yeah, even your "Nature Aquarium", guys. Welcome to Planet Earth.

We get it, though- some of you just don't want this stuff, despite its "charms."

Okay, well, when you've got a lot of this material in your aquarium, and it's causing you considerable worry, stress, and just plain giving you a case of the shivers, there are some actions you can take ( besides cursing the whole idea of throwing aquatic botanicals in your system in the first place).

What to do? Here are a few time-tested options:

• You can wait it out. That's right. Do nothing, except appreciate the wonders of nature, no matter how unsightly they may be at times. I mean, didn't nature make the "Death Flower" and the "Slime Mold?" Seriously. Yeah. And this is nicer to experience than "terrestrial" biofilms, like, oh, let's say... plaque!

• You can remove the offending botanicals, give them a good scrub with a soft bristle brush (like an old toothbrush), a rinse in fresh water, and put 'em back in.

• You can remove the botanicals, give them a good scrub, and re-boil/soak them again. Although a bit redundant, and in our opinion, not necessary, this procedure does have the advantage of removing some of the trapped organics that lead to the initial "outbreak", but you may see it happen again.

• You can leave the botanicals in place, and employ some natural "control", in the form of ornamental shrimp. Yeah, that's right- your "Crystal Red Shrimp", "Bee Shrimp", and the rest of those tiny, overpriced, yet engaging little crustaceans  absolutely adore biofilms, and will attack it voraciously. Alternatively, we've learned that some fishes, like Plecos, some Corydoras cats, and even Leporinus and other "Headstanders" seem to pick at this stuff fairly aggressively. In fact, I've seen Pencilfishes and other small characins pick at it.

Again, the reality here is that in an otherwise well-managed, sustainably-populated aquarium, at best the largest blooms of the stuff will be a temporary nuisance, subsiding to a tolerable level, or even being almost unseen, for as long as you have the aquarium in operation.

Remember, it's all part of the game with a blackwater, botanical-influenced aquarium. A part of that "mental shift" towards accepting and appreciating a more truly natural-looking, natural-functioning aquarium. The "cost of admission", if you will- along with the tinted water, decomposing leaves, etc., the dues you pay, which ultimately go hand-in-hand with the envious "ohhs and ahhs" of other hobbyists who admire your completed aquarium when they see it for the first time.

Now, there are a lot of you who have come to admire, and even love the whole idea of biofilm. Like, those of you who love the aforementioned ornamental shrimp. You understand the value of having a periodic "crop" of this stuff available for your shrimp to "graze" upon. You actually are wanting to foster it. 

So, what are the botanicals which seem to give you the best shot at purposely "recruiting" the stuff? Well, pretty much all of them- in fact, almost anything you put underwater- will recruit some biofilms at some point. However, in our experience, there are a few which seem to "recruit" more biofilms initially than others. They are:

"Teardrop Pods"- which also tend to soften more quickly on their interior than many other botanicals, rendering them more attractive to biofilms in the early phases of their "run" in an aquarium.

Magnolia leaves- Yup, these most beloved, tannin-imparting leaves have that waxy "cuticle" that seems to recruit biofilm more quickly than other leaves during their first weeks of submersion. It seldom lasts very long, generally subsiding dramatically on it's own quite fast. 

"Concha Pods"- Another lightweight botanical with an interior that seems to soften very quickly, recruiting a good amount of biofilm in the process. Like the "Teardrop Pods", the biofilms tend not to linger very long, so "make hay while the sun shines" and let your shrimp have at 'em quickly!"

Jackfruit Leaves - These Indian leaves tend to be attractive to shrimp anyways; however, with the "value added" benefit of rapid biofilm recruitment, your shrimp will feel like you really appreciate them, and no longer any harbor resentment for the shrimps' ridiculous $400USD per gram price tag. (sorry, couldn't resist!)

Now, you may have other favorites for this purpose, and we could probably devote a whole damned article to it (Why not, I've just written a thousand-plus words on biofilm! Where else in the aquarium world are you going to find that kind of content every day- for free, nonetheless? And yet, some of you still buy generic, "non-romanced" Catappa leaves from some clown on E-Bay. Really? Huh? How DO you sleep at night? Have I guilted you yet?)

Okay, this is getting a bit "long-winded", and even a bit nasty- but you get the idea. Biofilms are  common in nature, and a part of pretty much any aquarium, yet a bit more significant (and noticeable) when you play with aquatic botanicals. They are not to be feared- although they should be respected- and ultimately, utilized as food by your animals!

Stay calm.  Stay brave. Stay curious. Stay devoted.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Rays of hope...

Today, I felt a little more uplifted by some experiences so far this weekend, so I’m putting my usual grumpy, cynical, sarcastic self on the back burner for the day to give us a little lift. That’s right- I’m praising us for a change. Don’t worry, I haven’t gone “soft”…By tomorrow, I’ll have something to rail about, trust me. :)

And this is a good thing...in light of the recent bad experience I had at one of my local fish stores a week or so ago. This time, I visited another store that I typically don't go to that often, because it's a bit out of the way. (Okay, here in L.A., everything is" a bit out of the way", however..)

So, while at the store, carefully checking out EVERYTHING (Hey, I’m a fish geek, right? It’s still fun!), amid the usual hustle, bustle, and hobbyist banter, I made a social observation:

When you think about it, we as hardcore fish geeks (Okay, aquarium hobbyists in general, but hardcore fish geeks in particular, really) have an incredible amount of knowledge about some very arcane facts, don’t we? ( So says the guy who is obsessed with decomposing leaves in his aquariums…)

“Phosphate”, “dirted tanks”, “aufwuchs”, “ferric aluminum oxide”, “Laetacara thayeri” , “zeolites”, “reverse osmosis”, “magnesium levels”, and “ORP” were some of the words I heard in discussions upon entering the shop.Seriously! You know, those little discussions that take place between fish geeks in odd corners of the LFS, when contemplating which fish to buy, etc…One of the best parts of fish-geek culture and an advantage of hanging out at the metaphorical “watering hole” that is the LFS.

It was sort of like like attending a fish club meeting or convention. And in a way, it was. Yeah. Absolutely.

In one 30 minute stretch, I heard an outwardly scary looking, biker-type guy giving a very detailed, lucid, and informative dissertation to a couple of other customers on the topic of phosphate in the reef aquarium, and its good and bad effects on corals, complete with personal experience references and admission that some of his theories might be "anecdotal"…And “Q and A!” I mean, really impressive! I also listened in on a rather vigorous discussion on the merits of water changes conducted by a “Scary cat lady” kind of person (sorry for the cruel stereotype, but I’m being serious here!) And then there was the “Emo”girl with the fuscia hair and tats, talking about how she grows Daphnia for the Badis she’s spawning….It all goes to show that you can’t judge a book by its cover, like the old adage goes- and that there is no information like that which you receive from those who are actually working on the things they’re talking about!

More important, it shows that, as hobbyists, we are an incredibly well-studied, intellectually curious bunch, regardless of our educational backgrounds, ethnicity, appearance, gender, etc. As it should be. And most important of all- we share our knowledge with others quite readily, and a lot of the knowledge is NOT “regurgitated” stuff-you know, the stuff that gets me all worked up on these pages. Rather, it’s hard-earned, real world information, typically  gleaned by years of actual practice in our own aquariums, making it the most valuable kind of information available, IMHO.

What I find truly fascinating about our hobby is the level on which the average hobbyist is operating. Many of us run systems with tight control and understanding of many, many aspects of the environment, with tremendous insight on just why each of the perimeters we obsess over is so important. That’s really cool, because we are not just following some kind of “orders” from some anonymous “hobby force” up there that tells us to keep our nitrates at 0-10ppm, or our photoperiod at “X” hours per day…Rather, we’re arriving at some of these “hobby norms” because we’re observing and tweaking our systems based on what works best for our fishes and plants…crazy concept, huh?

What’s more, is that we have a bunch of you out there who “dare” fly in the face of convention, asking why we have to do things a certain way, when your real world results prove that success can be achieved in a completely different manner. Hobbyists who are willing to risk their reputation, animals, and money because they think that they might have a better way. This is how hobby breakthroughs are achieved. At a very grass-roots level, by those who dare. Very cool stuff. 

Another observation: It seems like a lot of hobbyists got their start by…whoa…picking up a book, or reading information on the internet, then perusing forums and getting feedback and guidance from fellow hobbyist who took the time to act as “mentors.” We have a really great “hobby cultural” thing going here, don’t we? It’s not just hobbyists receiving advice from people who are trying to sell them stuff. Rather, we’re getting advice from others who’ve walked in our shoes…Clubs, conferences, and online forums and Facebook groups have completely transformed the hobby.

I’m kind of curious how many of you have a “mentor”, or did you slug it out alone? Seems like these days, there are fewer and fewer hobbyists who got their start figuring out stuff without at least some input from others. What a cool thing!

So, in conclusion, I’m not sure exactly how we arrived at the state we’re in as a hobby right now, but on the whole, it’s pretty darned good!

Okay, we could do without “Glow Fish”, Photoshopped pics, “check out my rare Discus collection” threads, obscenely expensive “microchip-sized” coral frags, blah,blah, blah…

Until next time, keep sharing, keep learning, and…

Stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The "audacity" of thinking a bit different....Tough talk, or a bunch of "bioload?"

Today, I'm sort of venturing out into "open waters', so to speak, and hitting you with a little piece of philosophy that's been on my mind for a while. I don't give all the answers, in this piece. Rather, I point out to you an issue that I think affects a lot of hobbyists at one point or another, and I'm rather opinionated on the subject...which I know shocks you...LOL. Some of you might be...pissed off. Others might grab on to what I'm getting at here. Much as we'd like it to be, the aquarium world is not always lovable stuffed animals and cotton candy...

I'm shockingly conservative as a practicing aquarist in many respects. Despite the fact that I preach tinted water,  free thinking, self-expression, experimentation, and even a bit of rebellion in towards the "status quo" the hobby, I'm not all that "radical", really. From a standpoint of husbandry practices and decisions, I'm conservative, regardless of how "out there" the overall execution of the aquarium  system I'm playing with is.

I've always believed that if you "err on the side of the water change", or refrain from   "adding that one extra fish", or "go with the larger, more capable filter/heater/powerhead" that you'll have "cover" for even some of your most radical departures from the "norms" of the aquarium world. Putting in the effort, developing- and practicing- responsible husbandry skills, observation, and striving for consistency- will put a lot of "exotic" ideas within the realm of achievability in many cases.

Yet, the detractors are out there in "Aquariumland."

I have a distinct dislike for "them"- those people in the aquarium world who feel it necessary to discourage others from breaking new ground and doing things that are a bit different; those who love to preach and regurgitate the rhetoric of "because this is how it's done." I hate "keyboard warriors" who foment the criticism of anyone who dares  to try something others have dismissed without ever even trying for themselves. A lot of these people seem almost angry for some reason...it's weird.

So, if I encourage a certain "rebellion" and even disrespect for certain aspects of "the aquarium establishment", then so be it. The way forward often involves facing uncertainties, criticsms, disapproval, and even scorn from some corners. Yet, breakthroughs and changes often require us to leave the comfortable nest of "accepted" and push towards the undefined "bleeding edge." Courage, tenacity, and discipline are part of your "gear" when you roam the outlying regions of the aquarium hobby. It can be uncomfortable and scary for the uninitiated- and disastrous for the unprepared and unwary.  Failure is a real possibility.

Yet, that's the price of progress, isn't it?

The long preamble sort of sets the stage for today's piece.

I remember reading, not too long ago, a criticism of a very unique aquarium in one of those contests that sort of stood out in my head. It sort of epitomized to me the "danger of regurgitation" and over-generalizations that are preached in the hobby all too often. The tank in question was absolutely brimming with life- not necessarily fish- but lots of algae, mud, small crustaceans, biocover, etc. Very different from a conventional planted or aquascaped tank in many ways. It was incredibly realistic and very cool. Some questioned the "long-term sustainability/viability" of the aquarium because of all the "organics" created by all of the material. 

Now, upon initially digesting it, you might be inclined to agree...It is a legitimate concern to consider the effect in a closed system of a lot of organic material...until you think about it in the greater context of aquarium practice and history. A lot of seemingly kooky ideas that we take for granted now were considered absolute "no-no's" decades ago.

Yes, I call "foul" on this attitude of big over-generalizations. This was sort of a typical "politically correct" aquarium-world observation- not really "nasty", actually well-intended, yet in reality, rather damaging. And really all too common these days, IMHO. 

Suppositions and assumptions we make based on our own lack of experience and understanding can discourage progressive thinking.

In the example of the aquarium in question, just because an aquarium has a lot of "biological material" in it does not make it unmanageable or non-sustainable. It simply makes it more challenging to manage, and requires the aquarist to employ more aggressive, intense, or disciplined husbandry practices, efforts, and skills to keep things running long term.

It doesn't require screaming into the night and abandoning an idea because a few people tell you it can't work. It doesn't make it "unwise" or  an act of "tempting fate" just because it cannot be done by a large number of hobbyists.

Really. 

It requires work. Discipline. Observation. Diligence.

Effort.

These things may or may not be "replicable"- but they are not impossible to acquire for those who want to.

How much "stuff" can you have in a tank and still have it run successfully in the long run? Well, it depends on what kind of "stuff" you're talking about. Overcrowding a tank with fish IS irresponsible, realistically physically stunting the fishes, and ultimately creating an unhealthy environment for the inhabitants. No argument there. However, creating well-balanced, yet highly "populated" systems of a variety of organisms are entirely achievable. Deep substrates and algae/biofilm covered rocks, botanicals, and wood work.

Why do they exist in aquariums and in nature? Because they are organisms exploiting the available resources within their environment.

Look at a reef tank for a second. A typical "natural" reef system has sand, "macro/microalgae encrusted "live rock", a tremendous amount of small crustaceans, etc., along with coral and fishes. And these microcosms, if properly cared for, can last indefinitely.

When I see a very established, highly "populated" freshwater aquarium, I can't help but draw an analogy with reef tanks: A wide diversity of life on many levels, producers, consumers, predators and prey- right on up the line. And, when I see a tank with a ton of sand and leaves and pods and all of that other stuff- I see one of THE MOST sustainable, long-term viable systems...with the caveat that it's managed properly and observed carefully.

Sure, it's not easy for everyone to maintain,  and it would be irresponsible for me to assert that "anyone can do it"- but neither are other specialized aquariums- brackish water systems, "SPS" reef tanks, Rift Lake cichlid tanks, "high tech" planted tanks, Discus breeding systems, etc. etc. And, yes, a glass or acrylic box in our living room is not Lake Tanganyika or The Orinoco River...But the laws that govern nature in the wild govern nature in the aquarium, too. You need to understand the interaction and consequences of the choices you make in building and populating your system in that context.

And, you just have to put in the work. Period.

Aquariums are not "set and forget" systems. You know this.

Are you "one missed water change from disaster?" Likely not. Those who push the envelope leave some safety margins. Good husbandry and observation provide this. And "unorthrodox" systems simply require different management approaches.

The very best "bleeding edge" aquariums are operated by hobbyists who hustle. Yeah. They do what it takes. Over-generalizations, preached in forums and articles online are only useful if they discourage an unwary, unprepared, un-dedicated, technically-incapable hobbyist from trying something that could lead to a disasterous and tragic loss of life. For the rest of us, those who understand the challenge, and are willing to rise up to meet it- you just need the "heads-up" that you have to put in the effort and stay on top of things...

So, don't over-generalize stuff. Yeah, some things are NOT advised for everyone. But that doesn't mean that they cannot work for anyone.

Question what you don't understand. Discuss potential shortcomings. 

Be brave. 

Stay focused. Stay disciplined. Stay honest.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The art and science of "functional aquascaping"

Have you ever thought about why we 'scape our aquariums the way we do?

I mean, we like to create things that look cool...duh. 

However, if you think about it a bit more deeply for a second...what is the purpose of an aquascape in the aquarium...besides aesthetics? Well, it's to provide fishes with a comfortable environment that makes them feel "at home", right?

Exactly...so when was the last time you really looked into where your fishes live- or should I say, "how they live" - in the habitats from which they come?

Well first off...unless you're talking about large, ocean going fishes, or fishes that live in enormous schools, like herring or smelt- fishes like structure. Structure provides a lot of things- namely protection, shade, food, and spawning/nesting areas.

Yet, the structure that we are talking about is not just rocks and wood, in the context of aquariums. It can be plants, algae, botanicals.

Think about how fishes act in nature. They tend to be attracted to areas where food supplies are relatively abundant, requiring little expenditure of energy in order to satisfy their nutritional needs. Insects, crustaceans, and yeah- tiny fishes- tend to congregate and live around floating plants, masses of algae, and fallen botanical items (seed pods, leaves, etc.), so it's only natural that our subject fishes would be attracted to these areas...I mean, who wouldn't want to have easy access to the "buffet line", right?

Another interesting phenomenon that any fisherman will tell you is that fishes also like to gather under trees. Not only do trees provide a respite from the bright light, they provide an opportunity to grab a meal of insects, fruit, and other materials which might fall from the trees throughout the day. By providing both food and shelter, the overhanging trees provide an interesting place for fishes to hang out.

So, where does this leave us in terms of creating an aquascape for our fishes in the aquarium?

Well, for one thing, we can look to nature to see just what it is that falls into the water! In many wild habitats, it's leaves, seed pods, branches, etc. All sorts of stuff. The innovative South American biotope aquarium of Tai Strietman features dried palm fronds! Soemthing entirely relaistic and appropriate- yet, a natural material we seldom see used in aquascaping. And the effect is as stunning as it is realistic!

And what about how these materials are oriented in the water after they fall? For example, when a tree branch falls into the water, gravity, current, wind, etc influence how it lays on the bottom of the stream. Often times, in shallow streams, the branch extends partially out of the water...kind of like what we do in 'scaping, right? Yet, somehow less "contrived."

As aquarists, we put an amazing amount of time into trying to achieve a perfect placement for wood, when the reality is that, in nature, it's decidedly random. Is there not beauty in "randomness", despite our pursuit of the "golden ratio", etc? Just because last year's big 'scaping contest winner had the "perfect" orientation, ratios, and alignment of the Manzanita branch within the tank, doesn't mean it's a real representation of the natural functionality of "randomness." 

By looking at nature, an aquarium like Neil Whitley's, shown above, effortlessly acheives that balance between design and natural chaos that is so exciting.

Bottom line- maybe we don't need to "stress out" so much in our placement of wood in the aquarium, striving for some artistic interpretation...maybe we'd achieve something altogether different- and cool-if we just sort of randomly "drop" the wood into the tank and go from there...maybe? Could you handle that? 

And ask yourself, honestly- is there not a true beauty in the "randomness" of nature? Isn't this what aquarists like Amano were really trying to stress, rather than preaching the rigid adherence to some "formula" of placement? Can't you see the beauty in replicating as scene like this one, photographed my Mike Tuccinardi in the Rio Negro?

And the idea of randomness can involve some design, of course. Don't believe me? The beautiful Tannin-themed hardscape that Jeff Senske of Aquarium Design Group created earlier this year has an incredible sense of scale, design, and style, yet seems to have achieved that "randomness" that only nature can, via skilled placement of rocks, leaves and botanicals within the hardscape.

Even the most "artisitc" interpretations of wood placement in the aquarium can invlove some natural attributes, as demonstrated capably by master 'scaper Johnny Ciotti in this amazing hardscape he did in my old office at Unique Corals (yeah, reefers would freak out when they saw this "exotic" freshwater tank in my office!). It follows a certain "flow"-like in a natural stream- yet retains a certain degree of "random" beauty at the same time.

With the really great variety of wood available these days to the everyday hobbyist, I'd dare make the almost "heretical" assertion that you can pretty much grab virtually any decent piece, or pieces- of of wood and create an incredibly satisfying, natural-looking scape. "Functional aquascaping" is as satisfying as any other form, IMHO.

And what ideas can we glean from tree roots, which often extend into the water of streams, or become submerged in the wet season? They attract tons of fishes in their virtual "maze" of projecting structures. These provide countless sights for fishes to hide, feed, spawn, etc. Just reproducing a small segment of a submerged "root tangle" as an aquarium subject could have thousands of possible configurations!

The interesting thing about tree roots, from an aquascaping perspective, is that we can very effectively simulate them in the aquarium with a number of the more commonly-available wood types, such as Manzanita. By employing a vertical orientation, as our friend Rich Schram did in his Angelfish aquarium, you can create a very effective simulation of this interesting habitat.

The thought of wood as a primary feature in an aquarium is as old as the art of aquscaping. However, with a fresh, objective look at the way wood is situated in natural waterways, we can creating extremely satisfying, surprisingly realistic simulations with relative ease. James Sheen, Tannin's "Ambassador" in the UK, utilized an interesting orientation of wood, and combined it with plants to create a "drool-worthy" scene that I keep staring at over and over.

 The concept of incorporating plants into natural-looking wood-dominant 'scapes is nothing new at all. However, circling back to the "randomness" thing, I think that the idea of letting plants kind of "do their thing" within the wood matrix is something few aquascapers will generally do. Rightfully so, they've embraced a certain "order" to the incorporation of plants in their hardscapes. However, observing once again about what really occurs in nature, and you begin to notice that plants sort of exploit niches in the wood structure and surrounding area which makes their survival easier. This is not always the orderly, strictly placed, and carefully organized manner that we see in every competition 'scape. Rather, it's an appearance based upon the necessity of survival, which has its own beauty, if we'd look at it for what it is.

Our office aquarium will never win a design award; however, we think the placement of the aquatic plants- and the act of letting them grow "as they damn well please" creates a far, far more natural-looking composition than you'd think.

The other consideration with driftwood in our aquascapes is perhaps even more important than anything else, in my opinion: The "recruitment" of organisms (algae, biofilms, plants, etc.) in, on, and among the matrix of wood structures we create, and the "integration" of the wood into other "soft components" of the aquascape- leaves and botanicals. This is an area that has been worked on by hobbyists rather infrequently over the years- mainly by biotope-lovers. However, embracing the "mental shift" we've talekd about so much here- allowing the growth of beneficial biocover, decomposition, tinted water, etc.- is, in our opinion, the "portal" to unlocking the many secrets of nature in the aquarium.

The extraordinary amount of vibrance associated with the natural growth on wood underwater is an astounding revelation. However, our aesthetic sensibilities in the hobby have typically leaned towards a more "sterile", antispetic interpretation of nature, sans algae, biofilm, etc., and these naturally-occuring  phenomenon have typically been shunned. However, a growing number of hobbyists worldwide have began to recognize the aesthetic and functional beauty of these natural occurances, and the realism and intricate beauty of nature is starting to eat away at the old "sterile aquascape" mindset just a bit!

And before you naysayers scoff and assert that the emerging "New Botanical"-style blackwater aquarium is simply an "excuse for laziness", as one detractor communicated to me not too long ago, I encourage you once again to look at nature and see what the world underwater really looks like. There is a reason for the diversity and success of the life forms in these bodies of water. What is it? The parallels between the realistic beauty of the aquarium by our friend Reid at Monsterfish Studio in Hong Kong and the natural habitat in Amazonia shot by Mike Tuccinardi below are hard to deny. Hobbyists are on to something here!

Perhaps the best part of taking a fresh look at the way the world underwater really looks is that we gain a greater appreciation for the stunning diversity of nature, and the urgent need to educate non-hobbyists and protect these invaluable resources. The knowledge that we as aquarium hobbyists gain by researching, replicating, and maintaining systems that are a more realistic representation of nature is priceless. Unlocking the secrets of fish interactions, composition of the population, and parameters of the environment itself is key to spawning and maintaining numerous species of fishes, so that future generations may enjoy them in the wild. With man's impact encroaching more and more into nature, as captured below in the pic by Sumer Tiwari, the urgency to understand these habitats while they are still relatively intact is palpable.

What is truly exciting and encouraging  is that, with every new aquarium that our growing global community creates, the "state of the art" and knowledge of technique, husbandry, and long-term sustainability of botanical-style aquariums grows. It's truly an "open source" collaboration of hobbyists, in which everyone's contribution is both welcome and appreciated- not to mention- indispensable! 

So, be sure to venture out into the local stream, creek, or lake. Seek out pictures of the natural habitats of our fishes, and study them with the same zeal that you do this year's aquascaping champions' works. Ask yourself "why" the environments look the way they do. Formulate new ways to replicate them, and to create sustainable aquarium habitats for the fishes that we treasure so much.

Stay curious. Stay bold. Stay unique. 

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

I've got you totally figured out...

There are few things in the hobby, or in life, for that matter, that are near certainties. Too many variables, too many factors at play…

On the other hand, as a fish geek, you may not know this, but you pretty much have completely predictable behaviors that make you a prime candidate for sweeping generalizations. And, as the self-proclaimed guardian of fish-keeping "culture", I’m here to educate you today by making of few of these sweeping generalizations!

As a fish geek, it’s like in your DNA to think or act a certain way when you see stuff. You can’t reprogram yourself. It’s "hardwired" into your essence. Some examples to prove my hypothesis:

It’s impossible for you to pass up even the smallest, most obscure local fish store or pet shop that sells tropical fish, whenever you are out and about. I mean, seeing that battered sign that says “Tropical Fish”  on the side of that weathered, bleak mini-mall calls to you like a siren. There is little you can do but make that quick turn, find a parking space, and causally stroll in to the shop. Sure, it may not look very promising on the outside (That poster for the "latest" under gravel filter powerhead system might give you pause), but this is the kind of place from which fishkeeping “urban legends” are spawned! Is THIS the place where you’ll find that Nanochromis transvestitus mis-marked as a “Fancy Krib?” You only know if you go, right? What are you waiting for? Flip a U-turn!

You’re drawn to the seafood department in your local grocery store, especially the section with the clams or live Maine Lobsters! You look at the clams under the unlikely guise that one of them might be a Tridacna maxima waiting to be made into sushi, and you’d unconsciously swing into action to rescue the poor animal from the chopping block. Did the refrigerator put it into some sort of "suspended animation", from which you with your aquarist skills can revive it and score an amazing clam for your reef tank?

And, you love looking at the doomed lobsters in the holding tank not because you are sadistic, but because you’re trying to figure out if that would make a cool portable aquarium system for cold water fish. Probably just needs a few tweaks and you're good to go, right? You secretly wonder what the store manger would do with the tank if they ever decide to stop selling lobster! Could you strike a deal and score a turnkey cold water aquarium system? You already know the answer, but the eternal hope keeps you coming back anyways.

The local home improvement center is your shrine, and the plumbing department holds the objects of your desire, but you can’t help but want to re-purpose just about every bucket, container, rain gutter, and shelving unit to some obscure fish-keeping purpose that you’ve been continuously mulling about in your subconscious for weeks. I know how you think. You are the one who figures out how to make a complete Bucephelandra propagation setup with a concrete mixing tray, some odd-sized PVC parts, and an LED shelf light.  You can build the whole thing for only $17 dollars! You’re innovative, you’re creative...you’re...broke. Yup. You are a TRUE fish geek!

When you’re driving through a neighborhood that you’re unfamiliar with during evening hours, you’ll immediately be drawn, like a moth to a flame, to the glow of bright lighting seen through a window. 

The discarded carbon bucket on the porch is another dead giveaway. Since you're not in Denver, you know that what's being illuminated belongs under water, not in a pipe...Your passengers have no idea what’s going through your mind, but you harbor this secret fantasy about hopping out, knocking on the door, and introducing yourself as a fellow fish geek: “I couldn’t help but notice the light..is that an Eco Tech Radion set at 6500k? I thought so…”  Could THIS be the guy who has an entire colony of Otopharynx  sp. "Lundo Island", with fry just waiting to be given to new homes? Or maybe he has a massive Eriocaulon sp. "Mato Grosso colony?" It’s possible…You..just..need..to..knock..on..the..door. But, you are late for your daughter’s friend’s birthday party, and you drive on…Yet, you can’t help but wonder.

Out to dinner at a fancy restaurant? one of life’s pleasures, if you ask me. And, if the place just happens to have an aquarium- or better yet, a planted, "aquascaped" aquarium, it’s that much better! On the other hand, you are a TRUE fish geek, and you know that what you are looking at is really a wretched assemblage of malnurished, ill-matched fishes and, heaven forbid, African Frogs, crayfish, and shrimp.  Your initial inspection generally reveals your worst fears: The 1980’s are in the house, with reverse-flow under gravel filter and blue-and-green Epoxy-coated gravel substrate.  You’re immediately put off by the tacky plastic plants, and even more turned off when the suave guy next to you with too much aftershave  points towards a "Parrot Cichlid" with degraded fins and tells his impressed date that “This is an Angelfish! Very rare. Exotic fishes are very difficult to keep.” You bite your tongue, trying to play nice and not admonish “Biff” to keep talking about his adventures at the tennis club that afternoon instead of proffering absurd “information” to an unknowing, yet apparently easily-impressed date. You proceed to walk away because scanning the menu for a perfect Scottish Loch Duart Salmon fillet in a crispy potato crust with a triple malt Scotch on the side is so much more appealing at this point.

I’m sure that you have other observations equally as on point, which will support my theories, right? let’s hear ‘em!

I could, of course, go on and on, but I think I’ve successfully presented my hypothesis that us reefers are wired just a bit differently than the average person. We look at the world from our wet perspective! We fall into some predictable behaviors that other reefers can immediately understand, relate to, and empathize with. We are a cult, a band of brothers and sisters…a “tribe”, if you will, bound together by Seriyu Stone, L-series Plecos, and the search for the perfect Betta.

We are fish geeks. We are ONE!

Until next time…Keep searching for your hobby happy place…

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

The LFS problem and ways to fix it..

I don't know if it's the time of year, my mindset. or what, but my mind is heavily focused of late on the business side of things. That's good, but not always entertaining for those of you looking for my usual dives into obscure hobby topics or rants on "stuff" I think about. And, I do receive a fair amount of correspondence from hobbyists and vendors alike about the business side of the hobby, along with requests to touch on it a bit more- so this is as good a time as any to write this!

As you know from my previous writings, I am a HUGE proponent of the local, brick-and-mortar fish store. It's a vital institution in the hobby and culture of fish keeping. It's where I got my start- it's where thousands of kids and adults start their journeys into the amazing hobby we love. I've sung the praises of the "institution" of the LFS repeatedly over the years, and will continue to do so! In fact, even though I have chosen to operate in the online sector, I make it a point to purchase much of my personal fish supplies and many of my fish at my local stores. I am a very vocal supporter of this special place in the hobby.

However, a few days ago, I went to one of my local stores and just had a pretty bad experience. Actually, it wasn't the first time. It's been a gradual, but perceptible trend at this particular store. It wasn't any one thing; no rude sales person, dirty tank, or clutter. Rather, it was sort of a combination of these- and other factors. Seeing a dead fish or two, or a dirty tank once in a while is just sort of "par for the course" with a fish store. There's a lot going on. However, when you see dozens of dirty tanks, lots and lots of sick and dying fishes, things blatantly mislabeled, overall clutter, and disinterested, apathetic, "busy" employees- that's a sign of a problem, IMHO.

It felt bad. I felt bad.

(Unpleasant, right?)

In my opinion, the best part of a fish store is that it can provide an almost "immersive" experience- giving the visitor a real taste of the hobby and the excitement and enjoyment that there is to be had in it. So, when you see a store that's become a mere shadow of itself- sloppy, poorly managed, uninspiring displays, filed with dead and sick fishes, cheap merchandise instead of the quality goods they once carried- your experience is not so good. It's sad, actually. I actually had a chance to chat briefly with the owner, who, to his credit- mentioned that he felt his store was "having issues." It takes courage to acknowledge that. However, during our chat, he started falling back on one thing that, as a business person, I despise: Blaming "stuff" for the poor state of his store. 

Mainly, it was the "online vendors" that underpriced him, or had "all of the cool stuff that I can't stock."  Then it was Amazon, because they have "free shipping and cheap prices."  And then it was the fact that  "__________ has all of this stuff in a nicer display." His frustrations were palatable, but they reeked of bad excuses. I've heard these from many brick-and-mortar, and an increasingly larger number of online tropical fish-related businesses as well.  In fact, you hear it in other retail business sectors, too. The good businesses figure out the solution for these issues. The bad ones...well...

Okay, before I get too deep in this- I'll clarify again: I'm not trying to indict the institution of the brick and mortar store here. I'm an unabashed fan. I believe I've already made that point. Yet, every time I touch on a business subject like this, I get "hate mail" from some LFS or online business owner who tells me I'm just piling on the hate, or out of touch, don't know what I'm talking about...or whatever.  Of course I don't think that's correct. I'm bringing subject matter that is near and dear to me; which I have firsthand experience with. If you take this as me "having an attitude" or "chip on the shoulder" or whatever, you're completely off-base.  And I'll go on record as saying that I'd be equally disappointed in an online business that has similar issues. What I don't like are excuses and offering customers a second-rate experience because of "________________." It's not necessary. The LFS is way better than that. And, since I hate the idea of just talking without offering some value, I'll at least touch on a few ways that he can be better.

Look, as an online vendor, I understand that don't have the same overhead and issues associated with a brick-and-mortar store. I get that. However, online businesses have plenty of challenges, too- namely, standing out in a crowded marketplace, offering good products, good customer experiences, prices, service, etc. Pretty much all of the same merchandising and marketing issues as the LFS, with the addition of shipping and some other uncertainties. Everyone has their challenges. I certainly know some things that we need to work on at Tannin in 2017!

I was, however, distressed at the way the owner reacted to the problems he was having. It was just doing something without thinking through the whole problem...not seeing the forest for the trees, as they say. It was so unecessary.

His immediate "solution" was to bring in more and more merchandise; much of it, I'm sad to say, sub-par stuff- "knock-offs" of the well-known products- and a lot of it still sits on the shelf (he complained about that, too...). It was his way to counter the higher-priced, yet superior quality items that the competition offered. I can almost understand his thinking, but it's not just about "having stuff" on the shelves. I understand that the brick-and-mortar store can't stock multiple high-end LED lighting systems, a range of expensive protein skimmers, 5 different lines of low-iron-glass tanks, and every trendy food that you see online. However, there are plenty of ways to combat the impact of competition, online or otherwise, that don't involve taking out a small business loan and carrying huge volumes of high-end merchandise. You don't need to have every item you see everywhere to be successful. My friend just didn't perceive that.

We're not going to solve the problems every business faces in this blog. (I charge pretty good money for that kind of consulting, lol) But we can at least look (at a very superficial level) at his excuses and what he could do to address them. And of course, I don't have all of the answers...I'm not some "guru." I simply am another business owner hoping to give a bit of value to other business owners based on my experiences, and perhaps to give hobbyists a few bits of knowledge to enlighten them somewhat about this side of the hobby. My hope is to open up discussion where we can all talk about the industry, online, brick-and-mortar, and in between, and how to make it better.)

It starts with NOT  blaming everyone else for your problems. Not always easy to do, but it's a must, IMHO. Sure, competition takes a bite, but the best businesses accept it as a reality, and look for "Blue Ocean"- uncontested market space- to reduce its impact, or even render it irrelevant entirely. And it's sad that many aquarium businesses spend tremendous capital, effort, and time trying to be "all things to all people." Taking a stand for what is important to you, yet, at the same time, listening to your loyal, ravenous customer base is important. Offering the products and services that they want-so long as it doesn't take you off course. So many businesses of all kinds fail to take care of the 20% of the people that comprise 80% of the customer base that it's astounding. 

Look, we could carry every type of plant food, medication, etc., that fish geeks want, but doing so would be decidedly "off message", capital-intensive, and essentially catastrophic for us. Rather, we offer some products that you're likely to find elsewhere, mainly as a convenience. That was a conscious decision when we started, but we didn't want to get too deep into that. Part of it was to help in establishing online "search-ability" for Tannin. The other part of the decision was to offer some items/brands that customers were familiar with when they visited our site. Yet, we also were careful into to stock every product by manufacturers we work with. There are tons of places to purchase every filter media on the market-with better selection, inventory, and pricing than we have. However, the ones we offer-and will offer- are products that work in the context of what we do.  (key takeaway here). We're not about trying to be a "one-stop shop" for all of your aquarium needs. We can't be. In fact, in 2017, look for a fair number of mass-market products to leave our inventory, to be replaced by an even more focused selection.

Not everyone can or wants to do things that way. I understand. "Leaving money on the table", as they say, is a scary proposition in the bloody war for your business. It's part of a long-term strategy that I've chosen to embrace-forgoing the immediate sale for the long-term customer relationship-and not everyone sees value in doing that. Stuff like putting out free content every day, supporting clubs, and maintaining a social presence is not attractive or comfortable to a lot of businesses trying to build a following, when there are quicker ways to go and bills coming in.

Charting a different course than what everyone else does, or what's viewed as "standard" for an industry is scary. Many businesses, run by incredibly smart people- fail trying. It's a sad reality. The aquatics business is really tough, as anyone involved with it will tell you. Yet, it's really rewarding. It takes ingenuity, creativity, effort, and time to make it work.

And the staff needs to be on board. In today's global job market, just having employment is pretty cool. Pride in work, especially in something most of the employees are passionate about, shouldn't be difficult to encourage. Employees more interested in talking amongst themselves instead of doing their job need to be re-educated..or replaced. An LFS can't survive if the customer-facing employees constitute the weakest link in the organization. Just having warm bodies on the sales floor isn't enough in this business. Get rid of the lousy ones before they end you.

With regards to the "cool merchandise?" A brick-and-mortar can do something no online store can: It can show the items in operation; give customers the "touch/feel" experience. Incorporating the equipment, etc. into displays creates a "real world" experience that no website can really achieve. A lot of stores do this, yet many fail to capitalize on this. You'll often hear that a customer comes into the LFS to see the item in person, then buys it online. I get it. But there are ways to counter this. Turn the model inside-out...think like an online store for a minute!

And you don't have to have 5 pieces of the full line from every manufacturer. You have one or two of them. You can order them in as needed. Trust me, if the pricing is competitive, customers are accustomed to a wait of a few days to get their items. Yes, stuff like brine shrimp, a can of food, flakes, medications, replacement parts should always be in stock. But for most stores, having several $4,000 "turnkey", high-end reef tanks in stock simply ties up capital.  Rather, have one, and use it like a "menu" that customers can order from.

Ever been to a Tesla "store" in a mall? Do you think they have every model in stock to drive home today, and lose customers because they don't? Why do you have to? Because it's always been done that way?  Because you've been in business for the last 19 years and it used to work? Because you've "payed your dues?"  NOTE: The market doesn't care...it moves without you- and will run right over you if you don't adapt, change, and dare. Tough love, but it's true...and I think you know that. Don't hate on the messenger here; I don't make the rules up ("ass-kick" part over). A serious customer will be happy to come back in a few days to pick up exactly what he or she wanted. And, for them to pick it up in person at the store is a slight "inconvenience" that most fish geeks will happily endure, particularly if your store is clean, fun to go to, has nice people, and has cool stuff to see! The opportunity for "upselling" or adding "value-added" services is very real.

And "disrupting" the market is cool! 

You've got this.

I can go on and on and on, but the real point of this article is not to show what a visionary I am, or to blabber on and on about ways to "fix" stuff. As stated previously, I don't have all the answers. This is just an opening discussion. A "primer." A catalyst for deeper contemplation. I can tell you from my personal experience that there are ways to get out of tough spots, and there are ways to build a unique, lasting business in a tough niche like the aquarium world. The best aquarium businesses figure them out. They're scary, often unfamiliar. They will challenge your patience, your nerves, your determination, and your economics. But they can work. They work if you pursue them.

Don't quit. Don't be afraid. Be pissed off for like 5 minutes, then roll up your sleeves and do what you know how to do with a fresh attitude. 

The industry needs you. The hobby needs you. I need you! 

Stay determined. Stay innovative. Stay creative.

And above all.

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Getting "in deep" with my next leaf litter tank...Some thoughts on this crazy plan!

So...I'm really getting into the planning of my next project aquarium. Have I told you about this one before? I think I touched on it. I'm sure that the subject matter will pretty much blow you away- you'll be like, "Damn, never would have thought Fellman would try THAT in his next tank..." NOT.

Yeah, you probably saw this coming: I'm shooting for a little simulation of a deep (by aquarium standards, anyways) leaf litter zone, with near 100% coverage over the substrate. The kind of little "pockets" you see in tributaries of the Rio Negro.

Lots of leaves and maybe just a few botanicals, like "Savu Pods", "Ceu Fruta", Coco Curls, or "Rio Fruta." The leaves will be a mix of Guava leaves, Magnolia, and maybe a few of the "Borneo Grade A Mega Catappa" leaves, which I've been itching to play with lately!

I don't think I'll be using any plants in this one, though, unlike in the Mike Tuccinardi pic of the Rio Negro above, or my office leaf litter tank that you've probably seen a 1,000 times already, below. This tank has provided me a lot of cool aesthetic "looks" as I've tried out different types of leaves for varying effects, which will pay off in this new tank.

I would love to have a couple of pieces of wood- small ones; however, specimens that project our of the water. It will either be a couple of Manzanita or perhaps just one larger, "beefier" Mopani specimen. I love both of these types. (and so do you, based on recent sales! Don't worry, we ordered a bunch more in; we'll have 'em up on the site soon!)

I kind of like the "dark, mysterious look" that my friend Reid of Monsterfish Studio in Hong Kong did...You've seen this pic before, too; study it a bit more closely- I'm liking the one piece of wood (mine would be over a lot more leaves) for a dramatic effect, but would love to break the waterline. This will be easy, as the aquarium I intend to utilize will only be 12" (30.48 cm) tall!

(I know, I know- this blog sounds almost like a "commercial" for our products, but hey, as the sayings goes- we use  and pretty much geek out about what we sell! Inspiration is part of what we do here at Tannin Aquatics!)

I'll only keep 2 species of fish- 3 at the most. I hope to highlight some Darter Characins (Elachocarax or Poecilocharax, if possible), and a large shoal (maybe like 20 or more) of "Green Neon Tetras" (Paracheirodon simulans), which is a perfect tiny, "hyperbright" fish for a small, dark tank like this.

(P. similans- Image by Sascha Biedermann, used under CC BY- SA 2.5)

If I end up with really shy Darter Characins, then I might just go with some Brown Pencilfish (Nannostomus eques), Nannostomus mortenthaleri  or even some Marble Hatchetfish (Carnegiella strigata). 

Which species of Darter Characin I'll employ depends almost exclusively on which ones I can source! I'm trying to avoid the more "commonly" available (if that's an appropriate term!) "Green Darter Characin", which is found more typically associated with plants, as opposed to leaves- and in swifter water habitats than I'm attempting to replicate. Plus, the damn things are bright green...LOL (In a perfect world, my choice would be P. wietzmani- but hey, beggars can't be choosers, and I'm likely to end up with the "GDC" anyways!

I'm thinking of a shallow, wide aquarium with dimensions at 36"x14"x12" (91.44 x 35.56 x 30.48 cm). A bit wider than some of the cool "wide footprint" tanks being offered by some manufacturers now.  Of course, it's a "custom" job...I never do anything the easy way, it seems! However, those extra two inches in width will, I believe, create a bit more realism and make this tank a bit easier on the eyes, particularly with its short heigh of 12 inches (30.48 cm). I'll definitely be using extra clear, low-iron glass for this build, to maximize light into what will likely be a darker, richly-colored tank. The capacity is about 26 US gallons (98.42 L)- an odd size, but just about right for this little experiment!   

For filtration, I'm definitely going external- an Ehiem 2213 filter, with an inline heater and disguised returns, if possible. And of course, I'll hide the whole thing like I did in my old office aquarium. I hate seeing gear!  Flow will be modest. I'm directing most of it mid water; this will be really important if I go with the surface-dwelling hatchetfish as my "secondary cast members" in this tank...Ahh, those little considerations loom large when planning our aquariums, don't they?

For illumination, I'll rely on a combination of room-ambient lighting (it's going to be in my kitchen/family room area), and a cool Nanobox Reef "Mini Flare" LED light, which can be controlled nicely to provide just enough light for the effects I'd like to achieve in the aquarium. 

Since these are all wild-caught fishes, the need to acquire, quarantine, and acclimate the fishes to captive life long before the tank is ever set up is another consideration that I am planning for. Particularly with the little guys like characins, internal parasites seem to "go with the territory", and I'd rather be proactive in this process to avoid any potential problems down the line. Besides, little fishes like this just always seem to be half-starved, taking a beating in transit from capture to dealer to you. 

What I'm hoping to achieve in this tank is a very different aesthetic. Really, a sort of "slice" of a very specific niche habitat. And, by keeping little fishes in a relatively small tank, I think that we'll see each and every aspect of this microcosm in nice detail. This will help to create an aesthetically pleasing, yet "semi-authentic" representation which can give the viewer an appreciation for what in the past has been an easy-to-overlook subject for aquarium replication.

So, that's where I'm at right now. I'm in the process of vetting out a tank builder, searching for the appropriate fishes, and looking for that one piece of wood that will "talk" to me! It's a lot of fun to share this kind of stuff with you, because it helps spur on discussions about subjects that are not always covered. I can't tell you how many times I've found out some cool and useful information from another hobbyist that helped me execute my plan, simply by sharing it! As we've mentioned before- in this vast hobby world, theres' almost always someone out there who might have tried to do what you're thinking of- and their input can be invaluable!

We'll be sure to keep you updated as this one come into being. In the mean time, let me know if you have any thoughts, questions, or ideas about this project!

Stay creative. Stay involved. Stay excited...

And Stay Wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics