The Tint

The attributes we ascribe to leaves...Myth, reality, or somewhere in between?

Some three years in to our mission of elevating the use of botanical materials in aquariums here at Tannin Aquatics, and we are starting to see some of the "haze" clear about their usage and benefits.

Hyperbole and rhetoric are starting to fade a bit under the objective reality that arises when we start gathering personal experience, as opposed to simply regurgitating the speculation of others.

With more and more hobbyists playing with botanicals in all sorts of aquariums, we're seeing real tangible aesthetic and functional results, including pics of amazing "leaf-centric" scapes, and lots of stories of fishes spawning shortly after the use of leaves commenced in their aquarium.

Let's give 'em "props!" Leaves are amazing when utilized in aquariums.

However, it seems to me that, over the years, a lot of "capabilities" are ascribed to them- some of which are legit, and others likely still simply conjecture.

Yes. That's me- the botanical vendor, saying this. Nothing new, though.

Catappa is the biggest "superhero" among leaves in this regard. 

There are a lot of spectacular claims attributed to these leaves, and it’s often hard to sort through all of the hyperbole and find the potentially true facts that might be of interest and value to us as aquarists.

The last thing I wanted to do when I started Tannin Aquatics was to get caught up in touting all sorts of unsubstantiated claims about these leaves and the substances they contain, so I did my best to ferret out just what the ”real deal" is here! None of this is the definitive word on the subject, but it was helpful for me to at least try to extract some practical information out of the many claims about these leaves.

For many years, Betta breeders and other enthusiasts in Southeast Asia added catappa leaves to the tanks and containers that held their fishes, and noticed a lot of positives…Those who actually fought their fishes seemed to feel that, when they were kept in water into which catappa had been steeped, their fishes recovered more quickly from their injuries.

Those who simply kept various species of these fishes (not for “blood sport”) noticed increased overall vigor, appetite, and health among their fishes. 

And there IS some legit science behind at least some of these claims: The bark and particularly, the leaves of the Indian Almond tree (Terminalia catappa)- contain a host of interesting chemicals that may, indeed provide direct health benefits for tropical fishes. The leaves themselves contain several flavonoids, like kaempferol and quercetin, a number of tannins, like punicalin and punicalagin, as well as a suite of saponins and phytosterols. Extracts of T. catappa have shown some effectiveness against some bacteria, specifically, Plasmodium, and some parasites as well. 

I found a  study conducted by fisheries researchers in Thailand on Tilapia, which concluded that Catappa extract was useful at eradicating the nasty exoparasite, Trichodina, and the growth of a couple of strains of Aeromonas hydrophila was also inhibited by dosing Catappa leaf extract! In addition, this solution was shown to reduce the fungal infection in Tilapia eggs:

(Chitmanat, C., Tongdonmuan, K., Khanom, P., Pachontis, P. and Nunsong, W. (2005). Antiparasitic, Antibacterial, and Antifungal activities Derived from a Terminalia catappa solution against some Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Pathogens. Acta Hortic. 678, 179-182 DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.678.25)

Boom! 💥

Okay, that makes sense! 

Now, we find many similar attributes applied to other leaves, such as guava, Magnolia, and even Loquat. For example, Magnolia leaves produce phenolic antimicrobial chemicals, compounds called coumarins and sesquiterpene lactones, which discourage predation and grazing by terrestrial insects. Coumarins have known anti fungal properties. 

Does it apply to fishes and shrimp?

Most leaves contain significant complex sugars (polysaccharides), which can directly benefit these animals when consumed. I mean, who doesn't get a little "kick" from complex sugars, right? 😆

Much is still anecdotal for aquarium use- perhaps even a "forced fit" based on the known benefits of these compounds for human health...And much remains to be discovered about their benefits for aquatic use. I mean, just because the compounds they contain provide specific benefits for people is no guarantee that they will be absorbed and utilized by our Neocaridina, right? 

Help, physiologists out there!

I mean, there is a literal "cottage industry" surrounding the use of various leaves and botanicals expressly for the purpose of "treating" and "conditioning" shrimp. And look, I'm not knocking this. We have plenty of customers who have used various leaves and even botanicals, for years, and strongly believe that the use of leaves plays an important role in the success they enjoy with these animals.

I am just a bit curious, of course, as to which substances are absorbed from leaves by these organisms, and whether or not the benefits that come to humans from the use of the leaves applies here. We'll continue to objectively present some of these "hypotheticals" ascribed to leaves for hobbyists to research and examine. 

Now, one thing that we do know is that shrimp (and some fishes) consume leaves- and they also consume the biofilms and fungal growths which occur on the surfaces of the leaves. This is a fact, observed daily for decades in aquariums all over the world. What specific benefits are they garnering as a result?

And of course, we can go on and on about the humic substances and tannins which are released by leaves and botanicals directly into the aquatic environment. That's a legitimate, known "thing", documented by a lot of scientific study. 

And of course, we love the aesthetics provided by leaves when used in our 'scapes. They provide a unique, natural look, tinted water, and support a complex web of life forms in the aquarium- just like they do in nature. We'll keep pushing that as a terrific "benefit!" 

And, with the ever-increasing availability of leaves and botanicals in the hobby, it's never been easier for us fish geeks to experiment, explore, and work with leaves in a variety of situations.

We're nowhere close to having all the answers on the benefits ascribed to leaves, but continued effort by you- our informed worldwide community- will no doubt get us further along the road to unraveling the myth- and reality- of their capabilities.

Stay open-minded. Stay curious. Stay consistent. Stay engaged...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The littlest things...

In our world, it's been established for some time that you can use leaves, botanicals, bark, and other natural materials to influence the look and composition of the water to a certain extent. Of course, this makes perfect sense, because the stuff we play with interacts with water in so many ways.

This is accepted and understood, for the most part..

Well, as we discussed yesterday, some in the hobby/industry still ascribe all sorts of wonders to botanicals; I hope we have- and will continue- to dispel some of these myths about what we think they can do in favor of the more impressive reality about what they ARE capable of!

Which, we might add, is a lot!

One of the aspects of utilizing botanicals in our aquariums that we discuss, but can't think about enough, is their importance to the "microbiome" of the aquarium environment. A "microbiome", by definition, is defined as "...a community of microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses) that inhabit a particular environment." (according to Merriam-Webster)

Now, sure, every aquarium has a microbiome to a certain extent: We have the beneficial bacteria which facilitate the nitrogen cycle, and play an indespensible role in the function of our little worlds. The botanical-style aquarium is no different; in fact, this is where I start wondering...It's the place where my basic high school and college elective-course biology falls away, and you get into more complex aspects of aquatic ecology in aquariums.

Yeah, it's the "jumping off point" for one of my favorite speculative areas in our little hobby speciality:

With botanicals breaking down in the aquarium as a result of the growth of fungi and microorganisms, I can't help but wonder if they perform, to some extent, a role in the management-or enhancement-of the nitrogen cycle. In other words, does having a bunch of leaves and other botanical materials in the aquarium foster a larger population of these valuable organisms, capable of processing organics- thus creating a more stable, robust biological filtration capacity in the aquarium?

With a matrix of materials present, the bacteria (and their biofilms, as we've discussed a number of times here) have not only a "substrate" upon which to attach and colonize, but an "on board" food source which they can utilize as needed? Facultative bacteria, adaptable organisms which can use either dissolved oxygen or oxygen obtained from food materials such as sulfate or nitrate ions, would also be capable of switching to fermentation or anaerobic respiration if oxygen is absent.

Hmm...fermentation.

We've talked about that before, right? And I'm not talking about this in regards to making kambocha, either!  Botanical layers- particularly, leaf litter beds- in the wild, offer an interesting study in nutrient processing and food production for the surrounding aquatic ecosystems. And, although botanicals accumulate to significant depth in some areas, the processes which we are fascinated with even occur at surprisingly shallow depths...

One study of wild leaf litter beds in Amazonia indicated that the majority of the aerobic decomposition probably occurs in the upper 10 cm of the leaf litter bed, as lower material is more tightly packed, reducing O2 diffusion, and is generally older and already well decomposed. It is also thought that fermentation processes release acids (specifically, acetic acid), which help reduce the pH substantially within these beds. 

So, we have biological processes occurring in botanical/leaf litter beds which a)facilitate nutrient processing in the habitat, b)contribute to the food chain, and c)potentially influence the chemical parameters of the water.

Obviously, there is some analogous processes and benefits which occur when leaves and botanicals create a similar bed in a closed aquarium...What exactly they are is still a subject of ongoing investigation for us as aquarists. 

With so much emphasis placed on the appearance of our aquariums, it's interesting to remind ourselves from time to time that there are functional benefits of utilizing botanicals that go far beyond the pretty look.

There's a whole lot there to unpack- drawing from a variety of scientific fields, such as biology, chemistry, and ecology, as well as from our everyday practices as aquarists. It's not necessarily that we are creating a new "thing"- we're simply seeing a correlation to the processes that we are fostering in our aquariums and what occurs in nature, and realizing that we can embrace, study, and benefit from them in our aquarium work.

Just a little reminder; an invitation to do some more research on these potentially game-changing and utterly fascinating topics, which will have broad-reaching benefits for aquarists for decades to come.

And it all starts with, well- how best to put it? The littlest things!

Who's in?

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

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

"R" is for Rasbora...

"Rasbora."

The name alone evokes something. A feeling. A sort of romantic fantasy we all have about a far-off, exotic place, filled with sights and wonders and beauty.

Malaysia. Indonesia. Sumatra. Borneo. 

The litany of locations from which the fishes we collectively call "Rasbora" is like a veritable "who's who" of amazing ecological diversity and beauty. It goes without saying that the surprisingly diverse group of fishes that are placed under this generic moniker are as beautiful, fascinating, and evocative as the habitats from which they come.

More than just "Asia's answer to Tetras!", these fascinating fishes offer diversity, color, grace, and interest to any aquarium- particularly one set up to replicate some of the conditions of their natural habitats. We receive fair amount of questions asking about what botanicals and such would be appropriate for these amazing fishes in the aquarium...

Let's take a quick look at this! 

It would be an over-generalization (which we as hobbyists tend to be guilty of, right?) to simply say that they all come from "soft, acidic water" as has been the case for many years. I mean, it's difficult to argue otherwise, as most of them DO come from such habitats.

That being said, as with any species, it goes without saying that you should study the specific locales and habitats from which the species you're into hail, and make your stocking and aquascaping/habitat design decisions with that information.

Nonetheless let's forge ahead and take a broad, likely over-generalized look at some of the materials and ideas for a setup featuring fishes from this unique collective of Cyprinids we call "Rasbora!"

Now, first off, most of the ones we're interested tend to come from dark, soupy, highly acidic waters. Many of these habitats, ranging from critically-endangered  peat swamps to forest streams and small pools, are chocked with leaves and other botanical materials, such as branches and seed pods from the surrounding terrestrial habitats. 

An of course, this is right up our alley, so to speak, right?

Yep!

You could hardly go wrong in stocking your Rasbora-centric tank with leaf litter. And of course, we all know a thing or two about leaf litter, right? And of course, since most of them are rather small, if your "scale-obsessive" like I am, you want to go with smaller leaves. Our recommendations would be our latest "BFF", Texas Live Oak Leaves, the ever-appropriate Malaysian Yellow Mangrove Leaves, and the beautiful fave, Guava Leaves!

 Any of these individually, or in concert with each other, will form a beautiful, functional leaf litter bed, even in a small aquarium. The tannins imparted by them, and the "matrix" they provide for microorganism growth are terrific side benefits!

And of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't at least remind you to explore the possibility of aquatic plants in your Rasbora tank, right? In addition to the old favorites, Cryptocoryne, you could utilize the much-loved Bucephalandra, some mosses, and the awesome Rotala. All do quite well in these tinted, acidic environments- and they look amazing, too! 

From a botanical perspective, I'd consider the types of plants and trees that surround the habitats of the specific species you're working with. I'd say that, generically, you could incorporate representations of "regionally-appropriate" materials, like Banana Stem Pieces, Fishtail Palm Stems, "Rio Fruta", and, perhaps, some peices of catappa bark to simulate the accumulation of materials which was into the waters during the rains.

Sure, that's not an exhaustive list, but it gives you a starting point to narrow down some choices. Each one of them is both interesting from an aesthetic standpoint, and imparts some tannins and humic substances to the water, as well as fosters biofilms and microorganism growth from the "functional" side.

As we enable more self-curation based on specific fish and habitats in the future (Huh? What are you taking about? Stay tuned!) on our site, we hope that you'll be able to easily ascertain what really provides the look and feel your trying to achieve!

This almost embarrassingly general and cursory look is to hopefully whet your appetite and answer a few of the questions we receive about "What goes with this fish...?" Obviously, we can and will go much deeper at a later time, but this is a start! 

Stay curios. Stay inspired. Stay empowered. Stay enthralled. Stay creative...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Twigs, branches, and tangles...

One of the fun things about the botanical-style aquarium is that, to a certain extent, it's "anything goes" in terms of materials that you can use to represent the wild habitats. I mean, when you think about flooded forest floors and rainforest streams, you're talking about an aggregation of material from the forest that has accumulated via wind, rain, and current.

This is a remarkable and fascinating habit to replicate in the aquarium. As opposed to a more "contrived" 'scape, with a carefully selected piece or pieces of of driftwood, what I'm framing out here is a more simple, less "placement-oriented", and far more natural-looking 'scape.

I mean, sure, you could certainly use some aesthetic thought in the concept, but when you're trying to recreate what in nature is a more-or-less random thing, you probably don't want to dwell too much on the concept! Rather, put your effort into selecting good-looking materials with which to do the job.

Thats where we come in.

(Yeah, you knew I was going to get there somehow, right?)

We have aggregated (pun sort of intended) a nice selection of interesting twigs, branches, and tangles (as I like to call smaller stuff) with which to accomplish this. The beautiful thing about this idea is that you don't necessarily have to use 12 different varieties of branches and such to create a remarkably complex and interesting scape.

My current fave is Oak branches, which we offer via our "Twenty Twigs" pack (yea, probably our most literal product, being comprised of...wait for it...twenty selected Oak branches and twigs! Didn't see THAT coming, huh?). Because there has been so much interest in this product, we have made two sizes available!

The "regular" is comprised of small to medium sized pieces, ranging ranging from less than 2 inches (5.08cm) up to 10 inches (25.4cm). The "large" size has pieces that are bigger and thicker overall, ranging in length from 15 inches (38.10cm) or more! We can get you larger pieces from time to time as well.

And of course, you could utilize other materials, like Coconut Palm Stems, as well as stuff like Mangrove branches (which you know I love and have done entire 'scapes with before).

The idea is that you're creating a matrix of these materials to impart a very natural and interesting look to the aquarium.

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

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

When assembled in conjunction with a nice aggregation of leaves, this configuration  provides a remarkably interesting aquarium with a different sort of aesthetic. 

And the nice thing about utilizing tangled branches in an aquascape, as opposed to  a more traditional  "wood-centric" 'scape, is that you can end up with something that is incredibly realistic and functional. 

And you get some advantages. Case in point?

The potential to keep little groups of fishes, (like my beloved Checkerboard cichlids) behaving naturally in the same tank. Now, I'm no cichlid expert, but I do have a certain love for keeping little "communities" of fishes like Checkerboards together. Oh, and what about Darter characins? Fishes like that? Lots of possibilities, huh?

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of such an aquascaping configuration is to foster natural behaviors and spawning activities among the resident fishes. I would imagine that for "uncontrolled" breeding of many species, the dense matrix of twigs and leaves would create a very good environment for this!

I envision all sorts of habitat simulations that you could do by utilizing a matrix of small branches and roots in your aquarium. And, what's more, I can see more and more interesting insights that we can glean from our experiments in this area...what will YOU discover?

Stay interested. Stay creative. Stay curious. Stay observant. Stay unique. Stay diligent...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

"The cult of originality..." An "editorial" of sorts.

As we are moving deeper into the aesthetic of blackwater aquariums, with their deep brown color, decomposing botanicals, and rich, textured look, I am occasionally asked by fellow fish geeks what it is that influences my taste in aquascaping.

And of course, I just share with them pics of the wild habitats which I find so alluring, leaving no doubts as to what inspires my 'scapes. 

And of course, they want to know why I'm so fascinated with leaves, wood, seed pods, and stuff. Just what is it that is so alluring to me?

I explain to them that it's really a desire to "reconnect" with nature in some way. Yeah, I personally kind of think that hobbyists in general tend to over-complicate things a bit and sort of "polish" out the true beauty of nature. It's not that we "ruin" stuff- it's just that many of us seem married to an interpretation of nature that is unyielding and bound up by a lot of "rules" in pursuit of a "natural" look.

As you might imagine, I am not fond of rules in aquascaping.

Ergo...

There are no rules in rediscovering the unfiltered "art" that exists naturally beneath the surface.

The only "rules" that exist in our interpretation of aquascaping are those which nature creates to dictate how materials accumulate, interact with, and decompose in water.

My peers in the reef keeping world ask me why I "gave up" the splashy and exotic color palette that accompanies the reef aquarium for the organic, earth-tone-influenced world of natural freshwater aquascaping, particularly "blackwater" environments.

I found it amusing, because I didn't "give up" anything. I love both. However, to some of my reef keeping acquaintances who were sort of set in their ways, seeing me evolve a different path was disconcerting, frightening, or just plain confusing. And that's okay. I have my own tastes- as everyone should- and they encompass a variety of things. I poke my head out of the bubble from time to time. We all should.

And yeah, I do see this same kind of "resistance to change" in the freshwater world in which I operate now. Although it's sad to see hostility to different ways of thinking, I can't help but feel that it's changing a bit.

Slowly, but it's changing. 

Yet, you still see a lot of attitudes out there which make you scratch your head sometimes...

Some of the most telling aquascaping advice I've ever received was also some of the worst: "Copy an existing work that you like- exactly. Work with it for a long time and gain confidence with it before moving on to a design of your own"

Awful. 

I mean, I suppose it could be interpreted as good because we all aspire to create stuff that pleases us, and if you need to copy others' work because you love it, so be it.

Nothing wrong with that.

And of course, for many hobbyists, that might mean recreating an aquascape that we saw online, at the LFS, a fellow hobbyist's tank, or one of those international competitions. Gaining inspiration from the work of others is great...It gives us a "guideline", so to speak, for creating our own version of the word. 

Artists have been doing it for centuries- drawing inspiration from others, then sort of "tweaking" their own versions. Nothing inherently wrong with this. 

However...

When it starts becoming a "paint by numbers" thing, with everyone trying to create an aquascape that meets someone else's rigid "formula" for theme, layout, composition, stocking, etc., it's "unhealthy", in my opinion. Like, this typically gets me lambasted throughout the competitive aquascaping world, but I, for one, am a bit tired of aquscapes that contain sand waterfalls, floating cities, "beach scenes", "enchanted forests", etc. 

I mean, it seems to me that to place highly in one of those contests, an aquarium has to look like something out of "Lord of The Rings" -some weird fantasy with an underwater twist. 'Scapes that employ these things are studied, analyzed- revered as THE way to 'scape. Anything that seems to deviate from this is just sort of shrugged off as a "nice try", "niche'y",  or something equally dismissive. If you look at this objectively, I'm kind of right...

It need not be this way.

From the outside- especially to someone like me who comes from the reef aquarium world, which has went through similar "Copy this exactly in order to have a successful attractive tank..." periods, its all too familiar- and all too disappointing.

I suppose that it's even kind of funny, too.

A sort of "paint by numbers" approach to 'scaping, quantifying, and looking at the aquatic world. Trying to be exactly what we see elsewhere; what others "approve" of. Perhaps not even what we feel in our hearts. That can't be a "positive" for the hobby and art of aquascaping.

Look, I have no problem with different styles of aquascaping. If you're into floating forests and stuff, Mazel Tov. Good for you. Keep doing them. Because you love them.

Where I have problems is when we (and I mean it generically and collectively) are resistant to any deviation from what we as a group  feel is "the way."

Now, again, just because I'm advocating utilizing materials and adopting an interpretation of nature as it really appears in some areas, doesn't mean that every other way sucks. Although I'm not the only one who thinks this way, I always hear from at least one or two persons, who, after reading a piece like this, will tell me that I'm doing the same thing as those I question, and am nothing but a hypocrite.

No. No I'm not. Read this again.

All I'm saying is that no one should "hijack" the art of aquascaping and dictate what is the accepted "style" and what isn't. Trust me, I'm well aware that many people find the "style"  and interpretation we advocate here as aesthetically ugly, "dirty", messy, etc. 

And that's okay. Opinions- and tastes- vary.

I just can't help but wonder why so many aquascapers worldwide seem to be "held hostage" by a mindset that proffers that you have to do it like everyone else in order for your work to be taken seriously, and how it arose. What is the reason for this attitude?

To be "cool?" To belong? Because we want so badly to be like the great aquascapers that we'll forcibly subscribe to some rigid style to appease the masses? Would the great Takashi Amano want this? I don't think so.

His greatest works were those that embraced the concept of "wabi-sabi", in which nature guided them. Scapes which evolved over time. Scapes in which nature herself dictated the way this occurred, and how they look. There are no "floating cities", "floating forests" and underwater waterfalls in nature. So how did all of this stuff become the accepted norm? Where did the "aquascaping hegemony" decide to take this weird turn?

I have no idea.

I merely suggest that we consider the absurdity of this close-minded thinking when choosing to precisely replicate the work of others- no matter where they are from or who they are. And you know what? I am pretty confident that most of the creators of these beautiful 'scapes will be flattered that others are inspired by their work, but they'll be the first to tell you that you should not feel that you have to exactly replicate their work in order for it to be considered "great."

Don't get me wrong.

There is enormous discipline and talent that goes into the creation and maintenance of these fantasy-inspired aquascaping works, and many are achingly beautiful. I wish I had 1/10th the talent of some of these people. That's not the problem! The problem, as I see it, is that many of the high-placing and winning aquascapes in these competitions are crushingly "formulaic"- simply trying to "one up" or play off of the creations of others, and not really forging truly new paths- and this directly influences the larger aquascaping world.

I suppose that, to some extent, this is how inspiration and "movements" work, but its the sort of closed mindset and shitty attitudes which often accompany it that sort of concerns me. There is some downright nastiness that runs in some of these circles. It stifles creative thought, IMHO. I hate stuff that stifles creativity or discourages innovation outside a given set of "rules" that others arbitrarily set.

This is supposed to be fun.

Again, there's nothing "wrong" at all with the brilliant work that people are doing in the big international aquascaping competitions.

Funny, but if it was viewed in the same fashion that we view concept cars at auto shows- you know, the absurdly futuristically styled ones with glass domes, hologram instrument panels, etc.- stuff that might eventually "trickle down" to production vehicles in terms of style or technology- then I totally get it. 

But it's not that way. The message sent is that in order to be taken seriously as an "aquascape artist", you need to do it THIS way. 

Why do I find this so problematic?

It's just that, well- it all starts looking the same after a while, and we continue to force ourselves to view every single one of these derivative works as "aspirational", as if our own stuff is just sort of..there.

There are talented aquascapers all over the world who do amazing work, with their own sense of style, without the influence of others- simply based on what pleases them- what's in their heads, or based on what they see in the natural world.

The natural world. Blemishes, chaos, and all. Cool.

Since starting Tannin, we've been blessed to have struck a chord with hobbyists who are looking for a slightly different direction. 

It's fun to see people take the botanicals we offer and run with them, so to speak- creating aquascapes and aquariums that speak to their own tastes. A new palette of materials for a hungry, extremely talented aquascaping crowd eager to try something a bit different. We're honored to offer something a bit different to play with.

There is no "right or wrong" in expressing aquatic creativity. Only in the attitude which accompanies it.

Ok, deep breath, Scott.

The big takeaway of this op-ed today? 

Just be yourself. No matter what anyone says. No matter what everyone else thinks is "the way." 

There are lots of "ways." None of them "wrong."

I leave you with what I think is one of the greatest, most inspiring advertising passages ever written, the famous Apple "Think Different." passage- a narrative which perhaps speaks to this very school of thought:

"Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

It's hard to imagine this said any better than that.

Stay creative. Stay open-minded. Stay true to yourself. Stay supportive of others. Stay bold. Stay innovative...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Be the ripple...

The hobby is evolving.

Our practice of utilizing botanicals in our aquariums is evolving.

Tannin Aquatics is evolving, too. 

Over the next few months, you are going to see substantial changes in the way we offer our botanicals, and more ways to empower you, our global community, to utilize them. Some of these changes-very subtle and behind the scenes, have already been rolled out. Other, much more significant ones will debut soon.

One thing that hasn’t changed is how nature works with us. Or rather, how we accept what nature does, rather than “push back” against it.

We’re “doubling down” on our embrace of the way nature works with our aquariums. As you likely already know, a large part of the philosophy behind the botanical-style aquarium is to embrace the fact that our aquariums, and the botanicals which we incorporate within them, are ever-changing.

They “evolve.” 

Over the long term, our aquariums will evolve in many ways, much like a natural river or stream, without all that much intervention on our part. This is normal for almost every aquarium, to some extent, right? 

However, in our botanical-botanical-style aquariums, the “evolution” thing is almost a certainty. It’s simply part of the game. And it’s interesting to me to consider this process during the “functional lifetime” of our aquariums. Understanding and appreciating this process, without significant intervention on our part, forms the basis of the philosophy behind botanical-style aquariums.

We typically don’t need to jump in an modify all that much. We don’t need to “counter” it. Rather, under typical circumstances, we need to simply observe. To learn. To enjoy.

Yeah, as a moderately successful pop group once sang, “Let it be…”

Like a ripple in the water, we need to be flexible and just enjoywhat happens during this process. Love the ephemeral...

And there is a sublime pleasure in having a front-row seat to this natural process. One which might take some getting used to. One which is perhaps a bit different; a bit more “tolerant” than we’ve employed in our past aquatic work. We as aquarists have to accept the fact that Nature has the "starring role"; the final say.

Utilizing botanicals to alter the environmental conditions of the aquarium requires us to let nature do some of the heavy lifting. If we want a successful BWBS aquarium, we need to understand this, and to accept the process which she follows.

It all makes sense, really:

By their very nature, botanical materials are somewhat “ephemeral” under water; that is to say, they begin to break down and soften as a result of simply being submerged, and by the onset of biological activity. As the leaves and botanicals start to decompose, they enrich the environment with humic acids, tannins, and other organic materials, further spurring plant growth, etc.

As the substrate begins to take on a "life of its own",  with more life forms growing in its matrix, fishes will forage for supplemental food items in it. As wood softens, releasing more tannins into the water, it darkens. 

Evolution.

As a hobbyist, you help your little microcosm along by making adjustments, tweaks, deviations, if necessary, along the way. All of these require observation, analysis, and action. Decisions, made by interpreting what you see every day and then taking actions (or not) as warranted. You're doing this already, and probably haven't given it any thought. 

I mean, it's what we do as hobbyists, right?

Nothing really new here. You’re “buying in” to a process that nature has perfected for billions of years. 

Enjoy it. Go with it.

Be the ripple.

Stay engaged. Stay fascinated. Stay excited. Stay curious. Stay observant. Stay calm…

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The right fish for the right aquarium...A case study of sorts...

We've talked a lot about creating aquariums to replicate specific habitats...it's kind of what we do here, right? Super rewarding. Yet, it's even more fascinating and rewarding to design an aquarium around a specific fish sometimes.

Especially when it's one that you have coveted for so long, right?

We've all had that ONE fish which just sort of occupies a place in your heart and mind- a fish that-for whatever reason- bites you and never lets go, right? I think that every serious aquarist has at least one such a fish..

Here's mine...

Of course, it's also about the habitat.

As a lover of leaf-litter in our botanical-style aquariums, I am fascinated not only by this unique ecological niche, but by the organisms which inhabit it. I've went on and on and spoken at length about many of the microorganisms, fungi, insects, and crustaceans which add to the diversity of this environment. And of course, we've looked at some of the fishes which live there, too!

One of my all-time favorite fishes- and my absolute favorite characin is none other than the amazing Sailfin Tetra, Crenuchus spilurus!  This is a truly awesome fish- not only is it attractive and morphologically cool-looking, it has a great demeanor and behaviors which separate it from almost every other characin out there! 

It's almost "cichlid-like" in behavior.

It's definitely NOT the most colorful characin on the planet. But there is more than this fish than meets the eye.

It all starts with its intriguing name...

The Latin root of the genus Crenuchus means "Guardian of The Spring"- a really cool, even romantic-sounding name which evokes imagery-and questions! Does it mean the "protector" of a body of water, or some honorary homage to everyone's favorite season? Not sure, but you must agree that the name is pretty cool! In greek, it's krenoychos -"The God of running waters."

Yeah. That's the shit.

The Crenuchidae (South American Darters) is a really interesting family of fishes, and includes 93 species in 12 genera throughout the Amazon region. Most crenuchids are- well, how do we put it delicately- "chromatically unexciting" ( ie; grey-black-brown) fishes, which tend to lie in wait near the substrate (typically leaf litter or aggregations of branches), feeding on insects and micro invertebrates. And the genus Crenuchus consists of just one species, our pal Crenuchus spilurus, a fish which shares habits and a body shape that are more commonly associated with Cyprinids and cichlids!

That's just weird.

The Sailfin is an exception to the "drab" thing, and it's remarkably attractive for a very "simple" benthic-living fish. Sure, on the surface, it's not the most exciting fish out there, especially when it's a juvenile...but it's a fish that you need to be patient with; a fish to search for, collect, hold onto, and enjoy as it matures and grows. As the fish matures, in true "ugly duckling"🐥  style, it literally "blossoms" into a far more attractive fish.

The males have an extended dorsal and anal fin, and are larger and more colorful than females. Yes, colorful is relative here, but when you see a group- you'll notice the sexual dimorphism right away, even among juveniles.

Individuals spend a lot of their time sheltered under dead leaves, branches, roots, and aquatic plants. They tend to "hover", and don't dart about like your typical Tetra would. In fact, their behavior reminds me of the Dartfishes of the Marien aquarium world...They sort of sit and flick their fins, often moving in slow, deliberate motions.

The Sialfin feeds during the daylight hours, and is a mid-water feeder, consuming particulate organic matter, such as aquatic invertebrates, insects, bits of flowers, and fruits- the cool food items from outside of the aquatic environment that form what ecologists call allochthonous input- materials abundant in the botanical habitats which we love to model our aquariums after.

Yeah, we've written about that topic a lot...Trust me, that new "leaf vendor" who's trying desperately to rip off our style and vibe hasn't...'cause, oh, yeah... they just sell stuff and don't bother to write (ouch, a DIG! Yup.)...

Oh, back now from my ugly digression...

Further distinguishing the Sailfin from other characins is the males' parental care (yeah, you read that correctly!) of it's small (for a characin, that is) clutches of eggs (usually only like 100) and larval stages of the fish- characteristic more commonly associated with cichlids than characins! 

Are you interested yet?

I first fell for this fish as a kid, when I saw a cool pic of it in a well-worn copy of William T. Innes' classic book, Exotic Aquarium Fishes.

I was hooked from the start, especially when reading about the romantic etymology of the name!  And it just seemed so mysterious and unattainable, even in the 1930's...well, especially back in the 1930's, but it seemed downright exotic! And then, tying it together with my love of those leaf-litter-strewn habitats, it was a combo which I couldn't resist!

I never got this fish out of my system, and it took me like 30-plus years of being a fish geek to find this fish in real life. And, you know that I jumped at the chance..So worth the wait! The Sailfin is one of the most engaging and unique fishes I've ever had the pleasure of keeping!

Oh, and they are known to "vocalize', producing an audible "clicking" sort of sound that you can hear outside the aquarium...A very interesting phenomenon!

Although they are a bit solitary in nature, I've found that they've done really well in groups, sometimes forming loose aggregations within the confines of the aquarium, hovering over the leaf/botanical bed, waiting for food. And they have a sort of social order that only they seem to understand, but it's very evident. A fascinating set of activities which makes them even more interesting-and endearing!

Sailfins might be a bit shy initially upon introduction to the aquarium, as these fishes are cautious, rather "sedentary" characins, and don't swim quite as actively as other characins. Getting them to feed regularly in the aquarium- while not difficult- may be a bit of a process, as they are cautious fish, and tend to not stray too far from the botanical cover.

If you have other, more active Tetras and other fishes in the aquarium, they'll be a bit more tentative at first. However, these are decent sized fishes that will eventually overcome their initial shyness, and move confidently- if not slowly-throughout the aquarium.

Once you keep this fish, you'll just sort of "get" it! They're one of the most perfect fishes for the botanical-style, blackwater aquarium, and will fit right in to a well-thought-out community aquarium of smaller fishes, like the less "hyper" Tetras, dwarf cichlids, and catfishes.  They're perhaps one of the only characins which we can say has a real individual "personality!"

Yes, my photos suck. And yes, I am geeked out about this fish. And, yes...you need to try them. And yes, if you do, I'll hit you up for better pics! 😍

If you're looking for that "it" fish that will really make your botanical-style aquarium "pop"- adding a real presence and interest to the habitat you've created- give some real consideration to this wonderful fish- if you can find it! 

Trust me, having the "Guardian of The Spring" in your aquarium is worth the wait! Your leaf litter aquarium needs this fish! 

Yes, we all have that one fish. It's what keeps us passionate about the hobby; keeps us going. Keeps us dreaming, striving, searching.

Find yours.

Stay diligent. Stay resourceful. Stay passionate. Stay relentless...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The beauty of the utter randomness "twigs and nuts..."

I can't help but laugh at my own title for this quick one today. 

I laugh, because when I first started Tannin, I received a fair amount of raised eyebrows from my friends in the reef keeping community who found it hard to believe that I was giving up my "power spot" in the splashy coral propagation market to start a new venture that sold... "twigs and nuts" (sic). 

Now at first, you'd be inclined to agree; the coral world is filled with colorful, high-priced frags and a willing market of people willing to gobble up as many as you can cut, grow, and...photoshop (okay, that's kind of mean, as all reputable coral propagators/vendors don't photoshop their pics, but hey...).

And the world I was entering?

Well, there was no "world"- I mean, not really. No one  ever really decided to create an entire company around dark, "dirty" (not MY word!) blackwater aquariums- let alone, almost exclusively offering botanical materials to create and manage them. I kind of had to break out the machete and clear my way through the metaphoric virgin forest...There was no model here. Looking back, I can see how it was a bit funny to some... I mean, well- yeah.

That being said, I'm happy to see so many hobbyists playing with our "twigs and nuts."

Let's think for just a second, about the "twigs"- the stems and branches that we love so much in our aquascaping. Those of us who obsessively study images of the wild tropical habitats we love so much can't help but note that many of the bodies of water which we model our aquariums after are replete with tree branches and stems. Since many of these habitats are ephemeral in nature, they are only filled up with water part of the year. The remainder of the time, they're essentially dry forest floors.

And what accumulates on dry forest floors?

Branches, stems, and other materials from trees and shrubs. When the waters return, these formerly terrestrial materials become an integral part of the (now) aquatic environment. This is a really, really important thing to think of when we aquascape or contemplate who we will use botanical materials like the aforementioned stems and branches. They impact both function and aesthetics of an aquarium...Yes, what we call "functional aesthetics" rears its head again!

There is no real rhyme or reason as to what stuff orients itself the way it does. I mean, branches fall off the trees, a process initiated by either rain or wind, and just land "wherever." Which means that we as hobbyists would be perfectly okay just sort of tossing materials in and walking away! Now, I know this is actually aquascaping heresy- Not one serious 'scaper would ever do that...right?

I'm not so sure why they wouldn't. 

I mean, what's wrong with sort of randomly scattering stems, twigs, and branches in your aquascape? It's a near-perfect replication of what happens in nature. Now, I realize that a glass or acrylic box of water is NOT nature, and there are things like "scale" and "ratio" and all of that "gobbldeygook" that hardcore 'scaping snobs will hit you over the head with...

But nature doesn't give a f*^%# about some competition aquascaper's "rules"- and nature is pretty damn inspiring, right? There is a beauty in the brutal reality of randomness. I mean, sure, the position of stones in an "Iwagumi" is beautiful...but it's hardly what I'd describe as "natural."

Which begs the question: Who really cares? Do what you like! Okay, I"m coming around full circle here. The point is that we probably ascribe a bit too much into trying to achieve some completely artistic, perfectly proportioned placement of materials like twigs and branches, and could do a lot worse than literally dropping materials into our tanks (taking into account their size of course). 

Okay, I'm rambling on and on and probably digging a larger and deeper hole for myself with a lot of people...But hey- agitating is part of what we do here. We have to think beyond just the obvious, safe stuff now and then, right?

I think so.

Enjoy nature. Savor the utter randomness of "twigs and nuts"- see how your fishes respond. Enjoy the mystery of "exploring" your own tank...and contemplate the natural processes which nature uses to "place" them.

Stay open minded. Stay original. Stay contemplative. Stay unrestrained by convention. Stay curious...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Notes from the blackwater journey...

Have you felt a palpable change in our world?

I have. We're all sort of "travelers" along this path of discovery...

The idea of blackwater aquariums, with their tinted color and mysterious aesthetic is hardly "new" to the hobby world. No one really "invented" this. No one was the person who said, "We should all through leaves and seed pods in our tanks..." It just sort of...evolved.

Yep.

However, it seems to me that in the past few years, we're starting to see the blackwater, botanical-style aquarium move from "freak side show" to a broader, more mainstream acceptance within the hobby- pulling in people from all sorts of disciplines.

Something palpable. Something that calls us.

I've been at this botanical-influenced aquarium thing for about 18 now in "personal practice"; however,  at a little over three years old, we're just getting underway with inspiring and motivating hobbyists to "play with pods" via Tannin Aquatics.  

Although it seems a bit premature, and perhaps even self-serving to label the idea as a "movement" within the hobby, a number of fellow fish geeks have pointed out to me that they feel this is what's starting to happen; that this is what we have. I mean, you can sort of "feel" it. A lot of new energy, new ideas, and new exposure for this area previously labeled as a "novelty." A lot of cool people are doing some inspiring, amazing work with botanical-influenced aquariums.

We're looking beyond the everyday...

Okay, we will tentatively call it a "movement"- at least for the sake of discussion amongst ourselves, okay?

Already, we've noticed some interesting "trends" emerging among the growing number of hobbyists who are working with these types of tanks. These represent not only interesting developments in style and aesthetic, they demonstrate the level of open-mindedness and experimentation that's becoming so wonderfully and increasingly common in the hobby today.

First off, we're seeing hobbyists going beyond yesterday's "blackwater tanks look dirty" mindset, and embracing the aesthetic for what it is: A very natural-appearing "vibe" that replicates conditions found in certain natural environments around the world.

And with this acceptance of the "look" and ephemeral nature of botanicals in aquairums, a definite "mental shift" has occurred.  This to me is most significant and important. Many hobbyists who have previously bought into the prevailing "brown is dirty" mindset are giving blackwater, botanical-influenced tanks a try, rather than flat-out dismissing the idea and (in our opinion) antiquated notions pushed around on the web that these aquariums are difficult to manage, unstable, and otherwise simply "fringe" novelties, rather than a legitimate specialty within the hobby.

We're also seeing a growing body of science-backed evidence that humic substances, a key component of "blackwater" have significant health benefits for fishes, and may be among the most important factors which contribute to their health in both the wild and in captivity.

This revelation backs up what many aquarists who dabbled with catappa leaves and bark and other stuff in botanical-influenced aquariums, particularly Betta breeders in Southeast Asia, have asserted for years. In particular, it's thought that these compounds, derived from botanicals, have anti-fungal and anti-parastic properties, and offer protection against oxidative DNA damage and from physiological stressors. With these health benefits now more clearly understood, there are more reasons than ever to appreciate the role that an environment which accumulates these humic substances can play in overall fish health.

Although the health benefits to fishes are fascinating and actually somewhat of a "game changer", like many hobbyists, my interests lie with the creation of aquarium that present a more natural-looking, functional aesthetic AS WELL as providing the physiological benefits as a sort of "collateral" bonus! And I think we're seeing a lot of hobbyists "getting their feet wet", trying a few leaves and/or botanicals almost tentatively in an aquascape, then "scaling up" to a full-blown, botanical-influenced "blackwater" aquarium.

And with it, not only are we seeing an explosion of new ideas and enthusiasm, we're seeing hobbyists enjoying a sort of "freedom of expression" in their aquascaping that, in some quarters has been lacking for so long, as we rigidly adhered to some "imposed rules" from a variety of sources. These "rules" were, in my opinion, stifling experimentation and individuality, resulting in a dearth of aquascapes, particularly in the international competitions, which looked almost "uniform" in appearance, with a trend towards creating an "underwater diorama", as one friend put it, instead of a miniature "slice of the bottom" as many have desired. 

Look, I'm not implying that blackwater, botanical-influenced tanks are the "savior of the hobby", or even "the way forward." However,  I am implying that seeing a diversity of hobbyists embrace what has been labeled by some as a radical departure from the "typical" style of aquarium (or previously little more than a "fringe sideshow") -and studying and utilizing the idea as a springboard for success with fishes- and as a form of creative expression- is creating a bit of "movement" in an area that was becoming increasingly one directional. It's nice to see new aquariums taking their cues from nature, instead of from the latest competition winner!

We see tanks set up specifically to create blackwater conditions for breeding. These are typically more "utilitarian" than purposefully aesthetically conceived, yet have a charm of their own. For example, Betta and Apisto keepers, who are creating botanical-influenced tanks for the sole purpose of providing more appropriate conditions for their fishes to spawn and grow in. And, they do just happen to look pretty cool...

We're seeing aquariums set up in a more "thematic" style- down with a high sense of design- a direct pedigree of the "Nature Style" aquarium, yet with a "blackwater/botanical twist." This has led to the creation of some amazing-looking aquariums that have turned a lot of heads in the planted tank/hardscape/"nature aquarium" community, in both "whitewater" and "blackwater" styles. Many hobbyists  have taken us in exciting new directions, and countless others not even in the blackwater game yet will create works that will help further forge this style.

By adding a new look to a much-loved aesthetic, we're seeing a whole new group of very talented hobbyists creating gorgeous, aspirational aquariums simply by incorporating botanicals into the mix- with blackwater or otherwise.

What's really cool is that we are starting to see more and more planted blackwater/botanical-influenced tanks, an area that has previously been shunned by many, with the rationale that plants cannot work in such environments.

Look for a lot more cool developments on this front!

Perhaps even more exciting is that we're seeing more and more really cool "biotope-style" aquariums, with blackwater and botanicals as the pivotal components. Now, we've addressed before that there is a difference between the 100% true-to-every-stick-and-stone "biotope" aquarium, which seeks to replicate every detail of a specific locale, and a "biotope-type" aquarium, which simply presents an interpretation of a general environment.

Both have their merits, supporters, and philosophies, and are both fascinating. However, what's really exciting to me as that we've already seen aquariums that have a distinctly natural "look" to them, with less "intentional design" and more embrace of the natural processes which happen when materials like leaves and botanicals begin to soften and break down.

This "transitional" or "ephemeral"-style of escaping is the virtual embodiment of Amano's "wabi-sabi" aquatic aesthetic, and is winning over many new followers.

What I hope we never see in this "movement" are "rules" and rigid, close-minded thinking. Sure, nature may restrict us to what we can and cannot utilize or work with in the botanical environment, and there are some "best practices" in terms of husbandry of botanical systems,  but we don't need to impose a dogmatic set of artificial principles to define and control the self-expression of others.

Nature calls all the shots here. She defines what works. She defines how stuff looks and functions. She'll correct you if you break one of her rules, and reward you when you embrace them. Listen to her. Follow her lead. Study her feedback. 

And enjoy.

We simply need to enjoy what we're doing, share with others, and feel free to create as we desire. If we happen inspire and motivate others along the way, that's a beautiful thing. We can try all sorts of stuff; play with aesthetics.

We can hope mimic aspects of nature from the outset, with amazing aquascapes and such.

But it doesn't have to be strictly by design. Nature will do some of the heavy lifting for us, effortlessly creating via her processes aquatic microcosms as breathtaking as any "diorama" could ever hope to be.

If we allow her to do her work.

Okay, so I'm probably a bit more "attuned" to all of the goings on in our little niche than many others, simply because "my head is in it" all day.

However, I'm definitely not jaded, nor am I asserting that we've "invented" some incredible thing here.

What I am thinking is that the relentless exposure of some new and different-looking aquariums, thanks to many of you- is creating a new excitement, fostering a slightly different aquatic aesthetic- and promoting more interest in understanding some of the natural processes that influence both our fishes and the environments in which they live.

We are privileged to have a front-row seat to this evolving hobby speciality (okay, you can call it a movement!), and most important, are honored to be a part of the growing global community of fascinating, creative, courageous, and engaged hobbyists who are forging a dynamic new path in this amazing hobby that we all love so much.

Thanks for embarking on the journey. Forge ahead. 

Stay fascinated. Stay bold. Stay curious. Stay relentless...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

In the dark?

Every once in a while, I actually receive a question about how to make the water in your aquarium....darker. Like, people actually want their water to be more deeply tinted. In fact, I'll occasionally field emails from people who are kind of bummed out that some of the pods they placed into their tanks aren't helping them achieve the rich, dark tint they want!

I mean, this is were we're at now! 🤓

These are actually fun questions that I really never envisioned that people would actually ask when we started Tannin over 3 years ago. And it makes sense, right? So many of you have made the "mental shift" that embraces the dark water, the biofilms, etc. that it goes without saying that we want to do things that keep things "tinted!"

Now, it's important know that, although almost anything botanical you immerse in water will release some tannins which can tint the water, some materials are better at it than others! For example, many of the "tougher" botanicals, such as "Savu Pods", "Jungle Pods", and the like won't get you that nice dark color you want. Sure, they will release some tannins and humic substances (perhaps more than some "clearwater-centric" hobbyists might like), but the coloration will likely be less than what you had in mind. They're more about the aesthetics they bring based on their unique appearance.

To really get the "tint", you'd want to use botanical materials which more easily seem to release the tannins we want. What are some of the top "tinting" botanicals we offer? Well, in no particular order, here are a few faves:

*Leaves- Of course, just about any of 'em will do the job! (hint- we love Texas Live Oak and Mangrove!)

*Catappa Bark- Absolutely my top favorite botanical for serious color! 

*Coco Curls- These botanicals (perhaps by virtue of their fibrous structure?) realize a lot of color I not the water quickly!

*Alder Cones/Birch Cones- As one of my customers said about them, they're little "tint grenades!" You can employ them I the tank, in the filter, or in a reactor, as discussed in yesterday's blog.

"Rio Fruta"- Derived from the Nypa Palm, this botanical has a surprisingly large amount of tannins and imparts an almost reddish color to the water!

"Mariposa Pods"- Another cool palm-derived product, when steeped or boiled, these release a significant amount of tint and look really great in a leaf litter bed...Oh, and they're really durable, too!

Sure, there are a lot of others that can do the trick, but those are some of my favorite "go-to's" in this game. I didn't even touch on the substrate-oriented stuff, huh?

Now, like in every other aspect of the hobby, there are, dare I say..."Shortcuts" or "hacks" (gulp) to get the tint you like. Yes, you know my disdain for shortcuts, but I'd be remiss if I failed to mention the ultimate one- wood! Yeah, many of the types of wood that we use in our aquarium release significant amounts of tannins. I mean, this is the source of so many desperate calls for help in those planted tank forums ("Help! How do I get rid of the tannins that are making my water brown!")...Our favorite wood types? Mangrove, Malaysian, and the big surprise- "Spider Wood!"

So, yeah, embracing wood to help tint the water is one of the few shortcuts we can comfortably get behind! 

That's todays very quick and hardly comprehensive run-down on some of our fave ways to help keep your tank "in the dark!"

What are YOUR faves and tricks to get "The Tint?"

Stay innovative. Stay engrossed. Stay excited. Stay open-minded...

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics