Tannin Aquatics

We periodically go through our inventory and review what's proven to be popular, unpopular, and just plain...well, dull. We tend to remove the "dull" stuff from the inventory...We may get excited about a certain botanical item, but if you don't, well- it doesn't really matter, huh?
And we receive a lot of questions about various botanicals and how to utilize them, which is a lot of fun for us, because we're full of ideas about them!
One of the questions we're asked a lot is, "Will this botanical work with_________?"
And the reality is, most of these botanicals will work with fishes that are accustomed to having submerged materials in their environments (hmm, that's like, ALL fishes, right?). Granted, it's not really appropriate (particularly from a chemical standpoint) for say, Catappa leaves to be included in your Mbuna tank, or for a brackish water system, but you could probably how in some of the harder, less "reactive" items, like "Jungle Pods", "Savu Pods", etc.

Other fishes, like my beloved Characins, Apistos, Plecos, etc., are perfectly fine with almost any of the botanicals you'd want to use, taking into account aesthetics and such!

You could. I'm not sure that you'd necessarily want to.
One group of hobbyists who are very much into using botanicals in a wide variety of situations is shrimp keepers. Those of you who keep the colorful Caridina, Neocaridina, etc. have realized for a long time that shrimp are not particularly fussy when it comes to what they eat and graze on!

The real "limiting factor", in my opinion, with the use of aquatic botanicals in a shrimp aquarium is the issue of creating stable environmental parameters and maintaining high water quality. In smaller aquarium, such as are typical for shrimp, the impact of ANYTHING we place in them on the environment is potentially critical. It's not secret that, under certain chemical parameters, (i.e.; very soft, already acidic water) aquatic botanicals can influence pH more significantly than in more alkaline, more "hard" conditions, so you'd want to do what we recommend for any situation: Go slowly and monitor.
In a small shrimp aquarium, the influx of a large amount of organic material into a small, but established, stable environment can degrade water quality rapidly, and create a possible ammonia spike or other nasty problems! Again, it's about going SLOWLY!
As far as what shrimp will consume, my experience with my own shrimp and aquatic botanicals is that they will graze on ANYTHING that recruits biofilm and/or algae, and actually physically consume many of the botanicals which have softer internal components to them. 
There are literally dozens and dozens of products, including things like dried leaves and other botanicals (some of which we carry), marketed as (supplemental) shrimp feeds...and I think it's entirely correct and accurate to label them as such. Now granted, it's hard to say what exactly the shrimp are consuming of the actual botanicals, and what nutrition they're deriving from the various seed pods, etc. that we offer. 
I did some research online (that internet thing just might catch on...) and learned that in aquaculture of shrimp, a tremendous variety of vegetables, fruits, etc. are utilized, and many offer good nutritional profiles for shrimp, in terms of protein, amen acids, etc. In fact, other than sorting through mind-numbing numbers ( .08664, etc) on various amino acid concentration of say, Mulberry leaves versus say, Sugar Beets, or whatever, there are not huge differences making any one food superior to all others, at least from my very cursory examination!

What is interesting is that some foodstuffs, such as various seeds, root vegetables, etc. DO have different levels of elements such as calcium and phosphorous, and widely varying crude protein. Now, I have no idea what some of the seed pods we offer as aquatic botanicals contain in terms of protein or amino acids, but one can make some huge generalizations that one seed/fruit is somewhat similar to others, in terms of basic amino acids, vitamins, trace elements, etc. 
What that tells me, the over-caffeinated, under-educated armchair "scientist"-wannabe, is that most of the botanicals we offer here at Tannin have nutritional values that are acceptable for shrimp health, when not their sole "diet."
In other words, one botanicals is pretty much as good as any other, so use whichever ones you prefer to 'scape your tank...perhaps with a bit of an eye towards the ones that we know from experience that shrimp seem to be particularly attracted to. Which ones are those?
Well, in no particular order, here are the ones that we've noticed (along with our customers) that shrimp seem to really go for:
"CAPSULA PODS"

 
"TEARDROP PODS"

 
"FLOR RIO" PODS

 
"CONCHA PODS"

 
"HELIX PODS"

 
LOQUAT LEAVES

 
"RA CAMA" PODS

 
MISC WOOD AND PODS

 
"MANTA PODS" (COMING SOON!)

So, the bottom line is that,  if you're into shrimp, you'd be in pretty good shape to utilize most any of the above botanicals- or just about any of the many we offer, as long as you go slowly, prepare them for use, and apply a healthy dose of common sense and environmental parameter monitoring during their use.

It's fun to look to new supplemental feed sources that provide natural grazing and foraging opportunities for our shrimp; and if they happen to look cool in your aquarium- well, that's a real bonus!
Stay enthusiastic. Stay informed. Stay experimental...
And Stay Wet!
Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics
 
 
 

Thanks very much! It's a lot of fun to share out ideas and discuss them with the aquarium world. SO much to learn...it starts with sharing ideas and goes from there!
 
-Scott 

Hey there. It's been a while. Like, too long!
 
My name is Scott Fellman- owner of Tannin Aquatics.
 
 
I'm sort of embarrassed. I mean, I started out like gangbusters here, posting blogs like every day. And then, like so many small biz owners, I got caught up in the everyday aspects of running and growing my business! Now, I started out here in 2015-16 with the best of intentions; I was going to never be "one of THOSE" sponsors, who simply has a forum as a placeholder. And after simply "renting my space" here for a couple of years, I realized that it wasn't all that cool to act that way, lol. I concentrated a lot on building out our website from a number of angles. Our blog, "The Tint", is going strong. We post a new blog every day. And since July, we do a daily podcast of the same name, which is available on both Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
 
The Tint Podcast (Spotify)
 
The Tint Podcast (Apple Podcasts)
 
Now, I will be 100% honest with you. Although we have many shrimp hobbyists among our customers and community, we are not primarily a "shrimp-focused" company. rather, we are more of a specialized "aquatics" vendor, with specialization in the natural aquascaping materials sector; stuff which may be used by lots of different hobbyists for numerous applications. That being said, we have all sorts of materials which work really well for shrimp. In fact, we have developed a series of what we call "curated themes" on our website, which focus on different materials available for various aquatic uses. One of our most popular is a collection of materials which is curated (with many suggestions from YOU) specifically for shrimp!
 
Since I've last posted, I must admit that Tannin Aquatics has truly grown rapidly- we've exploded in our presence and, I hop, our influence- on the hobby. It's been pretty exciting, and we're honored that so many of you have embraced us and supported us. Shrimp keepers like most of you have been big proponents of utilizing botanical materials in your aquariums. Blackwater, botanical-style aquariums and shrimp definitely seem to have a "nexus" of sorts, right?
 
So, moving forward, I promise to be more visible here. we'll post links to our blogs, etc. I'll try to highlight more specific shrimp-focused materials and such. However, I do encourage to you to check out our blog on our site; the podcast, and to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. There is a lot going on! 
 
Have you felt a palpable change in our sector of the aquarium world? Have you even noticed, lol?
 
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 years now in "personal practice"; however,  at a little over four 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 happeninspire 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.
 
And of course, shrimp enthusiasts are right in the thick of things...You always have been. We're looking forward to doing more with you and for you- and we're open to suggestions. We might even have a sale or two just for the Shrimp Spot community! 
 
It's nice to be back; although, we never really left...
 
Thanks for embarking on the journey and supporting our first few years of growth. 
 
Forge ahead. 
 
Stay fascinated. Stay bold. Stay curious. Stay relentless...
 
And Stay Wet.
 
Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics
 

Hey there. It's been a while. Like, too long!
 
My name is Scott Fellman- owner of Tannin Aquatics.
 
 
I'm sort of embarrassed. I mean, I started out like gangbusters here, posting blogs like every day. And then, like so many small biz owners, I got caught up in the everyday aspects of running and growing my business! Now, I started out here in 2015-16 with the best of intentions; I was going to never be "one of THOSE" sponsors, who simply has a forum as a placeholder. And after simply "renting my space" here for a couple of years, I realized that it wasn't all that cool to act that way, lol. I concentrated a lot on building out our website from a number of angles. Our blog, "The Tint", is going strong. We post a new blog every day. And since July, we do a daily podcast of the same name, which is available on both Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
 
The Tint Podcast (Spotify)
 
The Tint Podcast (Apple Podcasts)
 
Now, I will be 100% honest with you. Although we have many shrimp hobbyists among our customers and community, we are not primarily a "shrimp-focused" company. rather, we are more of a specialized "aquatics" vendor, with specialization in the natural aquascaping materials sector; stuff which may be used by lots of different hobbyists for numerous applications. That being said, we have all sorts of materials which work really well for shrimp. In fact, we have developed a series of what we call "curated themes" on our website, which focus on different materials available for various aquatic uses. One of our most popular is a collection of materials which is curated (with many suggestions from YOU) specifically for shrimp!
 
Since I've last posted, I must admit that Tannin Aquatics has truly grown rapidly- we've exploded in our presence and, I hop, our influence- on the hobby. It's been pretty exciting, and we're honored that so many of you have embraced us and supported us. Shrimp keepers like most of you have been big proponents of utilizing botanical materials in your aquariums. Blackwater, botanical-style aquariums and shrimp definitely seem to have a "nexus" of sorts, right?
 
So, moving forward, I promise to be more visible here. we'll post links to our blogs, etc. I'll try to highlight more specific shrimp-focused materials and such. However, I do encourage to you to check out our blog on our site; the podcast, and to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. There is a lot going on! 
 
Have you felt a palpable change in our sector of the aquarium world? Have you even noticed, lol?
 
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 years now in "personal practice"; however,  at a little over four 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 happeninspire 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.
 
And of course, shrimp enthusiasts are right in the thick of things...You always have been. We're looking forward to doing more with you and for you- and we're open to suggestions. We might even have a sale or two just for the Shrimp Spot community! 
 
It's nice to be back; although, we never really left...
 
Thanks for embarking on the journey and supporting our first few years of growth. 
 
Forge ahead. 
 
Stay fascinated. Stay bold. Stay curious. Stay relentless...
 
And Stay Wet.
 
Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics
 

Hey there. It's been a while. Like, too long!
 
My name is Scott Fellman- owner of Tannin Aquatics.
 
 
I'm sort of embarrassed. I mean, I started out like gangbusters here, posting blogs like every day. And then, like so many small biz owners, I got caught up in the everyday aspects of running and growing my business! Now, I started out here in 2015-16 with the best of intentions; I was going to never be "one of THOSE" sponsors, who simply has a forum as a placeholder. And after simply "renting my space" here for a couple of years, I realized that it wasn't all that cool to act that way, lol. I concentrated a lot on building out our website from a number of angles. Our blog, "The Tint", is going strong. We post a new blog every day. And since July, we do a daily podcast of the same name, which is available on both Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
 
The Tint Podcast (Spotify)
 
The Tint Podcast (Apple Podcasts)
 
Now, I will be 100% honest with you. Although we have many shrimp hobbyists among our customers and community, we are not primarily a "shrimp-focused" company. rather, we are more of a specialized "aquatics" vendor, with specialization in the natural aquascaping materials sector; stuff which may be used by lots of different hobbyists for numerous applications. That being said, we have all sorts of materials which work really well for shrimp. In fact, we have developed a series of what we call "curated themes" on our website, which focus on different materials available for various aquatic uses. One of our most popular is a collection of materials which is curated (with many suggestions from YOU) specifically for shrimp!
 
Since I've last posted, I must admit that Tannin Aquatics has truly grown rapidly- we've exploded in our presence and, I hop, our influence- on the hobby. It's been pretty exciting, and we're honored that so many of you have embraced us and supported us. Shrimp keepers like most of you have been big proponents of utilizing botanical materials in your aquariums. Blackwater, botanical-style aquariums and shrimp definitely seem to have a "nexus" of sorts, right?
 
So, moving forward, I promise to be more visible here. we'll post links to our blogs, etc. I'll try to highlight more specific shrimp-focused materials and such. However, I do encourage to you to check out our blog on our site; the podcast, and to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. There is a lot going on! 
 
Have you felt a palpable change in our sector of the aquarium world? Have you even noticed, lol?
 
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 years now in "personal practice"; however,  at a little over four 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 happeninspire 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.
 
And of course, shrimp enthusiasts are right in the thick of things...You always have been. We're looking forward to doing more with you and for you- and we're open to suggestions. We might even have a sale or two just for the Shrimp Spot community! 
 
It's nice to be back; although, we never really left...
 
Thanks for embarking on the journey and supporting our first few years of growth. 
 
Forge ahead. 
 
Stay fascinated. Stay bold. Stay curious. Stay relentless...
 
And Stay Wet.
 
Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics
 

If you're like many fish geeks, at one time or another, you've probably kept at least one Betta at some point in your "career." Most likely, a "fancy" variety, purchased in a little cup, and then unceremoniously added to a little bowl somewhere. 

Until relatively recently, this was my impression of Bettas in the aquarium hobby. One species (B. splendens), small bowls and cups, and improperly kept, dangerously inbred, low-quality fish found by the million at "big box" pet stores. And of course, for the longest time, I believed that these fish favored the confining, decidedly not-so-good environment of a small container of water. 
And, how could you fault me? That's kinda how they've been "sold" to the world for generations...
 

 
Sadly, the cultural myth of Bettas being adapted to this kind of micro-environment has endured in both the hobby and popular culture, and we're all pretty much convinced that they live exclusively in little tiny puddles in Thailand, Cambodia and other parts of Southeast Asia. (click to read more)

Okay, you've seen the pics of all the cool tanks. You've heard the buzz all over social media. Seems like more and more people are talking about blackwater aquariums, botanicals, and real "natural-style" aquariums...

And you want in on the action.
Hey, who could blame you? This stuff is kind of cool!

However, how do you start? How do you choose which botanicals to play with?
That's a question that is kind of difficult for me to even answer...What I'd usually tell you when asked is, "It depends." (extremely helpful, I know...) 
We can hit on this topic in future installments. Today, let's touch on the use of leaves in the aquarium; typically, leaves are the "jumping off point" for a lot of hobbyists as they start their botanical-style/blackwater aquarium experience, and it makes sense to touch on them first! (click to read more)

"detritus is dead particulate organic matter. It typically includes the bodies or fragments of dead organisms, as well as fecal material. Detritus is typically colonized by communities of microorganisms which act to decompose or remineralize the material." (Source: The Aquarium Wiki)
It's one of our most commonly used aquarium terms...and one which, well, quite frankly, sends shivers down the spine of many aquarium hobbyists. And judging from that definition, it sounds like something you absolutely want to avoid having in your system at all costs. I mean, "dead organisms" and "fecal material" is not everyone's idea of a good time, ya know?

Yet, when you really think about it, "detritus" is an important part of the aquatic ecosystem, providing "fuel" for microorganisms and fungi at the base of the food chain in tropical streams. In fact, in natural blackwater systems, the food inputs into the water are channeled by decomposers, like fungi, which act upon leaves and other organic materials in the water to break it down. 

And the leaf litter "community" of fishes, insects, fungi, and microorganisms is really important to these systems, as it assimilates terrestrial material into the blackwater aquatic system, and acts to reduce the loss of nutrients to the forest which would inevitably occur if all the material which fell into the streams was washed downstream. (click to read more)

We had a really interesting discussion on Facebook the other evening that's sort of ongoing. I love this sort of stuff- the best part about the community we've fostered here at Tannin!

One of our community members brought up the idea of utilizing more natural substrate materials, like clays and such, as opposed to more traditional gravels and sands. A discussion has ensued about which types would be interesting to use with botanicals to create rich and productive aquatic environments.

It got me thinking, not only about the types of substrates that make sense to experiment with, but thinking about the interactions between land and water that occur all over the world- stuff we don't think all that much about as hobbyists; stuff that has profound influence on our fishes, however! (click to read more)

Okay, at the bit of sounding just a bit negative today, I'm pondering on a few things that have been on my mind lately when talking to a few people about creating and maintaining botanical-style aquariums. I'm thinking that I felt like writing this blog today because, as more an more hobbyists get into the game, they're attempting to start brand-new to the aquarium world, in less-conventional areas of the hobby, like the blackwater tanks, Rift Lake cichlids, or complex planted tanks, without any type of fundamental foundation. Or at the very least, starting down these specialized roads with very limited general experience, and some bad assumptions.

There are a lot of articles, blogs, and tips on "how to succeed at this-or-that" aspect of the hobby, which is awesome. But those of us who have been in the hobby and industry for a while have seen a lot of, for want of a better term- the "dark side" of the aquarium hobby. We've seen all kinds of hobbyists, businesses, and ideas come and go. And after a while, you get a distinct feeling that you know what works and what doesn't. You can see when "the train is headed for the washed-out bridge", or "the ship is steering into the rocks", if you will. And if you're in a position to intervene...you should if you can.

Today, in the hope that we can all learn about what does NOT work, I give you 5 ways to fail with aquariums. (This is really geared towards YOU- the more advanced aquarist, or the LFS person- in the interest of creating a discussion track for you to run with when dealing with someone who is completely new to aquariums, or maybe slightly experienced and perhaps...a bit misled.)
It's kind of our job, as advanced hobbyists, industry types, and good stewards of the aquarium-keeping  world to look at the absurdity of some of this stuff, so that we can prevent others from making these horrible mistakes! Here are my top 5. No doubt you have more, but it's a start! (click to read more)

Okay, you know I’m forever harping on you about getting the soul back into aquarium keeping, abhorring things like Facebook auctions and relegating expensive controllers to turning on and off the lights (nothing like an $800 light timer, huh?). I’ve prodded you to put down your test kits and stare at your tank more. Hey, I’m a bit cranky, but I admit it. You know a lot of my cranky knocks on some of the latest “trends” is because I think we’ve gotten away a bit from some of the basic skills that we need to be great aquarists. 
A lifetime in both fresh and saltwater has taught me a few things…
So, today, I’ll put my money where my mouth is and launch into a bit on just that: Skills that I think we all need to work on to be better fish geeks. I’ll start you off with my ungainly “two cents worth”, and you fill in the large swaths of missing stuff, ok? Deal.
A keen sense of smell. REALLY? You’re starting the list off telling me I need to SMELL better? Well, yeah…Think about it. As a reef person, I have a pretty good sense of it, if I say so myself! There is nothing quite like the smell of “SPS coral death”, is there? Once we’ve smelled that, we will forever be attuned to it. I can walk in a fish room, store, or my facility and tell by smell if something is wrong…Now, cut the jokes…seriously!  As a reefer, you simply have this stuff down: Those of you who frag corals will understand and know what I mean about the” dead coral tissue” smell. You’ll also become keenly attuned to the smell of a protein skimmer that needs your attention... 

I can’t use words on this family friendly site to adequately describe that one! You’ll also know the way a freshwater tank should smell when things are going well- earthy, “garden- like”, and pleasant. Bonus- you’ll learn to recognize the smell of fish food to the point where you’ll remember if you left it out of the fridge all day and rushed off to work! Bonus- if you use ozone, you’ll easily be able to discern the smell of excessive ozone, much in the way you can smell a gas leak. So yeah, a sense of smell is high underrated in aquarium keeping, but pretty important! (click to read more)

If you've been following Tannin for a while (like a year and a half now!), you realize that we've been spending a lot of time and effort not only building our brand and offerings, but working towards creating a "mental shift" in the larger aquarium hobby towards the perception of blackwater/botanical-style aquariums.

We think it's happening!
Since we've been in existence, many of you have participated in this global, ever-growing shift towards a more unique style of aquarium, and have brought enthusiasm, creativity, and open-mindedness to the party! It's been pretty gratifying to watch blackwater aquariums, once relegated to the shadowy "oddball" category, moving towards a more rightful place as a legitimate alternative to what's been pushed on us for almost two decades as a "natural style" aquarium.

One of the interesting things that we've noticed is how "technique" or "best practices" in our little niche has evolved. With more and more aquarists entering into the fray, and sharing their aquariums and ideas, we've seen a thriving community of "tinters" sharing their ideas, questioning long-held beliefs, and generally pushing through mental barriers that were erected years before by hobbyists who likely never even attempted to keep such an aquarium. (click to read more)

In the aquarium game, we're able to control a lot of things in the little worlds we create. You know, the temperature, pH, food, water movement, etc. We put a lot of emphasis on creating "appropriate" environments for the animals that we keep. And we do a great job! In my opinion, we intentionally do this and create what I like to say are "95% effective" systems. And although it sounds that way, it's not mean to be an indictment or "diss" in any way. It's sort of an opinion of mine based on a specific observation:

We're missing the intentional deployment of one concept: Diversity. The one thing that we seem to not practice "intentionally" is diversity of the aquarium environment. 
In my opinion, one of the most important things that we can do for the long-term health of our fishes is to create some diversity.
Yeah, diversity. (click to read more)

We talk so much in the hobby about aquascaping, creating very unique aquarium displays, and utilizing all sorts of materials to achieve that goal. And we talk about seemingly every little aspect of the craft...Well, almost. And since I have a website, internet bandwidth, and a healthy interest in the arcane...let's talk about it!

(More brilliance from Johnny Ciotti)
One of the things that I always find a bit interesting in our aquascaping is that many of us just sort of seem to apply little thought to the substrate of our aquariums. I mean, if you're a planted aquarium geek, you'll spend a huge amount of time creating an "active" bottom, composed of varying fertilizers, aquatic sands, etc. However, the majority of us tend to find a substrate that looks cool to us, wash it, and throw it on the bottom. Done. (click to read more)

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... (click to read more)

If you recall my little rant on Saturday, I was sort of singing the praises of the idea of an aquarium with a fairly large amount of organic material in it. Now, when you think about it, the botanical-style aquarium sort of falls into that category, huh? Leaves and botanicals certainly add to the "something" to an aquarium, don't they?
Sure, but is this a negative? 
If you look at a lot of the underwater photos and videos taken in the natural habitats of our fishes that, thankfully, are becoming more and more popular and abundant than ever, you see a lot of "stuff" in the water column, on the bottom, etc. Natural streams are not always the pristine-looking "nature aquarium" subjects of our dreams, are they?

Not really. Rather, many of the environments from which the fishes we love hail are anything but "pristine" assemblages of rock, wood, and plants. They have a lot of "stuff" in them, ranging from clumps of algae to seed pods, palm fronds, etc, up to submerged logs.

Now, in many of the photos and videos that I've poured over in recent years, the most common items you see on the bottom are...shocker- leaves! Yeah, they're everywhere...in almost every aquatic environment you see, ranging from ponds to slow moving jungle streams, to larger rivers. Sure, in swift-current scenarios, you're less likely to see large beds of leaves, but you still see them. (click to read more)

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. (click to read more)

I don't know if it's just me, but I have this thing about "brown and grey" fishes. I've written about this before, and it always catches an empathetic ear from some fish geek somewhere, who agrees with my less than chromatically brilliant aesthetic choices.

And I try to figure out what it is about the somewhat "chromatically challenged" fishes that I love so much. Now, don't get me wrong, I can appreciate the incredible colors of a fancy Betta, brilliantly-colored Tetra, a beautiful Discus, or a fancy livebearer. It's just that, when I'm selecting fishes for my aquariums, I tend to go after the more subtly-colored ones for the bulk of the fish population in a given aquarium.

Sure, I will often put in a fish or two that has a big "pop" of color for the affect. However, the majority of the fishes in my tanks are subtly attractive (or, "Just subtle", as one of my "friends" tells me, lol). For example, the "stars" in my characin-heavy office tank that you see so much here are Nanostomus marginatus and Sailfin Tetras (Crenuchus spilurus)- nice- but not the kinds of fishes that you're going to catch a glance of as they swim by and yell, "WOW! Those are crazy!"

Rather, they are the kinds of fishes that have their own quiet charm. They blend nicely into their surroundings, have interesting color patterns, and sort of hold your attention a bit longer than say, a school of bright, flashy Cardinal Tetras. For a "pop" in color, I always seem to choose a fish that is, indeed colorful, but maybe one that wouldn't be your first choice to blow people's minds...Like, for example, the "Orange Flame Tetras", Hyphessobrycon flammeus (a domesticated variant of a popular "beginner's fish") that grace our office tank. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me what those fishes were, I wouldn't have to sling botanicals for a living! (click to read more)

I think I might be like a lot of fish geeks…I tend to dwell on really obscure minutiae.
It might be part of my "makeup" as a fish geek- not really sure. Maybe it's a common thing with fish geeks?
On the other hand, it's not part of my overall personality...I don't think.
I recall back in college, I was fortunate enough to land an internship in one of the hottest advertising agencies in Los Angeles- or the world, for that matter, at the time. It was so cool! As an intern, I spent time in a few different departments, even though I was “hired” for my alleged copywriting skills.
 
One of the departments I was relegated to was called the “Traffic” department (yeah, even the name sounded boring..), where all of the media buying and seemingly mundane (to a wannabe young copywriter, anyways) and intricately detailed work was done. Translation- “boring” stuff. I remember “serving my time" in that department (yeah, that’s what my fellow interns and I called it) under a pretty crochet old advertising exec, who sort of loved and hated me at once. She’d dispense the occasional nugget of ad-biz wisdom, followed by a verbal “bitch slap” for failing to follow her byzantine record-keeping system. Once of the best pieces of advice she ever gave me was, “Don’t ever work in this department..you tend to get lost in the details…”

I never forgot that, BTW. And it was a true summation of me as an aquarist, too! Who would have known? (click to read more)
 

Some thoughts on better aquarium keeping are always in order, right? I mean, we practice this art with tremendous effort and expense, so it's nice to glean a few things that can be helpful to others. 
I keep a journal of all sorts of absurdly obscure aquarium stuff...have forever. Some of the information I recorded didn't lead to any revelations. Some did result in some interesting information. I look at a ton of aquarium and aquarists, not just my own, and am always looking for little "pearls of wisdom" from them. There are some interesting things I've gleaned from it over the decades. I've made some conclusions based on many of these observations.
 Here are a few that you might find, well- interesting!

 
1: Practice Diversity on multiple levels in a community aquarium.
What strikes me most about many community aquariums is their refreshing diversity. They feature a complete range of life forms, such as fishes, plants, and even invertebrates. These aquariums are lush, and make no apologies for the complex growth of plants. Just like in nature, these systems incorporate life forms that provide beneficial collateral benefits for their inhabitants, such as food, shelter, and nutrient export.  Well-stocked community aquariums are beautiful systems that are a visual delight, affording many opportunities to see examples of the endless variety of aquatic life forms.

 
2: Green is Good!
It seems to me that most hobbyists, in our frenzy to get rid of algae at all cost from our reef systems, have banished them. In many natural systems, they are front and center.  With the unique substrates now available, consisting of more nutrient-rich materials than we have traditionally used in aquariums, there is a very  positive impact on the growth of plants and algae. And of course, with botanicals, the biofilms and algae are an integral part of the web of life i the aquarium. Just like in nature.

And that's not a bad thing, really. I wish that more hobbyists would see the real beauty of algae, and embrace them when they make an appearance. Like so many things in nature and in aquariums, they are harmless in small quantities, useful in larger quantities, and invasive in huge quantities, so care must be taken to strike a balance. As long as they do not smother other life forms in the aquarium, your algae can provide aesthetic and functional benefits, such as nutrient export, supplemental food sources, and an attractive alternative to the “pristine" aquarium featuring only plans, rock, and wood. (click to read more)

Have you ever stopped, just for a moment, and contemplated just how many fishes are bred and collected each year worldwide which end up in the ornamental tropical fish trade?



And when we talk about breeding of fishes, we're not just discussing the big commercial hatchery level, mind you- take into consideration "basement breeders", advanced hobbyists, and even the casual "dabbler" in the hobby. Cichlids, Guppies, Catfish, Tetras, Bettas, and thousands of species in between. It has to be a pretty staggering number, huh?



Where my mind really blows is when you think about just how many fishes are being produced and collected, versus how many people are in the tropical fish hobby, or simply keep tropical fish worldwide..I read somewhere that in 2012, a study concluded that 1 in 10British citizens keeps tropical fish...wow! That's just in Great Britain. Consider continental Europe, North America, and the Asian marketplace...I mean, if it's even 1 in every 20...or 30, for that matter..."that's still a *&^%-load of people", as a good friend of mine would say!

Yeah, that's a lot of fish! (click to read more)

I don't know if it's just me, but I have this thing about "brown and grey" fishes. I've written about this before, and it always catches an empathetic ear from some fish geek somewhere, who agrees with my less than chromatically brilliant aesthetic choices.

And I try to figure out what it is about the somewhat "chromatically challenged" fishes that I love so much. Now, don't get me wrong, I can appreciate the incredible colors of a fancy Betta, brilliantly-colored Tetra, a beautiful Discus, or a fancy livebearer. It's just that, when I'm selecting fishes for my aquariums, I tend to go after the more subtly-colored ones for the bulk of the fish population in a given aquarium.

Sure, I will often put in a fish or two that has a big "pop" of color for the affect. However, the majority of the fishes in my tanks are subtly attractive (or, "Just subtle", as one of my "friends" tells me, lol). For example, the "stars" in my characin-heavy office tank that you see so much here are Nanostomus marginatus and Sailfin Tetras (Crenuchus spilurus)- nice- but not the kinds of fishes that you're going to catch a glance of as they swim by and yell, "WOW! Those are crazy!"

Rather, they are the kinds of fishes that have their own quiet charm. They blend nicely into their surroundings, have interesting color patterns, and sort of hold your attention a bit longer than say, a school of bright, flashy Cardinal Tetras. For a "pop" in color, I always seem to choose a fish that is, indeed colorful, but maybe one that wouldn't be your first choice to blow people's minds...Like, for example, the "Orange Flame Tetras", Hyphessobrycon flammeus (a domesticated variant of a popular "beginner's fish") that grace our office tank. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me what those fishes were, I wouldn't have to sling botanicals for a living! (click to read more)

There's a new wave coming.
You've heard this expression before in lots of different things...art, music, cuisine, etc....However, the aquarium hobby does have a new wave coming. In retrospect, you might say that it's already here. 

The freshwater hobby is entering a new "renaissance" of sorts. An incredible time, filed by new ideas and innovations. Yet, not everyone seems to have gotten the message.

I received a call from a pretty advanced cichlid breeder the other day, who was relaying to me some of the scathing teasing and criticism she was receiving from some reefer friends over the past couple of years, who went out of their way to remind her that she was operating in the "minor leagues" of the aquarium world, "wasting her talent" on the "brown fish."

As a reefer, I found the stuff that they were saying to her insulting, short-sighted, and remarkably typical of some of the rhetoric I've heard over the years. It made me think the reef keeping side of the hobby is starting to "show its age" a bit. It made me a bit angry, actually.
I received some of this same criticism when I started Tannin..."good old boy" humor that I think carried the undertones of a detrimental "cultural belief." (click to read more)

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." - Andy Warhol

I will admit something here:
I've got the affliction that almost every aquascaper  on the planet seems to have.
I think I'm a lousy aquascaper. Don't get me wrong. I can "turn 'em out"...occasionally. I might hit on a few points I wanted...but historically, I'm my own worst enemy. 

I like to look at aquascapes. Love to play with them. Love to talk about the concepts behind them...but I feel that I'm just not that good at executing them. I stand in awe with guys like George Farmer, Oliver Knott, Johnny Ciotti, Jeff Senske, Luis Navarro...these people have serious "game"- and this ability to adapt the idea that they have floating around in their head at the moment into reality, as well as the seemingly otherworldly ability to "see" the completed scape as they work. (click to read more)

Wood is one of those things we kind of take for granted in aquascaping. 

A lot of thought will typically go into the selection and placement of wood in our scopes. There are probably as many different opinions on which wood is best as there are aquascapers who use it.

However, one thing that we don't see a lot is discussions on how wood "behaves" upon submersion, and what to expect from different types of wood when used underwater. Now, I don't claim to be the world's leading authority on using wood for aquascaping, but I do have some experience working with the stuff...and a pretty good feel for how terrestrial materials interact with the aquatic environment. (click to read more)