The Tint

As you know, we’re near obsessed with the idea of our botanical style aquariums as functional representations of wild aquatic ecosystems. Part of that representation is the capability of these systems to produce food for their inhabitants. It happen in Nature- it happens in the aquarium!

Biotope-inspired aquariums are amazing, educational, fascinating. However, they’re just one way to capture the awe of Nature in the aquarium. They capture a moment in time. We suggest an approach that models the process- the functional aspects which dictate how an aquatic ecosystem arises, evolves, and operates. Enter the “transformational biotope-inspired functional ecosystem approach!”

We talk so much about the flooded forests and grasslands in the tropical world. AND we just released “nature Base “Igapo” and “varzea”- so let’s talk about how you do one of these geeky experimental tanks!

At long last, our NatureBase line of sedimented substrate materials is here! Pricy, hand-crafted, and turbid-water-producing, wtf? Let’s talk about them!

It’s amazing how much you can learn about a fish by simply studying the environment from which it comes. Here’s a geeky deep dive into the tiny, but awesome “Green Neon Tetra!”

The idea of adding materials to your substrate- we call it “enrichment”- is something tantalizing, fascinating, and potentially game changing. There’s so much to do- so much to learn. We need to get after this stuff!

It’s been a while since we talked about “what to expect” over time with the botanical-style aquarium, what causes algae to appear, etc. let’s have that talk!

What could be more fun than a reclusive, eel-like fish that hangs out in groups and is found in SA oft substrates of s dinner, mud, and leaves? Ahh, the Kuhli Loach is perfect for this kind of cool fish-centric tank!

You don’t need anyone’s permission to try new and exciting things in the hobby. In fact, we’ve come a long way in our world, playing with ideas that, for many years, we’re seen as crazy or foolhardy...

I’ve been really thinking long and hard about how many of our favorite aquatic habitats form, evolve, and function- and how we can replicate this in our aquariums. I think I’ve found a few very simple ways to play with this process..

Okay, sounds like a bad sitcom! The karsts are another fascinating aquatic habitat that we see on talk about or even hear about in the aquarium hobby. So, let’s take a very cursory dip into this amazing ecological system... you might be inspired to replicate one of these habitats in your next aquarium!

For some reason, we feel that it’s necessary to create tanks to showcase the rare, exotic, flashy fishes. What not create an unusual, habitat-specific tank for the most common of fishes? 🤔

The hobby has seen countless inventions, innovations, and ideas come and to over the years. Some of these inventions, in particular, have stood the test of time. Least look at the greatest ones!!

The botanicals and wood and other materials which we use are more than “decor.” They’re areas for microbial growths to take place, fro fungal growths to colonize. They’re “fuel” for establishing an orderly, productive aquatic microcosm.

The peat swamps of Borneo are amazing, diverse, and unique habitats- perfect for replication in aquariums. Of course, there’s more to it than “dark substrate and tinted water”- so let’s look at some of the characteristics of the habitat! Let’s think beyond the superficial aspects to think about how we could represent this habitat in the aquarium!

We’re starting to see a strong mental shift in the aquarium hobby. A desire to break away from convention; to question “best practices”, to express ourselves differently. To embrace Nature as She is- not in some sanitized, artistically conforming way. We’re working our way out of a “fog”- and it’s looking pretty cool.

The inundation cycle in the flooded forests of the Amazon is marked by an ebb and flow of life. Fishes enter formerly terrestrial habitats to feed, shelter, and spawn. And the trees, grasses, and plants of the forest floor adapt, survive, and thrive during both the inundation period and the dry season which follows. How do they do this, and what implications do their survival techniques have for u...

In another thought-provoking episode, Scott and Johnny answer some of your questions in their own unique way. We start off tackling the subject of maintenance of botanical-style aquariums. It’s not what you think. No “change 10% weekly and scrape the algae away” kind of talk here! Rather, it’s a deep dive into the way a botanical-style system functions, our philosophy on creating a successful micr...

We spend a lot of time talking about those dynamic, transitional habitats, which transform from terrestrial to aquatic at various times of the year. Let’s look at them from the aquatic perspective!

Every aquarium has one- a learning curve- a time to familiarize yourself with its subtle, and not-so-subtle nuances. It’s all part of a wonderful journey that can take you to amazing places..

Oh yeah, we’re dipping back. Into brackish water aquariums again. We as a community have a lot of experience in bringing a formerly mysterious aspect of freshwater aquariums alive. Time to apply this to the long-neglected and misunderstood brackish water world!

Limiting the diversity of the botanical elements in our aquariums isn’t just an homage to aesthetics. It’s an affirmation that Nature makes use of whatever is available to Her in crafting aquatic habitats1 even if it’s just a few things. We need to learn from this!

In this weird installment, Scott drops a little wisdom on wood, spreads hate about Manzanita, people who hate dark water, other vendors, and more! Just another day, huh?

We receive a lot of questions from hobbyists about the benefits of botanicals for shrimp food. We read about various botanical items and leaves being lauded for nutritional benefits they allegedly offer. And we take it all with a grain of salt.

How we start up our botanical-style aquariums is an important influence on the way they will ultimately operate and evolve. And there are a lot of ways to approach this. Like, curing botanicals “in Siri”, and other ideas. They’re worth experimenting- if you understand and appreciate our dependence upon bacteria and other microorganisms.