The Tint

Part of what we do in the botanical method aquarium world is to accept Nature’s work- even the parts which may not look the way we might like them…accepting this is one of the first “mental shifts” we need to make…

A botanical method aquarium “evolves” over time. In its own way, it establishes an ecological system which supports the life forms within the aquarium. It matures amd thrives…with a little help from you!

Botanicals and botanical method aquariums are the very definition of “ephemeral”, aren’t they? Let’s talk about this idea, in the context of managing a botanical method aquarium…

There is a lot of cool “citizen scientist”-type observations that we can do in our botanical method aquariums. Observation which correlates what ecologists observe in the wild aquatic habitats we love so much. Yeah, time for us as a community to do a little “indoor field work!”

Yeah, I’m going to get some hate.. but someone asked about what I think the worst piece of gear in the hobby is. Those of you who are fans of “The Tint” will know the exactly what I’m going to say- “glassware!” This won’t be pretty. Pour yourself a cocktail as I bring on the hate!

An industry friend, perhaps a bit caught up in the day to day running of his aquatics business, asked me how I stay “in the game”- how you can be a hobbyist when you’re so immersed in the biz.. it made me think- back to a time-just for a while- when I was more of a “clinical” hobbyist- not actually keeping my own tanks, but active in the hobby- and how lost that felt.. and how I got it back!

Well, some of you have asked about my fave suggestions for successful (botanical method) aquariums, so I thought I’d drop a few today! Many are practices and ideas you probably already employ, but it’s never bad to review some of our hobby “best practices” from time to time!

We seem to love “rules” in the aquarium hobby. Hard stops. Checklists.. I say that the only real “rules” applicable to the hobby are those created-and enforced by Nature. But he’ll, what do I know? We’ll, let me tell you…

The lessons of our elders in the hobby teach across the ages. They help guide us in our efforts even today. Don’t ever discount the teachings of those early hobby legends…

A lot of newcomers to our world of botanical method aquariums ask us “Why?” Like, what are the benefits you can how to achieve when you add leaves and seed pods and stuff to your tank? We’ll, let’s talk about it really quickly!