Changing stuff up in our aquariums is something we all engage in from time to time. Some of us more frequently than others. Changes can be disruptive, chaotic- even catastrophic. However, they can also be beneficial, evolutionary, and game changing.

A “pep talk” for you innovators and bold travelers in the aquarium hobby…

A lot of things happen in our aquariums that we like to call “problems.” Stuff that goes against our expectations, or our understanding. Are they really “problems?” Or, are they opportunities for advancement or growth? I think that Nature doesn’t give us “problems.” I think we need to make some more mental shift here to understand what we’re really looking at…

Materials within our aquarium’s ecosystem change over time. They recruit periphyton, “biocover” , and produce detritus. What happens if you let it accumulate, instead of rushing to remove every drop of it?

Risk, and the responsibility that we take on, are huge parts of the hobby. What we choose to take on isn’t the most difficult thing in the world; however, it’s important that we understand what risks we face, the responsibilities that we have to learn about them, and the opportunities that risk creates.

The wild aquatic habitats are often dynamic, ephemeral, always changing environments. They are often being re-worked, re-assembled, and changed entirely by the simple process of movement. It’s the same in the aquarium. It’s something that we need to consider as an “evolutionary opportunity” as opposed to an annoyance! Ahh, another mental shift!

Mangroves and brackish water aquariums may be about to have a “moment” in the hobby. And, if we really want to understand them, learn from them, and enjoy them- we need to learn a few things about how they grow and their place in the ecology of our aquariums. And yeah, we need to make some mental shifts!

There is something incredibly compelling about utilizing materials like twigs and bits and pieces of roots and such to help form very interesting, dynamic substrates. It’s something we talk about a lot here. However, to those of you who may not have heard about this stuff before- let’s take a few minutes to tempt you again!

In this very special episode, I'm excited to welcome one of my favorite all-around aquarium hobbyists,Jake Adams.Jake is a lifelong aquarist, and is the Sr. Editor of the wildly popular Reef Builders blog. Jake is a rare breed of hobbyist who operates at a high level on both sides of the “salinity line.” One of the reef hobby's most knowledgable and talented people, Jake is eminently qualified to discuss a wide range of hobby topics, and we really dig down on the idea of “crossover skills” among many other topics in a fun, wide-ranging, and thought-provoking discussion!

Very tank we do helps us move forward in the hobby. Even the ones that we think are. I good. Even the ones that break the rules we set for ourselves.. it’s what we get out of them which determines their real value!