The Tint

For ages, aquarists have been advised to “cure” wood outside of their display tanks. I suppose the rationale is sound. However, when you think about it, there might be some unique advantages to letting this “curing” process occur within the display tank! Let’s dig down on this idea!

In the aquarium hobby, we love referring to Nature and how our tanks resemble it. Are we deluding ourselves? Sometimes we might be. We need to think about what “Nature” and “Natural” mean in the context of what we do…

WARNING: This is a full fledged rant! Let’s talk about the responsibility that goes with being a “content creator” or an “influencer” in the hobby. There is a bit too much drivel out there right now, and we need to face it. If I didn’t scare you off, have a listen…

Our botanical-style aquariums are strongly ecologically-driven. They relay on a myriad of life forms of all sizes- some very familiar to us, and others a bit less so. However, they all provide valuable “services” for our miniature ecosystems. Say “hello” to our little friends in the micro biome!

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!