Let’s try something a little different with our next aquarium.. a sort of “one way” version of our “Urban Igapo” concept.. huh? Interested, confused...or both? Check it out!

Yeah, we’re obsessed with substrates. You kinda knew that. And our “NatureBase” substrates are becoming pretty popular! And of course, there are a lot of questions about what makes these sedimented substrates tick! Let’s hit on a few!

Bigger is NOT always “better” in the aquarium hobby. In fact, it’s often worse. Let’s look at the pros and cons of “modest sized” aquariums!

Little, shallow, often ephemeral aquatic habitats are compelling, fascinating, and enjoyable to replicate in both form and function in our aquariums! Yeah, we should be doing more of this...

In the aquarium hobby, we need to compromise, accommodate- to be flexible. And that’s not always a bad thing. In Nature, fishes need to be flexible to adapt to a changing environment.. we should, too. Because when we’re open to being flexible, all kinds of good stuff can happen!

The idea of keeping substrate intact as we “remodel” our tanks shouldn’t be seen as “weird.” When you view the substrate as a living, breathing entity, it makes a ton of sense you preserve it and continue with it, right?

Yeah, it sounds a bit “Star Trek-y”, but it’s an important thing to discuss: The idea of truly trying stuff in aquariums that hasn’t been tried before. Questioning “them” and your reasons for ever hesitating. Questioning “conventions” of aquarium practice...not just to be rebellious- but to push the state of the art in aquarium keeping for the benefit of the hobby, our passions- and our fishes!

The idea of “operating” our tanks via environmental manipulation and other practices is not new to fish breeders. However, to the biotope-inspired aquarist, these practices go beyond just recreating a “look”- they’re perhaps the ultimate expression of an aquarium which functions like Nature does...

Fungi. Reviled. Feared. Hated by anyone who’s ever cured a piece of driftwood for their aquarium. We need to change our thinking on these absurdly important and beneficial organisms. We need to get beyond their “looks” and understand them for the elegant and valuable organisms that they are!

We’ve been talking about the “Urban Igapo”- recreating seasonal inundation that occurs to forests and grasslands in South America- for years now. And the idea is catching on- lots of you are playing with this! Amd of course, there are a lot of questions as we explore this fun and fascinating approach to aquariums! Today, in the first of what will likely be many podcasts on the topic- we’ll address some of your questions!