Leaves are literally the “jumping off point” for our botanical style aquarium obsession. Let’s think for a minute about going big and creating a really deep leaf litter bed in our aquariums. What would happen? What kind of benefits would we derive?

We’ve mentioned the idea of streams as inspirations for our aquarium work for a long time. Yet, when was the last time you went deeper and really explored the way these streams form, function, and recruit life forms?

I’m about to start a bunch of new home aquariums! What better time to revisit the idea of planning and developing my tanks for the long run?

There is that’s point in the life of every botanical-style aquarium where our initial setup and “opening” is complete- and where Nature takes the reigns. It’s that most exciting time... the end- of the beginning...

There are people in this hobby who grab on to an idea so tightly that anything that seems to deviate from what they know and love is blasphemous. They’re “fanboys”- and they fee the need to attack! Well, I’ve got some advice for them..

Lately, I’ve had some amazingly talented and successful hobbyists tell me that they can’t figure out why they’re not enjoying the hobby any more. I think I’ve figured it out; they’re over-specialized! Let’s discuss this...

A question we receive a lot lately: “do you need to aerate a botanical-style aquarium?” Hmm.. let’s look at this in more detail!!!

The relationship between fishes and the habitats that they come from is fascinating. The implications for aquariums are too numerous to mention.. if we study these close ties more, we’re very likely to find things that can lead to hobby breakthroughs!

It’s okay to be inspired by the work of others. It’s okay to replicate aspects of it. However, you don’t HAVE to do it exactly like they did in order for it to be successful. Let’s beat up this awful misconception once and for all!

Our old “frenemey”- detritus. We’re always scared about this stuff. We shouldn’t be. Let’s talk about the upside to having some in your aquariums. Again.