Don’t get stuck if you’re trying to replicate a certain environmental niche in your aquarium and you just can’t find that exact plant, wood, leaf, etc... study your habitat well, think about how it formed... and look for “analogs!”

You can’t guarantee too many things in this hobby.. or can you? Here’s a look at what happens when you temp fate- and the aquarium “gods” by pushing your luck too far!

There is something very compelling about taking a small tank that’s working well and “scaling it up” to something bigger. In this quick one, I share one of my fave tanks and the idea I have of replicating it on a larger scale!

I think it’s time to look at natural aquatic habitats and ask ourselves WHY various fishes live in them. It’s time to examine what dress them to a certain habitat at a certain time. It’s a key “unlock” that we can all learn from.. and it’s an interesting way to develop a stocking plan- or sequence- for your botanical- style aquarium!

On this special edition of “The Tint”, we’re joined by my good friend and fellow botanical- style aquarium geek, James Sheen! Just a fun, wide-ranging discussion on all sorts of botanical stuff! Join in the geekiness!

Have you ever thought about how water reaches your favorite aquatic ecosystem? Moreover, have you considered how the surrounding geography and geology impacts the composition of the water? What are the implications for studying and replicating some of these processes in the aquarium?

How hard is a botanical-style aquarium to create, operate, and maintain? Not that hard... at least, not if you follow some basic rules...

It’s about time to double back and focus more on brackish water botanical-style aquariums! We’ve been working hard with our “Estuary” collection over the past few years to really make unique brackish water systems more accessible to everyone! Let’s tease you a bit about this interesting ecological niche.:.

We’re going to be a bit slower in shipping this week.. but wait until you see what’s coming!

As we push out into uncharted waters, testing new hobby ideas, we face the scrutiny- and on occasion, the criticism-of our peers. No need to fear this. Fortune favors the bold...