Let’s face it, deciding on aquarium related stuff isn’t as easy as you think it might be. Yet, you need not get all tossed up in agonizing hand wringing when doing it. Here is my personal guide to making good aquarium related decisions!! Hate me later...😝

The word “decomposition” doesn’t exactly make many aquarists jump for joy. However, for those of us who play with botanicals in our aquariums, it’s a fundamental “driver” of our craft!

The real “blurring of the lines” between Nature and aquariums occurs when we create aquariums which replicate the look AND function of that aquatic habitats that we’re obsessed with. And it all starts with thinking like Mother Nature- or a fish- when designing our aquariums!

Studying the influences found in Nature on aquatic habitats, then translating and replicating them to the aquarium is a key to breakthroughs. What are the influences, and how would we go about replicating them in our tanks?

The startup of an aquarium is an amazing, exciting time. The startup of a botanical style aquarium embraces some slightly different elements than a more traditional aquarium- yet sets the stage for an ecologically diverse microcosm.

Ever get “bored” with a tank and do a sort of “makeover”- removing some material but leaving the rest intact? Guess what? You’re mimicking exactly what Nature does!

How do we manage to keep high water quality in our botanical-rich aquariums, with all that organic material? How do you safely achieve- and manage a low pH system long term? These are just a few of the things that await us when we push the limits of our abilities!

Adding botanicals to an aquarium is like adding a bunch of fishes.. it’s bioload. This is fundamental. What aren’t new vendors to the botanical- style aquarium market discussing this more?

What are those factors that induce challenging fishes to spawn? What kinds of natural processes, factors, or conditions aren’t we providing for our fishes that would make a huge difference in success?

We set the scene.. Nature fills in the details, evolves it, and determines its ultimate outcome. We as aquarists who play with the natural, botanical-style aquarium have our place... and we need to understand our role in the grand scheme here!