We receive a ton of those “What are the botanicals you’d use for a tank featuring_________?” So, what better way to kick off the end of the year than with a sharing of my notes on the Sparkling Gourami tank that I have yet to pull off in 2019... hope to do it in 2020... and I hope it gives YOU some inspiration, too!

As we learn more about botanicals in the aquarium, we have to be careful not to make assertions based on secondhand information. We contribute so much as aquarists to the growing body of work in our hobby specialization.

The aquarium hobby gives us much- and asks a lot from us, too. It’s not an instant gratification sort of thing.. it tends to favor patience, deliberate, slow moves.. a “long game”...that being said, there certainly IS some room for short term moves and impulse decisions. It’s all about balance- achieving that perfect blend of impulsiveness and patience.

We add leaves and botanicals to our aquariums, and almost immediately, they start to decompose. They not only impart their bound up chemical compounds into the water- impacting the water chemistry- they form the basis of a complex web of life...a foundational aspect of our botanical-style aquariums...

The aquarium hobby is filled with rules, guidelines, and best practices. All things which we need to consider where we’re trying to take a more “realistic” approach to replicating Nature in our tanks.. but we can’t confuse “requirements” with “problems.” We can do a lot- more than we might realize...

I admit it- I probably discourage more people about getting an aquarium than I encourage. And I think I’m correct about why!

Okay, maybe it’s just ME...however, selecting fishes for my aquariums is more than just “a thing we do”- it’s a process.. a demanding, challenging one that draws on all of my experience- and some of my worst hobby instincts!

Everything we do in the hobby requires effort. Understanding. Perseverance. And a bit of humility. Progressing requires that we occasionally pass through a “gauntlet” of sorts- a mental barrier that , once we penetrate- makes us better aquarists for the journey.

It’s important form time to time, to look at the mental side of aquarium keeping. Our specialized, botanical-style tanks require us to make mental shifts, manage our expectations, and think through “advice” offered up by others...

We receive some amazing questions on the art and sconce of botanical style aquariums from you- our community. Today, we answer a couple. Hopefully, some good stuff in there!