The Tint

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!

One of the best parts of the aquarium hobby is our desire to create, innovate, and execute some of our seemingly cray ideas! It’s how we move forward... right?

With all of the incredible advances in our little hobby sector of late, some people are still not “getting” it.. not appreciating the beautiful simplicity and joy they can take when they relax and trust Nature do some of the work.. they- we- need to give ourselves permission to have fun!

When we are “done” with a tank; hungry, perhaps, to try something new, we’re really starting on a very familiar journey. The considerations about how to proceed during a “reset” are pretty fascinating... and help us review and refine some of the fundamental aspects of the botanical-style aquarium.

What makes our botanical-style aquariums so compelling; so alluring? What is it about them which calls to us? Today’s brief piece is a little (hopefully) thought-provoking look at the thinking behind our work, and the natural habitats which inspire us...

The idea of throwing botanical materials into our aquariums is beyond just an aesthetic experiment these days. Rather, it’s a means to explore the function of the natural habitat. A way to replicate and observe the processes which occur when these terrestrial components mix with water...

When you think about it, when we set up an aquarium, it sort of goes through all of these intersting processes and phases which are sort of analogous to those which happen in Nature, right? What can we learn from these processes and phases (hint: a LOT)..?