Our hobby has an amazing history. A history formed by thousands of unnamed hobbyists plying their craft- and by a few legendary “players” making breakthroughs that transcend time. Who are your hobby “influencers? What did they teach you which resonates with you?

Sometimes, unexpected stuff happens in our aquariums. Stuff way beyond our current skill set of body of experience. Stuff which pushes us- and shapes us.

The foundation for all that we do is ecology.. And the systems that we create in our aquariums are absolutely dependent upon an “operating system” which a nature creates and manages. We need to play nice with Her…

Most of us know what to expect when getting into botanical method aquariums. Some of us don’t.. and this one’s for you.

With all of the new exposure of botanical method aquariums in our world, we keep getting questions from this unfamiliar to our practice about the “cleanliness” of our botanical method tanks. Let’s clarify it!

You think there are no “sure things” in the aquarium hobby? I beg to differ with you. There ARE “sure things” in abundance- and most of ‘em ain’t good! Let’s go over a few “certainties” that you just don’t want to go up against!

The aquarium hobby is supposed to be fun. It’s not supposed to be a competition, or pressure and anxiety-inducing venture. Yet, for many hobbyists, it’s become just that. Here’s some tips on how to avoid getting caught in that nasty spiral- from a guy who’s been there- so that you can have an e table lifelong hobby experience!

Palm trees are pretty much the “Official Symbol of The Tropics!” They are fascinating trees, and the sheer number of materials and uses they can provide for the botanical method aquarium enthusiast is enormous. Let’s look at what the plans provide, and how we can incorporate them in a realistic representation of the (aquatic!) habitats in which they are often found!

My entire hobby experience is based upon evolution of ideas, and changes to “iconic” beliefs and practices. I feel that adaptation of these concepts have been the key “ingredients” which have brought botanical method aquariums to the place they’re at now. We’ve all forced ourselves out of our comfort zones and evolved our thinking, processes and practices along the way, pushing the “state of the art” in our hobby sector as we go. I share a few of the changes and evolutions in my thinking and practice which are pushing the boundaries even further…

Avid listeners of “The Tint” probably recall me obsession, several years ago about finding blackwater livebearers. We talked about this- looked into some intriguing candidates, debunked a few others- yet never found the one we were looking for. Yet, I never let up.. and more recent research might yield some tantalizing leads! Yeah, I’m obsessed….