The Tint

The beauty of our approach to aquariums is that they are perfectly optimized for operating indefinitely…if we manage them in a way that’s consistent with our understanding of their ecological function…

We at the stage in our aquariums so to speak. We deliver a “stage” for Nature to perform Her work. We shouldn’t resist this.

We have been preaching for almost a decade about the concept of “functional aesthetics”- an appreciation for the function of natural habitats , understanding that the function contributes to the aesthetics. And it’s time once again to elaborate on my theory..

It’s amazing how adaptable fishes are, isn’t it? However, I’m more convinced than ever that, just because fishes CAN adapt to conditions that are easier for us to provide, doesn’t mean that we should force them to. Let’s discuss..

Okay, it sounds like a bad sci-fi movie, but it’s just a designation given to one of my aquariums..a system that changed my practice and evolved my thinking about botanical method aquariums. Everyone likely has their own “Project 18”- that tank which pushed boundaries for them. Let me share what this tank did for my aquarium hobby practice… then please reflect upon yours…

Our fishes have evolved to consume all sorts of foods. And they often shift their feeding habits throughout the year, as a response to seasonal changes, abundance, etc. And our botanical method aquariums, with their leaves, seed pods, etc. are fantastic producers of supplemental nutrition…

Okay, sounds a bit 1960’s psychedelic, right? But it’s a good descriptor of where we are in the aquarium hobby when it comes to approaching low pH aquariums. By “low”, I mean below 6.0ph. A “frontier” that we as a hobby largely have no experience with. Yet, I think we’re getting to the point where creating and managing low ph systems (ph in the 5’s and 4’s) might become practical. We just have to understand these environments chemically, and grasp the ecology which drives them. It’ll require a new approach and way of thinking about how we do stuff…Are YOU experienced?

Today, in a special expanded episode, I have a great discussion with Mark Chen of Nature Design Studio here in So Cal. You've probably seen his videos on Instagram and Tim Tok, showcasing his beautiful work. Mark and his partner create amazing custom aquarium displays which incorporate his unique take on the natural aquatic environments of the world. Mark has a gift for being able to infuse his design assets and a deep understanding of atheistic into creating different natural worlds and environments within aquariums. We cover a lot of ground in our discussion, including how Mark creates some of his amazing displays, and what techniques, philosophies and design approaches he uses to construct them. He even shares some tips from his experience which's everyday aquarists can leverage to create our own unique work! Mark is incredibly smart, gifted with a talent for sharing abstract concepts in a relatable manner. Follow him on Instagram (tmk_aquarist) to see some of his amazing work. A great listen!

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We love to control everything in our aquariums, don’t we? We’ll, it seems like a good idea, but the reality is that we don’t have to. The idea of throwing your materials into your tank and letting Nature sort it out isn’t laziness. Not some crazy, alternative approach. It’s a slightly different take on what hobbyists have been doing for generations. It’s a way to create a truly dynamic ecosystem in your tank by letting Nature get to work immediately. Taking a longer, less conventional road may unlock tons of secrets that we can use to our advantage!

For Alan soy as long as we’ve done this podcast, I’ve talked about flooded forests, fallen trees, and the unique habitats which arise from them. There is something fascinating and compelling about the idea of replicating one in an aquarium. We just need to overcome our fear of taking up precious water volume with big pieces- or a lot of pieces- of wood…let’s discuss…