thE TINT

the art and science of botanical method aquarium keeping.

  • TEMPTING LITTLE “NICHES” TO PLAY WITH…

    One of the most nitrating things about our era of aquarium keeping is that we have access to an enormous amount of information about the wild habitats of our fishes. Detailed information that would make previous generations of hobbyists wide-eyed with wonder and jealousy! If you make the effort, you can find scientific research papers…

  • IN PERPETUITY…

    I talk a lot about starting up and managing botanical method aquariums. We’ve had numerous discussions about set up and the accompanying expectations of the early days in the life of the little ecosystems we’ve created. However, what about the long term..The really long term?  Like, just how long can you maintain one of these aquariums?  Do…

  • STUFF ON THE BOTTOM: USING ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS IN THE BOTANICAL METHOD AQUARIUM

    Our love of unique ecological niches in Nature has enabled us to embrace a lot of “alternative” materials within the aquarium in order to recreate their form and function. No where is this more evident than in the substrates that we use in our tanks. Substrates are more than a “set and forget” thing. They’re…

  • SMALL EXECUTION OF A BIG IDEA .

    Maybe you can relate to this idea: Some of my biggest ideas start with the smallest executions. That’s a good philosophy and attitude, IMHO. And more economical, too!  I’ve talked a lot over the years about the idea of using so-called “nano aquariums” as a sort of “testbed” for ideas and concepts. The idea that it’s…

  • A MOMENT IN TIME? OR A PLACE IN THE PROCESS?

    Today I’m sort of taking an “aesthetics first” view when tackling ga subject related to botanical method aquariums…We’re talking about the “look” of tanks and how technique plays into the aesthetics… There’s nothing quite like a brand new aquarium; one filled with promise and potential. In the botanical method aquarium, the aquarium looks quite a…

  • ROLLING IN THE DEEP (LEAF LITTER BED, THAT IS…)

    If you’ve been reading my blogs, you know that I’ve been throwing out a lot of crazy ideas. Some seem to come up more often than others. Case in point: I periodically discuss the idea of creating a really deep litter bed in an aquarium, to more accurately replicate some of the litter beds found in South…

  • GONE.

    Our botanical-method aquariums incorporate rather complex- often intricate- ecological elements. Fishes seem very comfortable living within these dynamic systems…Sometimes, perhaps too comfortable… It’s one of the the most “human” things that happens to us in life- and likely one of the most annoying.  Ever just lose something? I mean, not misplacing your car keys, cell phone, or…

  • SLIGHTLY SALTY. ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.

    As if you don’t know by now, I’m pretty thrilled to play with just about any type of aquarium that embraces decomposing leaves, sediment, and root tangles. My “mission” is to encourage my fellow hobbyists to give brackish a go..err, my concept of brackish a go, that is! I think you might like it! Despite…

  • WAY TO GO, DANIO!

    As a kid, I think one of the most memorable sights in my first aquarium, (complete with sky blue/pink gravel and plastic plants!) was my group of 8 Zebra Danios  (Danio rerio) racing at high speed around the tank in a furious fashion, as if they had to get somewhere in a big freaking hurry…only to reverse course,…

  • TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A TRAUMATIZED FISH BUYER…

    Are you one of those hobbyists who’s pretty easygoing when it comes to purchasing, acclimating, quarantining, and adding new fishes to your aquarium? Are you just sort of “systematic”- with a set procedure that’s almost automatic (“Open bag, pour fish in bucket, drip, add to tank…”)? Or, is each time sort of a unique, highly…