thE TINT

the art and science of botanical method aquarium keeping.

  • MIND GAMES AND MENTAL SHIFTS: THE AQUARIUM IS “THE FILTER.”

    Here’s a big thought about our botanical-method aquariums: The aquarium-or, more specifically- the botanical materials which comprise the botanical-method aquarium “infrastructure” acts as a biological “filter system.”  In other words, the botanical materials present in our systems provide enormous surface area upon which beneficial bacterial biofilms and fungal growths can colonize. These life forms utilize the organic compounds present in the…

  • AT THE INCEPTION…

    In·cep·tion /inˈsepSH(ə)n/ noun- The establishment or starting point of an institution or activity. I’ve had a lot of requests lately to discuss how I start up our botanical method aquariums. Now sure, I’ve covered this topic before over the years; yet, as our practices have evolved, so has our understanding about why we do things the way…

  • MUD, KILLIES, AND MENTAL SHIFTS…AGAIN!

    If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m kind of partial to unusual aquatic habitats. I’m sort of obsessed with weird environmental niches that we may have not only overlooked- but perhaps not even considered before. And perhaps one of the easiest to overlook is the idea of a mud hole. You heard me. A mud…

  • SUBSTRATES: SAND, ROCKS, AND THE “STUFF ON THE BOTTOM”

    Substrates. Yes, we’ve hit on this topic before. Quite recently, in fact. And yes, I’m totally obsessed with it. And yes, it needs to be stressed more and more. I’m desperate to get it through to you! SO let’s talk ab out it again, lol! Substrates are more than a “set and forget” thing. They’re…

  • FROM ABOVE…

    If you had to ask me about the “prototype” for the botanical method aquarium, it would have to be the flooded blackwater forests of Amazonia, the igapo. Perhaps nowhere else is the relationship between terrestrial and aquatic environments so vividly demonstrated than in these unique ecosystems.  The concept of allochthonous inputs, which are materials arriving into a habitat…

  • WHAT MOVES STUFF…

    One of the things that drives most hobbyists crazy is when “stuff” gets blown around, covered or moved about in the aquarium. It can be because of strong current, the activity of fishes, or simply being overgrown by plants. I understand the annoyance that many hobbyists feel; I recall this same aggravating feeling in many…

  • THE WONDER OF FOOD WEBS…

    Yeah, I’m continuing my theme of late, discussing the idea that botanical method aquariums are not only amazing homes for our fishes- they present an amazing “platform” for food production for their inhabitants. Another of those ideas that, although a bit arcane to the rest of the hobby, are fundamental to our work in our…

  • ALL HAIL THE FUNGI!

    As botanical method aquarium enthusiasts, by our very nature, we’re into some crazy stuff that the rest of the hobby has, like zero interest in! We’re likely the only fish geeks you’ll encounter who constantly sing the praises of biofilms and fungi huh?  Fungi. Yeah, those guys. They’re all over our botanical- method aquariums, regardless of how we…

  • WHERE THE FOOD COMES FROM…

    If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you’re well aware that I’m not just pushing you to play with natural, botanical-method aquariums only for the pretty aesthetics. I mean, yeah, they look awesome, but there is so much more to it than that. We are unapologetically obsessed with the function of these aquariums and the wild habitats…

  • The SEARCH FOR BLACKWATER LIVEBEARERS : PART 3

    I just shared with you my desire to find a livebearing fish species which is commonly found in a blackwater habitat. It’s been an interesting saga, filled with twist and turns, punctuated by my lack of recent direct, personal experience with wild livebearers, yet, buoyed by findings from research papers and ideas from fellow hobbyists.…