The Tint

Latest Episodes:

As the seasons pass… Sep 30, 2022

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Seasons come and go. Water levels in aquatic environments ebb and flow. Planet Earth goes through cycles. Fishes face constant challenges, yet have evolved over eons to adapt to them. Seasonal changes influence so much of our fishes’ life cycles.. what about approaching the “operation” of our aquariums based upon seasonal changes?

“Geographic transgressions” and other Forgivable Sins… Sep 27, 2022

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I have this thing about mixing fishes from different geographic locations. It’s a really stupid thing…but let’s talk about it!

“Blackwater Livebearers”: My obsessive search continues… Sep 22, 2022

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The latest on my multi-year obsession for live bearing fishes that come from blackwater habitats. We look at a few promising candidates, and muse on the geekiness of my obsessions…

Relationships Sep 20, 2022

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Land and water are ridiculously intertwined in the natural world. The physical, chemical, and ecological interdependencies between these two habitats is incredible. We should spend a lot more time studying this stuff.

Inception. Sep 14, 2022

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The beginning. The startup. The earliest phases of our botanical method aquarium’s existence- is a fascinating, wonderful time. And we have to opportunity to create a magical, productive habitat for our fishes by just deploying a few simple tricks and a whole lot of patience!

Back…From Nowhere… Sep 13, 2022

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Yeah, it’s been a few weeks since we’ve had our last episode of “The Tint.” What have I been up to? What’s Tannin up to? Why have we been so quiet lately? What are we going to do and say in 2023 and beyond? What do I think needs to happen in the aquarium world this year? The answer to these and other questions are laid out in this “comeback episode!” Yeah, the usual opinions and hypocrisy that characterize many of my rants are included!

Starting at...The beginning? Aug 19, 2022

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We're often asked if it is possible for a brand new aquarist to create a botanical method aquarium as his/her first tank. After playing with this stuff for decades, and seeing lots of other hobbyists doing it, too, I think that it IS possible...if you make an effort to understand aquarium fundamentals, manage expectations, and employ patience... However, it requires a community effort from all of us to keep pushing out good information on this stuff...

The ones which take you back… Aug 17, 2022

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It’s kind of fun to see those fishes, plants, and corals which you kept as a kid, still playing a prominent role in the hobby. They are more than juts nostalgic to us- they transport us back to what made us fall in love with the hobby in the first place!

All of that “stuff…” Aug 11, 2022

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Yeah, we talk about aquariums as a little microcosm of life- a place where ecological processes play out to the benefit of our fishes. Yet, I think we need to do more than just give in “lip service…” we need to REALLY make the effort to understand why our botanical method aquariums look and function the way they do.. it’s the “secret” to big progress and evolution in the aquarium hobby.

Letting go…For a while, anyways! Aug 10, 2022

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What happens if you miss a water exchange or a filter media replacement once in a while in your botanical method aquarium?