Ecology First: My Mantra

It’s long been a “thing” in the hobby that botanical materials can be used to successfully manipulate the environmental conditions in our aquariums. Cones and Leaves, in particular, seem to be the “poster children” for these “capabilities.” Yet, is there truth to the claims, or is it just more hype that we need to cut through? Let’s discuss, clear up some myths, and get some facts about what they can and cannot be counted on to do in our aquariums!

Above almost anything else that we need to do in a botanical method aquarium, we simply need to embrace an ecology first mindset. You’re not just setting up an aquarium: You’re creating a biome…

My continuing decades-long obsession with brackish water aquariums keeps me looking at new and exciting ways to “big up” this seemingly moribund hobby sector. Today,my latest thoughts, ideas and techniques on creating your very own mangrove-themed, ecologically sound brackish water aquariums- complete with a substrate “recipe” and tips to help you succeed!

It’s been a minute since I talked about my latest reef aquarium and it’s “rubble margin” approach. I’ve done a lot of reflecting upon my decades I. The reef game, and how the idea of substrates and our old friend, detritus , have been vilified. In this in depth discussion on rubble zone methodology and my first hand experience and opinions, I think you might just find the inspiration you need to move forward with your own interpretation of this contrarian reefkeeping approach…

There is something incredibly fascinating about creating ephemeral habitats- aquariums which operate on a “wet-dry” cycle. The idea of creating a specialized permanent aquarium for annual killifishes- à la the “Urban Igapo” idea- is one I can’t get enough of. In this episode, we talk a lot about natural ephemeral habitats, and details (including including a substrate recipe!) about how to recreate them in the aquarium!

There is something exciting about the earliest days of a botanical method aquarium, isn’t there? It’s a time when Nature takes over and helps establish the little ecosystem that we’ve “fueled up” with botanical materials. There are certain approaches and predictable paths an aquarium takes on route to “equilibrium”- let’s talk about the journey, the expectations, and the processes which get us there.

Let’s talk about the meaning behind a few of the terms and ideas we love to throw around in the hobby. A bit of a confessional for sure, with some fun personal stories, some scientific facts, and a good lesson for all of us…

There are so many fundamental aquarium practices, products, and pieces of gear which we have to avoid or modify to use in the botanical method aquarium. Today we talk about a few of them, and why we differ from standard hobby practice in utilizing, modifying, or excluding them.

To truly understand the botanical method aquarium, you have to look at detritus not as “waste”, but as a highly sophisticated biological matrix, literal “fuel” to power your aquarium. Yeah, it is not something we’ve been accustomed to love- but love it we should..

Okay, I need to confess a bit.I never should have come up with the term “botanical style” aquarium to describe what we do. It’s a misleading term that undersells what we do, and it hung around too long! Today, let’s talk about how worlds matter in the aquarium hobby, and how all of the cool things we do just require a bit more thought at times…