The Tint
722 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 24 ratings"The Tint" is a podcast dedicated to lovers of natural aquariums. A place to discuss unusual aquarium concepts and ideas; a jumping-off point at the aquarium hobby's "bleeding edge." Join us for inspiration, ideas, and a sometimes provocative point of view! Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
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Episodes
That certain “something...”
October 31, 2019 15:24 - 10 minutes - 8.51 MBWhat makes a great aquascape? Cool materials? Talent? Effort? Well, sure- but that’s only part of it. Perhaps the most important part is something that we need to adopt in our minds.. a way of looking at stuff.. an attitude...a mental shift. A certain “something” that we can all adapt. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Let’s get real...
October 30, 2019 15:12 - 8 minutes - 7.12 MBThere is a perceptible shift in the “high concept” aquascaping world towards what they call “realism”- actually replicating natural aquatic features and habitats in the aquarium.. it’s close to what is needed to evolve aquarium keeping to the next level.. Close. However, there is still room to push the “functional” part of the equation... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
The tale of the Tucanos
October 29, 2019 14:32 - 8 minutes - 7.92 MBThere is something alluring about BIG ideas pulled off on a small scale. I really like just executing something very tightly and then- just possibly, “scaling up.” This little review of our “Tucano Tangle” biotope-inspired aquarium is just that.. an example of thinking big and executing small! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Not in too deep.. the allure of shallow stream habitats...
October 28, 2019 16:38 - 7 minutes - 5.96 MBStreams are amazing subjects for aquariums.. particularly for small aquariums... with botanicals, leaves, and.. well you know what I mean! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
On the hunt...
October 27, 2019 18:16 - 9 minutes - 7.46 MBWe’ve all got that ONE fish that obsesses us; haunts us- keeps us searching the Local fish stores, club auctions, etc. once in a while, we find it in the most unlikely of places; we score our dream fish.. and we know it’s all because we never gave up the hunt... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Getting away with it...
October 26, 2019 20:00 - 6 minutes - 5.11 MBWe've all taken a few hobby shortcuts. You know, done a few things that we knew better than to try...Tempting fate in the process. And sometimes, we get away with them. Other times, the consequences of these "cheats" are immediate and painful. We often learn the hard way...And its sometimes just as painful to wean ourselves off of 'cheating" as it is when we suffer the fate which meets us when we try to "get away with it." --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/...
Water quality and the botanical-style aquarium: Practices, potential...and speculation.
October 26, 2019 00:32 - 10 minutes - 9.85 MBHow do aquariums filled with leaves and seed pods and all that decomposing stuff stay healthy and functioning for long periods of time? What gives? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Mad about... Magnolia!
October 24, 2019 15:24 - 10 minutes - 9.68 MBOne of the most popular leaves we offer- and perhaps one of the most frustrating- is Magnolia. Hers a little more in-depth look at this alluring leaf and the ins and outs of its use in our aquariums. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Are you up to the challenge?
October 24, 2019 15:00 - 8 minutes - 5.56 MBWith all of the unique aspects of botanical style aquariums- perhaps none are as fascinating as the mental shifts that we have to make in order to be successful with them...are you up to the challenge? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
The continuing allure of “blackwater livebearers”- if they exist, that is!
October 22, 2019 14:56 - 13 minutes - 10.7 MBYeah, another obsession of mine... I’ve poured through scientific literature, hoping to find a live earring fish which naturally comes from a blackwater habitat... and here are some of my top candidates!
Nature’s “Operating System”
October 22, 2019 14:34 - 7 minutes - 6.11 MBNature constantly consumes and replenishes. And, as aquarists- we can easily replicate such processes in our tanks... by embracing the concepts of change and consistency simultaneously... By mastering Natures “operating system.” --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Homage to an old (botanical) friend...
October 20, 2019 19:06 - 9 minutes - 6.22 MBIs there a more “functionally aesthetic” botanical than the Cariniana pod? I don’t think so! Let’s just look at this one more closely, to give you some good info and clear up a few misunderstandings about this one! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
The “Tinter’s Palette...”
October 20, 2019 02:20 - 14 minutes - 11.4 MBEveryone ask me how to get a deep dark color in their water.. really! Like, what materials or tricks do I use. There are no secrets here- so I share with you my fave botanical choices to help achieve a nice color in your blackwater aquarium! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Going, going...Gone
October 18, 2019 19:33 - 11 minutes - 7.77 MBWe’ve all experienced this.. ever had a fish which simply “vanished?” I mean, right there in your tank, happily eating and swimming around one day- gone the next? Why is this? What happens.. up for a good mystery??? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
The stability factor.
October 17, 2019 14:57 - 14 minutes - 9.78 MBWhen it comes to our botanical-style aquariums, there are so many factors which influence it. Perhaps the most important is stability. And this involves embracing many things, such as maintenance, feeding, and understanding the importance of natural processes-even though they might not fit our traditional vision of a “natural aquarium...” Still interested? We hope! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
An “embarrassment of riches?”
October 16, 2019 14:41 - 12 minutes - 9.96 MBWe have a lot of botanical materials to play with, to help create unique environmental conditions within our aquariums. And the ability to utilize this vast array of materials to benefit our fishes is a tantalizing glimpse into the future of aquariums! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
What’s better for Bettas?
October 15, 2019 14:53 - 11 minutes - 9.53 MBIt’s a long-standing controversy in the hobby- abetted lines up at the pet shop in little plastic cups. And of course, this gives the uninitiated the impression that these are maintenance free nails which are suitable for everyone.. is there a way to counter this myth? Sure! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
“Spontaneous miracles”, hacks”, comprehending- and evolving patience!
October 14, 2019 18:25 - 15 minutes - 12.6 MBThere are so many fascinating things going on in our botanical style aquarium world. To enjoy many of them simply takes time and patience,l. Yet, many search for “hacks”... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
On the trail of the Amazonian Shrimp!
October 13, 2019 19:26 - 7 minutes - 5.86 MBWe have been collecting fishes for the aquarium hobby form Amazonia for over century. However, did you know that there are significant populations of little SHRIMP there? Yeah, and they live I. LEAF LITTER! You know where I’m going with this... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Yeah. We sell “lawn trash...”
October 12, 2019 14:00 - 14 minutes - 11.8 MBOccasionally, those of you who are interested in starting your own aquarium-related businesses ask me to share various aspects of the business that might be challenging or scary. I’m happy to oblige...here’s some hard facts, encouragement, and motivation for you- the aspiring aquatic industry entrepreneur! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
“The First 48” and beyond...
October 11, 2019 18:54 - 13 minutes - 7.5 MBAfter the establishment of a botanical style aquarium, a certain set of predictable occurrences happens- and how we accept them can dictate the further evolution of our tanks. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Something old. Something new. something...tinted!
October 10, 2019 15:45 - 11 minutes - 9.49 MBIt has been a long time coming. A tank “refresh” in time for Fall. Always run! And when you’re coming out of a “funk”, as I was- it represents a chance to bring back a missing element- FUN! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Johnny Ciotti: Do what you love. The inner game of aquascaping.
October 09, 2019 12:00 - 56 minutes - 38.5 MBIn an episode that is as much about philosophy as it is about execution, Johnny Ciotti, Tannin’s Creative Director, and world-class aquascaper, shares his thoughts. Filled with insights, stories, and humor, this episode has something for everyone! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Not so fond farewells. Bad places. Honest confessions. Realizations.
October 08, 2019 15:19 - 12 minutes - 8.91 MBIt’s amazing how a serious of events, and being on the receiving end of attitudes- can take you into the darkness- and back into the light- better off for the journey.. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
There must be SOMETHING in the water, right?
October 07, 2019 14:34 - 12 minutes - 8.84 MBWhen our fishes “spontaneously” spawn in a botanical style/blackwater aquarium, it’s easy to rush to the conclusion that it was “something” released by the botanicals. I mean, sure- it could have been.. could there be “something” In the water? Or perhaps...a,combination of factors? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Ceding some of the work to Nature..
October 06, 2019 15:28 - 15 minutes - 12.2 MBWhen we relax a bit in our aquarium design and aquascaping- and allow Nature to do some of the work- we can create works which are as compelling, intriguing, and beautiful as any “high concept” ‘scape around.. We just need to get out of the way, right? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
“”Authentic” Nature?
October 04, 2019 15:44 - 9 minutes - 7.8 MBNature is an imperfect place...And our interpretations of Nature involves making some mental shifts and adjusting our aesthetic expectations. It’s a quantum shift in our hobby...it compels is to find the beauty in things that we previously might have looked at as “dirty”, “unkempt” , or just plain “ugly.” It makes us review what we’ve previously thought about as “Authentic” in this regard... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
“so, a rock and a leaf fall into a stream...”
October 03, 2019 14:13 - 12 minutes - 10.1 MBEver wonder why we don’t see rock in igapo habitats? Are any rocks found in blackwater habitats? Well, they are, but the rocks likely didn’t form there.. the story of their formation and how they arrived in these habitats is a fascinating tale of incongruous elements coming together... so, yeah- You CAN have rocks and leaves together and be faithful to Nature...in context. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Part of the dance...
October 02, 2019 14:40 - 9 minutes - 7.83 MBAll of the processes which occur in our aquariums are dictated by Nature- yet comprise a sort of “dance”- a combination of moves that require our monitoring, understanding, and on occasion- intervention. But, how much? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
When we’re forced out of our comfort zone...
October 01, 2019 14:05 - 12 minutes - 10 MBLike most of you, I’m set in my ways in some aspects of the hobby. I have a definite “comfort zone”, and when I’m forced to make quick changes.. well, it can be “challenging.” Yeah, we’re all like this.... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Short-term lapses...Long-term successes!
September 30, 2019 14:21 - 12 minutes - 10.1 MBWhat would happen if you let your natural, botanical-style aquarium “go” for a bit.? You know, skip a water exchange or two, etc... would it “crash”, or simply continue to operate? Well, a lot of what happens during such periods of time is predicated upon how you set up the aquarium in the first place... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Downstream thinking!
September 29, 2019 18:08 - 11 minutes - 7.77 MBThe bodies of water collectively known as “streams” are probably one of the most fascinating, diverse, and ecologically complex habitats that we can replicate in our aquariums! Let’s think about them a bit differently! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
The Power of “Generic Tropical”
September 28, 2019 03:04 - 9 minutes - 8.3 MBWe love utilizing natural materials in our aquariums. However, we try not to get too carried away at making sure that every item in our biotope-themed aquarium is the EXACT material found in the habitat we seek to represent. Rather, we rely on the power of “Generic Tropical!” --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Hangin' with a legendary fish geek: Rachel O'Leary!
September 27, 2019 12:00 - 56 minutes - 39.1 MBArguably one of the aquarium hobby's most dynamic personalities, Rachel O'Leary has cemented her place as an icon. Whether it's traveling to a local club or conference, crushing it on her YouTube channel, or just hanging out in her amazing fish room, Rachel has been an inspiration to thousands of hobbyists worldwide. We were fortunate enough to grab her for about an hour and just talk "fish stuff." She shares her experiences, opinions, and philosophies in what's sure to be an enjoyable episo...
The “Aesthetic Primer” revisited...
September 26, 2019 15:39 - 15 minutes - 12.8 MBI’ll be first to admit it- our tanks look entirely different than many we’ve come to expect in the hobby. And it’s largely based on the very materials which we employ in our aquariums. Periodically, we need to remind the “mainstream” hobby that there IS a reason why... and that it’s pretty cool! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Continuity, renewal, stability...and evolution...
September 25, 2019 14:44 - 10 minutes - 8.77 MBPreserving and building upon existing materials within our aquariums is a fundamental practice we can do to to more realistically emulate Nature. And what kinds of unique results can we expect by playing with this idea? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
A salty “sayonara”- or a shift to the future?
September 24, 2019 14:48 - 24 minutes - 19.8 MBAs we get ready to say our farewells to our venerable office botanical-style brackish water aquarium, it’s fun to reflect on some of the lessons learned, the dynamics of the system, and the potential for future breakthroughs using a more evolved approach. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Keeping it real...
September 23, 2019 14:38 - 16 minutes - 13.4 MBAfter several years of being pretty loud about all sorts of topics related to botanical-style aquariums, I still see a fair number of misconceptions and outdated misunderstandings- and even myths- about these systems tossed about in the hobby. Time to “keep it real” and clarify a few of the more common ones! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Setting the stage...
September 23, 2019 01:35 - 10 minutes - 8.02 MBAn aquascape requires a plan, the right pieces, and execution on the part of the aquarist. A botanical-style aquarium requires all of those things- and the passage of time, to fully set the stage and create something special.. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
A most intimate relationship
September 22, 2019 02:04 - 10 minutes - 8.34 MBThe amazing interdependencies between land and water create fascinating aquatic habitats. If we study these unique relationships, we can learn a tremendous amount about how our fishes thrive in them.. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
I killed it.
September 20, 2019 17:42 - 10 minutes - 7.49 MBI have a weird hang up about aquariums. It caused me to take a perfectly good, potentially interesting aquarium idea recently and just... kill it. Help me solve this issue, okay? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
The nature of “Nature” in our aquariums...
September 19, 2019 14:28 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MBWe have a whole lot of opinions, discussions, and ideas in the idea of “Nature” in our aquariums. It’s an interesting- even decisive topic, that everyone seems to have a point of view on. Understanding the function of Nature is every bit as important as ascribing a “label” to our aquariums. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Let them eat...botanicals!
September 18, 2019 15:01 - 13 minutes - 11.2 MBAn increasingly accepted part of the aquarium hobby is the fact that botanical materials- and the biofilms which they recruit- are an excellent food source for many aquatic organisms. Now, which ones are best? Which are the most “usable” for our fishes and shrimp? And what benefits do they offer? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
“Bottom-up evolution!”
September 17, 2019 14:41 - 20 minutes - 16.2 MBExperimenting with the composition and functional aesthetic aspects of substrates in our aquariums is a fascinating endeavor. We’re starting to see interesting, tangible results from the work being done in this area. What kinds of breakthroughs are possible with a different point of view on this stuff? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
The dynamics of the Botanical-Style Aquarium
September 16, 2019 14:17 - 13 minutes - 12 MBOur botanical-style aquariums are anything but “static.” They are constantly changing, evolving, and “operating”- much like the natural habitats they seek to replicate! Let’s look at this from a “functionally aesthetic” perspective! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Beyond coincidence?
September 16, 2019 02:42 - 7 minutes - 5.84 MBWe sure do a lot to get our fishes to spawn, don’t we? There are as many techniques to get fishes to spawn as there are fishes! However, they often resist our best efforts...Yet, sometimes, the conditions we provide in our botanical-style aquariums yield incredible “coincidental” spawnings.. well, ARE they coincidences? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Beating the $&@# out of an old friend...
September 15, 2019 02:46 - 7 minutes - 5.28 MBLet’s examine the interesting idea that was the undergravel filter, a fascinating idea that sort of reminded me of a solution in search of a problem, or.. something like that.. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
It’s the one thing
September 14, 2019 00:28 - 16 minutes - 12.8 MBThe majority of the wild habitats we emulate in captivity are among the most stable on earth. Sure, seasonal variations, weather events- and more often, mankind’s intervention challenge stability. Fishes can only handle so much environmental fluctuation... here some thoughts on stability and the means to achieve it in Our aquariums. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
The strange phenomenon of “cyclical occurrences”- “Quirks”, processes, and mental shifts...
September 12, 2019 14:41 - 14 minutes - 11.9 MBThe dynamic world of the botanical- style aquarium is amazing. It’s a world of contact change, growth, decomposition- and aesthetics unlike any other. What can we learn from the cycles of water clarity, decomposition, and, yeah- environmental stability- which impact these aquariums? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-fellman/support
Social Media for Aquatic Industry Brands and Influencers with Kat Dhawan (aka MetroKatNY)!!!
September 11, 2019 12:06 - 53 minutes - 36.5 MBKat is one of the hobby's real treasures! A one-woman force of Nature, she's an awesome aquarist, industry personality, and social media strategist all rolled into one! Her agency, Brand Kat, provides social media strategy for aquatic industry businesses. Kat has worked with some of the best known brands in the aquarium hobby, and is an expert at coordinating social media influencer programs. In todays podcast, Kat and I discuss the ins-and-outs of utilizing social media to build upon aquati...