Freewheeling
Q. Aquaria are a bit like children: one cannot say which is the favorite… But let me ask the question: do you have an aquarium which you love above the others? How old is it, and how much time do you dedicate to it?
A. No not really. Some I like since they are operating at a much slower but just as interesting rate, others grow fast, but require more labor. I keep aquascapes I like for perhaps 5-8 years at most before redoing the design. They tend to be pretty easy to care for based more on plant choices.
Here’s a video: I spent maybe 1 hour a week on it.
Q. You claim that Do it Yourself is not for all, why? Is it because not everyone can do by himself? Or do you think that commercial products are better?
A. I strongly prefer DIY, but some things are better left to professionals.
Nice clean rimless tanks I can and have made myself, but I prefer to hire someone else to do that. They are not cheap, so if you have limited $$$, and the time to do it… then sure. I might have to drill a glass tank for a client. So there are some things I have to do myself and cannot hire out or buy commercially because, well, I am the contractor.
For soils, ADA aqua soil seems the best and it’s easier than DIY soil mixes.
Fertilizers: entirely DIY. But some all in one fertilizers are easier until the newer hobbyists get more experienced. Or if they only have one smaller aquarium, then the cost factors are smaller.
In many cases, it can be hard for many to get some DIY fertilizers, but most sell in the countries that the hobbyists live in these days, not back in 1990’s.
Commercial products allow new folks access without listening to 101 chefs on a forum joking to tell them what to do and often get intimidated. Whereas a local aquarium shop they can talk to and see the results in person.
Yes, they pay for it… but the shop has a right to make a profit and it’s not an easy business to make much money at. Most shop owners are in business because they love it, not to make a lot of $.
PO43- = algae myths have been reduced as many products now have PO43- in them for plant fertilizers. Seachem and Tropica’s products come as a direct conversation with me back in the 1990’s. Many soon followed thereafter.
So like sediment vs the water column for dosing, having DIY and commercial products tends to be best for the hobby.
I can work with a store owner and their product line or help them develop one…. or I can work with DIY hobbyists.
As with methods and aquascape designs, no one method or design will meet all goals, the same is true here as well.
Q. How do you see the impact of the internet on the aquariophily? Every information is now promptly accessible: just Google it! But it is becoming increasingly hard to get the correct information, without being swamped by inaccurate advises.
A. It’s mixed. Good information gets spread. So does misinformation and just plain bad information.
Generally this is even more true for Bonsai than aquatic plants.
I suggest finding a local club, learn for the locals till you are better than they are:-)
NBAT groups in the Netherlands are very good for this reason, but membership is slowly falling.
The old men and women showing the new people in person how to improve.
This is what the hobby is about and how it gets better, the new generation must become involved and help the next generation.
Amano saw this clearly, many of the newer people Such as Oliver Knott, George Farmer and many others are in these groups.
I saw a 10 year old girl here in the USA do a better aquascape than most any adult in a meeting. She will be really good and is already.
There are many issues with some of the plants in this video, but gives you an idea of where I was going, Erio type 3 (Eriocaulon setaceum) is poor looking here, I’ve done much better with these species the last few years and tried to get things into tip top shape.
Q. We constantly see new products proposed for our hobby: new LED lights, CO2 systems, heaters, refrigerators… But also new tests, and chemicals to treat waters. Is all this new technology making aquarium keeping easier, or it is just a way to avoid to understand how an aquarium works?
A. New lighting is often interesting, LED’s cause a lot of confusion however. They could be much better I think. But there’s not a huge market for the light makers for the planted market. Even ADA takes a long time to get things and new tech to the market.
Test and chemicals are not that useful in my experiences; water change tends to fix those much quicker.
I am for technology, but only if it simplifies.
I do automated water changes for clients and control monitors. So I can check remotely if things are going well.
Like any information: more is not always better.
Q. But which one do you prefer, LED or T5? Specifically built for aquaria, or general use?
Which lighting would you suggest for heavily planted tanks?
Regarding the T5 from hardware stores, what power and color temperature?
A. T5 lighting, a few companies have made or make good LED, but they cost a lot for good ones I like.
Most any color you like works for plants, so you should likely try out various types and see what suits you for T5.
Q. Now a personal question: is this aquarium passion/hobby also an income source, or do you have another job?
A. I went to college and got my PhD in plant biology. But I spend less time doing my business than if I took a research career 40 hours a week for the state.
I got that job and quit when they would not allow me one day off a week to do the business.
I worked and went to college for about 10 years and did the business as well. So I have had a job, a business and full time student life. Now I just have a business for 2-3 days a week, I like the free time!
I taught college biology for awhile in the past and will try hard to do that as a part or semi full time career here this coming year. Those are not easy jobs to get.
So yes, the hobby is my source of income and I do pretty well. But I year for some more intellectual one on one type of work, research and teaching.
Just not 40 hours a week, teaching has summers off and is good for kid’s schedules if you have children. My wife works the same position I once had, so it’s good one of us has a flexible schedule.
I have a few maintenance clients that are well off. I sell a lot of driftwood wholesale that I collect. I am also a freight broker so I can find the cheapest freight rates for driftwood in the USA and Canada. Overseas is far harder and generally the buyer needs to get a container load’s worth(about 20 pallet’s worth), I am not interested in that level. But 2-8 pallets a month is good.
Q. What would you suggest to someone that aims to become «the new Tom Barr»?
A. Learn each method well.
Learn to really focus on aquascaping and the art aspects.
You learn by doing, so do many aquariums as you can possibly can (same is true with Bonsai and most types of farming and horticulture).
George Farmer, Juri J. and Oliver Knott have done well, there are many in the EU you can speak with how they made the jump.
Academically: do what you love. Seek out those doing what you like and ask them directly about your research interest and questions.
Our interview is complete; many many thanks, Tom!
Many thanks also for the movies and the fantastic photos that you let us publish!
Now it is time for the acknowledges; I cannot forget all those who helped for the translations: Dandano, nicolatc, Paky and roby70.
