The Aquarium Everything Podcast

Heiko Bleher is the most prolific tropical fish collector of all time. He has discovered and described literally thousands of species over his 60+ year career, many of which are some of the most commonly kept and globally beloved in all the aquarium hobby. HIs mother and grandfather paved the way for his profound passion for freshwater natural biotopes with his first Amazonian expedition when he was just 4 years old. Now 78, he continues his relentless schedule racking up over a dozen separate expeditions in 2022, and discovering another 14 brand new species. He is an encyclopedia of tropical fish knowledge, a master of some of the most highly prized aquarium fish such as Altum angels (which he fist discovered) and discus, and aquarium hobby historian, world traveller, renaissance man, and all around intensely interesting character. Opinionated and outspoken on topics he has earned the right to be, Heiko Bleher has created his share of controversy over the years. But his obsession with exploration and discovery, tropical fish, and sharing his experiences with the world makes him true living legend of the aquarium hobby and industry. He has left an indelible mark on the entirety of freshwater aquarium keeping, and if you ask him, he is far from done.

In our conversation Heiko tells his story from his first experience in the Amazon with his mother at age 4, goes deep into multiple facets of the history of tropical fish collection, shares some momentous discovery memories of species like the rummy nose tetra and Amazon sword, recounts several pivotal moments in aquarium history, and much more.

Dennis Wong is the Singapore based founder of The 2Hour Aquarist brand of planted aquarium fertilizers and supplements. His website 2houraquarist.com is more than just a product catalog, but also a highly respected bastion of aquatic plant and water chemistry information. In this episode we discuss his origins in the aquarium hobby and industry, practical applications of The 2Hour Aquarist products, address some specific case study issues and solutions to common aquascaping problems, among other topics.

My guest for Episode 10 is George Farmer. George has been an active contributor to the world of aquascaping and the broader aquarium hobby for nearly 20 years and has authored multiple books on the subject that are now staples in thousands of hobbyists libraries. His well known YouTube channel has been a source of inspiration, information, and entertainment for countless people seeking a point of entry and an ongoing aquascaping community leader. He was pioneer of interfacing with aquarium industry brands as an influencer and creator and brought a much needed level credibility and integrity the the hobby, and continues to write columns for multiple aquarium publications.

George found his way into the deeper realms of aquarium keeping through profound personal struggle. As a soldier in the U.K. he experienced trauma that would haunt him for years, and aquascaping and eventually aquarium content creation provided a new path in life that proved profound in helping him to heal and find greater purpose. With the bold decision to delete his Instagram account and focus on his YouTube channel and other creative projects, George has reinvented himself yet again with a new focus on the aquarium as a meditation and healing tool and the wider possibilities of aquariums as portals to mindfulness and human well-being.

In our conversation we catch up with George's plans for 2023, discuss his reasons for and newfound benefits of deleting his Instagram account, touch on the healing and therapeutic dimensions of aquariums, and much more.

This time I deep dive into the Congo with Thomas Minesi, known on Instagram as Congo Nature Photography. Thomas lives in the city of Kinshasa in the Republic of Congo and has become well known for his personal explorations into the Congo River and his documenting the natural habitats of Anubias. Every freshwater aquarist will know this most hardy and versatile plant and Thomas brings the eye of the hobbyist to his exposure of Anubias and other West African biotopes to aquascapers, aquarium and nature lovers alike. Insights and first hand observations from someone living deep in the heart of one of the great tropical zones can make all of us better aquarists, and Thomas is doing his part to show us the depth and wonder of perhaps the most important plant in the aquarium hobby.

In this episode we discuss Thomas' history in the Congo, explore many facets of Anubias in the wild and how it relates to its application in the aquarium, other West African species he's finding, and much more.

You can find Thomas here: IG: congo.nature.photography

YouTube: @thomasminesi7366

My guest this time is with aquascape lover and YouTuber Ryo Watanabe. Ryo has gained notoriety for his Japanese aquarium store tours, though his channel @RyoWatanabee features a lot of entertaining and useful videos about his own aquariums and his evolving fish room. Being based in Japan– the birthplace of Takashi Amano's Nature Aquarium style of aquascaping– Ryo has access to the hundreds of aquacaping-centric retail aquarium shops throughout the country. Showcasing these stores to a worldwide audience gives hobbyists and fellow aquarium shop owners alike a glimpse into the setups, systems, and practices of the huge Japanese aquascaping market. And Ryo's unassuming and endearing style makes his videos truly fun to watch.

In our conversation we discuss his humble beginnings in the aquarium hobby, ADA (Aqua Design Amano) in multiple contexts, Hakkai Stone, the current scene around the hobby in Japan, and of course plenty about Japanese aquascaping shops.

You Tube: Ryo Watanabe @RyoWatanabee

Instagram: @ryowatanabee