EP134: High End Freshwater Aquarium Installations w/ Mark Chen
Episode description
Today, Eric delves into the world of high-end freshwater aquarium installations with guest Mark Chen—a renowned aquarist from TMK Aquarist. The two explore the intricacies of creating awe-inspiring aquarium setups that go beyond the ordinary. Topics covered include aquascaping, plant selection, fish species, and more.
In this episode, we talk about:
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Mark's passion for freshwater conservation and his approach to "conservation by appreciation" through his aquascaping work.
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Mark's journey of starting TMK Aquarist and how he found his calling in freshwater conservation.
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Using wood in aquariums and ponds, and how to deal with tannins leaching from the wood.
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Mark's journey to becoming an influencer on social media.
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The challenges of content creation and content creation strategies.
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Mark's plan to start an aquarium podcast called "The Aqua Naturalists" focused on aquarium-related topics and natural habitats.
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The enjoyment of observing interactions between different fish species in a tank.
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Observations of behavioral differences in cichlids when kept in larger tanks and in colonies.
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The importance of spending time in nature.
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The challenges of turning a hobby into a business and balancing the business demand with maintaining passion.
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The differences between aquascaping small tanks and designing larger ponds.
Mentioned
TMK Aquarist on Instagram (@tmk_aquarist)
Links to resources:
The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/
You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:
http://helixpondfiltration.com/
And follow his adventures in the pond world at:
