Blackwater biotype - looking for leaf litter.

[dirtyblacksocks]

Anyone have links to some articles on how to properly cure leaves for a substrate in black water recreations?

I'm down in Southern California and it's rather difficult to find leaves in general, so if anyone has some suggestions on where to look I'd appreciate it.

I know there are articles floating around out there, I just can't seem to dig them up these days.

Thanks.

 

[Dr Joe]

Untreated driftwood, peatmoss (rinse, place in fine net bag (nylon stocking) & place in water flow) peat can also be boiled and used as an extract, oak leafs (naturally fallen & turned brown, boil & use the liquid as an extract) (inspect leaves cafefully for unwanted bacteria/mold/critters), humic acid (blackwater tonic).

Watch the pH carefully.

Dr Joe

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[brianp]

I would use Organic Black Peat. "Black" designation will provide more useful amounts of humic acid and other derivatives for establishing blackwater conditions. Not sure of the particle size...you may to strain. You can get it online.

 

[duanes]

Not sure if this was your question, but I took maple leaves that had just fallen in autumn, boiled them twiice, and tossed them in. They sank right away, I know this isn't black water , but I just like the look.
Phone cam at the time, didn't do the look justice.

they do break down after a while, especially when the fish start ripping them up.

 

[dirtyblacksocks]

Yeah I use filtered peat, I was looking more along the lines for information on what duanes posted, and which leaves would be best for it.

 

[davo]

I microwave leaves for a short period to kill any nasties.

 

[duanes]

I've heard Cherry tree leaves are poison, but I had a cherry tree hanging over my pond, and the fish (Tilapia niloticus) survived, and ate fallen cherrys.
There are some great pics on cichlidkeeping.com by someone that used leaves in a discus tank, don't remember the thread or author, just that it was back in 2007.
BTW, I don't use pesticides in my yard, so that's why I trusted those certain leaves.

 

[brianp]

Oak leaves are added by Marc Weiss to their Ketapang pellet formulation. So, I would guess that oak leaves would be suitable. I imagine that there is not much more pretreatment that could be performed other than drying the leaves. Ketapang leaves (aka Indian Almond) are available by the bag, online.