Is it harmful to use fresher branches int he aquarium? I see some tanks that have branches in them (not driftwood), and obviously it happens in nature, but what are the ramifications if you us fresh (or older) branches in the aquarium?
Branches in the aquarium
- Thread starter Quo Vadis
- Start date
Fisrt made sure no bark was left on them, and put them in a bucket of boiling water to kill any thing I could ot see with naked eye
I use branches all the time, and with leaves attached. Maple, magnolia, all from trees in my back yard, and because I never use chemical pesticides, that isn't a worry.
I never use branches from "city" planted trees, just in case they treat for disease or pests
The leaves eventually fall off, and pile up on the bottom, can add tannins to the water, and depending on your point of view, be messy.
I also do large daily water changes *especially in summer).
I do sometimes soak the leaves to remove tannins, the ones in the bucket below, are magnolia.
I never use branches from "city" planted trees, just in case they treat for disease or pests
The leaves eventually fall off, and pile up on the bottom, can add tannins to the water, and depending on your point of view, be messy.
I also do large daily water changes *especially in summer).
I do sometimes soak the leaves to remove tannins, the ones in the bucket below, are magnolia.
That's what I figured. My family has a cottage up north so I always collect drift wood from the wild side of the lake, but in my Sunfish and CA cichlid tank I wanted to try to use a lot of thinner branches, rather than bigger pieces of driftwood. I really like the look of leaves in tanks, but you are right, it is higher maintenance. I have used the dry leaves I collected from my yard in the fall, but have never tried it with fresher branches and leaves.