Curing leaves for tank use. How to?

[knifegill]

I've had them under a heat lamp at point blank in a 10 gallon tank for a few days, so all the spiders, etc. ought to be dead by now. But the last batch I soaked got slimy (looked bacterial) after a few days. I had a filter on them and everything. They're last year's maple leaves gathered in my nearby city park. There wasn't anything on them, but I kind of expected something to start growing in there.

So is it normal, or should I be doing something different?

Yes, this is for breeding. Other forums aren't as likely to be familiar with the use of blackwater for a spawning trigger or have experience with leaf handling in tanks.

 

[Fishermoe14]

just buy the leaves from a lfs...

 

[TheCanuck]

I've had them under a heat lamp at point blank in a 10 gallon tank for a few days, so all the spiders, etc. ought to be dead by now. But the last batch I soaked got slimy (looked bacterial) after a few days. I had a filter on them and everything. They're last year's maple leaves gathered in my nearby city park. There wasn't anything on them, but I kind of expected something to start growing in there.

So is it normal, or should I be doing something different?

Yes, this is for breeding. Other forums aren't as likely to be familiar with the use of blackwater for a spawning trigger or have experience with leaf handling in tanks.

I would buy fake ones from michaels or a craft store.... plus they look nicer..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cskuN5V0rXE

 

[knifegill]

just buy the leaves from a lfs...

Pet stores don't sell leaves.

I would buy fake ones from michaels or a craft store.... plus they look nicer..

Somehow, I doubt the concentration of tannins released by fake leaves would be satisfactory for spawning catfish.


Looks like I'll just give them a quick boil and put them in. Thanks anyway.

 

[Outlander]

Pet stores don't sell leaves.

They should do!? I buy big almond leaves from my lfs which give off a nice 'tea' brown colour. Great for softening water and the tannins are good for the fish.

If you want to collect your own leaves, I've heard oak leaves are good. Pick dry, fallen leaves and bake them in the oven to cure them.

 

[knifegill]

You live in Japan. I want almond leaves very badly but they do not exist on my continent. Unless I want to pay $25.00 USD for half a pound. Yeah, right. They're leaves. People are throwing them away. I'm not paying premium price (that's fish money!) for trash.

Baking sounds reasonable. Thank you! It is good to hear from someone with leaf experience.

 

[devder1]

You live in Japan. I want almond leaves very badly but they do not exist on my continent. Unless I want to pay $25.00 USD for half a pound. Yeah, right. They're leaves. People are throwing them away. I'm not paying premium price (that's fish money!) for trash.

Baking sounds reasonable. Thank you! It is good to hear from someone with leaf experience.

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?breeding&1274916003 this does all the work for you, all you have to do is paypal $20 and they are pressed and cleaned at your door.

 

[knifegill]

$20 for a stack of leaves? BS. But now I know I can iron them at whatever 60 celsius actually is in Fahrenheit.

 

[devder1]

$20 for a stack of leaves? BS. But now I know I can iron them at whatever 60 celsius actually is in Fahrenheit.

thats cool i ordered them tho...

 

[knifegill]

I can understand that. Arizona doesn't have many trees, right?

Well, I can't iron them. They're all curled and brittle! So baking it is. I'm thinking about five to eight minutes at around 200ºF should be good, right?

Oh, 60ºC is 140ºF.