EnhancingThe Mood
- Thread starter Scatocephalus
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Many different leaves and "pine" cones can be used to increase tannins. Be careful though. Like Scat said walnut leaves are designed to kill undergrowth(haven't looked it up, likely cyanide), black cherry leaves have cyanide, actual pine cones store sap in the core(scales are sap free), maple leaves are high in calcium and other minerals(to speed up decomp). Indian almond, beech, and oak are most commonly used as they don't decompose quickly and have few to no negative chemical impact.
Quick question for you Scat. Have you noticed a huge increase in your nitrate levels? I ask because when I make a peat extract, it(the extract) tests extremely high in nitrates, >200 ppm.
Last night I made a peat extract and let is sit over night aeriated with a control(aeriated tap water). The peat I used is a raw Canadian Spragnum peat(no additives). Here is the results from todays tests.
Tap Water vs. Peat Extract
Nitrate: 8-10 ppm - >200 ppm
GH(ppm)'perminant' hardness: 95 ppm - 70 ppm
KH(ppm)'temperary' hardness: 35 ppm - 0 ppm
pH: 7.8 - 4
I don't think the nitrate increase is bad though, as they are plant based rather then animal based. As you can see, actual hardness(GH) is barely effected in this super concentrate(so dark you can't see through it when in a standard drinking glass).
If you wanted to use leaves, peat, etc. in you tank without them being IN your tank, a low-flow trickle style filter works best.
I agree with tannins increasing color, especially reds. I believe this is one of the reason my C. sp. 'Xingu I' females are so bright.
Quick question for you Scat. Have you noticed a huge increase in your nitrate levels? I ask because when I make a peat extract, it(the extract) tests extremely high in nitrates, >200 ppm.
Last night I made a peat extract and let is sit over night aeriated with a control(aeriated tap water). The peat I used is a raw Canadian Spragnum peat(no additives). Here is the results from todays tests.
Tap Water vs. Peat Extract
Nitrate: 8-10 ppm - >200 ppm
GH(ppm)'perminant' hardness: 95 ppm - 70 ppm
KH(ppm)'temperary' hardness: 35 ppm - 0 ppm
pH: 7.8 - 4
I don't think the nitrate increase is bad though, as they are plant based rather then animal based. As you can see, actual hardness(GH) is barely effected in this super concentrate(so dark you can't see through it when in a standard drinking glass).
If you wanted to use leaves, peat, etc. in you tank without them being IN your tank, a low-flow trickle style filter works best.
I agree with tannins increasing color, especially reds. I believe this is one of the reason my C. sp. 'Xingu I' females are so bright.
so I guess I'll go look for some oak trees and pick the non-green leaves. will do a pond test 1st. might still has some residue on them from Katrina/Rita.
think my bro has one either in his yard or next door as one pond that's been setup is rather dark and leaves are on the bottom.
got a pic of the leaves?
think my bro has one either in his yard or next door as one pond that's been setup is rather dark and leaves are on the bottom.
got a pic of the leaves?
Are you able to use any of the oak branches as "driftwood"? As long as it's not green of coarse.
Jamie
Jamie
I go down to the boge and bayou and just grab cypress, oak, and other branches...work just fine. Find ones that are waterlogged though, or you'll have floaters...lol...and if they are crumbly/decaying don't get them cuz they will just decay fast and foul your water...
I haven't seen anything saying oak branches are toxic to fish, but they are to parrots. I would only use oak under two situations: if I could find a dead branch on a standing tree(live tree saps/leachs starches and toxic compounds out of dead branch) or a thoroughly water logged branch(has already leached toxins out).titansfever83;1628350; said:
Once, I found a juniper stump in a vacant lot. Juniper is toxic, so I tied it to a tree with a nylon rope and let it soak in a creek over winter and spring. At this point, I have used this particular stump for almost a decade with no ill effects.
I just got done collecting 2 more garbage bags full of leaves and have started adding them to the tank. It takes a while for them to water log and sink but I'm hopeful that by tonoght I'll be able to get a full tank shot.
Oak leaves are fairly unique. They are "lobed". While there are some variances from specie to specie, for the most part they have the same characteristics. Here's a pic of the type I am using:
To answer Jeremy's question, acorns grow on oak trees. If you have an "acorn tree", then yes, it is the right kind of tree.
I see no reason why you couldn't use the dead, dry branches of an oak tree in your tank. It is the sap that carries the toxins used in chemical warefare against other flora. If the various parts of the tree are dead and dry they should be safe to use in your tank. If in doubt, don't use it!
I have used the following trees and leaves in my tanks over the years with no ill effects:
I'm not too concerened with vacuuming my tank while the leaves are in there.
When the tank is ready I'll take pics and post them in a new thread dedicated to just the tank. I'm also going to try and get the RO unit back up and running today so that not only do I have tanins and a drop in pH but my water will be soft. Already the Hoplarchus and Motoro rays have started breeding activity. The lents and Cichla have really started to color up nice.
Oak leaves are fairly unique. They are "lobed". While there are some variances from specie to specie, for the most part they have the same characteristics. Here's a pic of the type I am using:
To answer Jeremy's question, acorns grow on oak trees. If you have an "acorn tree", then yes, it is the right kind of tree.
I see no reason why you couldn't use the dead, dry branches of an oak tree in your tank. It is the sap that carries the toxins used in chemical warefare against other flora. If the various parts of the tree are dead and dry they should be safe to use in your tank. If in doubt, don't use it!
I have used the following trees and leaves in my tanks over the years with no ill effects:
- Apple wood
- Maple leaves
- Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) wood
- Cedar wood
- Juniper wood
- Oak leaves
I'm not too concerened with vacuuming my tank while the leaves are in there.
- I have the tank on an automatic drip that dilutes nitrates as they build up
- I have a bare bottom tank so even if I were to let the vacuuming go for a few of weeks I probably have less detritus in my tank that someone who has gravel and vacuums theirs frequently.
When the tank is ready I'll take pics and post them in a new thread dedicated to just the tank. I'm also going to try and get the RO unit back up and running today so that not only do I have tanins and a drop in pH but my water will be soft. Already the Hoplarchus and Motoro rays have started breeding activity. The lents and Cichla have really started to color up nice.
Sounds awesome man. I'm about to try it out in my 55gal. I've already got soft water, just the pH and Alkalinity is high. Hopefully if i put enough leaves in there it will drop it.
Do you wash the leaves first? I think I might soak mine in a 5gal bucket first to get them fully waterlogged. The 55gal tank has pretty good circulation, I don't want the leaves constantly moving or getting stuck to the filters. That would suck.
Do you wash the leaves first? I think I might soak mine in a 5gal bucket first to get them fully waterlogged. The 55gal tank has pretty good circulation, I don't want the leaves constantly moving or getting stuck to the filters. That would suck.
