Ketapang leaves

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H

henward

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 25, 2008
1,260
1
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Auckland, New Zealand
Terminalia catappa

i want to know who has used this leaf, i am in NZ and this is relatively new here, never used it before.

but i know its good as a browning substance and natural remedy and prevention for disease, helps enhance colour
how does one prepare this for use?

i kow this helps enhance colour in a tank?

all info would be great from personal experience
 
It does enhance the color of most fish although you can still do better without it. Aim for one leaf per 10g as it does release a heavy amount of tannins. Be sure you are using completely dead leaves and replace them every 2-3 weeks before they disintegrate completely.
 
To make this more understandable, the tannins help in several fish by hardening their epidermis a bit more than without the tannins thus strengthening their resistance from skin diseases and minimizing stress exacerbated by the presence of parasites trying to weaken the fish. The tannins also darken their environment. You might have notice fish tend to look more secured and better colored in dark environment than heavily litted areas.
 
Hi there
these leaves here are very uncommon
so we dotn know much bout them

the ones for sale, are all "grade a+ flat" or somethi9ng, assumeonly cos theyare flat

but some are all uniform in colour, a brown dead leaf colour.

but another batch is different colouration.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=233904002&permanent=0

does this matter and will this brown the water the same?

also, you mentioned 1 leaf per 10gal of water.

will it brownt he water if you put say 1 leaf per 20 gal or more?
or will it be useless then?

many questions:D

when you say enhance colour
does it do it cos wateris darker and colour comes out more or does it actualy physically change and help colour to come out more?
 
PS one more thing

i have a 1.5 red and a RTG
will thsi help with both aros?
or is it suited only for red aros
is it worth it for my 1.5 red and do you think it might enhance the colour?
 
I used ketapang leaves to heal chipped scales on my XB. They do work but they will stain the water. I used about 15 leaves on my 230 gallon. I crushed them into a media bag and placed them in the sump.

I would leave them for a maximum of 10 days and then change them out. After that they become a burden to the system and are pretty much spent anyway.

I don't see the point in using it as a color enhancer. If i thought it would work I'd use it on my SR. Its a great heeling remedy ,for any scale issues, but continuous use is a waste of time IMO.
 
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