Leaf Litter?

[guano]

Anyone has any experience with leaf litter in there setup? Pros and cons? I like the look and I'm thinking about doing it but not sure what kind of dried leaves to use. I've seen oak leaves and indian almond leaves on ebay for aquarium use but is there any others that can be also be used?

 

[cjdesmit]

I haven't done it personally either, but you are correct in saying almond and oak tree leaves are the most commonly used. There isn't really any reason to purchase them online. I would simply collect some fallen oak leaves from an area where you know no fertilizers or pesticides have been used. Soak them in a bucket for a few days until they sink and then toss them in your aquarium...

 

[Drstrangelove]

I haven't done it personally either, but you are correct in saying almond and oak tree leaves are the most commonly used. There isn't really any reason to purchase them online. I would simply collect some fallen oak leaves from an area where you know no fertilizers or pesticides have been used. Soak them in a bucket for a few days until they sink and then toss them in your aquarium...

This is a great idea. I'd probably boil them (30 seconds) to sterilize them as well, unless that degrades them for the tank. Is that a bad idea for this?

 

[cjdesmit]

Boiling them for any extended amount of time would definitely make them break down quicker, however a quick 30 second dip probably wouldn't do much. In all honestly, I feel people tend to be way to paranoid about "sterilizing". I collect all my own driftwood, twigs, rocks, ect. and do nothing more than power wash everything before using it in my aquariums -- I've never had a problem. Now, this goes without saying... Don't simply go collect things from a filthy road side ditch; be sure it's a relatively "untouched" area...

 

[guano]

This is a great idea. I'd probably boil them (30 seconds) to sterilize them as well, unless that degrades them for the tank. Is that a bad idea for this?

I don't think it's a bad idea. I was thinking about doing that any, not to sterilize but to get rid of some the tannins. I like the blackwater effect but I just don't want it to be too dark. Already got some huge driftwood still leeching in the tank.

 

[guano]

I haven't done it personally either, but you are correct in saying almond and oak tree leaves are the most commonly used. There isn't really any reason to purchase them online. I would simply collect some fallen oak leaves from an area where you know no fertilizers or pesticides have been used. Soak them in a bucket for a few days until they sink and then toss them in your aquarium...

I would if I could but can't tell the difference between trees. So ebay might be my best bet.

 

[F1 VET]

I use Indian almond leaves for color, once you see pics of the tree you can find them, their somewhat rare but their out there, I'm a landscape foreman and about 1 out of every 15 of my properties has one, very distinct trees!

http://www.indianalmondleaves.com/aquariums.php


_________________________________________________________________________
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?504763-Cheap-plants-less-nitrate!-POTHOS

*Go S. Vettel #1 rb8--2 MORE RACES LEFT! SEE YOU IN TEXAS BOYS! LET'S MAKE IT 3 BACK TO BACK WDC!* :beer:

 

[altumz]

i have used leaf as my substrate. i used indian almond/guave leaves and some kind of leaves in my bro's backyard i found. i dont boil them because they start breaking down fast. i normally give them a salty bath before putting them in my tank. pro's is that it looks nice and natural. cons is that when it starts breaking down it can get sloppy. and depending what fish you have and feeding. the food goes down and the fish cant find them and the food is left over. and if u have snails. they will go outta control. would not recommend it if you have a tank with fast flowing water. it will blow everything up making a mess. or the flow will keep all the leaves in one pile. so its best with moderate to low flow. its great for community fish that dont mess with substrates. fish are happier. and cories will breed and frys will survive. but if u have a big enough tank all those wouldnt be a problem.

 

[guano]

I use Indian almond leaves for color, once you see pics of the tree you can find them, their somewhat rare but their out there, I'm a landscape foreman and about 1 out of every 15 of my properties has one, very distinct trees!

http://www.indianalmondleaves.com/aquariums.php


_________________________________________________________________________
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?504763-Cheap-plants-less-nitrate!-POTHOS

*Go S. Vettel #1 rb8--2 MORE RACES LEFT! SEE YOU IN TEXAS BOYS! LET'S MAKE IT 3 BACK TO BACK WDC!* :beer:

I definitely have not seen that tree around here but ill still keep an eye out for them. Thanks for the link F1, great info.

 

[guano]

i have used leaf as my substrate. i used indian almond/guave leaves and some kind of leaves in my bro's backyard i found. i dont boil them because they start breaking down fast. i normally give them a salty bath before putting them in my tank. pro's is that it looks nice and natural. cons is that when it starts breaking down it can get sloppy. and depending what fish you have and feeding. the food goes down and the fish cant find them and the food is left over. and if u have snails. they will go outta control. would not recommend it if you have a tank with fast flowing water. it will blow everything up making a mess. or the flow will keep all the leaves in one pile. so its best with moderate to low flow. its great for community fish that dont mess with substrates. fish are happier. and cories will breed and frys will survive. but if u have a big enough tank all those wouldnt be a problem.

Thanks for sharing your experience with them. I didn't think about the flow in my tank I got a 125 with lots of flow hopefully when I get some it won't be all over the tank.