Lower pH?

[duanes]

When I lived in the midwest I collect barrels of fallen leaves in the fall, and soaked them.

Even if the leaves don't reduce pH (because of tap waters alkalinity) the tannins may be beneficial for your type fish,
I also added leaf litter to tanks.
The leaves below are magnolia.

Key holes are often found in nature in habitats strewn with leaf litter.

 

[MetalRavioli]

When I lived in the midwest I collect barrels of fallen leaves in the fall, and soaked them.
View attachment 1498270
Even if the leaves don't reduce pH (because of tap waters alkalinity) the tannins may be beneficial for your type fish,
I also added leaf litter to tanks.
The leaves below are magnolia.
View attachment 1498271
Key holes are often found in nature in habitats strewn with leaf litter.

They even look very nice! That's awesome! Would I boil them in hot water? or just soak them in room temperature for a day or two? Also; any leaves/aspects I should avoid? I don't want to put in any leaves that will harm the fishes. I'm in Norfolk County MA, to give you an idea of the leaves we have here. Even with the litter, I'll probably add almond leaves to ensure the pH is lowered.

 

[duanes]

Almond leaves didn't lower my pH in any way at all, but that may have been dependent on my tanks water volume .
I didn't boil mine at all, but I also never used any insecticides, fungicides herbicides in my yard.
All leaves break down after a while, whether boiling them speeds the process is anybodies guess.

 

[FJB]

There are a number of recent threads on this topic already in this site.
The effect on pH will be minimal (read, small to undetectable), particularly if the tap water is relatively hard, stronger if soft. However, the tannins and other components of the leaves are probably beneficial in other manners as well, but these effects are hard to demonstrate.
I currently I use Magnolia grandiflora leaves, but have used sphagnum moss and oak leaves in the past, with similar (small but positive) results. Bushynose plecos love to rasp on the leaves, and cories and others to play among them.
Example of leaves entering (left) and leaving the tank (right) after about a week.

 

[anitstuk123]

I've heard those work! Are there any specific brands I should go for, can I get them online? Or do they sell them in stores?

Really depends where you live mate! My LFS sells them in buckets XD