Magnolia leaves?

[Kittiee Katt]

Hi all! I've read a few times that magnolia leaves are safe to put in my tank so I asked my mums friend if I could have some of the leaves when they dropped off her tree.

Well she brought me around a couple, they were the best ones she could find but some of them look a little... I don't know, dingey I guess?

Pic below, can someone please tell me if these are safe? Thank you.



Stanzzzz7 (sorry to be a pain..)

 

[BIG-G]

Yes you can use them. Just wash or rinse. They will produce tannins but I’m assuming that’s what you’re going for.
I use mulberry, oak and maple in several of my tanks.
https://tanninaquatics.com/products/magnolia-leaves

 

[Kittiee Katt]

Yes you can use them. Just wash or rinse. They will produce tannins but I’m assuming that’s what you’re going for.
I use mulberry, oak and maple in several of my tanks.

The plan was to boil them to remove some of the tannins, I don't mind slightly stained water but I do like to see my fish.

I mainly want them so my pleco (L397) has some more hiding spots away from my GT. I originally had plants in the tank but the GT destroyed them all so the pleco only has the wood to hide in now.

 

[phreeflow]

I use magnolia leaves and haven’t had any issues

 

[Kittiee Katt]

Thanks guys, another question... How long do I boil them for? I'm hoping to take them to my ex's tonight and put in the tank. Is half hour long enough? Longer?

I've not done anything like this before (besides boiling driftwood) so its all new to me...

 

[tlindsey]

Thanks guys, another question... How long do I boil them for? I'm hoping to take them to my ex's tonight and put in the tank. Is half hour long enough? Longer?

I've not done anything like this before (besides boiling driftwood) so its all new to me...

Yes half hour will be good.

 

[PYRU]

your good as long as they're fully dried out and that's more than enough time.

I use these in vivariums all the time. Ceramic bowl with water in the bottom then nuke them for 30sec.

 

[duanes]

Make sure your friends mum had not sprayed the tree with some kind of insect or final treatment.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Agree with Every one else, they will be fine. You could just poor boiling water from a kettle over them and they will be ok to use.
Boiling will remove some tannins but the longer you boil them the quicker they break down in the tank.
Personally I just scold them.

 

[duanes]

Spell check gets me again, "final", should read fungal,
and I'll bet Stanzzzz7 doesn't actually scold the leaves, but probably scalds them.