I like the look of having leaves at the bottom of a tank and id like to try them and see how they look in my tank. I have a few questions. What leaves does everyone use? Is there a certain kind I should use? Also are there any that could hurt the fish in the tank? What would be the best way to prepare the leaves for the tank?
Question about leaves
- Thread starter yayfish24
- Start date
Indian tea tree leaves.There are a few folks on aquabid that sell them pretty cheap.Oak leaves are often used as well.let them dry in the sun first,be sure they dont rot.
All the leaves mentioned have the characteristic of releasing large amounts of tannins into the water. This is why most aquarists want leaves- for the tannins, rather than for their decorative properties. Tannins are organic molecules that acidify, soften, and tint water; they are responsible for the characteristics of "blackwater" environments. Any leaves will release tannins, but almond, oak, and tea tree are especially noted for it.
Any leaves will decompose. Don't drop too many in at once or you'll get a smelly, oxygen-consuming mess. Thin, soft leaves such as maple and beech rot more quickly than sturdy leaves such as oak, and thick, waxy leaves such as magnolia and azalea last longer still. I am not sure if the last two leaves are fish safe, so I won't recommend using them.
Avoid fragrant leaves such as walnut, hickory, tree-of-heaven, and most conifers. These usually have toxic volatile organic compounds in them. Cherry should also be avoided.
I hope that helps!
Any leaves will decompose. Don't drop too many in at once or you'll get a smelly, oxygen-consuming mess. Thin, soft leaves such as maple and beech rot more quickly than sturdy leaves such as oak, and thick, waxy leaves such as magnolia and azalea last longer still. I am not sure if the last two leaves are fish safe, so I won't recommend using them.
Avoid fragrant leaves such as walnut, hickory, tree-of-heaven, and most conifers. These usually have toxic volatile organic compounds in them. Cherry should also be avoided.
I hope that helps!