Who is using leaves?

[HarleyK]

I saw this article in Practical Fishkeeping

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co....W&email_hash=de18a7c8ef991d8621e0341922a77116

It reminded me of an oak-leaves-crayfish tank that I used to have.

Anyone using leaves? They're more than just decoration. They're food, affect water chemistry, create habitat, ....

 

[dan518]

I have a small amount in both my tanks, just for the looks and my fish like routing about in them,,, not enough to have any effect on my parmiters as I don't have blackwater fish.

 

[nzafi]

I use peat moss instead to add tannins for my Aimara. I tried using leaves but in 180g tank it get expensive quickly. Peat is a lot more cheaper

 

[HarleyK]

I use peat moss instead to add tannins for my Aimara. I tried using leaves but in 180g tank it get expensive quickly. Peat is a lot more cheaper

The beauty of Fall: free leaves!

 

[duanes]

 

[nzafi]

How long are you leaving the leaves in your tank? I was always paranoid about increasing nitrates. I change the peat every other week.

 

[UnstoppableJayD]

I use almond leaves in my wild discus tank... but i bag them in the sump since they clog everything when they break down.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

I use leaves a lot.I love the natural look they create.You don't see much footage of wild s/a or c/a cichlids without a few dead leaves adding to the backdrop.
I have also noticed that fry seem to like them for both refuge and a food source.

These veija melanura fry really made use of the dead leaves in their tank.


Angel fish liked to swim in between leaves I left attached on branches


I use them in my c/a tanks too,it's not just the Amazon that gets leaf litter.


Leaves I have used have included red oak,Turkey oak,common oak,beech and hawthorn.

 

[viking252200]

Don't know why, but I have never really considered putting leaves in my tank... this might just change now.
Anything to be careful about when adding leaves?

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Some are poisoning. I would stick with leaves commonly used.
I replace my leaves after about 3 weeks,before they have chance to break down.
Boiling leaves first will help remove some of the tannins if not desired.