Almond leaves

[Myrkk]

Has anyone bought almond leaves off amazon? I wouldn't normally but I want quite a lot for my tank and it's around a tenner for 50 leaves compared to a fiver for 7 or 8 leaves from the local fish store. Just wondering if they're ok quality.

 

[AmyKieran]

Has anyone bought almond leaves off amazon? I wouldn't normally but I want quite a lot for my tank and it's around a tenner for 50 leaves compared to a fiver for 7 or 8 leaves from the local fish store. Just wondering if they're ok quality.

Slightly off topic but what are you buying almond leaves for?

 

[Myrkk]

I'm creating an amazonian type biotope. I really like the look of leaf litter in a tank so I have put a few in but my fish are getting through them super quickly. The wood in there is staining the water nicely and the leaves help that too.

 

[BrianK]

I bought these and they are very nice leaves

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B098WW6L1M/?tag=ff0d01-20

 

[AmyKieran]

I'm creating an amazonian type biotope. I really like the look of leaf litter in a tank so I have put a few in but my fish are getting through them super quickly. The wood in there is staining the water nicely and the leaves help that too.

Ahh cool, I can’t comment about them on Amazon but just remember they lower ph

 

[Jitsz]

I actually get mine from Pro Shrimp, their prices are usually pretty good and never had any issues with their stuff

 

[Beastije]

Or buy some and then wait till autumn, collect oak and beech leaves, dry them and store in an airtight container, voila, limitless supply. I have two three litre bottles filled to brim and it cost me one nice hike in the woods w dogs and pockets full of leaves.
Beech didn't make me as happy as oak though...

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Has anyone bought almond leaves off amazon? I wouldn't normally but I want quite a lot for my tank and it's around a tenner for 50 leaves compared to a fiver for 7 or 8 leaves from the local fish store. Just wondering if they're ok quality.

I've bought the 50 leaves for a tenner from Amazon a couple of times now, no problems! Look them over before adding to check for dirt or bugs, but I've never found any and haven't had any issues using them in my tanks. You've just reminded me that I need to add some more now though, thanks!

 

[mbsqw1d]

The blog on this site has some good reads

The Tint

tanninaquatics.com

btw you can also use redbush tea to stain your water

 

[Myrkk]

Or buy some and then wait till autumn, collect oak and beech leaves, dry them and store in an airtight container, voila, limitless supply. I have two three litre bottles filled to brim and it cost me one nice hike in the woods w dogs and pockets full of leaves.
Beech didn't make me as happy as oak though...

Do you have to do anything specific to them to make them safe to put in the tank? Also, would that go for pine cones too? I have tonnes of them I've picked up on dog walks.

 

[Myrkk]

The blog on this site has some good reads

The Tint

tanninaquatics.com

btw you can also use redbush tea to stain your water

Ooo, how do you do that? A wee tea bag of it in the filter?
Thanks for the link, will have a neb.

 

[mbsqw1d]

Ooo, how do you do that? A wee tea bag of it in the filter?
Thanks for the link, will have a neb.

Just mek a brew and pour it in! (once cooled..)

 

[Colin_T]

Also, would that go for pine cones too? I have tonnes of them I've picked up on dog walks.

No pine cones, no pine needles and no pine wood should go into an aquarium. They have resins in them that are poisonous to fish.

Most deciduous trees are fine. Collect dry leaves that have fallen to the ground and are free of chemicals and animal/ bird waste.

Avoid anything that has a white sap.

 

[Beastije]

Most deciduous trees are fine. Collect dry leaves that have fallen to the ground and are free of chemicals and animal/ bird waste.

Exactly. All I did was collect super dry leaves ( they have to break when bent), they should not have any dark spots or obvious fungus. Layer loosely, wait for them to completely dry in a warm environment, and store in a airtight container.
Before adding to the tank, there are few options. Boil to make them very brittle very quickly, put them in airtight water container, for few weeks, which will make them super slimy with anaerobic bacteria, some people wash that slime off, people who have snails dont because they love to eat it. Or put them directly to the water and wait for them to sink on their own (which will take some week or so). If you wanted to grow some bacteria cultures on it, you would have to aerate the water that you put them in (or in theory you will achieve that when you put them in the tank)
IMHO I dont think there is anything harmful that can come from a super dried leaf, since it shouldnt contains sap and nothing, but yeah, collect when no pollution or highway is around.

The only cones suitable are alder, but there are rules on when to pick them and how, so those I would buy. Also never met an alder cone in nature that I would recognize, so there is that.

Dont add too much at once, I know the layered substrates look cool and all, but it changes water chemistry and stains the water and is best to go small steps

 

[Mikeyboy123]

Just mek a brew and pour it in! (once cooled..)

I use rooibos in my 18 litre nano. One tea bag lasts for at least 2 water changes. The first one I just let the bag float in the tank for a while. Second time round I microwave it in a small mug of tank water and pour it in once cooled. Think I overdid it last time though, will post pic later.