Blackwater botanics

elephantnose3334

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Perth, Australia
If the aquarium stores in Perth doesn't sell Cattapa leaves or monkey pods, I might need to make my own botanics for my new project if I get a big enough fish tank. What leaves should I use for blackwater and do I need gumnuts as seed pods?
 
Thought I read somewhere, that oak leaves are good???
 
You can use leaves from any sort of deciduous tree, however most if not all of them should have dropped their leaves months ago so there won't be many laying around.

Peat moss or coconut fibre can be soaked in water to release tannins. Pure peat moss is generally less likely to have chemicals compared to coconut fibre.

Driftwood can release tannins that stain the water.

Most Australian native plants can be used but collect dry leaves that have fallen on the ground. Make sure they haven't been sprayed with anything.

Sera and Tetra both make a blackwater extract that you can add to aquariums to simulate the blackwater look.
 
Catappa leaves and alder cones are available on amazon.au.

Is rooibos tea available in your supermarkets?
 

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