Terminalia catappa (almond leaves)

[D-MAC]

Hi Guys
I have never used these before but I believe they have good anti bacterial and fungal properties...Has anyone here used them and is there anything I need to watch out for...I know they drop the ph but is is sudden or over a long period?

 

[bigbird]

i used to have them in the apisto tanks. It is very slow and gradual change hardly noticable. Had no illness etc in these tanks. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[Zebra Pleco]

Use them in all my tanks, just make sure you change them every 2-3 weeks as they do rot and can foul your water.

Very good at keeping an acidic Ph, (around 6.5 in my case down from 7.8 tap). I use 3 leaves per 100 litres and change one leaf every week (So leaf is in there for a max of 3 weeks each)

Only downside, it colours your water, but my tanks are breeders and not display, so it ain't a problem.

 

[Lornek8]

Use them in all my tanks, just make sure you change them every 2-3 weeks as they do rot and can foul your water.

I've had them in tanks for a lot longer than that without problems. It just continues to break down till there's nothing left. All I ever did was replace it with a new leaf when there wasn't much left of the first.

 

[macvsog23]

I've had them in tanks for a lot longer than that without problems. It just continues to break down till there's nothing left. All I ever did was replace it with a new leaf when there wasn't much left of the first.

I totally agree. I find the fish start to eat the remains and they form a leaf litter on the floor of the tank.

I add two or three every two or three weeks, I also use catappa bark and banana Leaves.
When I was in SEA you would see these leaves every were.:wb::wb::wb:

 

[matubula]

Would dried Oak leaves have the same effect?

 

[macvsog23]

They may drop the PH to fast?

 

[bigbird]

Oak leaves as far as I know do not have a medicinal benefit. They are only good for reducing the PH and for the micro organisims which fry feed on. You have to make sure you use tried ones only. What I used to do is collect them when on the ground, keep them in a bucket for 3 months, then when I use them soak them in water with conditioner and the next day place them in the tanks. My apistos used to love it and the water PH drop was only minimal as well. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[D-MAC]

Thanks for the feedback...I have put them in some of my tanks to see how they work out...I could do with the Ph being lower as the water coming from the tap is 8.3 after the waterboard has added loads of lime

 

[bigbird]

in my two footer I used to put 8-10 leaves in. good luck and let us know ifthe PH is lower after a while. Wow lime in tap water, thats Hard what a pun :lol: cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[D-MAC]

in my two footer I used to put 8-10 leaves in. good luck and let us know ifthe PH is lower after a while. Wow lime in tap water, thats Hard what a pun :lol: cheers jk :thumbup:

Will do...The annoying thing is we have great water up here, soft and acidic, but not much good on the copper pipes, hence the lime...Ph was always around the 7 mark until about 2 years ago it shot up to 8.3...It settles down to 7.6 after adding Prime and a overnight aeration.

 

[FF MkII]

Use them and alder cones all the time in my apisto tanks......oak leaves are very good too