Can I use these oak leaves?

[Meg0000]

Hi, I would like to know if I can use old oak leaves that went under the snow this winter in my tank? I am boiling them right now for about 5 minutes..

 

[FishGuest5123]

Did they rot? I would say probably not.

 

[Byron]

The leaves are fine, but the boiling is not depending upon what you want from them. If just decorative, OK. But boiling will remove much of the benefits of dried leaves, so if you want them for soft water fish, for tannins or bacterial benefits, or to provide infusoria for fry, don't boil them. Rinse them off and lay them out to thoroughly dry. But there is no problem with leaves collected in Spring than leaves collected in Autumn, so far as that goes.

EDIT. Just to clarify what I meant here by collecting leaves in Autumn or Spring...this refers to dead leaves that fall/fell off the tree in the autumn. It is OK to collect them during winter or in Spring. Not the same as leaves that are green and fall off in Spring.

 

[Meg0000]

Did they rot? I would say probably not.

no they seem fine

 

[FishGuest5123]

Listen to Byron. He’s more of the plant man.

 

[Meg0000]

The leaves are fine, but the boiling is not depending upon what you want from them. If just decorative, OK. But boiling will remove much of the benefits of dried leaves, so if you want them for soft water fish, for tannins or bacterial benefits, or to provide infusoria for fry, don't boil them. Rinse them off and lay them out to thoroughly dry. But there is no problem with leaves collected in Spring than leaves collected in Autumn, so far as that goes.

Ok thanks I will go collect more and won't boil them. Do you think a paradise fish would like tannins in water? I would like to do something like this https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...BMAB6BAgIEAQ&usg=AOvVaw0ZfMMhNckr26zcQRXVzEkI

 

[Byron]

That is a very lovely and authentic blackwater tank. You do have to be careful with open top tanks though, as fish do jump especially at night when something can startle them. Cories for example. There are other issues but I won't get into that.

I made a correction to my earlier post just to be clear about leaves collecteed in Spring. Nothing changes if they are dead leaves that fell last autumn, but I want to ensure others don't get the wrong idea that any leaves in Spring are OK.

 

[Meg0000]

That is a very lovely and authentic blackwater tank. You do have to be careful with open top tanks though, as fish do jump especially at night when something can startle them. Cories for example. There are other issues but I won't get into that.

I made a correction to my earlier post just to be clear about leaves collecteed in Spring. Nothing changes if they are dead leaves that fell last autumn, but I want to ensure others don't get the wrong idea that any leaves in Spring are OK.

Yes I know lids are very important..One week after I got my fish, I heard a weird noise where my tank is and I looked and my fish was not in the tank, I was so stressed and then I found him on the floor, he jumped right where the filter opening is so now I need to cover every little open space. Btw the guy had something to cover the tank, he just removed it for the video.. What are the other issues? I am just curious

 

[Byron]

Yes I know lids are very important..One week after I got my fish, I heard a weird noise where my tank is and I looked and my fish was not in the tank, I was so stressed and then I found him on the floor, he jumped right where the filter opening is so now I need to cover every little open space. Btw the guy had something to cover the tank, he just removed it for the video.. What are the other issues? I am just curious

Water evaporation. While it is easy enough to add water when it evaporates, the evaporating water is getting into the structure of the room. Think of a moist bathroom. This can weaken the structure of the house, cause mold (bad for human health), invite critters, etc.

Water temperature is easier to control with a cover which keeps heat from rapidly leaving the water. The tank water temperature and the room air temperature can factor in, but for those of us in temperate climates it is better to have the cover to control the water/air temp better.

Some fish, particularly anabantids, cories, otos, "breathe" air and it should be much the same temperature as the water. The cover ensures this.

Dust enters the tank and settles on the surface. This builds up and reduces the gas exchange which is vital to an aquarium.

It is easy for other objects/substances/pets to get in the tank or on the water.

 

[JuiceBox52]

Water evaporation. While it is easy enough to add water when it evaporates, the evaporating water is getting into the structure of the room. Think of a moist bathroom. This can weaken the structure of the house, cause mold (bad for human health), invite critters, etc.

Water temperature is easier to control with a cover which keeps heat from rapidly leaving the water. The tank water temperature and the room air temperature can factor in, but for those of us in temperate climates it is better to have the cover to control the water/air temp better.

Some fish, particularly anabantids, cories, otos, "breathe" air and it should be much the same temperature as the water. The cover ensures this.

Dust enters the tank and settles on the surface. This builds up and reduces the gas exchange which is vital to an aquarium.

It is easy for other objects/substances/pets to get in the tank or on the water.

I didn't know that about the cories and otos. Interesting

 

[Byron]

I didn't know that about the cories and otos. Interesting

It is common for cories to regularly swim quite rapidly up to the surface, breach as it is termed, and then quickly swim straight down to the substrate. When they "breach" they swallow a gulp of air that passes to the hind gut, and blood vessels there assimilate the oxygen from the air bubble, and when done the cory again breaches. All Corydoradidae do this, and many other catfish like Otocinclus.