Fig Tree Leaves

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Discuslove

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I've read about adding leaves to aquariums but the leaves commonly used I can't access. I read somewhere that you can use fruit tree leaves and a fig tree was one that was mentioned. So i just wanted confirmation that fig leaves can be used?? and are you able to pick it while its green and let it dry out then add them??
 
EDIT: Did more research and found fig trees bad as they have white milk. but still curious if there is any different between picking green leaves and then letting them dry and picking them dry off the ground?
 
 
 
EDIT: Did more research and found fig trees bad as they have white milk. but still curious if there is any different between picking green leaves and then letting them dry and picking them dry off the ground?
 That's what I was going to say. I think the rule is, leave things that have milky sap alone for good!
You're in Australia. This company is GREAT! Never heard a bad word and have had great service from them! They stock amazing plants, fish and hard goods!
http://www.aquagreen.com.au/plant_data/Dry_Riparian_Tree_Leaves.html
http://www.aquagreen.com.au/plant_data/Terminalia_catappa.html
PM me if you want a link to another forum where I started a thread about all the different types of leaves usable. There's some great ideas on it. (I don't know if it goes against etiquette/forum rules to not link another forum?)
 
Aquagreen is a good reliable site, I would recommend them and have used them myself.
 
Do you know which type of fig tree that you where looking at using? Morton Bay? Sand Paper  Banyan? Not that it really matters because they all have white sap but they do have different sizes. If you did use fig leaves I would only use really well and truly dead leaves, but they will still be be very acidic.
 
Leaves that are usually readily available and often easy to get or track down include,
Indian Almond (if your in QLD they are grown as street trees up and down the coast, also common in the NT and Northern WA), Tea tree leaves, papar bark leaves and even the paper bark itself, mulberry leaves ( shrimp love these green and fresh but dried/ dead can also be used), Bottlebrush leaves, Casuarina, Silky Oak/ grevillea, any gumtree will also be safe but stick to dead ones and don't use too many  and even Ice Cream Bean leaves I have found safe with shrimp and fish.
 
Depending on why you want the leaves you could also use the cones from casuarinas, dead pine cones and even the dried gum nuts from trees like swamp gums
 
 
 
dead pine cones
 
Personally I'd stick clear of pine cones. Pine is a soft wood, not sure about the cones but I believe it rots down pretty fast and could release some toxic oils/compounds. 
 
Baccus said:
Aquagreen is a good reliable site, I would recommend them and have used them myself.
 
Do you know which type of fig tree that you where looking at using? Morton Bay? Sand Paper  Banyan? Not that it really matters because they all have white sap but they do have different sizes. If you did use fig leaves I would only use really well and truly dead leaves, but they will still be be very acidic.
 
Leaves that are usually readily available and often easy to get or track down include,
Indian Almond (if your in QLD they are grown as street trees up and down the coast, also common in the NT and Northern WA), Tea tree leaves, papar bark leaves and even the paper bark itself, mulberry leaves ( shrimp love these green and fresh but dried/ dead can also be used), Bottlebrush leaves, Casuarina, Silky Oak/ grevillea, any gumtree will also be safe but stick to dead ones and don't use too many  and even Ice Cream Bean leaves I have found safe with shrimp and fish.
 
Depending on why you want the leaves you could also use the cones from casuarinas, dead pine cones and even the dried gum nuts from trees like swamp gums
 
 
woah that is quite a few more available than i thought. I am certainly able to get my hands on mulberry leaves and the bottlebrush and gumtree leaves. How many of the mulberry leaves should i use? and are they ok to go in with discus? I have a 37 gallon at the moment. 
 
 
 
and are they ok to go in with discus?
 
They should be. I mean they don't bother shrimp. At the end of the day, unfortunately it's trial and error. Chances are given that you know shrimp like them, it seems they'd be fine, however there is a risk with putting anything in the tank! Also MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO PESTICIDES/HERBICIDES ON THE LEAVES!!!
 
The number of leaves really depends on what your using them for. If it is to add tannins to the water than quite a few, and they will need to be replaced as they break down. If your using e.g fresh mulberry leaves ( which can be slightly blanched first) as a food for shrimp then depending on the numbers of shrimp and other things like snails and even fish picking at them the leaves might only last a day or two.
 
As stated it really is trail and error depending on what the leaves are being used for.
 
As also stated make sure there is no chance of contamination from herbicides or pesticides on the leaves that you use. I am lucky and am able to collect most of my leaves either from my own back yard or from places that I know are safe.
 
Another food that a lot of people are feeding shrimp is Kale, but shrimp keepers have learnt the hardest way to only use organic Kale, Banana (the fruit) is also a favourite with shrimp and I have even heard of discus liking banana.
 
Baccus said:
The number of leaves really depends on what your using them for. If it is to add tannins to the water than quite a few, and they will need to be replaced as they break down. If your using e.g fresh mulberry leaves ( which can be slightly blanched first) as a food for shrimp then depending on the numbers of shrimp and other things like snails and even fish picking at them the leaves might only last a day or two.
 
As stated it really is trail and error depending on what the leaves are being used for.
 
As also stated make sure there is no chance of contamination from herbicides or pesticides on the leaves that you use. I am lucky and am able to collect most of my leaves either from my own back yard or from places that I know are safe.
 
Another food that a lot of people are feeding shrimp is Kale, but shrimp keepers have learnt the hardest way to only use organic Kale, Banana (the fruit) is also a favourite with shrimp and I have even heard of discus liking banana.
 
 
I am wanting to fill some of the bottom of my aquarium with leaves because the laetacara curviceps i recently bought live in the leafy substrate in the wild. Would I be able to use dead gum tree leaves?
 
Since the leaves will be to form habitat and hiding places and places of interest for your laetacra curviceps, then I would aim for larger leaves like IAL or Leichardt tree leaves. Or use banksia or silky oak leaves, another tree that you might be able to source leaves from is Macaranga which should also be fish safe, although I have not personally used it in tanks or ponds.
 
Baccus said:
Since the leaves will be to form habitat and hiding places and places of interest for your laetacra curviceps, then I would aim for larger leaves like IAL or Leichardt tree leaves. Or use banksia or silky oak leaves, another tree that you might be able to source leaves from is Macaranga which should also be fish safe, although I have not personally used it in tanks or ponds.
 
What about bouaganvilliea? have read somewhere where someone has used it. but what is your opinion?
 
I have put in a dried banana stem with the shreaded leaves on them into the aquarium.
 
Cant say that I have heard of anyone using bougainvillea but its leaves should be safe. Banana leaves and stem should also be good, just watch that the stem doesn't foul the water quickly because it can hold a lot of water. 
Palm frond or parts of palm fronds from palms such as golden cane, Cuban, Royal and Queen should also all be fish/ tank safe. You could also add pandanus but be warned they have evil thorns running the length of the leaf.
 
Baccus said:
Cant say that I have heard of anyone using bougainvillea but its leaves should be safe. Banana leaves and stem should also be good, just watch that the stem doesn't foul the water quickly because it can hold a lot of water. 
Palm frond or parts of palm fronds from palms such as golden cane, Cuban, Royal and Queen should also all be fish/ tank safe. You could also add pandanus but be warned they have evil thorns running the length of the leaf.
 
Have been told on another forum that lilly pilly leaves are safe, (i call them chinese apples) do you think they would be?
 

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