The Use Of Oak Leaves In Aquarium

[RustedKnight]

So, I have 2x Bolivian Ram and 2x Apistogramma dwarf cichlid on order for this coming friday;

Doing some research, I have found that both species appreciate having an oak leaf or two in the tank. (apparently)

Now, difficulties of finding an oak tree aside, are the beneficial factors of adding dried oak leaves to your tank worth the hassle?
I know it will lightly dye the water in my tank (though I am running carbon filtration atm) and it apparently adds microscopic live food to the tank, which is probably good for my other tankmates.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[KittyKat]

I would say "yes".. I guess you live in the city?

I am not sure, but the carbon filtration might remove some of the benefits of using the leaves.. but this is just a guess. I have not used carbon in a very long time, and never with oak leaves.

 

[RustedKnight]

I would say "yes".. I guess you live in the city?

I am not sure, but the carbon filtration might remove some of the benefits of using the leaves.. but this is just a guess. I have not used carbon in a very long time, and never with oak leaves.

No i'm in Carmarthen, Wales, so close enough to countryside, but Oaks are very few and far between for unknown reasons, and the only ones i've found are next to a road, so I avoided them for pollution reasons.

The carbon is only small, it comes prestuck on my Fluval U2 filtration media, no idea how effective it is.

 

[SlyPolak]

Well, if the carbon is over a week old its not doing anything other than being surface are for bacteria to groe.... I dont see a point of using oak leaves or peat moss to reduce Ph..... ANY fish will adjust to your waters acidity as long as you acclimate them right!!

 

[RustedKnight]

Well, if the carbon is over a week old its not doing anything other than being surface are for bacteria to groe.... I dont see a point of using oak leaves or peat moss to reduce Ph..... ANY fish will adjust to your waters acidity as long as you acclimate them right!!

Reducing Ph isn't really a major factor, but it is nice. I'd be using it to set up a more natural aquarium for them, plus it gives natural hiding spots, and adds the tannins to the water.

 

[SlyPolak]

If you states it that way than I dont see much of an issue,, if I were you I would try to see if the leaves eventually rot producing unwated ammonia and such. (the leaves will not reduce Ph any substantial amount)

 

[KittyKat]

Aye, I generally try to avoid picking things up near roads too. I have seen some very nice biotopes with leaf-littered bottoms used for dwarf cichlids.

 

[the biffster]

when i used to use leaves
i used to simmer them in
water for about 10 mins
drain then and let them dry
before putting them in the tank

 

[RustedKnight]

when i used to use leaves
i used to simmer them in
water for about 10 mins
drain then and let them dry
before putting them in the tank

Simmering them, would that reduce the tannins and I presume kill off the microscopic little critters?

Thanks for the info SlyPolak, I would definately monitor the ammonia levels, but have read that Oak leaves harden and can last in tanks for months at a time. That is, if my cory's don't eat them.

Kitty Kat, yeah so have I, it was where I got the original idea, it looks lovely, but as Biffster suggests, if i'm going to be putting a lot of leaves in, simmering them would help to stop my tank turning dark brown by reducing the tannins.

Though a little tannin colouration would be good for my cichlids, and my goby's.

 

[nurglespuss]

Hi there,

I'm up in Ceredigion (and originally from Caerphilly) and we have plenty of Oak species... best to gather leaves in dry warm weather.

As for your tank, if your running activated carbon, theres no point in having the oak leaves, as it will cancel out the beneficial effect for your 'black' (sort of) water species.

Better to have bogwood and remove the carbon. (Unless you add the carbon because you like crystal clear water).

 

[the biffster]

i know this might be a bit off
topic but i used to boil peat
and filter the extract off
and use it like a black water extract

 

[RustedKnight]

Hi there,

I'm up in Ceredigion (and originally from Caerphilly) and we have plenty of Oak species... best to gather leaves in dry warm weather.

As for your tank, if your running activated carbon, theres no point in having the oak leaves, as it will cancel out the beneficial effect for your 'black' (sort of) water species.

Better to have bogwood and remove the carbon. (Unless you add the carbon because you like crystal clear water).

Thanks for the reply, actually most of my family is from caerphilly/senghenydd.

Dry warm weather, not happening down here at the moment, will wait for a hopefully good day then.

The carbon has been in there a month tbh, it said replace every 2 weeks on the box and I said "screw that".. Crystal clear water isn't really what i'm after, I want whats best for my fish really, without too much destruction to my viewing pleasure.

Got a piece of bogwood in there, but it was already treated and therefore hasn't released and tannin.

-=-=-=-

Black water extract Biff? Do you think I could get the same advantages making Oak tea, as it were..

 

[nurglespuss]

Cool

ok, now the problemw ith activated carbon is, as much as it a great short term clean up agent (more of an adhesion microfilter) once it reaches capacity, its starts to leach its load back into the water. I would personally remove the carbon altogether as it sounds like you have no need for it (coincidentally commerical producers tend to include it with new tank setups to mask early cloudy water etc.).

Anyway, black water extract is good stuff, adding a back of peat, or oak leaves to the filter, is good, and the tannins being released from the lignin structure of your wood will soon become visible with the removal of the carbon (unless its been varnished or similar).

Good luck!

 

[RustedKnight]

Cool

ok, now the problemw ith activated carbon is, as much as it a great short term clean up agent (more of an adhesion microfilter) once it reaches capacity, its starts to leach its load back into the water. I would personally remove the carbon altogether as it sounds like you have no need for it (coincidentally commerical producers tend to include it with new tank setups to mask early cloudy water etc.).

Anyway, black water extract is good stuff, adding a back of peat, or oak leaves to the filter, is good, and the tannins being released from the lignin structure of your wood will soon become visible with the removal of the carbon (unless its been varnished or similar).

Good luck!

This is whats in my filter

http/www.amazon.co.uk/Fluval-Underwater-Poly-Carbon-Cartridge/dp/B001XRR3YA

I'd be losing the poly too, and the filter would be running on foam and biomax;
http/www.amazon.co.uk/Hagen-Fluval-Underwater-Filter-Biomax/dp/B001XRR2IM

Would that be fine? *still new to this filter*

 

[nurglespuss]

Aha!

I had a very similar filter for a while

I carefully cut the top of the filter pad open and shook out/washed out the carbon, and added a thin sponge inside.

I believe you can buy something that would just replace it with a carbonless version from pets at home?

Cool let us know how you get on!