Using Leaf Litter For Infusoria

[Akasha72]

Hi everyone,
 
I'm about to head out to get some oak leaves to add to a nursery tank to provide some infusoria for fry. Quick question regarding it that I don't know the answer to. Is there a fast way to get the leaves to start providing the infusoria - such as lightly boiling them first perhaps ...
 
I need to get a move on before I lose my last remaining cory baby

 

[Akasha72]

I have some oak leaves and some beech (95% certain they are beech, just doing some internet research to double check) 
 
As I know the oak is safe (I've used it before) I'm about to give a leaf a good wash and add it to the nursery tank. What will be will be

 

[Byron]

I use oak leaves for fry food, but I have no idea how long it takes before the leaf begins to decompose and produce infusoria.  I know I see my various fry grazing the leaves within a day, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.  I certainly would not boil them, as this is likely to kill what may be there.  A rinse in cool water won't hurt.
 
Byron.

 

[Akasha72]

thank you Byron. I did exactly as you suggest. I rinsed a couple of leaves really well under a running tap to remove any bird dropping or mud and dropped them into the tank. The lil baby was still alive an hour ago when I saw it break cover. Hopefully it will survive and the leaves will help feed it until large enough to manage finely ground fish food

 

[ShinySideUp]

I dropped a handful of beech leaves in my tank for the Khuli loaches today and then had to remove them all as they floated all over the place. I don't think they had been off the tree long enough

 

[Byron]

I dropped a handful of beech leaves in my tank for the Khuli loaches today and then had to remove them all as they floated all over the place. I don't think they had been off the tree long enough

 
This is normal.  Dried leaves will float until they become waterlogged (I find this usually takes 3-5 days), then they sink and will remain on the substrate until they decompose completely.  I use oak leaves in three tanks and my trick is to place maybe 3-5 leaves together in one top corner, wedged behind a filter tube or something, and then by the next week's water change they will be waterlogged and I can place them on the substrate.  Sometimes they break free and sink on their own of course.  Or you can just let them float freely and they will again sink in a few days.

 

[Akasha72]

I picked some brown leaves that were literally just about to fall from the branch and I believe these to be beech but - 1. I'm not certain they are beech and 2. I'm not sure whether they're safe to use when removed this way. From the research I read today it said to only collect leaves that had fallen to the floor - which is what I did with the oak leaves as there were loads of them and I picked up the one's that were on the surface of a layer believing them to be cleaner and therefore safer.
 
I'm still new to this. I did have some oak leaves that I'd collected when I had my Rekord 800 running with the angels in and I ended up with planaria. I want to try and avoid that if I can. I thought the little fry tank had the beginning of planaria the other day but I removed the few I could see with a pipette and that was it done. No more to see!
 
If anyone can share more info about what leaves are safe to use other than just the oak and beech that I'm aware of then that'd be great. I know you can use alder cones too but I've not come across alder around here yet. I know there's the almond leaves too that you can buy at the lfs

 

[Byron]

I picked some brown leaves that were literally just about to fall from the branch and I believe these to be beech but - 1. I'm not certain they are beech and 2. I'm not sure whether they're safe to use when removed this way. From the research I read today it said to only collect leaves that had fallen to the floor - which is what I did with the oak leaves as there were loads of them and I picked up the one's that were on the surface of a layer believing them to be cleaner and therefore safer.
 

 
The reasoning behind this is that leaves still on the tree might still hold some liquid (sap, or whatever one calls it) that can leech into the water.  To be safe, I only use leaves I pick up off the ground.  However, this does not mean that brown leaves about to fall are not just as safe.
 
On your other question about other species of trees, here is an article that mentions a few native to Scotland, so might be available in your area of Britain too.
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/all-the-leaves-are-brown/

 

[Far_King]

Excellent topic
 
I've been considering the use of leaf litter as well.  I live in a very hard water area and this was one of the routes I was looking at going down to help lower the pH of my water.  Particularly in the Crystal Red Shrimp environment I'm starting.
 
I also know CRS like leaves as a food source.  Since I have oak leaves in the garden I figure it would be rude not to give them a go.  I'll collect a few and dry them before use.

 

[Akasha72]

Hi Far_King, thank you  
 
I still have much learning to do about this. Regarding oak leaves, what I do know is that old English oak is fine but black oak is toxic. I've been back to the same tree I've used before because I know it's old English oak. You can tell if it's black oak by the leaves as they are a different shape.
 
Thank you for the link Byron, I shall have a read today and see if I gain a little more learning! Next time I go into the bargain book shop in the town centre I'll try and remember to get a pocket guide to trees
 
I did read a good article online yesterday from a guy who's works as a tree specialist but is also an aquarist and he uses what he finds at work in his tanks. I'll see if I can find the article again and post the link for other interested members
 
The leaves have now sunk so I'm about to check on my baby for this morning and see if I can re-arrange these two leaves so the baby can get to them easier. I'm so desperate for it to survive now!

here's that article I read. My computer remembered it!
 
http/www.tfhmagazine.com/details/articles/leaves-for-aquaria-full-article.htm

 

[Far_King]

Thanks for the tip on different oak.  I'm not sure which it is so I will look into it before going further.

 

[Akasha72]

google should be your friend. The black oak leaf has pointed leaf tips from what I can remember. English oak leaves have rounded leaf tips

 

[Far_King]

Ta
 
I've got a feeling from your description that it's English Oak but I shall do some Googling just to make sure.

 

[ShinySideUp]

I dropped a handful of beech leaves in my tank for the Khuli loaches today and then had to remove them all as they floated all over the place. I don't think they had been off the tree long enough

 
Further to my above post I have bad news. Less than 24 hours after putting the leaves in (and then taking them out within about ten minutes) I have lost four rummy-nosed tetras (and a cory is sick); they just slowly turned white then died. I have checked my stats (perfect) but did a 75% water change anyway and cleaned my filter to up the flow. I hope I have stopped the rot now and although I can't be sure it was the leaves, I shall take no chances again.
 
I had 52 R-N Tetras before this and they have all been in there for at least six months. None of my other fish, except for the cory, have been affected.

 

[Akasha72]

oh no! I'm sorry to hear that Mr Shiny, such a shame. I shall throw the beech leaves away now. Thanks for the heads up