Tree Leaves

[Fish-Addict]

I have tried three aquatics shops in my area and went out as far as like 10 miles but none of them sell floating plants. I was wondering if I could perhaps put some leaves from my tree in my back garden into my fish tank? They are red on top and green on the bottom.

???

[Fishy_Fun]

I wouldn't. Why don't you just look in the classifieds?I have seen plenty of people selling floaters.Shoot you could get some duckweed if your really desperate.I just wouldn't use tree leaves since you don't know if there contaminated with something.I guess what im trying to say is "your better safe then sorry" ;)

[KarlTh]

Certain fallen (i.e. brown) leaves can be useful to alter water chemistry, but generally speaking no, rotting organic material is not your friend.

[lizziotti]

some people put oak leaves in their tank. I put Indian almond leaves that I got off ebay from amy-lim (http://myworld.ebay.com/amy-lim/). It looks like others are selling it now as well. Some fish really likes these like tetra's. I have never really experienced any altered water chemistry from them but as mentioned above i remove these before they rot. Some plecos will remove them for you however. I really like the way the leaves look and you can't beat the prices I have a lifetime supply. Hope this helps.

Oh but they won't float they'll sink after a few days so if your looking for floating plants this is not the answer.

[Turbosaurus]

Oak and almond leaves will add organic acids to your water as they decompose. They will also release tannins into the water to give you a black water effect. They are good for fish that like soft acidic water. Both are really tough leaves and decompose slowly- other leaves like maple decompose quickly and are not suitable for fish tanks.

This is completely different from the effect of live floating plants which will serve to remove nitrogen (nitrates, ammonia) and phosphates from your tank as they grow.

[Sounguru]

Leaves will sink after a few days.




Leaves can be a benifical thing in the aquarium by:

Lowerning the PH
Adding Food for inverts and fish
Adding Tannins for Black water loving fish
Adding antibacterial properties in the case of the Indian Almond Leaf
Giving the tank a more Natural look
Softening Water slightly
Now only collect your leaves from an area that you can say for sure that no pesticides or other stuff has gotten on them. So do not collect near roads, Public Parking Lots, or Nuculear waste dumps. Also collect them after they have fallen to the ground or crumble in your hand if they are still on the tree. You can collect green leaves and dry them yourself if you want, but that is more effort then I want to spend. I take a large garbage bag and I collect a years worth every fall. I then bring them home make sure they are all dry so they don't rot and store in the shop until needed.




Leaves I have used and still do in order of preference:

Indian Almond - Huge but has that anti-bacterial property, downside is they have to be bought since they do not greo native here (shrimp seem to find them as an okay source of food)
Oak - Second in line and seems to have some of the anti-bacterial properties of the Indian Almond (Shrimp love them)
Small Leaf Maple - Seem to decay a little quicker (shrimp love them)
Big Leaf Maple - Dissolves in the tank quick and one leaf will cover an entire 10 gallon tank (shrimp tear them up)
Madrona - Very stiff and waxy leaf last a long time in the tank. Great for making a leaf litter bottom and hiding places for critters that like that type of hiding place. (shrimp seem indifferent but like to hide among them)
Salal - Stiff Waxy Leaf good as leaf litter not much else
Alder - The most common leaf here decays at a medium rate and it seems that they need to decay slightly before the shrimp really dig into them.
I find leaves to be a great source of food, shelter, and asthetic appeal in almost all my tanks.

[marinkafuschia]

Fish addict, you could always try a pond and garden store. the garden stores around here all sell lots of floating plants, its mostly in spring and summer they do this but its worth a look!
sorry for the derail but, Sounguru could you post some pics of the leaf litter in your aquarium, Ive been toying with the idea for a bit and wanted to see a nice example!

[Sounguru]

Here is one ....

http://www.stopactionphoto.net/images/15.jpg

Have you asked your LFS if they can order in floaters for you.. I know we only carry them during pond season but can order them anytime.

[Dave Noel]

Don't know if this helps but a dwarf lilly will shoot up leaves, I guess it is a lilly pad :-). It will sit on top of the water and it is aquatic.

[marinkafuschia]

thanks sounguru, thats a nice tank! the leaves really do add an extra "something" :D