decaying leaves in an aquarium - should you remove?
- Thread starter iheartbettas
- Start date
Sometimes I leave them in because I am lazy. The end result is them decaying and finally turning into nitrates. They can clog filters though. Generally, I'd suggest you take them out.
BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
and if the dead leaves don't clog the filters you're left with slimy goop to clean up. yep, dead plants turn to slime in a tank if left long enough. yuck!
BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
:rofl:
leaf litter (IAL, etc) is one thing, dead and dying plants that you strive to keep alive is another.
Depending on the size of your tank, it is either simply an issue of aesthetics or serious water quality. I have a 72g tank, I leave some of the little dead/decayed Amazon sword leaves in. I don't get much dead other than that. Floaters (plants, not fish) I leave in if they are green, brown they go.
I guess if you're doing regular water changes, you're probably going to take out whatever decaying leaves. I was just wondering if the decaying leaves turn into harmful chemicals that affect the water quality, and how to measure that.
Thanks for your responses.
Thanks for your responses.
BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
anything decaying will break down into ammonia. it's just a matter of whether your beneficial bacteria are plentiful enough to handle the extra ammonia caused by decomposing plants.
when i'm a tad slower than normal (read: lazier, lol) and i don't get my dead leaves out right away i see no difference in my tank's parameters as far as ammonia. this tank is a 55 with two big hob filters on it, with lots of sponge for media.
with my planted 20 and 2.5 i'm quite vigilant about removing the dead stuff, since the smaller tanks means less room for error when it comes to water quality.
when i'm a tad slower than normal (read: lazier, lol) and i don't get my dead leaves out right away i see no difference in my tank's parameters as far as ammonia. this tank is a 55 with two big hob filters on it, with lots of sponge for media.
with my planted 20 and 2.5 i'm quite vigilant about removing the dead stuff, since the smaller tanks means less room for error when it comes to water quality.
It's funny...anytime I see something dead in my little tank (plants or shrimp), I say, "I'll get it in the morning." By morning, the snails have taken care of the situation for me.
