Dixon1990 Posted December 13, 2007 Report Share Posted December 13, 2007 What leaves and twigs can be used in freshwater tropical tanks to make a leaf and twig litter biotype tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 13, 2007 Report Share Posted December 13, 2007 most natives might be ok ngaio and tutu are posonous to stock you could use mulch from forest floor probably not pine forest though maybe find litter in stream that has already been well soaked ypu will have to watch for parasites though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted December 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2007 I just read that oak leaves are good. WHere can i get them from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarimochi Posted December 13, 2007 Report Share Posted December 13, 2007 I just read that oak leaves are good. WHere can i get them from? Oak Trees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 13, 2007 Report Share Posted December 13, 2007 Oak Trees got to agree too oak trees would be the best bet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted December 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2007 Just realised what i wrote was a stupid quetion lol. Anyone know where any oak trees are in CHCH? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kd123 Posted December 13, 2007 Report Share Posted December 13, 2007 There are 1000s of oaks in hagley park and all over the city!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted December 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2007 ohk will look tomorrow, Should twigs from oak trees be good aswell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted February 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 Never ended up going to hagley park :roll: Would silver birch leaves be alright?I have a tree on my section Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted February 6, 2008 Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 IME leaf litter in your tank will reduce your pH some. As it breaks down it adds a lot of debris to the water, and blocks up your filter quickly. So just keep an eye on your pH. My loaches and Kuhli loved the leaf litter, but I was rinsing the sponges and changing the filter floss every 10 days to keep my water clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted February 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 My ph need to drop a bit anyway because its supposed to be South american and most of the fish i have like a ph of below 7. It going to be in a 3foot tank with a cf1200 or fluval 404 and the filter intake will be 15cm or so above gravel. What type of leaves did you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted February 6, 2008 Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 I used some native Puka leaves. They have a thick outer layer and break down slower than deciduous leaves. I have a few of these in my gardens at home. http://www.rnzih.org.nz/pages/Meryta-sinclairii.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted February 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 Would Silver Birch leaves be alright too? I dont really have any other trees at our house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted February 6, 2008 Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 Yeah I think silver birch would be great. They will probably break down quite quickly, maybe in 2-3 weeks. It will be a lot easier for you to get the leaves close to your house Maybe there is a neighbour who has an oak tree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted February 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 How do i prepare the leaves? I read to sit them in a bucket of boiling water then dry them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted February 6, 2008 Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 I made sure I got dry leaves. Making sure they had no rot or mould on them. I put them in my tank and put a couple of stones on them. My fish had a field day eating the bugs which escaped. If you put them in boiling water you could skim off any bugs you didnt want to let the fish eat, and the leaves will soak up the hot water quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted February 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 Would twigs from the same tree be alright to use aswell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopy Posted February 6, 2008 Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 Hey dixon there are oak trees at hoon hay park The kids and i collected acorns from round them a while ago. They are up by the skate boarding area just between there and the playground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DutchKiwiCowboy2 Posted February 6, 2008 Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 I would pour it into a bucket and leave (excuse the pun) it sitting to soak for a day or two. Why would you dry them out? they would float again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted February 6, 2008 Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 What is the purpose of putting leaves in your tank if they are just going to disintergrate??? :oops: :oops: Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopy Posted February 6, 2008 Report Share Posted February 6, 2008 What is the purpose of putting leaves in your tank if they are just going to disintergrate??? :oops: :oops: Caper some catfishes and perhapes other fish like hiding in leaf litter. It is something that probably isn't thought about much. Not all fish come from a place with tidy gravel as their substrate. And the decomposing matter can be a nice way to make a tank a bit more like home for them. Can alter the pH and give your water that nice brownish colour like wood that is leaching tannins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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