Leaf litter substrate

[Stella]

Just wanting to hear the experiences of others using leaf litter as a substrate.

Just tell me what you did....

what sort of leaves?

did they take long to disintegrate? Did you have to add more regularly?

and especially:

did you happen to take note of the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate and what happens as the leaves break down?

Thanks

[Dixon1990]

http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/1-vt26 ... sc&start=0

This of any help?

[Stella]

Thanks, I did find that while searching. Pretty much all that was on here.

So how did you go with your leaves, Dixon?

I am trying it at the moment with the mudfish, and they seem to love it. It has changed their behaviour somewhat.

I am rather intrigued to know how it all works with the water chemistry. Technically they are decomposing, but how does it affect the water?

Softening will only happen if there is little buffer there to start with (rain water etc), but my fish are fine in a range of pH and KH levels.

[Dixon1990]

I used silver birch leaves, they lasted about 6 weeks before decomposing, only change in water chemistry i found was the lower PH

[alanmin4304]

Amongst other things it will complete the nitrogen cycle as the leaves decompose and release nitrogen again. It may therefore increase the risk of algae problems (if that is a problem)

[PeteS]

My black mudfish were on holiday at Stella place while I was overseas recently.

When I finally moved them back home they came with a leaf litter substrate, before I had them in a tank with the glass bottom

painted black with bits of wood to hide under.

The first thing I notice was there behavioral change as stated by Stella above. They are much more active. They do seem to love swimming in an out of the leaf litter looking for food, in this case white worms. They swim pass the water fleas with out eating them :-(.

Not sure what the water chemistry is like at the moment. I use rain water for water changes. I will need to dig out my test kits to check.