When I was a teen I had a 15 gallon tank that was full of gravel and all fake plants. It looked ok but I met a friend who into the hobby and we replaced all the fake plants with real plants from local ponds and streams. It totally transformed the tank and it turned into a thriving little ecosystem. I did have a problem with snails but I would recommend anyone with a tank even amateurs to go the natural route, don't be afraid.
I’m currently a beginner in the whole industry of aquarium. This is a stupid question but Do you have to do water changes on them or very rarely and on what occasions?
Hack: Moist the dry leaves you find in nature and put them into jar that can be sealed. After 1 month, it will be nice and brown and will sink without any problem. Doesn't really matter what leaves they are, just put them into your aquarium. I personally don't believe in leaf selection, they all work as long as they are dead, dry and not green
most of the trees in my area are evergreens like cedar and spruce, but there are stands of red alders and a bush called salal that has very tough leaves that take a long time to decompose compared to alder leaves and there are also the sword ferns which have massive leaves that work. Sadly most of the trees here are not usable though since evergreens have needles and are also full of harmful sap and chemicals that arent exactly great for fish.
I do indeed. The only time I would turn anything off is if I wanted the leaves to fall in a specific place and didn't want the filter moving them about. Only other thing is if your filter has activated carbon in it then this will remove any tannins the leaves will leach so you won't get the coloured water.
Agreed. I would always recommend boiling any items you plan on adding to an aquarium just incase. Remember they still might have pollutants, bacterias and other unwanted items you don't want in your tank. Safest method short of not using them is to boil 👍🏻
That's true but the water could contain pollutants or harmful pesticides which could have been used, that's why I would always drain, rinse and then add them. More precautions you take the less risk.
Depends, technically yes providing they are completely dead, but be mindful about pollution if you are in a built up area. Always boil (In my opinion) and then maybe test them out prior to putting them into a main tank if you are unsure.
In my personal view its highly recommended. I always boil my botanicals for at least 30-40 mins. Then pour the water down the sink. Rince off then add to the aquarium. This helps reduce the risk of contaminants getting in the aquarium. I've made a few guides and a playlist on my channel if it helps. 👍🏻
Thanks for the kind words, oak are great leaves to use! Always great if you live in England in the autumn as there are plenty of trees to collect from.
Don’t boil the leaves and kill all the micro fauna. That’s exactly the thing you want to introduce. It’s part of the breakdown cycle in the tank. Nature doesn’t preboil leaves on their way down to a stream bed. Great content though. And I love the tank you had behind you during this. Looks beautiful
Interesting. I can't see why not. Boil the nettles and then use the water. I'd say you'd have to leave the leaves in the water for a few weeks to let the benefits leach from the leaf or maybe use large quantities. Might have to give that a go 👍
Boiling catappa leaves and alder cones now. The alder cones take forever to boil to get the brownish/red tannin color out. And it's still not 100 % out. Just be warned about alder cones at keast...you have to boil forever to get somewhat clear water. Changing water every 30 minutes of course
How do you siphon and clean your aquarium with all that debris around? Isn't it quite a task? I am asking seriously. It looks great but what happens next? I think it's hard to do in a "normal" tank with a moderate clutter of water plants, taking ages to siphon.. needs kind of every week.. but with all that lovely scrap around... usch.. 😆😁 twigs, barricades of branches, leaves all around, you get the point...
@@MrBrightfryed Oh thanks! Luckily, we don't have factories here in our province in the Philippines. We don't have chlorine treatment in our tap water.Happy fish keeping.😊
An aquarium isn't a natural habitat, conditions are different so should be treated different. I'd always boil and not take the risk. Done it enough times I the past without to have learnt my lesson.
Thank you. Excellent description of the value of botanicals.
Thank you my friend. Really appreciate it 🙏
Since when did you talk about botanicals😅
When I was a teen I had a 15 gallon tank that was full of gravel and all fake plants. It looked ok but I met a friend who into the hobby and we replaced all the fake plants with real plants from local ponds and streams. It totally transformed the tank and it turned into a thriving little ecosystem. I did have a problem with snails but I would recommend anyone with a tank even amateurs to go the natural route, don't be afraid.
I've done the same went to the stream found some plants which grow on rocks and put it in my tank worked wonders apart from the snails.
I’m currently a beginner in the whole industry of aquarium. This is a stupid question but Do you have to do water changes on them or very rarely and on what occasions?
@@Selector-Coolssnails are BENEFICIAL AND AMAZING please keep them😢
We are creating a PDF about leaves. They are the basic food material in all fresh water environments.
That's fantastic. I created one not so long back. The more information we can share with the world the better 🙌🏻
Much needed information, thanks.😊
Glad it was helpful!
Lots of good information thanks for sharing 💯
Thanks, appreciate the kind words 👊🏻
Hack: Moist the dry leaves you find in nature and put them into jar that can be sealed. After 1 month, it will be nice and brown and will sink without any problem. Doesn't really matter what leaves they are, just put them into your aquarium. I personally don't believe in leaf selection, they all work as long as they are dead, dry and not green
most of the trees in my area are evergreens like cedar and spruce, but there are stands of red alders and a bush called salal that has very tough leaves that take a long time to decompose compared to alder leaves and there are also the sword ferns which have massive leaves that work. Sadly most of the trees here are not usable though since evergreens have needles and are also full of harmful sap and chemicals that arent exactly great for fish.
Will leaves lower my ph ?
Do you keep your filter running after adding the almond leaves
I do indeed. The only time I would turn anything off is if I wanted the leaves to fall in a specific place and didn't want the filter moving them about. Only other thing is if your filter has activated carbon in it then this will remove any tannins the leaves will leach so you won't get the coloured water.
What about leaves and twigs that I pull from a pond? They shouldn't need to be boiled, right?
They do because there might be parasites on them
Agreed. I would always recommend boiling any items you plan on adding to an aquarium just incase. Remember they still might have pollutants, bacterias and other unwanted items you don't want in your tank. Safest method short of not using them is to boil 👍🏻
@@MrBrightfryed Then you will never have a balanced tank. You need all of the microscopic life in you aquarium, just trust in nature.
You mines well buy fake leaves if you gona boil them
Father fish says no. You dont have to boil them. It defeats the purpose
I have magnolia cones and sweet gumballs everywhere. Would they be safe? Along with their leaves?
Yes both are safe to use. Ive not personally tried gum tree pods or their leaves. I have however used magnolia leaves plenty of times 👍🏻
In new to fish but the ph levels are high on my water dp I hot drift wood and almond leaves. I have fake plants though except duckweed.😊
Pls suggest the leaves
Do Indian almond leaves need to boiled if you buy them in a fish store ?
I read boiling them removes a lot of the nutrients.
I'd imagine the heat would sterilize it as well
If you put the the boiled water in the tank most of the nutrients still be there i think
That's true but the water could contain pollutants or harmful pesticides which could have been used, that's why I would always drain, rinse and then add them. More precautions you take the less risk.
So it simple clean the leaf boil the leaf and put the leaf and the boiled water inside the aquarium
Boiled water into your tank ?
Can I use random leaves from my garden I'm in the UK
Depends, technically yes providing they are completely dead, but be mindful about pollution if you are in a built up area. Always boil (In my opinion) and then maybe test them out prior to putting them into a main tank if you are unsure.
I just added a few to my 55. the next day...ALL DEAD. Nothing else changed. Any ideas as to why?
Did you boil them first? They could have contained an array of pesticides or unwanted chemicals etc.
nope, didn't know I should...
@@MrBrightfryed
In my personal view its highly recommended. I always boil my botanicals for at least 30-40 mins. Then pour the water down the sink. Rince off then add to the aquarium. This helps reduce the risk of contaminants getting in the aquarium. I've made a few guides and a playlist on my channel if it helps. 👍🏻
Good Information. I use Catappa leaves. I live in an area of many Oaks. I keep forgetting to collect them for my tanks. Saved and Liked and Subbed...
Thanks for the kind words, oak are great leaves to use! Always great if you live in England in the autumn as there are plenty of trees to collect from.
I've been using red oak leafs
Don’t boil the leaves and kill all the micro fauna. That’s exactly the thing you want to introduce. It’s part of the breakdown cycle in the tank. Nature doesn’t preboil leaves on their way down to a stream bed.
Great content though. And I love the tank you had behind you during this. Looks beautiful
Bro can i use almond leaves with my sponge filter on?
Yep I certainly do in almost all my tanks 👍🏻
Thoughts on nettle compost tea as fertilizer in aquarium? I assume it's too crazy :D
Interesting. I can't see why not. Boil the nettles and then use the water. I'd say you'd have to leave the leaves in the water for a few weeks to let the benefits leach from the leaf or maybe use large quantities. Might have to give that a go 👍
Boiling catappa leaves and alder cones now. The alder cones take forever to boil to get the brownish/red tannin color out. And it's still not 100 % out. Just be warned about alder cones at keast...you have to boil forever to get somewhat clear water. Changing water every 30 minutes of course
Mines well buy fake leaves if your gone boil and kill everything
Can I use neem leaves?
Neem Leaves you have to be careful. Neem oil itself is used in making pesticides.
It would be much safer to use Almond leaf or dry banana leaf.
How do you siphon and clean your aquarium with all that debris around? Isn't it quite a task? I am asking seriously. It looks great but what happens next? I think it's hard to do in a "normal" tank with a moderate clutter of water plants, taking ages to siphon.. needs kind of every week.. but with all that lovely scrap around... usch.. 😆😁 twigs, barricades of branches, leaves all around, you get the point...
Sand and soil will take care of them. Just like leaves decompose and go back to soil
Hello sir. Are mango leaves ok?
Absolutely, I use them all the time. One of my favourites 👍
@@MrBrightfryed Oh thanks! Luckily, we don't have factories here in our province in the Philippines. We don't have chlorine treatment in our tap water.Happy fish keeping.😊
Just go outside and pick up some leaves. Dont vuy them. I feed my shrimp leaves from my sugar maples.
You killed me with the "treasure chest bubbles and divers"....only if you're under 8 years of age is that ok. Just imo
😂😂😂😂 Thanks for watching, glad you liked it!
Boiling that's not natural... i put it directly nothing fancy you could wash it if you want
An aquarium isn't a natural habitat, conditions are different so should be treated different. I'd always boil and not take the risk. Done it enough times I the past without to have learnt my lesson.
You are absolutely clueless in aquarium fish keeping......you better stop mislead people