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RE: Peat Moss vs. Oak Leaves vs. Beech Leaves
Hi Bill,
Thanks for the great research.This is very interesting.I wonder if Linke
talked about European Beech.Beech is a very common tree all over Northern
Europe.I haven't seen many Beech trees in the US though.I wonder if the US
Beeches are the same species than the European ones? Oaks are also different
here compared to the Oaks I remember from Germany.I also use Oak leaves for
their size in my tanks.The larger leaves roll up nice and the fish love to
hide and look for food in them.Beech leaves are pretty small compared to Oak
leaves.I like to give them a try as well.
Max
Visit "The Digital Aquarium" and L&M Tropicals at:
http://clix.to/Apisto
From: "William Vannerson" <William_Vannerson@ama-assn.org>
Reply-To: apisto@listbox.com
To: <apisto@listbox.com>
CC: <smstacey@execpc.com>
Subject: RE: Peat Moss vs. Oak Leaves vs. Beech Leaves
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001 14:08:50 -0600
Yvan Alleau mentioned that Horst Linke prefers beech leaves over oak leaves
for Apisto tanks. Well, as I continue my reading of "The Vegetation of
Wisconsin," I have found additional information that may explain why.
"Beech is taxonomically related to the aks and resembles them in many of
its life-history characters. ... Like the closely related oaks, the beech
is not a nutrient pumper, because its leaves are strongly acid and low in
bases."
So beech leaves would lower the pH, just like oak leaves, and decay slowly
as well. Additionally, there's another important characteristic of beech
leaves that may provide "medicinal" benefits.
" ... sparseness of the ground layer in beech and hemlock forests is
frequently attributed to the very low light intensity in such stands, but
the recent work of winter and Bublitz (1953) on the toxic effects of water
extracts of European beech leaves may indicate that an antibiotic reaction
is in part responsible for the absence of many herbaceous species."
Of course, this book is forty years old. So there most likely is more
current research on this subject that would prove or disprove Curtis'
statements. Even though, it does provide some intrigue to the discussion.
Bill Vannerson
McHenry, IL
http://vannerson.home.att.net/
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