Re: More leaf litter

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

On Thu, 17 Sep 1998, Alysoun McLaughlin wrote:

> I read many of the messages that were kicking around in the last few
> weeks about leaf litter and decided to try some oak leaves in a tank
> with a pair of wild-caught A. bitaeniatum "Tefe" that never seemed to
> get comfortable in captivity.  Unfortunately, I don't remember seeing
> any instructions/suggestions on preparing the leaves for the aquarium. 

I did another batch a couple weeks ago, basically same as Jason describes.
Boiling (Kathy says a 20 minute boil kills all bacteria/micro-orgs),
straining, and dumping the leaves (sans the water) in the tank.  The
leaves continue, btw, to leach tannins into the water, so the new tank we
put them in now has a very dark rich tea color and a pH of 5.8.  

This tank, btw, is going to be a little different, because we've got a lot
of leaves crammed in, like halfway up the tank!  It'll be an experiment of
sorts.  Now trying to decide which fish to put in the tank.

  - Erik

---
Erik D. Olson
erik at thekrib.com (fails? try eriko at wrq.com)


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