For a more detailed description: www.aquaticopia.com/projects/b... Instructional video for making your own oak leaf blackwater "extract" for south american and similar biotope aquariums.
@psirider I only made the one batch, as well as a batch with coconut fiber. This was mixed between two 29 gallon tanks just for some tanic-tint. You will have to replace whatever amount you change out with water changes, and keep in mind that any activated carbon filtration will remove it. I would not recommend this method on larger tanks - for that I would soak peat in a 55 gallon bucket/drum to take water changes from. I am now lowering my pH with just CO2 in all my planted tanks. Good luck!
@MrN52 I think it will depend on what mixing ratio with tank water you use. If your tank is small, I would mix the extract with dechlorinated tap water until the pH drops or rises to 7.2. If your tap water is already less than 7.2, no amount of the extract will bring it up. I haven't tried this method (because I have hard water with a high pH), but you can raise the buffering (hardness) capacity with baking soda. You could also add shells or limestone to raise the pH.
@bluedisk0123 sorry for the delay. Rasboras generally require a pH of 6.0-7.8, and guppies I think really depend on their breeding - but most sources say they prefer alkaline waters (higher pH of 7.0 or more). I don't think either would like (thrive in) a lower pH, but they may tolerate (survive) it. In my opinion, I would not add the extract to that tank. You really only do this for needy fish or breeding from certain regions - like the Amazon (tetras, discus, angels, etc.).
@MrN52 I do remember once reading about the use of almond leaves in betta breeding, but unfortunately don't remember what I read! I do believe that there are 'special' properties to the indian almond leaves, however those properties may or may not impact the bettas' benefits from using oak leaves. I don't believe that, as long as you measure your pH while acclimating, the oak water will pose any negative affects - so you could experiment with itl
i boiled indian almond leaves for my betta, how long can i keep the extract?? i read online that people say it can be kept weeks in the refrigerator but i need a more specific answer
@bluedisk0123 Hey there! I looked up the tree and it is definitely part of the oak tree family, but I haven't tried using them. The only leaves that should be poisonous are those that have natural insecticides or mildewcides in them - trees like pine and cedar (woods used to make outdoor decks and patios because they are resistant to molding and insects). If you want to be safe, try the Post Oak leaf extract with a small feeder fish or shrimp to experiment. Good luck, let me know how it works.
@MrN52 so i did boil oak leaves and got a pretty dark brown taninns and tryed to check the ph level and it was low 6.0 and this notgood for my fish so how can i make it up to 7.2 do i add tap water mix with taninns water or use something else to make it go up to 7.2 ph level
my water is verry hard and ph of around 8.2 would this slightly soften my water because i like fish that prefer soft water i think my waster is 277.5ppm of that... thing... that is the main cause of hardness
does this help bettas too and their breeding spawn bcuz iam really into breeding bettas i just more things to help me so people sayes that oak leaves and alomnd leaves helps them breed but i dont have any almond leave bbut i do have aok leaves so can you tell me if this helps my betta breed
@bluedisk0123 Most likely it will lower your pH. A pH of 6.0 is already pretty low, what type of fish are you keeping and what is your objective? If you are just wanting to tint the water color, you can do this by putting a transparent colored film between the aquarium and the light (careful not too close to light if it will melt). If you want to be lowering pH even more, then the blackwater will most likely do that, but this sounds dangerous for most species..
Sorry for the late reply. Although I don't have any evidence, personally I would avoid fresh green leaves. With fresh green leaves you are basically rupturing thousands/millions of little living cells, which may or may not cause problems. I have a hunch that quite a bit of ammonia (or other toxins) would be released. It shouldn't take much time to dry them - spread them out in direct sunlight for a few days or week.
![THE TOYS x NONT TANONT - ดอกไม้ที่รอฝน (spring) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pPa1d5cC8M4/mqdefault.jpg)
@psirider I only made the one batch, as well as a batch with coconut fiber. This was mixed between two 29 gallon tanks just for some tanic-tint. You will have to replace whatever amount you change out with water changes, and keep in mind that any activated carbon filtration will remove it. I would not recommend this method on larger tanks - for that I would soak peat in a 55 gallon bucket/drum to take water changes from. I am now lowering my pH with just CO2 in all my planted tanks. Good luck!
@MrN52 I think it will depend on what mixing ratio with tank water you use. If your tank is small, I would mix the extract with dechlorinated tap water until the pH drops or rises to 7.2. If your tap water is already less than 7.2, no amount of the extract will bring it up. I haven't tried this method (because I have hard water with a high pH), but you can raise the buffering (hardness) capacity with baking soda. You could also add shells or limestone to raise the pH.
@bluedisk0123 sorry for the delay. Rasboras generally require a pH of 6.0-7.8, and guppies I think really depend on their breeding - but most sources say they prefer alkaline waters (higher pH of 7.0 or more). I don't think either would like (thrive in) a lower pH, but they may tolerate (survive) it. In my opinion, I would not add the extract to that tank. You really only do this for needy fish or breeding from certain regions - like the Amazon (tetras, discus, angels, etc.).
@MrN52 I do remember once reading about the use of almond leaves in betta breeding, but unfortunately don't remember what I read! I do believe that there are 'special' properties to the indian almond leaves, however those properties may or may not impact the bettas' benefits from using oak leaves. I don't believe that, as long as you measure your pH while acclimating, the oak water will pose any negative affects - so you could experiment with itl
i boiled indian almond leaves for my betta, how long can i keep the extract?? i read online that people say it can be kept weeks in the refrigerator but i need a more specific answer
@bluedisk0123 Hey there! I looked up the tree and it is definitely part of the oak tree family, but I haven't tried using them. The only leaves that should be poisonous are those that have natural insecticides or mildewcides in them - trees like pine and cedar (woods used to make outdoor decks and patios because they are resistant to molding and insects). If you want to be safe, try the Post Oak leaf extract with a small feeder fish or shrimp to experiment. Good luck, let me know how it works.
good job dude just what i was looking for. how long do you find it lasts?
@MrN52 so i did boil oak leaves and got a pretty dark brown taninns and tryed to check the ph level and it was low 6.0 and this notgood for my fish so how can i make it up to 7.2 do i add tap water mix with taninns water or use something else to make it go up to 7.2 ph level
my water is verry hard and ph of around 8.2 would this slightly soften my water because i like fish that prefer soft water i think my waster is 277.5ppm of that... thing... that is the main cause of hardness
does this help bettas too and their breeding spawn bcuz iam really into breeding bettas i just more things to help me so people sayes that oak leaves and alomnd leaves helps them breed but i dont have any almond leave bbut i do have aok leaves so can you tell me if this helps my betta breed
What If the leaves are green?
@bluedisk0123 Most likely it will lower your pH. A pH of 6.0 is already pretty low, what type of fish are you keeping and what is your objective? If you are just wanting to tint the water color, you can do this by putting a transparent colored film between the aquarium and the light (careful not too close to light if it will melt). If you want to be lowering pH even more, then the blackwater will most likely do that, but this sounds dangerous for most species..
Sorry for the late reply. Although I don't have any evidence, personally I would avoid fresh green leaves. With fresh green leaves you are basically rupturing thousands/millions of little living cells, which may or may not cause problems. I have a hunch that quite a bit of ammonia (or other toxins) would be released. It shouldn't take much time to dry them - spread them out in direct sunlight for a few days or week.