Oak Leaves

[Sharpfish]

Did everyone go out and collect their oak leaves?  If you want to bred certain SA dwarfs you may need oak leaves in your tanks.

[MagpieTear]

They're also helpful for raising shrimp. The microfauna they add to the tank is a special treat!

[BrokenBox]

What are the pro's & con's of using oak leaves verses almond leaves?

[BrokenBox]

Did a little digging around google. Found many comparisons. Most reported that oak leaves leave an oder in the tank and it takes alot longer for the pH to drop. Where as almond leaves do not cause an odor in the tank and drops the pH faster than oak leaves. One link descibed the stunning dwarf cichlid colors brought out by the yellow tanin leeching out by the almond leaves in RO water. What has your experience been using either or both?

[danwalzer]

Oak leaves are plentiful and FREE! They do do the job, but I found that using spagnum peat moss does the job much better. Word to the wise, when using peat or oak leaves, stuff them into a filter media bag or an old stocking(make sure you ask the wife first!). When they do break down, it can be real messy at water changes.

[Sharpfish]

Oak leaves as Dan stated

Oak leaves are plentiful and FREE!

.

Oak trees also grow in South America.  Oak leaf litter is a natural habitat for a lot of SA Dwarf cichlid.  I believe there are some Apistos that will not spawn without them. 

Dan , pay attention to the last statement.  Because, I could not spawn the Apisto. sp. abacaxis I turned in for BAP without oak leaves, peat, and rain water.  All other attempts to spawn them failed.

As far as a smell I have never had a problem with that.  In fact I am still using oak leaves I collected from last April.  I keep them dry and in a open bag with air circulation.  I've stored and used one batch successfully for over 2 years with out fail.

They are messy but effective.

[LRKeefer]

I get indian almond leaves specifically for the bettas.  A lot of my bettas won't build a nest under anything but floating leaves and the indian almond are much bigger than oak leaves and therefore better for nest building.  Other than that I don't know of much difference.  For SA stuff I would just do oak leaves too...  Of course, I usually forget to collect them til its too late!

[Sharpfish]

Unfortunately oak leaves do not float for more than a day or so.  I don't think it would work well for the Bettas either.  Wouldn't the almond leaves be more of a natural or native occurrence?