Oak tree leaves?

[howler]

Hi fellas!

It´s me here with another question for you lot. The thing is that it´s becoming very popular here where I live, the use of oak tree leaves in the bottom of the tanks. The humic acids freed are suposed to be good, at least that´s what everyone says. It´s also said that it´s a good method to decrease fishes shyness, making them feel a little more like home. What do you think?

I could do with anything that makes my Nothos Albimarginatus TZ 97/40 "kiparanganda" just a bit braver . They´re really shy.

[RonWill]

Hello Juan,
This has been covered before but with the leaf under a different name. Do a search for 'ketapang' and 'PMBB'. There was also a recent poll by a young group of students covering use and opinion of ketapang leaves.

I could do with anything that makes my Nothos Albimarginatus TZ 97/40 "kiparanganda" just a bit braver . They´re really shy.

I realized that some fishes, including the SJO tends to hide when they have no companions or when the tank is really tiny and dark. I moved some shy killies to a bigger, brighter tank and suddenly they're all displaying themselves at the front. You lose nothing by trying :wink:

[howler]

Hi Ron,

I´ve been reading a bit about the ketapang (sea almond tree). Wow! ... it certainly does a few things . Unfortunatelly I can´t just get in the car and drive to the nearest tree to gather some leves, I must be a least 2000 km away from the tropic. Any alternatives from the international members?

I doubt that even if the oak tree leaves are 10 times better than people say, they´ll be half as good as the Ketapang´s.

[timebomb]

Any alternatives from the international members?

Juan,

Where they are found in Singapore, the Ketapang leaves are just lying all over the place. I can send a bag of leaves to you but it may take a while as I have to find time to drive down to the nearest spot where Ketapang Trees are. Let me have your mailing address through private message and I'll see what I can do.

I do believe there are a lot of myths surrounding the Ketapang Leaves though. They won't do magic but many Killifish and Betta breeders swear by them.

Loh K L