Ketapang leaves

[Owls]

Hi All, does anyone know how long we need to sun the ketapang leaves before putting it in our tank?
I try once to sun for one day and put it in my tank but after two days my water have not change color.
That means the essence is not coming out from the leaves itself, I pick up those that freshly drop from the tree with red to dark yellow leaves and is not dry yet.

Is the way I am doing it right. Anyone with experience.

Thanks. Cheers

[xconnect.]

So you took from outside your house? If yes then firstly take the totally brown ones.then after taking boil the leafs because there is a chance that there may be the existence of insecticide which we shrimpers cannot afford to risk.if you are lazy to do this then can always buy one big pack of ketapan leaves at c328 save all inconvenience

[Owls]

So you took from outside your house? If yes then firstly take the totally brown ones.then after taking boil the leafs because there is a chance that there may be the existence of insecticide which we shrimpers cannot afford to risk.if you are lazy to do this then can always buy one big pack of ketapan leaves at c328 save all inconvenience

Hi Bro, the first time I try the brown one also but it does not leech out the essence as well, did a search online to pick those fresh one and sun them to dry.
Those trees are just below my block so is more convinience for me.

[Navanod]

I soak in hot water for at least 15 mins and the tannins starts coming out. It's like making tea.
I'm not sure how long to sun though, I dry mine by throwing them in a drying oven. Hahaha

[grenlif]

Hi, sorry to hijack, I have some noobish question here =) What's the use of the essence of Ketapang leaves in shrimp tank? I know that they can lower the Ph of the water, anything else?

[Navanod]

Create a blackwater biotope look and also as a slow food source for shrimps.

[Owls]

Create a blackwater biotope look and also as a slow food source for shrimps.

Bro thanks for your method. Lol but I got no dryer can use yours. Wow your shrimps sure VIP status.

[hongkahleong]

i juz soak them for a day before putting it into the tank.

[hyun007]

Mine was wild pick.
I am sure there was no insecticide present.

Wash, sun dry and I just throw it inside the tank when the other piece is finish.
Surprisely, no tannin in my tank(maybe prefilter is doing too well) but it took a couple of week it become soft and the shrimp to start feeding on it.

Navanod way seem good to me as boiling and oven process will help to soften the leaf faster but I do not know whether those good benefit from it will be nuke due to that method.

Example, over boiling of vegetables will take out all the vitamins.

[Navanod]

Bro, I didn't boil them, just put in hot water for 15 mins to soften them and make them sink faster. It also causes the tannin to start leeching.
As for the oven, it's a hot air drying oven set to 70 degrees C, not the kind for baking food! It's like putting the leaves out in the hot sun with a breeze blowing over them.

I picked from a spot near my workplace where I can see insect eaten holes in many of the leaves...hopefully no insecticides?

[hyun007]

Bro, I didn't boil them, just put in hot water for 15 mins to soften them and make them sink faster. It also causes the tannin to start leeching.
As for the oven, it's a hot air drying oven set to 70 degrees C, not the kind for baking food! It's like putting the leaves out in the hot sun with a breeze blowing over them.

I picked from a spot near my workplace where I can see insect eaten holes in many of the leaves...hopefully no insecticides?

Now I know why Navanod is such a good shrimp keeper. So much consideration and TLC.

[Owls]

Bro, I didn't boil them, just put in hot water for 15 mins to soften them and make them sink faster. It also causes the tannin to start leeching.
As for the oven, it's a hot air drying oven set to 70 degrees C, not the kind for baking food! It's like putting the leaves out in the hot sun with a breeze blowing over them.

I picked from a spot near my workplace where I can see insect eaten holes in many of the leaves...hopefully no insecticides?

Thanks bro for the detail explanation.

[Owls]

Mine was wild pick.
I am sure there was no insecticide present.

Wash, sun dry and I just throw it inside the tank when the other piece is finish.
Surprisely, no tannin in my tank(maybe prefilter is doing too well) but it took a couple of week it become soft and the shrimp to start feeding on it.

Navanod way seem good to me as boiling and oven process will help to soften the leaf faster but I do not know whether those good benefit from it will be nuke due to that method.

Example, over boiling of vegetables will take out all the vitamins.

Hi bro this is what I did as well. Same thing there is no tannins in my tank aswell.

[frankiefu]

Wow.. So many bros here DIY their ketapang leaves.. And idea if there's ketapang trees around woodlands area? Or i need to grow one on my own? Haha

[Owls]

Wow.. So many bros here DIY their ketapang leaves.. And idea if there's ketapang trees around woodlands area? Or i need to grow one on my own? Haha

HI bro i think you can do a search there is a tread stating places available with ketapang trees in singapore. Cheers