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indianoscar
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 Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 7:53 am Post subject: How to do Water Conditioning with Almond Leaves |
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Hey All,
I'm not sure if this topic was discussed here earlier. But, still i appreciate any guidance on the proper usage of Indian Almond Leaves. I heard that it is called as "Poor Man's Aquarium Water Conditioner".
I've never used this so far, inspite of its availabilty in plenty for few doubts on the usuage. Can some one guide me with the proper usage of this.
Here are my questions
1) Is Ketapang Leaf, Indian Almond Leaves & Catappa Leaves one and all same. Is it the same almond, we find plenty in south India (as many local people call it badam tree). I guess it is available in every part of india.
2) What stage of the leaves should be considered for usage in aquarium
Tender green leaves / Green leaves / Ripen eaves / or Dried leaves
3) Is there any standard numbers , like 1 or 2 leaves per small tank (upto 30 or 40 gallons). And how often should i replace the leaves.
4) And , where should i place them in the tank, just let them float in the tank, or inside the filter media, or stuck them under the gravel bed. Wont fish tear them off, and make the tank dirty.
5) All i heard is it is ideally good for every fish tank, and many betta rearers use them. Can this leaves be used in every tropical fish tank?. And how about cichlid tanks.
Oh yes, I left my most important question. Here is that........
6) What is the real benefit of this?. Is this a germ killer, or just a water purifier?. Does it reduce ammonia / or nitrate?. Does it make variations to ph level.
7) & the last skeptical doubt. Does it turn the water cloudy / brownish / or greenish. Or does it stink bad? |
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rgg
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| Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 10:04 am Post subject: Re: How to do Water Conditioning with Almond Leaves |
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Hey here are a few answers that at least i know
| indianoscar wrote (View Post):
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I'm not sure if this topic was discussed here earlier. But, still i appreciate any guidance on the proper usage of Indian Almond Leaves. I heard that it is called as "Poor Man's Aquarium Water Conditioner".
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Yes indeed its a poo mans water Conditioner
| indianoscar wrote (View Post):
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1) Is Ketapang Leaf, Indian Almond Leaves & Catappa Leaves one and all same. Is it the same almond, we find plenty in south India (as many local people call it badam tree). I guess it is available in every part of india.
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Both are almond leaves and they are from different regions, Both have similar properties, So we can use any one.
| indianoscar wrote (View Post):
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2) What stage of the leaves should be considered for usage in aquarium
Tender green leaves / Green leaves / Ripen eaves / or Dried leaves
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Dried leaves should be used, clean off the murk and citters rinse it thoroughly soak them in water for a few days and then put them in your aquarium.
| indianoscar wrote (View Post):
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3) Is there any standard numbers , like 1 or 2 leaves per small tank (upto 30 or 40 gallons). And how often should i replace the leaves.
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I use 1 in my 50G tank and i feel thats suffitient
| indianoscar wrote (View Post):
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4) And , where should i place them in the tank, just let them float in the tank, or inside the filter media, or stuck them under the gravel bed. Wont fish tear them off, and make the tank dirty.
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I float them in my tank. Try tearing one of the soaked ones by your slef you would know the answer.
| indianoscar wrote (View Post):
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5) All  i heard is it is ideally good for every fish tank, and many betta rearers use them. Can this leaves be used in every tropical fish tank?. And how about cichlid tanks.
?
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To my limited knowledge this should be fine for all tropical fishes.
| indianoscar wrote (View Post):
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6) What is the real benefit of this?. Is this a germ killer, or just a water purifier?. Does it reduce ammonia / or nitrate?. Does it make variations to ph level.
?
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These have many anti bacterial properties which benifit the fish. Also i have heard that this woudl acidify the water and maintain the PH in the neutral to acidic range
| indianoscar wrote (View Post):
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7) & the last skeptical doubt. Does it turn the water cloudy / brownish / or greenish. Or does it stink bad?
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It does not turn water cloudy but might give you a slight brownish colour... And should not stink.
Hope this have answered your queries.
Raghu |
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indianoscar
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| Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 10:41 am Post subject: Re: How to do Water Conditioning with Almond Leaves |
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Thanks Raghu,
Your reply is very useful and with complete answers.
Can we use ripen leaves (green turning purplie / orange or yellow) , which can plucked from the tree before that fall down and turn dry. Or should we pick the dry leaves that are perfectly brown / grey. |
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rohansd
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rgg
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| Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 11:02 am Post subject: Re: How to do Water Conditioning with Almond Leaves |
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| indianoscar wrote (View Post):
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Thanks Raghu,
Can we use ripen leaves (green turning purplie / orange or yellow) , which can plucked from the tree before that fall down and turn dry. Or should we pick the dry leaves that are perfectly brown / grey.
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I would prefer the ones that have fallen off the tree.
Raghu |
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babuvt
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| Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 12:59 pm Post subject: Re: How to do Water Conditioning with Almond Leaves |
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I would prefer the ones that have fallen off the tree.
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As Raghu says, fallen leaves are better since I read somewhere that these tree border lots of tropical rivers and fishes inhabiting these rivers gets benefited by dried/old leaves which fall from the tree into the river.
rgds
Babu |
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aditi
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 1:40 pm Post subject: Re: How to do Water Conditioning with Almond Leaves |
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Hi all
Is this applicable for only Almond tree or any nut tree (not coconut of course). I'm not sure about almond in Kolkata but plenty of banana plants are there. Can I use them in my tank? It is a27 Gal tank having 24 neon 12 mountain minnow 12 glow light tetras. I'm using supply water. it ia farely hard water with lot of iron in it. all our floor clothes get a reddish colour due to that. Please also advice about quantities to be used.
Thanks in anticipation
Aditi |
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deepesh
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: How to do Water Conditioning with Almond Leaves |
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Hi Aditi
Although banana leaves are not used by the main body of aquarists, I would like to mention that Thai betta keepers often use a strip of banana leaf in the hospital tanks (jars actually) when their bettas get injured in fights.
However I must say that I am NOT aware of banana leaves being used instead of Indian Almond leaves in aquaria proper and therefore am not in a position advocate the use of banana leaves.
The current theory is that the leaves contain tanins that leach into the water and help the fish develop a better mucus coat. There is obviously more to it. Almost all shed leaves, regardless of origin, contain tanins. I am curious it there are other species of trees that have the same effect. Anybody got any information?
Also would like to know how did people come to know about the beneficial effect of Indian Almond leaves.
If the tanin theory is correct, it is obviously better to use leaves that have been shed as trees concentrate tanins is leaves that are about to be shed. Using green leaves just results in the leaves rotting in the tank while providing low amounts of tanins.
deepesh |
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rgg
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: How to do Water Conditioning with Almond Leaves |
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Compleatly agree with Deepesh.
There was a thread from Frank asking about the same questions on this. Will have to dig the thread out. Which contains more info on what leaves to be used which have medicinal values.
Note that Almond leaves not only release tannins but also release a lot of anti bacterial chemicals that kill insects and worms.
Raghu |
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PC
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 3:01 pm Post subject: Re: How to do Water Conditioning with Almond Leaves |
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Interesting thread. a few months back when we deepend the well in the village, the water was a little hard and the mason dropped a few large buckets of bark and some logs from the Gooseberry (amla) tree and beleive it or not the water quality improved!
I think this native wisdom must be more than just a fad... interestingly, both banana and almond tree leaves are used as plates, i have seen the almond tree leaves fashioned into small cups. perhaps there is a link here as well. |
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aditi
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: How to do Water Conditioning with Almond Leaves |
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Deepesh & Raghu
Are the seeds (nuts) black in colour and fruit are big and red in colour when totally matured? Can you post a pic of that leaf and plant ?
Aditi |
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rgg
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 3:18 pm Post subject: Re: How to do Water Conditioning with Almond Leaves |
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Aditi,
No they are not, Badam would look like goldish skin nut with white contents inside.
May be the next time i gulp in a Badam i will try to post a pic of Almond/ Badam, And for the leaf i will post it soon.
Raghu |
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discusboy
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 4:08 pm Post subject: Re: How to do Water Conditioning with Almond Leaves |
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hi here is a pic * for your refrence
* have the pic with me since a long time and is copied from the net..and sorry if the pic belongs to someone.. and have no permission for using it.. i can delete it if there are any problems.. |
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basab
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 5:31 pm Post subject: Re: How to do Water Conditioning with Almond Leaves |
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Aditi
This is what we call kath(wood) badam in Bengal.Ideal for soft water fishes.I have been using it for quite a long time and helps in breeding small barbs and tetras as it softens the water.
basab |
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congo
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| Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 12:34 am Post subject: Re: How to do Water Conditioning with Almond Leaves |
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| i have been using them too..intially the leaves will float( for few days) and during this time period, the tanin content is released. but after sometime leaves starts to sink down, gets darker in colour and no more tanin content. so time to change to a new one. |
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