For aquarists and those who know Indian almond leaves, it is normal to know their purpose and their abilities, but for those who are not knowledgeable enough of it, here are some facts and descriptions about Indian almond leaves.
What are Indian almond leaves?
Indian almond leaves, also called “catappa leaves”, are studied as an addition to aquarium water to make it more natural, for the betterment of the fishes, and may even serve as a medicine for them.
They are known for helping much more when within periods of time, the leaf or leaves has emerged in water for betta fish and shrimp tanks, these leaves act as an aquarium water conditioner and natural medicine through that event.
Indian almond leaves are from the tree of Terminalia catappa that grows in Africa, Australia, and Asia in their tropical regions. Usually, these leaves are picked up from the ground one by one then drying them appropriately soon after. Upon doing so, they can be put into the tank or the water.
Indian almond leaves can be bought online, through pet stores, fish stores, have it imported, or even get them yourself. When you put these leaves into the water, they will slowly begin to decay and during this event, these Indian almond leaves release tannins, turning the water into a yellowish or brownish color.
Expert Tip: Gradually lowering the water pH, these tannins are presumed to have antibacterial and antifungal properties. They especially help in the fin rot of a fish enduring pain or when raising a vulnerable one.
When should I use Indian almond leaves?
These leaves with many uses can also be for situations for more fishes as well although the majority use Indian almond leaves in their fish tank or betta fish:
- When you add even one or two leaves to a separate tank with an ill fish, it can help shorten the duration of the curing process. According to a person who has interviewed breeders of betta fishes who stopped medications for their fishes, they said that they treat sick fishes only with Indian almond leaves, activated carbon, and clean tank water.
- Indian almond leaves are also great for stimulating breeding when dealing with soft and acidic-preferred invertebrates and fishes because the released tannins from the leaves are similar to those of the fishes’ natural habitat in regards to creating natural water conditions.
- For certain fishes and baby shrimps who feed off decomposing leaves, Indian almond leaves are utilized as a starting food source for them as well. Not only that, Indian almond leaves can be a substitute food for when others are scarce and allow smaller fishes to hide from bigger ones too.
- Finally, fish keepers frequently employ Indian almond leaves in their respective tanks solely to darken the water with tannins. Natural foliage, such as Indian almond leaves or some other leaves scattered, is essential for creating an Asian blackwater biotope that mimics blackwater rivers and streams.
Because these leaves grow naturally in certain areas, they are biotope-correct and shall be readily received by your fish and other tank residents. If you like the look of Indian almond leaves, you may add them to other tank configurations with fish that need soft, acidic water.
Never put Indian almond leaves in a tank with fishes or invertebrates that need a higher pH level of water.
How do I use Indian almond leaves in my fish tank?
Indian almond leaves may be used in a variety of ways in your aquarium, the simplest method is to simply place one leaf or two in the tank and wait until they work. More tannins will be present as you put more leaves, and the water will become darker, for faster release of the tannins, you can rip the leaves up.
You can remove or replace the Indian almond leaves once they begin to deteriorate, but it’s also good to wait for them to totally decompose on their own. If you don’t remove the leaves, the shrimp and fry will really appreciate it because no bit of meat will be wasted.
Expert Tip: If you don’t want to have leaves scattered in your tank, you can submerge the Indian almond leaves in another place and then add the water that is dyed to your tank in the middle of changes in the water.
You can also manufacture your own extraction of blackwater Indian almond leaf, which is a condensed form of tinted water with a high tannin content. This is accomplished by boiling a big quantity of Indian almond leaves in a bowl of water and letting them submerge for several days.
To create the blackwater effect, you only need a small bit of extract of Indian almond leaves in your tank, so don’t overdo it. By the way, if you’re not the kind to stand around boiling leaves for your fish tank, you can order Indian almond leaf extract online instead.
It is also unlikely that you will use a lot of Indian almond leaves, the one way this may be possible is if you use an excessive amount of leaves and your water pH drops to the point where it begins to impact the general quality of your water. Even if you keep track of the leaves in your aquarium or tank, this is highly unlikely to happen.
It’s normally recommended that you just use an Indian almond leaf, only one, every 10 gallons (38 L), but if you don’t achieve the wanted effect with only one, you can add another. The longer you store them in the aquarium and the plenty of leaves you put, the darker the water will be.
But, if you unintentionally put lots of leaves together, or if you have too much extract of Indian almond leaves, you can simply change some of the water and replace it with activated charcoal on a regular basis. It can be solved.
Activated carbon fills with tannins in time, so if you really want to purify the water in the tank, you need to change the tannins on a regular basis.
In conclusion, Indian almond leaves are very helpful and practical to use with their luscious benefits. From aesthetics to being food to consume, Indian almond leaves are an all-rounder.
Do you have any questions? If yes, then feel free to ask. If not, have a great day!
