11/15/2022
The Indian Almond Leaf- Catappa leaves comes from Terminalia Catappa tree.
These trees are native to Australia, Asia, Madagascar, and the Pacific.
Now you may be wondering what Indian almond leaves do for your water and for your fish? Good news, these leaves are hard workers for your tank, water, and aquatic life. They have a wide variety of uses and are loved by many aquarists. Here are some of the main reasons as to why they may be beneficial to you and your aquarium!
When placed in water, Indian almond leaves slowly start to decompose. While this happens, the leaves turn the water a yellow or brown color by releasing tannins.
These tannins gradually lower the pH of the water and are said to have antifungal and antibacterial properties, valuable when you’re raising vulnerable fry.
This Healing ability is actually a direct effect of what tannins are meant to do in trees and plants. The tannins are mainly stored in the bark and new leaves. The tannins have the ability to precipitate out creating important enzymes from bacteria and fungus, preventing the tree or plant from becoming infected. This is what bolsters the ability of the fish to fight off infections.
The dark water tank appearance caused by these tannins is considered unsightly by some aquarists, but it actually mimics the natural habitat of many fish species! In fact, it’s said that a lot of fish feel less exposed when in dark water! Which may help shyer fish gain more confidence that will bring them to the front of the tank. These properties alone definitely make using Indian almond leaves worth considering.
Some aquarium keepers like their tank really full of tannins but luckily the color is easy to regulate with regular maintenance and activated carbon.
Many people ask why you should use Indian almond leaves with their betta fish or shrimp tank setups. Also if you can use these leaves in any other situations or for other fish as well. Good news the answer is yes!
When you’re dealing with fish or invertebrates that prefer soft and acidic water. Indian almond leaves can be great for stimulating breeding. Also the tannins released by the leaves help create water conditions that are similar to those in nature. Turning the water hues of yellow and brown while lowering the pH. which further helps to replicate breeding conditions. If you’re trying to get your betta fish or Caridina shrimp to breed, adding an Indian almond leaf or two to the breeding tank may help speed up the process!
Indian almond leaves are also used as a beginning food source for certain fish fry and baby shrimp because they like to feed off the decomposing leaf matter. Not only does the Indian almond leaves potentially provide a first meal for the fish or shrimp, but they can also be used as emergency food if other food sources are scarce. Indian almond leaves also allow smaller fish to hide amongst the leaf litter where other larger fish can’t easily see and eat them.
Indian almond leaves are also used to condition aquarium water and to maintain water quality. Since Indian almond leaves also help slowly lower the water pH, it’s said to be better for keeping harmful ammonia levels under control since ammonia is converted to the less toxic ammonium at low pH (anything less than 8.0).
Lastly, it is very common for fish enthusiasts to use Indian almond leaves in their tank just to stain the water with the tannins. If you’re interested in creating a Asian blackwater biotope, which imitates blackwater rivers and streams. Natural foliage like Indian almond leaves or other leaf litter is a must-have. You can also add Indian almond leaves to other tank setups with fish that prefer soft and acidic water if you just like the look of it. Never add Indian almond leaves to a tank that has fish or other invertebrates that require higher water pH levels! One thing to note if your or aquatic life needs hard water with a higher pH levels like African cichlids these leafs are not for you unfortunately.
There are a few different ways to use Indian almond leaves in your tank. The easiest way is to just place a leaf or two in the tank at first and wait for them to do their job. The more leaves you add the more tannins will be released and the darker the water will get. You can tear the leaves up if you want the tannins to release more quickly. Once the Indian almond leaves start decomposing, you can take them out or replace them, but it’s also fine to wait for them to completely decompose on their own. Shrimp and fry will actually appreciate it if you don’t remove the leaves because, as mentioned earlier, they feed on the decomposing remains, no piece of leaf will go to waste no matter how small!
