Re: [Killietalk] Water conditioningmedia

["RW Pierce" <rwpierce at att_net>]

Yes, it is magic, or witchcraft, or vodoo, whichever you prefer.  Oak leaves
contain tannins, and probably many other compounds as well.  The Indian
Almond or Catappa leaves also appear to contain tannins and are reputed to
contain antibiotics and/or fish aphrodisiacs.  However, I have seen no
analyses of the compounds in any leaves and their effect on fish, so one
cannot call it science.  Yet many people, myself included, add various
leaves in order to stimulate breeding, especially in soft-water setups.

We do know that many of the soft water fish come from "black water"
habitats, where the water is tinted by decaying leaves.  In my opinion, it
is likely that the fish do benefit from the addition of various leaves to
help provide conditions similar to those that they are adapted for.  We
don't know which compounds are the beneficial ones, so we add the entire
leaf.  It is also believed that the breakdown of the leaves provides food
and substrate for protozoa, which may help with early fry survival.  As far
as antimicrobial compounds, I believe that low TDS, acid waters are
generally hostile to bacteria.  Adding leaves may help control the pH, as
peat seems to do, so this in itself may be antibacterial.

In the end, we add leaves because others who have been successful with
certain fish add leaves.  I have also observed that certain fish, especially
Rivulus, may use the leaves for habitat by hiding under the leaves.  If
adding leaves makes the fish more comfortable by either conditining the
water or by providing habitat, then it does likely enhance breeding success.
Darkening the water may also help mating success.  As we all know from
experience, members of the opposite sex tend to look more attractive in dim
lighting ;-)

Rich Pierce

-----Original Message-----
From: killietalk-bounces at aka_org [mailto:killietalk-bounces at aka_org]On
Behalf Of Joseph Scanlan
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 6:48 PM
To: killifish discussion list
Subject: Re: [Killietalk] Water conditioningmedia


There is something magic in oak leaves and peat.   Tannins?      Joe

On Feb 18, 2008, at 5:28 PM, Tom Payne wrote:

> I'd be interested in hearing what types of water conditioning media
> are
> in use in the hobby and some background about how they work, what the
> pros/cons are and to what species they've been applied. I've read some
> about almond leaves and oak leaves and I'd like to hear how they are
> working.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> --
> Tom Payne
> 10100 Hoover Woods Rd.
> Galena, Ohio 43021
> 740-965-9311
>
> "Christ died for men precisely because men are not worth dying for;
> to make them worth it."
>
> 				-C.S. Lewis, "The World's Last Night"
>
>
> Join the AKA at http://www.aka.org/aka/modules/content/index.php?id=9.
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