Indian almond leaves

[eco]

Do I keep IAL in my shrimp tanks constantly? What's the benefits? Ive been gathering IAL for a while now so I have a lot. Use them or no? Advice anyone thx.

[Kunsthure]

It all depends on personal preference. Some people leave them until the shrimp have picked them to lace. Some use them when they'll be out of town or otherwise unable to feed their shrimp for a few days. Some people put them in for a treat. But overall, shrimpers like them. I've got some, just never used them.

Soak them first to release the tannins (unless you like that black water look) and to help them sink.

-Lisa

[acitydweller]

The tannis actually are beneficial to the shrimp. I usually leave a leaf in each tank once a week. Since the grade A leaves are huge, i normally break them into smaller pieces

[DrEd]

Somehow in my RCS tank I notice that if I stop adding IAL, they reproduce much slower.

[acitydweller]

it depends on your water. the Tannins will lower your PH making the water more acidic. Its probably making them feel more comfortable...

[diwu13]

IAL release tannins which lower the pH of the water. So by soaking them before use you're removing their buffering qualities that some people prefer. If the leaves are from a reputable source they generally won't release a lot of tannins.

Another use for IAL is that the microorganisms that grow on the leaves can be used to feed the shrimp. More importantly baby shrimp are able to hide under the leaves.

[HD Blazingwolf]

is there a general leaf/gallon rule relating to PH drops with IAL's?
i've noticed persoanlly in my 10 gallon with a 7.8 ph and 4 kh two leaves makes the water blackish but no ph drop yet which is the whole reason i added them

[diwu13]

pH drops will be affected by the kH of your water. So if you're using RO/DI water you dont' have to use as many leaves to get the desired pH drop as someone who uses tap.

[HD Blazingwolf]

i gotcha on that. i don't mind a golden tinted water.. it kinda looks kewl with this tank

however i dont want it to be black just to get down to he 7.0-7.2 range i'd even be ok with 7.4
im just abhorring the idea of using chemicals to drop my ph

[Kunsthure]

Originally Posted by HD Blazingwolf

I'm just abhorring the idea of using chemicals to drop my ph

Age and aerate your water. This could make a huge difference. My tap is pH 7.8, GH 6 and KH 4. In my tanks with airstones, the pH is 6.4-6.6, GH 4 and KH 0-1 (it changes yellow on the first drop). I've had perfect CRS water right under my nose for years and never knew it. Too bad I want OEBTs that need a higher pH.

What are you trying to keep? Maybe adding some new DW could help if you have the space. My new piece, which is maybe 8" tall and 8" between its two most distant points has dropped my pH to 7-7.4 (perrrrrrrrfect for OEBTs )

-Lisa

[HD Blazingwolf]

ahh my tap water is what it is from the tap which is gh 3 kh 4

kh is natural here. doesn't evaporate.

[Kunsthure]

Originally Posted by HD Blazingwolf

kh is natural here. doesn't evaporate.

It's moons since chemistry, so please explain that.

-Lisa

[HD Blazingwolf]

some water treatment companies lower or raise ph by adding chemicals that when water is aged evaporate. my KH does not change no matter how long it sits out. its natural to this area from limestone deposits etc

[randyl]

Originally Posted by HD Blazingwolf

some water treatment companies lower or raise ph by adding chemicals that when water is aged evaporate. my KH does not change no matter how long it sits out. its natural to this area from limestone deposits etc

+1 My tap is TDS 170, PH7.8, GH8, KH5, however long I age/aerated it it stays there. My RO comes out as < PH6.5 (I bypass the final polish stage, otherwise PH would be 6.8 - 7.0), and easily lower more if I want to.