[King Friday]

Not sure if this is the best place to post this, but it seemed as good as any, so here goes.

So, I was doing some research on freshwater pipefish and came across this video:

http://www.youtube.c...ture=plpp_video

Apart from the really nifty pipefish and shrimp (and the unfortunate Blair Witch camera work), I was grabbed by the heap of acorn caps visible in the tank. They look really nice in a little pile like that with the marsilea growing around them. Not really habitat accurate, but very cool nonetheless.

What do you think they do to the water chemistry? I assume they would acidify it somewhat. Think they'd be harmful to the fish over time? I have massive oaks in my backyard and can glean caps by the hundreds. I was thinking about collecting some, boiling them for a few hours, then soaking until waterlogged and putting them in one of my nanos. I've done oak leaves before in my shrimp tank with no discernible negative effects. Wonder if these would be the same? Any opinions?

Check out other vids by the same guy. He has these nifty nanos made from some sort of jars that are really very nice. I'd guess about 3 gallons in volume, give or take. The aquarium above is one of them and is shown in a number of other vids.

 

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Acorns vary in acidity from year to year and species to species. The simplest thing I can think of is boil some for five minutes or so, place them in as large an inert container as you can, and start testing the water every few days for a few weeks. That will give you a good idea of what will happen in your tank.

Carbon filtration might be needed for a day or three, to clean up the color if you get much.

 

[mattycakesclark]

I have placed acorns and dried oak leaves in my aquarium before, besides a humic/tanic color (which I liked), I had no issues. The shrimps and fry loved playing in them.

But my experience was not very scientific or cautious.

 

[King Friday]

Well, I figure I'll follow Don's advice and boil them for a while, then soak 'em for a few weeks, see what they do, then go for it. I don't foresee a big problem, and I can always take 'em out at the first sign of trouble.

 

[gbb0330]

Well, I figure I'll follow Don's advice and boil them for a while, then soak 'em for a few weeks, see what they do, then go for it. I don't foresee a big problem, and I can always take 'em out at the first sign of trouble.

I would like to resurrect this thread.

What do you think about acorn caps and acorns in aquariums?. what about oak leaves?

 

[ddaquaria]

I would like to resurrect this thread.

What do you think about acorn caps and acorns in aquariums?. what about oak leaves?

Hate to resurrect an old thread, but to provide an answer - you should have no issues with oak leaves. I usually grab 2 - 3 1 gallon bags full from my yard before the 1st rain after foliage starts to fall. I boil them first then divide up among all my tanks. They can disintegrate fast though. This year I'm gathering oak caps.