[Diana]

I am not sure how much tannins are in a magnolia leaf. If you already have some on hand, put a couple in a glass of water and see how long it takes to look like tea. When you boil them does that water turn colors? If not, or just a bit, then there is likely not much tannins in the leaves.

Are you using Magnolia grandiflora? Those are really sturdy leaves, ought to hold up really well under water.

 

[Betta132]

The water ends up looking kind of like weak tea. If I boil the leaves several times, will it get a bunch of the tannins out?
I really don't know what kind of magnolias they are... The kind with the leaves over six inches long and the dinner-plate-sized flowers.

 

[amberoze]

That sounds like grandiflora. How big are the trees they come from? If the boiled out water turns out looking like weak tea, then the water in your tank probably won't be affected much.

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[Betta132]

The trees are maybe a bit under twenty feet tall... It's Texas, so magnolias don't really do all that well here.
Thanks! It's a 65 gallon tank, so I don't think a few leaves will really do too much, I just wanted a second opinion.