Indian Almond Leaves

[Millsy]

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with Indian Almond Leaves, and what their findings/feelings are?

[Dean]

i think you will find most shrimp keepers use them.

they are a good food source and also soften the water a little which is good for crystal shrimp.

IAL is also suppose to have some antibacterial properties, so all in all they are good to use.

[emboli]

I use them when i am going away for a week or two on holidays.

It prevents the shrimp from starving to death and keeps the pH down.

You can also purchase a Tunz Auto top off system and connect it to you tank with R/O water.

This prevents evap while you are away

[lin]

wher do u get them from

[Loach]

wher do u get them from

You can get them from ebay or any good LFS that carry shrimp products.

[Millsy]

Cool, thanks for the info. I have some coming from ebay. They're only b/c quality, 50g for $4 was worth a look I figured.

I looked at your blog emboli. Wow, you have some really beautiful tanks mate. I also liked your pic's of your yellow cherries.

[lin]

will they die from getting to dry

[Loach]

will they die from getting to dry

The leaves are long dead when thyere dried. Dont know what your on about.

[isfrael]

will they die from getting to dry

You buy them dried, they are not fresh leaves

[Dave1]

Just a few questions re the leaves.

Do they drop the Ph straight away (eg in a few days) or do they need to break down over time to drop the ph?

I only have a few CRS in a tank. Can I cut the leaves up and feed small pieces every few days or do I put in a whole leaf and remove the uneaten portion after a set time?

Thanks

[isfrael]

I don't use them in my main tank, I just have a huge plastic drum outside, which I use for WC's, I have about 3 leaves in that all the time to change PH.

My shrimp are strange, I have never seen them eating the IAL ever, but most people say they go crazy for them....

[Matt_95]

I don't use them in my main tank' date=' I just have a huge plastic drum outside, which I use for WC's, I have about 3 leaves in that all the time to change PH.

My shrimp are strange, I have never seen them eating the IAL ever, but most people say they go crazy for them....[/quote']

They don't eat the IAL, they eat the biofilm that forms on the surface as bacteria break it down. Other microorganisms the shrimp like eat it as well.

[Sprae]

My shrimps certainly looks like they eat the decomposing IAL though. I do agree initially it's the biofilm that they feed on. Takes a few weeks for IAL to decompose.

[emboli]

I put mine in a tub of water for about 2 weeks before I throw it into the shrimp tank.

I find it softens the leaves and they eat the slime coat on the leaves

[Notlih]

Just received 100 A grade IAL from Singapore. The Ebay seller is very professional as she declared and pre-treat the IAL so there's no problem getting through the custom.

Cheers

[Foxpuppet]

Just received 100 A grade IAL from Singapore. The Ebay seller is very professional as she declared and pre-treat the IAL so there's no problem getting through the custom.

Cheers

Amy Kettapang INC?

i ordered some from her ebay store ages ago, got 1 lot of the teabag style which got in fine, but the lot of A-grade leaves i ordered a few weeks later was held and later destroyed by customs. it was a pain and i didnt bother to order from her again. they are cheap though, but it was easier to just buy locally.

[Notlih]

Amy Kettapang INC?

i ordered some from her ebay store ages ago' date=' got 1 lot of the teabag style which got in fine, but the lot of A-grade leaves i ordered a few weeks later was held and later destroyed by customs. it was a pain and i didnt bother to order from her again. they are cheap though, but it was easier to just buy locally.[/quote']

Thats the one..back than did she heat treat the IAL and declared for custom? Maybe I got lucky.

Cheers

[Matt_95]

Amy Kettapang INC?

i ordered some from her ebay store ages ago' date=' got 1 lot of the teabag style which got in fine, but the lot of A-grade leaves i ordered a few weeks later was held and later destroyed by customs. it was a pain and i didnt bother to order from her again. they are cheap though, but it was easier to just buy locally.[/quote']

I got mine from betta wan, customs doesn't seem to know what they're doing, an entire shipment was held for several weeks, over a month if I remember correctly. They eventually got let through. They held them for being citrus, then they held them because they thought the natural mottling was a bacterial infection.

[isfrael]

They don't eat the IAL' date=' they eat the biofilm that forms on the surface as bacteria break it down. Other microorganisms the shrimp like eat it as well.[/quote']

Let me re-quote that, I mean, I never see my shrimp on the IAL, or eat it, or eat anything on it, ever if it has been in for week/months and is breaking down.

[Matt_95]

I've never really seen mine become too interested in it it, they prefer spinach or dried blackberry.

[Foxpuppet]

I got mine from betta wan' date=' customs doesn't seem to know what they're doing, an entire shipment was held for several weeks, over a month if I remember correctly. They eventually got let through. They held them for being citrus, then they held them because they thought the natural mottling was a bacterial infection.[/quote']

yeah mine were held for the bacteria thing, but i actually just remembered i never heard back after the initial contact, haha i doubt they would still be there!

[bailey88]

All of my shrimp can't get enough of the ial's every time I look at tanks they always feeding of the biofilm

[Dave1]

Is there much difference between the A grade leaves and the non A grade leaves?

[Matt_95]

Is there much difference between the A grade leaves and the non A grade leaves?

A grade leaves are suitable for resale while non A grade leaves may not be flat and have holes and tears.

[Dave1]

Ok thanks. so there is nothing different about them in terms of the amount of tannins lowering Ph ect. just there shape/size?