jerrysbetta Posted December 29, 2009 Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 Dear AusAqua forumites, Please correct me wherever I may be wrong. I found out from the web that some hobbyists use Alder cones for the very same water conditioning/medicinal purposes as ketapang leaves or Indian Almond Leaves (IAL) due to the tannic acid it releases into the water amongst other solutes. I was wondering if any of you use Alder cones instead of ketapang and are there any significant differences in the effects of the two? With regards to the availability of Alder cones and IAL, does anyone living in Brisbane know of any publicly growing Common Alder or IAL trees in the central or eastern Brisbane region where one can freely pick? If not, are these leaves/cones available for purchase from any aquarium and how much would they cost? Am I mistaken and the Common Alder is not as commonly found as I would imagine it to be? Thank you for any info and I apologise if this was an old topic but I could not find my answers from the forums search option. Best Regards, Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted December 29, 2009 Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 Hi Jerry. I have never heard of anyone I know using Alder cones (but I may be sheltered, lol). People have certainly experimented with teabags - both decaf black tea, and rooibos tea. I personally use IAL and I purchase them from one of our members, Block2. he has an ad in the Classifieds forum. Cheers L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coo-ee Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Hi Jerry, I've also heard that alder cones (Alnus glutonus) can be used. There are some breeders that use alder cones in hatching containers in preference to IAL or meth blue for its antifungal properties. Can we get these in Australia?? Please let me know as I would also keen to try it out. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbygodz Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Hi Jerry, you would have I.A. growing wild up in your neck of the woods. Iv'e not heard of alder cones either , but now I'll have to check 'em out. Cheers, -Brad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbygodz Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Hmmm,"Alnus glutinosa" grows in the A.C.T. (at least) apparently. See link/pic. http://www.anbg.gov.au/photo/apii/id/dig/8457 -Brad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrysbetta Posted December 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Hey guys n gals, thank you for the replies and info. If im not wrong the tannic acid produced from IAL and Alder cones is supposedly the good stuff for our bettas. Chemically, tea bags release tannins instead of tannic acid and from what I've heard, tea bags wont harm the betta in anyway but im not sure about its benefits either. I guess I should try going on a bike ride to scour the surrounding woods for IAL If I do get my hands on Alder cones I would certainly give them a shot and report back in. (when I do get my hands on some bettas first ;p) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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