tadpole tea and blackwater extract

[flybyferns]

I have been reading about tadpole tea.

Can commercial blackwater extract be used instead of a homemade recipe?
I have used "Tetra Aqua blackwater extract "in Discus tanks for many years which
"replicates blackwater/biotopes amazon conditions" and have VERY old Discus.
I have confidence in the product for the Discus. I have reared spawns using it ; with all water changes for spawns and on regular weekly maintenance.

Has anyone used 'blackwater' ( in a water area) in their tree frog enclosures on a regular basis?

Breeding

The above article on (breeding dendrobates) states a commercial brand is okay but does not provide a commercial brand name, and does not discuss its use otherwise.

also found this in another Whites care article for "all" the water in the enclosure:

" Bad water is the number one cause of death for frogs in captivity. We have recently started adding Tetra Black Water Extract to all of our frogs water, which lowers the pH slightly. The frog seem to love it! "

Lynn

[tgampper]

Hi Lynn:

Yes, you can use a commercial blackwater extract, however it would be better to make your own. There are plenty of recipes on the Internet. The acidic water has properties that help prevent bacterial and fungal infections. My Surinam toads like blackwater too!

I don't know any xanthic red eye owners.

[flybyferns]

Thanks Terry,
I really appreciate your response!
Lynn

[Kurt]

I agree with Terry, although I do prefer using Indian almond leaves.

[flybyferns]

Hi Lynn:

Yes, you can use a commercial blackwater extract, however it would be better to make your own. There are plenty of recipes on the Internet. The acidic water has properties that help prevent bacterial and fungal infections. My Surinam toads like blackwater too!

I don't know any xanthic red eye owners.

Hi Terry,
I know it keeps the water a bit more acidic.
I use it in my discus tanks to make SOFT acidic water.
"Soft" being--- more the benefit.
Especially when taking water from the tap on Long Island!
It's a ph of 7, but very hard !!!
Thanks again, Lynn

[flybyferns]

I agree with Terry, although I do prefer using Indian almond leaves.

Hi Kurt,
Indian almond leaves ?
Please, please , share details !!
Thanks, Lynn

[velvety14u]

Lynn check them out on eBay, also Josh's frogs has them too.

[flybyferns]

Lynn check them out on eBay, also Josh's frogs has them too.

Oh ! Thank You !!
I just order them. 2 seconds ago. lol
Now, I just need to know what I will be doing with them?

Seriously, I do know.
BUT , I still want---- AND need- KURT'S advice !

Lynn

[wesleybrouwer]

You can just use it as oak leaves or alder props.
It's also very suitable to use on you're tank floor as leaflitter.

In aquarium it's used for a long time for it's healing, anti-fungal and anti parasite properties for example.

Some tribes still use the different parts of these trees as a homeopathic medicine to cure all kind of things,
there are different scientific researches done to the properties that approve these abbilities.
For example it's used to get rid of intestinal parasites in human, against traveling nausea, to stop bleeding, against burns, eye problems and even against certain types of cancer.

Here are some links you may like to read about it, or just google if you like to find more about the indian almond leaves


~ Indian Almond Leaves (T. catappa) for Aquariums ~

http://www.ajol.info/index.php/bajop...le/58449/46794

Acta Horticulturae

Terminalia catappa health benefits

Terminalia catappa Linn. (Combretaceae)

Antiparasitic, antibacterial, and antifungal activities derived from a Terminalia catappa solution against some tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) pathogens | Mendeley

New Cures » cancer cured with terminalia catappa plant products

Antimetastatic effects of Terminalia catappa L. on oral cancer via a down-regulation of metastasis-associated proteases 10.1016/j.fct.2010.01.019 : Food and Chemical Toxicology | ScienceDirect.com

Terminalia catappa Linn. (Combretaceae)

[flybyferns]

You can just use it as oak leaves or alder props.
It's also very suitable to use on you're tank floor as leaflitter.

In aquarium it's used for a long time for it's healing, anti-fungal and anti parasite properties for example.

Some tribes still use the different parts of these trees as a homeopathic medicine to cure all kind of things,
there are different scientific researches done to the properties that approve these abbilities.
For example it's used to get rid of intestinal parasites in human, against traveling nausea, to stop bleeding, against burns, eye problems and even against certain types of cancer.

Here are some links you may like to read about it, or just google if you like to find more about the indian almond leaves


~ Indian Almond Leaves (T. catappa) for Aquariums ~

http://www.ajol.info/index.php/bajop...le/58449/46794

Acta Horticulturae

Terminalia catappa health benefits

Terminalia catappa Linn. (Combretaceae)

Antiparasitic, antibacterial, and antifungal activities derived from a Terminalia catappa solution against some tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) pathogens | Mendeley

New Cures » cancer cured with terminalia catappa plant products

Antimetastatic effects of Terminalia catappa L. on oral cancer via a down-regulation of metastasis-associated proteases 10.1016/j.fct.2010.01.019 : Food and Chemical Toxicology | ScienceDirect.com

Terminalia catappa Linn. (Combretaceae)

Hi Wesley,
Thanks for posting a reply. And thanks for all the links!!! I will read all of them.
I am not raising red eye tads.
I am interested in 'softening' water I have 'stacked' and waiting for my red eye's enclosures.



I have filtered soaking areas in my enclosures for my red eyes. No little dishes.
Our water - (from the tap hear on Long Island, NY) -it is neutral--but hard.
As mentioned, I have used the tetra blackwater for many years in 2 discus tanks.
So, just wondering how I might soften the water in these gallons of treated H20 that I prepare ahead of time. And, if it will be safe for my red eyes to soak in.

Thanks Again ,Lynn

[wesleybrouwer]

The leaves won't help you lowering the GH/KH significantly.
It;s more because of the anti fungal properties etc.
If you really need to lower this, best is to boil water or use reverse osmosis.

There are many "recipes" for black water with different ingredients.
I tried using alder props, oak leaves, rooibos tea and catappa leaves.
The thing i like best are the leaves, mainly because my tads will be able to nibble on them as well.
Since there are back up studies providing evidence of the healing properties of the indian almond leaves i now mainly use these.


You may boil water and drop in any of these ingredients, sift it and you got yourself black water.
This can be stored in bottles and mixed with tap water for usage.
I don't know the quality of the tapwater in the US, but in Holland tap water has an even stricter protocol then bottled water,
so i just take the calcium for granted.
Used RO water for a while, but it gives a lot of "waste" water, so i now descided to just clean the calcium of the windows more often
Otherwise you may take some leaves and put them in stockings, just put them in your cannisters while they are ventilated.
It will give you a similair effect.
The black water is easier in use when you tap you're water or use an osmosis system,
you just have to put in the black water and you're ready to go.
Putting in some crumbled leaves in stockings will take a while to draw the tea from.
Just as in regular tea, boiling water draws a lot quicker.

Don't know if it is a proper saying in English, but as we say,
there are many roads leading to Rome

[flybyferns]

The leaves won't help you lowering the GH/KH significantly.
It;s more because of the anti fungal properties etc.
If you really need to lower this, best is to boil water or use reverse osmosis.

There are many "recipes" for black water with different ingredients.
I tried using alder props, oak leaves, rooibos tea and catappa leaves.
The thing i like best are the leaves, mainly because my tads will be able to nibble on them as well.
Since there are back up studies providing evidence of the healing properties of the indian almond leaves i now mainly use these.


You may boil water and drop in any of these ingredients, sift it and you got yourself black water.
This can be stored in bottles and mixed with tap water for usage.
I don't know the quality of the tapwater in the US, but in Holland tap water has an even stricter protocol then bottled water,
so i just take the calcium for granted.
Used RO water for a while, but it gives a lot of "waste" water, so i now descided to just clean the calcium of the windows more often
Otherwise you may take some leaves and put them in stockings, just put them in your cannisters while they are ventilated.
It will give you a similair effect.
The black water is easier in use when you tap you're water or use an osmosis system,
you just have to put in the black water and you're ready to go.
Putting in some crumbled leaves in stockings will take a while to draw the tea from.
Just as in regular tea, boiling water draws a lot quicker.

Don't know if it is a proper saying in English, but as we say,
there are many roads leading to Rome

Thank You, I appreciate ALL of this information AND ---your time !
I would make ,only very, tiny changes at a time.
I'll am always very systematic about anything I decide to do/or change.
We'll see.
Lynn

[flybyferns]

Hi Lynn:

Yes, you can use a commercial blackwater extract, however it would be better to make your own. There are plenty of recipes on the Internet. The acidic water has properties that help prevent bacterial and fungal infections. My Surinam toads like blackwater too!

I don't know any xanthic red eye owners.

Hi--- Kurt,Terry and Wesley,
I received my Indian Almond leaves from Josh's Frogs. They are large. I didn't expect that.
Packed very nicely!




NOW! I just have to figure out how I am going to approach this ?

I store ( 5 gallons at a time ) of treated water for adding to the "froggie spa" areas in my enclosures.
My frogs soak there---- NOT in dishes. The froggie spas are small sections of water on the bottom that are filtered. I have this water area covered w/ plexi to create a shallow pool. Water changes are done when needed. But, most of the time the water evaporates quickly and is just replaced w/ the stored water on hand. I was considering putting small pieces of the almond leaves into the containers? Or, should it be done more scientifically than that?
Lynn

[wesleybrouwer]

It's no rocket science at all
The only thing is that you wan't the substances to be extracted from the leafs,
wether you make yourself a strong solution that you can mix in before usage or make larger ready to use portion you keep in you're storage containers doesn't matter that much.
Personally i find the strong solution more handy, you can keep it in bottles with the cap on, it;s just that i think this way the substances are preserved better then in an aerated storage container.
You can easily dose the way you like and use the rest at a later time.
When you do it at a container a time, you always have to plan it up front

[flybyferns]

It's no rocket science at all
The only thing is that you wan't the substances to be extracted from the leafs,
wether you make yourself a strong solution that you can mix in before usage or make larger ready to use portion you keep in you're storage containers doesn't matter that much.
Personally i find the strong solution more handy, you can keep it in bottles with the cap on, it;s just that i think this way the substances are preserved better then in an aerated storage container.
You can easily dose the way you like and use the rest at a later time.
When you do it at a container a time, you always have to plan it up front

Thanks,Wesley!
I appreciate your taking the time to respond.
Lynn