I had not considered other leaves. I conveniently have an Oak tree in the garden.... Will do some research but is it fresh leaves or fallen ones you should use?
Fallen and dry ones
.
I was just looking for an order of magnitude change. My pH varies from 7.7 to 7.9 at the minute and was just wondering whether we are talking about a huge drop into acidic pH or whether it is a couple of points.
Same as before, nobody can tell you. If you added catappa leaves, it could go down to pH 6 (no big deal), or it could just go slightly down to 7.5. Nobody can tell what will happen (other than the pH will drop) until you try. I would
guess if you just added a few oak leaves, it will probably stay above pH 7, adding more catappa leaves could bring it below 7.
I would prefer not to be adding the Excel but I have found that it helps with the algae due to the high lights (keeping BBA at bay rather than the green algae)
Ah OK, so you
are trying to kill algae with Excel. It can kill both types, as well as bacteria. Adding leaves will only mean you have more BBA due to the extra decaying organics. So if I were you I would try to get rid of the BBA using a permanent method (adjusting the environment) rather than regularly adding a broad spectrum biocide that will kill a small amount of all types of algae and bacteria only for them to grow right back because the environment is still good for them.There is nothing bad about BBA unless you don't like the look of it, it's just part of your tanks ecosystem, to reduce it, you would want to reduce light, and increase plant mass and do more water changes. You can add Excel if you like to, it won't cause any
visible harm (other than possibly irritating your Amano shrimp), but you would see better results by just scrubbing/picking it off.
You seem to like the idea of a natural aquarium and can see the benefits for the livestock, but you are using techniques that are better suited to "aquascapers" who are trying to create a very specific clean aesthetic rather than a stable natural aquatic environment.
There was mention of anti-septic properties in these leaves which I guess is specific to them?
Many tannin compounds from different types of leaves can have an anti-fungal and/or anti-bacterial effect, catappa leaves do contain a relatively large amount compared to many other leaves. Why would you want to add something with anti-septic properties to your aquarium though? Do you have a problem with fin rot or some other illness? If not, the anti-septic properties are of no advantage to you, these properties are highly valued by
Betta breeders and breeders of other blackwater fish though. The reason it is valuable to them is that they often keep and breed their fish in filterless tanks, they use the tannins to keep the pH low so ammonia isn't toxic to the fish (in acidic water, most ammonia is in it's non-toxic ammonium form), and the antiseptic properties can stop infections in the otherwise poor water conditions.
I would recommend adding just a few oak leaves and stopping the Excel dosing. If you want to continue adding Excel to kill BBA, don't add any leaves as you would be defeating the purpose of adding Excel.
You could do both and there would be no big issue for your tank, you would be using methods that counteract each other IMO, which just complicates things for no reason.