In aquarium use, Catappa leaves refer to the dried leaves of the Terminalia catappa tree – a tree that is native to Southeast Asia and has been used in traditional medicine there for centuries.
When added to your aquarium, a Catappa leaf will gradually break down. And as it does, it releases tannic acid, tannins and other substances into your aquarium.
As the tannic acid is released, it lowers the pH of your water. If you want a natural solution to reduce the pH levels in your aquarium, it helps to achieve just that.
A study has also found that Catappa leaves can significantly decrease water hardness (GH), which can benefit those who use hard water in their aquariums.
Catappa leaves change the water so that it more closely resembles the habitat of your fish, particularly those from Southeast Asia and South America.
Fish that benefit include:
- Angelfish
- Barbs
- Betta
- Cory catfish
- Discus
- Gouramis
- Killifish
- Platies
- Rasboras
- Tetra
