Walnut Leaves - Aquarium Safe?

[Scottyhorse]

Was collecting some moss today for my lightbulb terrarium today and our walnut trees have covered a lot of the back back back yard (it's way back there ) in these pretty leaves. Wondering if they are safe for my betta tank? No chemicals used on them or anything...

 

[Old Scales]

Walnut leaves are extremely high in Tannic acid. We had a tree in our yard and the leaves would stain everything they were on when they deteriorated. Take some and put in a bucket of water. Test the pH at start, then recheck pH after a week. Be interesting to see the affect. OS.

 

[Scottyhorse]

They are such a pain! We have about 5 or 6 mature trees at least, and all the walnuts they drop are horrendous!

I will do that test. I wouldn't mind it dropping the PH some, and the betta wouldn't either!

 

[Rivercats]

I know Oak and Beech tree leaves are safe but in the back of my mind something is nagging at me about Walnut trees and a certain chemical they release but honestly I can't remember the what or why's.

I looked an had this bookmarked which gives a lot of information about leaves for tank use... Leaf litter | The Skeptical Aquarist.

 

[jlk]

They look like black walnut leaves which contain a toxin that can kill fish. My neighbor has one of these awful trees and I cringe every time the leaves and walnuts start to fall (too close to the pond). Here's a decent list of some other trees, shrubs and plants that may be of a concern:

http://plantsciences.utk.edu/pdf/PlantsthatPoisonFish.pdf

 

[Scottyhorse]

Good thing I didn't put them in then! We have black and English walnuts.