Oak Leaves

[mematrix]

:confused: Hi All. Not sure where to post this. I am a relative new apisto addict. Only a yr now but have 10 diferent species of apistos as of this coming wed. I have soft water 25-50ppm TGH but very alkaline 400-600 TKH 8.4 PH I use ROand Rain water some times but most of my apistos seem to like my water except the black water ones though it dosen't seem to bother them they just don't breed. Any way I have read some post talking about the use of oak leaves I have an oak tree which is droping leaves and was wondering how to prep and use them do I boul or just let sink on their own? Do I cover the bottom? And how much do they affect the water Quality? I intend to use them with thw rain water and RO water mostly since I have such a high KH I don't think they will be much help except in massive quantitys.
I have about a 2gal bucket full soaking in rain water I boiled right now trying to get them to sink faster. Or should I boil them with the water ? Can I use the water from the soaking leaves as a sort of humic water additive?

Species I Have

A. agassizii(female Yellow)
A. bitaeniata (purutu) 7 fish 3 males at least
A. borellii 1pr some fry
A. cacatudoides doubel red 2 pr
A. cruzi 1pr
A. norberti ? 1 fish male/female ?
A. panduro 1 male 1?male/fem 4 females
A. rotpunkt ? male/female?
A. nijsseni 1 pr comming wed from apisto dave
A. agassizii (red tail) 1pr coming from apistodave

Non apistos
Trio Dicrossus filamentosus
1 adult pr M. rammirezi + at least 10 pr from most recent spawn
1 pr N. anamola
1 pr L. dorsingera

Sincererly Curtis