Sweet Gum Tree Pods Splashy Fish

A favourite among shrimp keepers in Southeast Asia, they provide shelter for shrimplets and make an excellent alternative food source for Neocaridina, Taiwan and Crystal Bee shrimp. Their unique appearance will add a new element to any biotope blackwater aquascape and are gaining popularity among many aquascapers and shrimp keepers in the west.

Tannins Released: High

All our botanicals are organically sourced, free from harmful pesticides and naturally sun-dried without the use of chemicals.

Pack of Dried Sweet Gum Tree Pods 10 pcs.

(Pod size ~ approx. 1.5” ea.)

These pods are pre-cleaned, boiled, and dried before packaging.
Recommendations:
– Sweet gum tree pods will develop a thin ‘bio-film’ surrounding the leaves under normal, healthy tank conditions.
– Pods will dissolve over time and should be removed from the tank when they appear to breakdown excessively, become very soft, or begin to dissolve.

The pretty pineapple-like cone may appear unfamiliar to many aquarium hobbyists in the American region, yet they have been used and introduced to the hobby in Asia for years. 

Casuarina cones, much like Alder or Birch cones, are best known for the impressive capacity of releasing tannin and creating a ‘blackwater’ atmosphere in aquariums with just a small number of botanicals. They are cones from Casuarina equisetifolia or “Australian Pine Tree” which are widely found in many Asia regions. Casuarina cones are pretty small (about half an inch to 1 inch in length); however, if compared to other cones, they are larger and ‘fatter’ in general. 

The cones also seem to be superior to Alder and Birch cones in both aspects of staying intact and producing tannin for a longer time. Such feature makes it the favorite of many skilled aquascapers since they can create a striking ‘blackwater’ aquarium without adding or replacing the cones with the new ones many times. Moreover, Casuarina cones are best recommended for shrimp tanks as these tiny creatures like to forage for biofilm which is occasionally found in these botanicals.

Casuarina cones are also reported for the capacity of lowering pH levels. Nonetheless, its influence is not as significant as Alder, or even Birch. However, Casuarina cones do impact water chemistry in your tank which makes the use and the quantity of cones put in the aquarium considered carefully. 

What You Can Expect From This Botanical:

• Excellent tannin-production capacity

• Wonderful shape similar to pineapples yet in mini size

• Allow shrimp to forage for biofilm

How To Use: 

Either putting the cones directly into the tank or employing them through a filter or media are both accepted. Note that the tannin-release of Casuarina cones does not last permanently. After a specific time, you have to replace the current with new Casuarina cones if you still wish for the effect.

For more information about Casuarina Cones and how to use or benefit from such cones, see here.