The Complete Catappa Dosage Guide: How Many Leaves Do I Need?
POSTED ON NOV 20, 2025 | TOPIC: PREPARATION & FAQ
One of the most common questions we receive at Aloka Cipta Mandiri is: "How many leaves should I put in my tank?" The answer depends on your goal. Are you just feeding shrimp, or are you trying to lower the pH for wild Betta breeding? Here is our safe dosage guide.
1. The "Golden Rule" of Starting
Catappa leaves are potent. If you add too many at once, you risk dropping the pH too quickly, which can shock your fish.
Add 1 Medium Leaf (15-20cm) per 10 Gallons (40 Liters) of water.
This is a safe starting point that provides mild antibacterial benefits and light tinting without drastically altering water chemistry.
2. Dosage for Specific Goals
- For Betta Fish (General Care): 1 Medium Leaf per 5 Gallons. This creates a cozy, tea-colored environment perfect for stress reduction.
- For Shrimp Tanks (Feeding): 1 Nano Leaf (10cm) per 10 Gallons. For shrimp, the leaf is primarily food. You don't want to overload the tank with decaying matter, so less is more. Replace only when skeletonized.
- For Heavy Blackwater (Breeding): 2-3 Large Leaves per 10 Gallons. This is for advanced hobbyists breeding Wild Bettas, Chocolate Gouramis, or Discus who need pH levels below 6.0. Monitor pH daily when using this method.
3. Signs of Overdosing
While natural, it is possible to "overdose" on tannins. Watch for:
- Rapid pH Drop: If pH drops by more than 0.5 in 24 hours.
- Oxygen Depletion: As organic matter breaks down, it consumes oxygen. If fish are gasping at the surface, remove some leaves and increase aeration.
- Cloudy Water: A bacterial bloom from adding too many organics at once. Perform a water change.
Pro Tip: The "Steeping" Method
To be 100% safe, many aquarists steep the leaves in a bucket of water for 24 hours before adding them to the tank. This allows the initial "burst" of tannins to release in the bucket, preventing shock in the main aquarium.