Typical tint contribution is not a pH guarantee.
Amber tint and water response vary by source water, buffering, filtration, quantity and aquarium biology. Do not chase instant pH changes.
Botanical Library
Aquarium Botanical Library: leaves, pods and natural structure.
Learn what each botanical type is best for before adding it to your tank. BBA guidance is safety-first, gradual and honest: prepare pieces, add slowly and observe livestock and water for 24-72 hours.
Safety-first library
Botanicals are chosen by aquarium role, not by promises.
This library explains leaves, pods, cones, shelter pieces, starter boxes, biofilm support and blackwater sachets using product-specific guidance. For two practical examples, compare Dried Beech Leaves as a simple leaf-litter route with the Buddha Nut Blackwater Botanical Box as a ready-made structure and shelter route.
Before choosing botanicals
Four things BBA wants customers to understand first.
These notes keep the library useful without making miracle claims. Natural botanicals can support a setup, but stable livestock and careful use come first.
Organic load matters in nano and shrimp tanks.
Smaller tanks can react quickly. Start with less material, keep oxygen and water clarity in mind, and pause if livestock behaviour changes.
See how Dany manages botanical turnover and filtration in his mature 1,200-litre aquarium. This is an observation of one established system, not a starting recipe for a small or new aquarium.
Prepare, add gradually, observe.
Rinse, steep or boil where appropriate, add in stages and observe livestock, smell, clarity and water behaviour for 24-72 hours.
Not sold as medication or livestock treatment.
Botanicals are not veterinary medicine and are not a substitute for diagnosing disease, water-quality problems or emergency livestock stress.
Quick route by aquarium
Choose the starting point that matches the tank.
Use these routes to move from aquarium needs to practical BBA guidance and suitable products.
Gentle leaf litter and grazing surfaces.
Start with small portions, low to moderate organic load and products with shrimp suitability notes.
Shrimp Botanicals GuideBrowse Shrimp ProductsCover, tint and calmer structure.
Leaves, gentle pods and sachets can suit a natural-looking betta route when added gradually.
Starter RoutesShelter, surface and layout texture.
Pods, bark, wood-style pieces and structure can help create cover and grazing interest when placed safely.
Pods & Wood GuideLess first, observe longer.
Use smaller pieces or portions and avoid heavy first additions in young or soft-water systems.
BBA MethodBuild tint slowly.
Choose tannin sources gradually and expect natural colour variation rather than identical results.
What to ExpectStart with a route, not a random mix.
Use Starter Routes or Find My Route first if you are unsure which botanical role fits your aquarium.
Use Find My RouteBotanical library
Explore botanicals by aquarium role.
Use the guides below to compare botanical roles and preparation notes, then open a product page for current options, prices and availability.
Purpose describes the material's role. Typical tint contribution describes the usual visible colour contribution when a product is introduced gradually; it does not grade the concentration of a dry ingredient or blend. Organic load concerns decomposing material; breakdown describes how quickly it changes. These qualitative categories are guides, not laboratory measurements or guarantees of suitability for every aquarium. Read the limitations and product-specific guidance. Unrecorded characteristics are not a positive suitability assessment.
Library category
Starter Routes & Botanical Boxes
Curated starting routes for customers who want guided selection rather than building from scratch.
9 product families in this guide
Starter Box
Blackwater Leaf Box – Leaf Litter Starter Mix
leaf-litter starting route; mixed leaf texture
Use only a small portion of the box, not the full mix.
Starter Box
Large Blackwater Botanical Enrichment Box – 100–120 L Aquariums
larger established aquariums; mixed structure and tannins
Not recommended as a full route for nano tanks.
Starter Box
Leaf Botanical Enrichment Box
mixed leaf-litter route; biofilm and grazing variety
Use only the smallest selected pieces if the route is suitable for nano tanks.
Starter Box
Nano Blackwater Botanical Box – up to 30L
small aquarium starting point; gentle botanical introduction
Do not add the whole box at once. Start with one or two small items.
Starter Box
Shrimp Biofilm Builder Pack – 20–60 L
shrimp grazing surfaces; biofilm route
Start with one small piece or a very small portion.
Starter Box
Shrimp Colony Starter Deluxe – 60–100L
established shrimp colony route; leaf litter and grazing variety
Not recommended as a full route for nano tanks.
Starter Box
Shrimp Grazing Leaf Pack – 20–40L
small shrimp grazing route; gentle leaf-litter introduction
Start with one small prepared piece and observe shrimp closely.
Starter Box
Small Blackwater Botanical Box – up to 60L
small blackwater route; starter botanical mix
Use only a small part of the box if the tank is below the intended size.
Starter Box
Snail Leaf Buffet Pack – 30–80L
snail grazing variety; leaf-litter buffet route
Use only the smallest selected pieces if the route is suitable for nano tanks.
Library category
Blackwater Sachets / Tea Bags
Measured blackwater-style support where a sachet or tea-bag format fits the aquarium plan.
2 product families in this guide
Botanical Sachet
BBA Amber Tannin Infusion Bags
controlled blackwater tint; betta-style soft amber look
Start with one small sachet only if the tank is stable and observe closely.
Botanical Sachet
Premium Lubao Bags
slow-release grazing support; shrimp and snail surface interest
Start with one small sachet only if appropriate for the tank.
Library category
Leaves & Leaf Litter
Leaf litter, grazing surfaces and gentle natural breakdown for prepared botanical aquariums.
16 product families in this guide
Leaf
Broken / Crushed Mulberry Leaf Pieces
small feeding-style leaf portions; shrimp and snail grazing
Start with a tiny pinch or one small piece only.
Leaf
Crushed Catappa Leaves – Indian Almond Leaf Pieces
measured leaf-litter portions; shrimp grazing
Start with a small pinch or a few pieces only.
Leaf
Dried Bamboo Leaves (Bambusa sp.) – Premium Shrimp & Blackwater Botanical
narrow leaf texture; light botanical litter
Start with part of a leaf or one small leaf, then observe.
Leaf
Dried Banana Leaf Pieces – Natural Aquarium Leaf Litter
soft leaf pieces; shrimp grazing
Start with a small piece only.
Leaf
Dried Beech Leaves (Fagus sp.) – Natural Aquarium Leaf Litter
natural temperate leaf-litter look; slow visual layering
Start with part of a leaf or one small leaf, then observe.
Leaf
Dried Bodhi Leaves (Ficus religiosa) – Aquarium Leaf Litter
decorative leaf-litter shape; gentle grazing surface
Start with part of a leaf or one small leaf, then observe.
Leaf
Dried Cinnamon Leaves – Natural Aquarium Leaf Litter
aromatic-style botanical leaf litter; warm natural leaf texture
Start with a very small piece only, or choose a milder starter leaf first.
Leaf
Dried Guava Leaves – Natural Aquarium Leaf Litter
leaf-litter texture; shrimp and snail grazing
Start with part of a leaf or one small leaf.
Leaf
Dried Jackfruit Leaves (Artocarpus heterophyllus) – Blackwater Leaf Litter
larger leaf texture; natural cover
Use only a small piece if the leaf is physically suitable.
Leaf
Dried Magnolia Leaves – Natural Aquarium Leaf Litter
large statement leaves; shelter-like leaf surfaces
Usually too large as a first choice; use smaller leaves instead.
Leaf
Dried Mango Leaves – Natural Aquarium Leaf Litter
mixed tropical leaf litter; gentle tint and grazing surface
Start with part of a leaf or one small leaf, then observe.
Leaf
Dried Mulberry Leaves – Aquarium Shrimp Food & Leaf Litter
shrimp grazing; leaf-litter feeding surface
Start with part of one leaf or one small leaf.
Leaf
Dried Oak Leaves – Natural Aquarium Leaf Litter
classic natural leaf litter; slow visual breakdown
Start with a small leaf or part leaf.
Leaf
Dried Terminalia catappa Leaves – Aquarium Leaf Litter
classic Catappa-style leaf litter; warm amber blackwater look
Start with part of a leaf or one small leaf, then observe.
Leaf
Indian Almond / Catappa Leaves – Aquarium Botanicals
classic leaf litter; gentle blackwater tint
Start with a small leaf or part leaf, then observe.
Leaf
Premium Mangrove Leaves – Natural Aquarium Leaf Litter
durable-looking leaf litter; coastal/mangrove-style botanical theme
Start with part of a leaf or one small leaf, then observe.
Library category
Pods, Cones & Shelter Pieces
Natural structure, hiding places, territory breaks and biofilm surfaces.
16 product families in this guide
Cone
Alder Cones – Aquarium Botanicals
small botanical detail; gentle tannin support
Start with one or two cones, then observe.
Pod
Badam Pods – Natural Botanical Pods
small-to-medium pod texture; blackwater detail
Usually choose smaller botanicals first; use only if the piece physically suits the tank.
Pod
Bakuli Pods – Aquarium Botanicals
small structure; natural shelter detail
Usually choose only one small piece if it physically fits.
Cone
Casuarina Cones – Aquarium Botanicals
small cone detail; shrimp grazing points
Start with one or two cones only.
Pod
Coconut Cup (Cocos nucifera) – Natural Botanical Cave
natural cave shape; shelter
Usually avoid unless the cup is physically suitable and open.
Pod
Couratari Pods – Natural Botanical Tubes
tube-like shelter; catfish and shrimp cover
Usually choose smaller botanicals first; use only if the piece physically suits the tank.
Pod
Eucalyptus Bell Pods / Eucalyptus Fruit Pods
small pod detail; texture in botanical layouts
Start with one or two small pods.
Pod
Jequitiba Pod / Savu Pod
statement pod structure; micro-shelter texture
Usually avoid unless a very small piece physically fits.
Pod
Land Lotus (Sterculia foetida) – Natural Botanical Pod
statement pod shape; blackwater structure
Usually choose smaller botanicals first; use only if the piece physically suits the tank.
Pod
Lotus Seed Pods – Aquarium Botanicals
visual structure; micro-hiding spaces
Usually choose smaller botanicals first; use only if the piece physically suits the tank.
Pod
Mintolla Ball (Cerbera odollam) – Natural Seed Pod
round seed-pod detail; visual structure
Usually choose smaller botanicals first; use only if the piece physically suits the tank.
Pod
Palmyrah Male Sheath (Borassus flabellifer) – Large Botanical Shelter
large botanical shelter; bold blackwater structure
Not recommended; choose small leaves or cones instead.
Pod
Palmyrah Pod Half (Arecaceae sp.) – Natural Botanical Cave
half-pod cave shape; natural shelter and visual focus
Usually choose smaller botanicals first; use only if the piece physically suits the tank.
Pod
Palmyrah Seeds (Borassus flabellifer) – Natural Botanical Caves
natural cave-like shelter; statement seed-pod structure
Usually choose smaller botanicals first; use only if the piece physically suits the tank.
Pod
Sapucaia Pod / Monkey Pot (Lecythis pisonis) – Natural Seed Pod
large cave-like seed pod; feature shelter
Not recommended; choose smaller botanicals.
Pod
Step Fruit (African Flame Tree) – Natural Botanical Structure
textured pod structure; grazing detail
Usually choose smaller botanicals first; use only if the piece physically suits the tank.
Library category
Wood / Bark / Structure
Durable botanical structure and bark-style pieces for shelter, texture and aquarium layout depth.
2 product families in this guide
Wood
Catappa Bark Tubes – Indian Almond Bark Hiding Tubes
natural tube shelter; grazing surface
Usually avoid unless the tube is small and safe for the livestock.
Wood
Cholla Wood / Cactus Skeleton
grazing surface; small shelter texture
Use one small piece only if it physically suits the tank.
Library category
Shrimp / Biofilm / Grazing Support
Surfaces and prepared support for grazing interest, biofilm routes and shrimp/snail setups.
1 product families in this guide
Prepared Food
Botanical Grazing Pellets
targeted shrimp grazing; supplemental botanical food
Start with a tiny portion and remove uneaten food.