Aquatic Arts Tannin Tea Bags (Terminalia catappa) — Natural Tannins Without Debris
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Experience the benefits of natural tannins without the mess. The Aquatic Arts Tannin Tea Bags offer a clean and convenient way to add the water-conditioning power of Terminalia catappa (Indian Almond Leaves) to your aquarium. Each tea bag slowly releases beneficial tannins and humic substances that help create a healthy, balanced environment for fish, shrimp, and other freshwater inhabitants—without leaving behind loose debris or leaf litter.
Perfect for aquarists who appreciate the beauty and function of blackwater conditions, these tea bags provide a gentle amber tint that soothes fish, enhances coloration, and supports natural behaviors such as breeding and foraging.
Features We Love:
• Natural Tannins, No Mess: Enjoy the conditioning power of Indian Almond Leaves without floating debris or disintegrating leaf material.
• Supports Fish Health: Tannins and humic acids promote slime coat production, reduce stress, and mimic natural habitats.
• Enhances Color & Behavior: Deepens colors in fish and shrimp while encouraging more natural activity.
• Safe & Sustainable: Made with responsibly sourced Terminalia catappa and sealed in biodegradable, aquarium-safe sachets.
Usage:
Simply drop one Aquatic Arts Tannin Tea Bag into your aquarium or filter chamber. Each bag treats up to 20 gallons (75 liters) of water. For stronger coloration or softer water, use additional bags as desired. Remove tea bag from the tank within 24 hours after adding it to avoid excessive breakdown of the materials. Use a new bag every 2–3 weeks or during regular water changes to replenish tannic acid.
Pro Tip: For smaller tanks or shrimp setups, start with a partial steep (5–10 minutes in a separate container) before adding the conditioned water to your tank for precise control over color and tannin strength.
Ideal For:
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Freshwater fish that thrive in soft, acidic, or blackwater environments (such as tetras, rasboras, bettas, and angelfish)
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Freshwater shrimp and snails that benefit from biofilm and humic-rich water
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Aquarists who love the aesthetic of naturally tinted aquascapes but prefer minimal maintenance
ARTS in Action:
Aquascaping: Enhances natural, biotope-inspired layouts with warm amber tones.
Responsibility: 100% natural, biodegradable, and sustainably sourced botanical material.
Thriving Life: Promotes healthy, stress-free behavior and stronger immune systems.
Storytelling: Captures the beauty and calm of tropical blackwater environments in a clean, modern format.
Create natural beauty and balance with the Aquatic Arts Tannin Tea Bags — the cleanest way to bring the benefits of botanicals into your aquarium.
What are Tannin Tea Bags used for in an aquarium?
They’re used to add natural tannins and organic compounds to the water without introducing loose leaves or debris. This makes them ideal for hobbyists who want the benefits of botanicals with more control and less cleanup.
How are these different from using Catappa leaves directly?
Catappa leaves break down in the tank over time. Tea bags deliver the same tannin-rich benefits, but in a cleaner, more controlled way. There’s no leaf litter to manage and no long-term decomposition in the aquarium.
Who benefits most from tannin tea bags?
They’re especially popular with shrimp keepers, betta tanks, quarantine setups, and anyone running a clean or minimalist aquascape. They’re also great for sensitive fish that benefit from softer, more natural water conditions.
Will tannin tea bags turn my water dark?
They can tint the water, but the intensity is easy to control. One tea bag creates a light to moderate tint, depending on tank size. You can remove the bag at any time once you reach the look you want.
How do I use a tannin tea bag in my tank?
Simply place the tea bag directly into the aquarium or filter media area. Let it steep just like tea. You can remove it after a few hours or leave it longer for a stronger effect.
Can I make tannin tea outside the tank instead?
Yes. Many hobbyists steep the tea bag in a container of warm water, then add the liquid to the aquarium during water changes. This gives you even more control over tannin strength.
How long does one tea bag last?
A single bag can be effective for several days, depending on how strong you want the tannins. Once the color stops deepening, the bag has done its job and can be removed.
Do tannin tea bags affect water parameters?
They may gently lower pH over time, but the change is usually mild and gradual. Stability is key—tea bags are best used to support an already stable system rather than force rapid changes.
Are tannin tea bags safe for planted tanks?
Yes. They won’t harm plants and won’t introduce debris that could interfere with plant growth. Many planted tank keepers prefer tea bags for this reason alone.
Who are Tannin Tea Bags best suited for?
They’re perfect for aquarists who want the benefits of botanicals without the mess. If you like precision, clean tanks, or adjusting tannins gradually, these tea bags are an easy and flexible option.
For the safety of our animals, we only ship live fish, crabs, and select other inverts exclusively via UPS 1 Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS 1 Day Air as a shipping option during checkout. If other items are in your cart that can ship with 2 day or standard shipping options the only shipping method you can still select is UPS 1 Day Air.
UPS 1 Day is a description of the duration of time a shipment will spend in transit once it has been shipped. This does not guarantee the package will be shipped the same or next day from which the order was placed.
Shipping Schedule for this service
Current Handling Time:
1-9 business days
Here at Aquatic Arts, we consider the welfare of the live animals we are shipping to be of the foremost importance. This process is much more involved than simply creating a shipping label and affixing it to a box. Depending on the order, it takes from 4 to 7 people to complete this process properly. We check the weather conditions here where they fly out of the Indianapolis UPS facility and the destination for each shipment. We start early each morning and go through a multi-step process to have the day's shipments prepared in time for the UPS pickup. The volume of orders in our system also affects the processing time. Therefore our stated handling time is 1-9 business days.
Shipping Rate
Pricing is by size of package needed to fill entire order and distance it must travel. It will be calculated at checkout.
