Castle Dawn Aquatics Betta Rescue Program

The Merry Go and Thousand Sunny are ships from the hit anime series One Piece. Each one is hand-painted and beautifully detailed right down to the trademark straw hat sail, perfect for any anime fan.

By far our top-selling item, we cannot restock our blackwater aquarium packs quickly enough. Our Amazon blackwater aquarium pack has a mix of over 180 individual botanical pieces that help create amazing blackwater aquarium aquascapes. Our blackwater aquarium packs are cost-effective and a fond favourite amongst our biotope aquarium enthusiasts.

Every piece of botanical in our packs is collected from chemical-free sources and has been naturally sun-dried without the use of ethanol, we can assure you, you will not be disappointed.

Tannins Released: High

Handpicked by yours truly, lotus flower seed pods are excellent for shrimp aquariums as the small holes make great hideaways. Commonly used in Southeast China to improve fish health as the plant is believed to have antioxidant properties. Please note that lotus seed pods do not like to sink and patience is needed to get them waterlogged.

Tannins Released: High

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

Our forest floor litter packs are full of diverse colours and shapes with over 10 different species of leaves in every pack. Mixed among the leaves you may find botanicals such as acorns, magnolia stems and roots. Our packs allow you to truly create a natural-looking blackwater aquarium, bringing nature into the home.

Tannins Released: High

All our leaves are organically sourced, and free from harmful pesticides.

Our leaves are cosmetically varied and as nature intended, flaws and all. Colour, shape, size and appearance will vary throughout.

We find botanicals such as acorn cups make a great final touch to a blackwater aquarium scape for a more realistic finish. They produce a natural biofilm that is enjoyed by Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp as well as many species of Plecos and Ancistrus. They make great little hideaways for small fry and shrimplets and produce a lot of tannins considering their size. Mix with turkey oak acorns to diversify your aquascape.

Tannins Released: High

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

These are the go-to leaves for all our blackwater species, these are perfect for breeders or for someone who wants to create a more natural feel to their blackwater biotope aquascapes. The leaves have naturally dried and fallen from the tree, curled up or crinkled in the process. 

They do the exact same job as grade A leaves (Grading in Catappa Indian almond leaves is used to refer to the cosmetic appearance only)  they just aren’t as refined in appearance, however, in our opinion they give a more natural appearance when used in aquascaping.

Catappa Indian almond leaves are renowned for their antibacterial properties helping keep common aquarium diseases at bay. They are also known to increase fish health, colour and create suitable spawning conditions for many South American and South-eastern fish species.

Tannins Released: High

Check out our Extra-large Catappa Indian almond leaves.

All our leaves are organically sourced, and free from harmful pesticides.

Our leaves are cosmetically varied and as nature intended, flaws and all. Colour, shape, size and appearance will vary throughout.

A staple for blackwater aquarium aquascapers and shrimp keepers in South East Asia, Gumnut Pods make great hideaways for shrimplets, and like our Gogo pods, they make excellent spawning caves for very small fish. They will refine any biotope blackwater aquarium giving a more realistic appearance of a forest river floor, scattered amongst the leaf litter.

Tannins Released: High

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

These beautiful leaves come from the Ginkgo biloba, which is the only living species of Ginkgoales that first appeared over 290 million years ago. Although they do not produce much in the way of tannins, their elegant shape and rich gold colour really add a unique and exquisite element to any blackwater aquarium. They are a favourite with our shrimp customers as Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp enjoy dining on the delicate textured leaves.

Tannins Released: Low

All our leaves are organically sourced, and free from harmful pesticides.

Our leaves are cosmetically varied and as nature intended, flaws and all. Colour, shape, size and appearance will vary throughout.

Commonly used as an alternative to Catappa Indian almond leaves in South East China. Eucalyptus Seed Pods help keep diseases at bay due to their antibacterial properties. A great addition to a Malaysian blackwater aquarium biotope.

Tannins Released: Medium

COMMON QUESTION: Customers have reached out to us regarding concerns about the use of Eucalyptus Seed Pods and the release of essential oil. Out of all parts of the Eucalyptus tree, the seed pods contain the least amount of essential oil, with the bark and sap having the highest traces. 

After boiling the seed pods for the recommended time, the essential oil released is minimal. This is why they are used by many aquarists in parts of Southeast Asia, as it is believed the small trace of essential oil after prepping the seed pods is just enough to have a positive antibacterial effect on the aquarium. 

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

Our Alder cones are collected from Ireland and are a staple addition to any biotope blackwater or shrimp aquascape. Alder cones create biofilm which is a natural food source for shrimp, plecos and Bottom-dwelling fish. They are widely used as an alternative for Catappa Indian Almond leaves as they are believed to have similar antibacterial properties.

Tannins Released: High

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

The large resin driftwood is a perfect alternative for those who want a hassle-free approach to keeping wood in the aquarium. Unlike real wood, our resin aquarium driftwood will not release tannins in the water, lower PH values or produce biofilm. All our resin aquarium driftwoods are hand-painted to give a more realistic appearance and made from 100% aquatic safe resins.

Designed around the Ta Prohm temple at the Angkor complex in Cambodia. This mini replica is unique and stunningly detailed. It brings a touch of ancient history to your aquarium while providing shelter and hiding places for your fish, great for Plecos and Catfish.