Should I boil wood?

jaylach · Sep 10, 2022

I just ordered a couple of small pieces of driftwood and realize they can leech tannin to the water. My understanding is that boiling will release a lot of the tannin helping to reduce the tank's water from getting a green or brown tint. Both pieces are small probably averaging ~6 inches. While I'm sure not exactly what I will get images will be below.

One of the pieces has an Anubias mounted so, of course, I can't boil that piece. My question is if it would help if I boiled the other piece or if I should just not bother.

FishandBirdLover · Sep 10, 2022

I had driftwood in my tanks, but they never leached tannins. I just rinsed them and popped them into the tank. IMO I like the tannins, whatsoever, but not everybody likes them.

Byron · Sep 10, 2022

Never boil wood, it breaks the wood fibers down so the wood will rot faster. Soaking in room temperature water may leech out some of the tannins, but I would never waste time doing this because tannins are beneficial to fish. Given the small sizes of the wood here, it is not going to cause much discolouration anyway.

jaylach · Sep 10, 2022

FishandBirdLover said:
I had driftwood in my tanks, but they never leached tannins. I just rinsed them and popped them into the tank. IMO I like the tannins, whatsoever, but not everybody likes them.

Thanks.

I don't really mind tannin either. If I can ever find the dwarf cichlids I want a bit of tannin would probably be good as the things live in murky water in nature.

Just going by your user name do you have any birds? I have a VERY independent and belligerent cockatiel named Terabit.

Byron said:
Never boil wood, it breaks the wood fibers down so the wood will rot faster. Soaking in room temperature water may leech out some of the tannins, but I would never waste time doing this because tannins are beneficial to fish. Given the small sizes of the wood here, it is not going to cause much discolouration anyway.

Thanks Byron.

I DID wonder if boiling would soften the wood which I would think would equate to your saying that it breaks down the wood fibers.

FishandBirdLover · Sep 10, 2022

jaylach said:
Thanks. I don't really mind tannin either. If I can ever find the dwarf cichlids I want a bit of tannin would probably be good as the things live in murky water in nature.

Just going by your user name do you have any birds? I have a VERY independent and belligerent cockatiel named Terabit.

Dwarf cichlids are the most adorable things!

Yep, Cute little canaries.

connorlindeman · Sep 10, 2022

jaylach said:
Thanks. I don't really mind tannin either. If I can ever find the dwarf cichlids I want a bit of tannin would probably be good as the things live in murky water in nature.

Just going by your user name do you have any birds? I have a VERY independent and belligerent cockatiel named Terabit.

Thanks Byron. I DID wonder if boiling would soften the wood which I would think would equate to your saying that it breaks down the wood fibers.

What type of dwarf cichlids are you going for?

jaylach · Sep 10, 2022

LOL! Since it is my thread and my question has been answered I think/hope I can get away with going a bit off topic.

If I can ever find a source I want Laetacara Dorsigera; Red Breast Dwarf.

I would welcome a picture of your canaries! Here is my 'bird from hell'.

connorlindeman · Sep 10, 2022

jaylach said:
LOL! Since it is my thread and my question has been answered I think/hope I can get away with going a bit off topic.

If I can ever find a source I want Laetacara Dorsigera; Red Breast Dwarf.
View attachment 166513

I would welcome a picture of your canaries! Here is my 'bird from hell'.
View attachment 166514

Cool fish! Never heard of them. If you are good with ordering online, they are in stock here:

BEAUTIFUL DWARF FLAG CICHLID (Laetacara curviceps) 1 TO 1.5"

Great Dwarf Flag Cichlid 1 TO 1.5" They are really healthy, strong and getting great color pattern. It is a great addition for your community tank, small, pretty, easy to breed, a good community fish. Live Arrival guaranteed..!We ship Mondays, Tuesdays and WednesdaysIn the very rare event of...

www.bioacuatica.com

Disclaimer: Never purchased from them before so I cant vouch for them at all.

jaylach · Sep 10, 2022

connorlindeman said:
Cool fish! Never heard of them. If you are good with ordering online, they are in stock here:

BEAUTIFUL DWARF FLAG CICHLID (Laetacara curviceps) 1 TO 1.5"

Great Dwarf Flag Cichlid 1 TO 1.5" They are really healthy, strong and getting great color pattern. It is a great addition for your community tank, small, pretty, easy to breed, a good community fish. Live Arrival guaranteed..!We ship Mondays, Tuesdays and WednesdaysIn the very rare event of...

www.bioacuatica.com

Disclaimer: Never purchased from them before so I cant vouch for them at all.

Thanks but wrong fish. What you linked is Laetacara curviceps which get larger than the Laetacara Dorsigera I want. They both often go by the common name of red breast but are actually not the same fish.

connorlindeman · Sep 10, 2022

jaylach said:
Thanks but wrong fish. What you linked is Laetacara curviceps which get larger than the Laetacara Dorsigera I want. They both often go by the common name of red breast but are actually not the same fish.

oops lol

jaylach · Sep 10, 2022

connorlindeman said:
oops lol

No need for an oops. You tried to help and I appreciate.

sharkweek178 · Sep 10, 2022

What's a good way to disinfect wood to make sure it's safe? Hydrogen peroxide dip?

jaylach · Sep 10, 2022

sharkweek178 said:
What's a good way to disinfect wood to make sure it's safe? Hydrogen peroxide dip?

Can't really say that I know an answer to that. My best guess would be to buy from a trusted place like I trust https://www.wetplants.com/

fatboy · Sep 10, 2022

If it's the colour you want removed, you could try adding a bag of Purigen to the filter, assuming you have space for it. That'll soak up the brown colour and once it's stopped absorbing colour you can clean in by soaking in thin bleach for a few minutes.

jaylach · Sep 10, 2022

fatboy said:
If it's the colour you want removed, you could try adding a bag of Purigen to the filter, assuming you have space for it. That'll soak up the brown colour and once it's stopped absorbing colour you can clean in by soaking in thin bleach for a few minutes.

Would this be something that a carbon pack could also deal with? I doubt this but wonder. For myself I'm not largely concerned by a bit of tannin coloration as long as it is not extreme.

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Should I boil wood?

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BEAUTIFUL DWARF FLAG CICHLID (Laetacara curviceps) 1 TO 1.5"

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