Help With Preparing Driftwood

[Jeff Lange]

Just me again
I need advice on preparing a lg peice of mopani wood for my 65 gallon tank.
I have been boiling it every day for a week to remove the tannins but cant seem to remove it all
I also soak it after I boil it so it is always in water.
Any Advice on what to do?
I don't want to jepordize my water quality as it is excellent and I have an angel that lays eggs every 10 days or so

My current setup is 65 gallon tank. 2 Rena XP3 filters running. 1 has Carbon in it, the other is strictly biological ceramic rings and bio stars.

Any suggestions would be greatly appriciated
Thanks again everyone

 

[raptorrex]

just soak it and put it in. there is noting bad in the tannins that leach, in fact they are very good for your fish. its us who dislike the water colour. unless you have some badly contaminated wood, which i would advise against using anyway, a simple soak is all it needs!

 

[locust267]

The carbon you've got in your filter should take out the tea stain colour

As long as you've boiled it most of the tannings would be out by now and only show when you boil due to the heat.

 

[emmag21]

As well as boiling it i gave it a good scrub a few times with a new toothbrush to get any dirt off. With water changs the colour should go from your tank in time even if it does go slightly orange/brown at first x

 

[johno]

I just blasted mine with a hose, soaked it in boilin water for a day (changed water once) and put it in.. Water still looks clear

 

[Wrams]

As well as boiling it i gave it a good scrub a few times with a new toothbrush to get any dirt off. With water changs the colour should go from your tank in time even if it does go slightly orange/brown at first x

A new toothbrush? I thought you said i had to use my own? Damn i thought it was the toothpaste that tasted funny.

 

[backtotropical]

Another good way is to put it through the dishwasher (without detergent of course).

As Boboboy says, Tannins aren't bad for the water quality, in fact many fish like them (including your Angels), but many people don't like the brown colour of the water which results. If you have carbon in your filter, this will deal with the brown staining anyway.

 

[raptorrex]

it's still a misery to me why people are so keen on removing something from the water, that is actually good for both the fish, the tank, and (apparently) even better for inverts! granted it stains the water, though with weekly water changes, the water, in my 50ukg, tank never gets too brown. but i guess a large bit in a 25ukg tank may cause a more noticeable colour change. if people are sceptical, of just don't believe, that tannins are good for your tank, fair enough, but a little research on their part, would prove the truth of the comment. that just leaves us with, as far as i can see, we simply don't like the look of the stain. so here is my problem. given that the reason most of us us this forum, is to improve the conditions, ensure a health environment for their stock and gain extra knowledge of our hobby. why would we then, actively, try to eradicate something that is actually improving the environment in which the stock live?

so if the OP does not mind, could the contributors to this thread state why they wish to remove the tannins from their water, and what they hope to gain by doing so?

 

[NoUseForaName]

im in the same boat