A Lil Help

[Hunterprey]

Hey guys Im pretty new to the hobby, could use a lil help

I just bought a Mopani wood for my aquarium thought my yellow spotted Bushynose Pleco might like it, just wondering if its safe for her/his other tankmates.

I have 2 pictus catfish, 1 bumblebee catfish, 1 redtail shark, 4 female bettas in a 20 gal tank, Their still pretty small and they're all getting along so far, Im transfering them to a bigger tank come December. Would the Mopani wood be safe for my aquarium and its residents? Appreciate the help, thnx.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yes it is safe for the tank! What you will want to do is, boil it in water for a couple of days, or soak it un a bucket of water for a couple weeks. When this wood is submerged in water it will leak out what is known as tannins. Tannins will make the water turn to a yellowish/golden brown tea color. Tannins are a natural extractive from wood. However, tannins will in no way shape or form hurt your fish. In fact, some fish like tannins. So, if you boil the wood for a couple of days or soak it for a couple weeks, this will remove most of the tannins. But, nevertheless, tannins will still leak out a bit in your tank, and they will for a while until all/most of the tannins leak out. But you never know, you migt actually like it!

-FHM

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, that's one of the popular choices of dried wood. Its best if you get a light colored or clear bucket and soak it underwater, watching to see if it yellows the water (from tannins) and periodically treat it to a kettle of boiling water to help those tannins on out of the wood. Some people spend weeks doing this prior to putting it in their tanks. The yellow tannins are harmless, maybe even good but only some people like the look. A final small bit of yellow can be removed by including carbon in your filter (which will soak up tannins for 3 days and then needs to be removed and trashed.)

Have you "cycled" (you can read about it in our beginners resource center) your new aquarium?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Hunterprey]

Sweet! Thank you very much for the help. My tank has cycled for 5 weeks already and they've been there for awhile and they look healthy, one of them had I ick but I already medicated them for a week and their all fine now.

Thanks for the help, I was just worried about the Pictus the most, coz I read they demand very clean water, I thought the wood might kill them, but thnx n I'll follow ur instruction guys. I read somewhere that pleco need a wood for their diet or something thats why I bought it, not entirely sure about it, just want all my fish happy.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Sweet! Thank you very much for the help. My tank has cycled for 5 weeks already and they've been there for awhile and they look healthy, one of them had I ick but I already medicated them for a week and their all fine now.

Thanks for the help, I was just worried about the Pictus the most, coz I read they demand very clean water, I thought the wood might kill them, but thnx n I'll follow ur instruction guys. I read somewhere that pleco need a wood for their diet or something thats why I bought it, not entirely sure about it, just want all my fish happy.

What is meant by clean water is, that your ammonia and nitrite levels are at 0 ppm and your nitrate is at a decent level. You should be just fine!

-FHM

 

[Hunterprey]

Oh thats what it meant, thnx for further explaining it to me. Its a nice hobby and this a very helpful site.
Been in the internet everyday learning more n more about this hobby.
Stopped going to the gym for 4 weeks, im a toothpick now n my fish are fat haha
thnx again.