Can I Put My Mopani Roots Straight Into My Tank?

[maisy12345]

Hi,i`ve bought a mopani root,can i put it straight into my tank without soaking ,if i need to soak it ,how do i do this ,and for how long,also will it effect my ph as i`ve got shrimp,thanks in advance?

 

[fluttermoth]

It doesn't really need soaking, unless you want to reduce the amount of tannins, in which case leave it in a bucket outside for a week or two, changing the water when you remember.

It will probably lower your pH slightly (unless it's a massive piece of wood and a tiny tank), but it won't be by much and will only do so very gradually. No harm will come to your shrimps

It does not need boiling, or anything like that; if you don't mind the tannin, it can go straight in.

 

[maisy12345]

Thanks Fluttermoth,
i don`t mind the tannins as long as it won`t harm my fish or shrimp.

 

[minnnt]

The tannins shouldn't harm your stock, but mopani is loaded with it! I added a small piece to one of my tanks and it was bright yellow within 2 hours. I would soak for a couple of days first just to remove some.

 

[maisy12345]

Thanks ,just soak in cold water?

 

[maisy12345]

I thought the water would go a tea colour not right yellow?

 

[minnnt]

Hot water makes it release it quicker. The colour depends on the tank setting. If its a light setting then it will be yellow. If its dark then it will look like tea. I find natural wood is quite good and it don't release as many tannins. Have a walk around a local wood that has some oak trees... there are some interesting pieces to be had. I got a load today.

 

[maisy12345]

Well oak would certainly be cheaper.

 

[kizno1]

Oaks great for tanks, Ive got loads of small oak branches in my tank to create sort of a mangrove look. With oak you need to make sure all or pretty much all the bark has naturally started to fall off so you know its completely dead then just pore some boiling water on it and its safe to go. Dried oak leaves are also great and give the water a nice colour aswell.

 

[minnnt]

Yeah it would... it would be free. Lol. I found a few pieces of mopani for £1.99 so picked a couple up. Chucked one piece in the tank straight away and it was yellow. Soaked the other for a few days and its not as bad. I am going to scrub my new finds and add some java moss to them. You can find some very interesting pieces out and about. It will need weighing down with rocks or wedging somehow as it will float.

 

[kizno1]

Oaks less than free i managed to make money from collecting it haha. I sold 4 big pieces that i had spare for £10

 

[maisy12345]

Was thinking of just washing my morpani under the tap and chucking straight in ,what does everyone think ,don`t mind the colour change as long as it`ll go over time ,just worried if it lowers my ph to much as it `ll have a n effect on my shrimp?

 

[kizno1]

Was thinking of just washing my morpani under the tap and chucking straight in ,what does everyone think ,don`t mind the colour change as long as it`ll go over time ,just worried if it lowers my ph to much as it `ll have a n effect on my shrimp?

I would. It wont make to much difference to the ph at all. I prefer the colour i think it looks a lot more natural but sadly mines all faded away now.

 

[minnnt]

I have a larger piece that I chucked in when I was starting out and its still leeching. I like it too. It won't lower ph too much, possibly something around 0.3 but this will be over time so the shrimp will be able to acclimatise to it.

 

[Caprichoso]

Was thinking of just washing my morpani under the tap and chucking straight in ,what does everyone think ,don`t mind the colour change as long as it`ll go over time ,just worried if it lowers my ph to much as it `ll have a n effect on my shrimp?

If it does alter your pH, it will happen so gradually that it won't harm your shrimp. No worries there.