first time using wood in my tank

[guppy_man]

hi i have 2 nice pieces of bog wood ive got them here with me now but i know that you have to boil them so how long do i have to boil them for?

1 more thing after i put the wood in will the water turn brown?

thnx, if you can help plz post bk

 

[pseud]

I boiled my wood several times, for about a half hour each time. I changed the water a couple of times throughout boiling it too.

Boiling not only removes bacteria, but helps the tannins escape from the wood. Change the water about every 15 minutes through boiling, otherwise, the wood is just sitting in dirty water, soaking it back in again. This way, it can soak clean water into it.

Oh, don't forget to let the wood cool before putting it in your tank!

 

[yvez9]

I'd boil them for at least 10-15 minutes
it's not an exact science

if you bought it from a pet store, it probably is already treated but i like to feel safe anyway

your might or might not turn brown depending if you have carbon in the filter and how much tannins are released by the wood

some leach alot more than others...

if you want to minimize tannins, soak the wood in water for a week or 2 and change the water when it gets dark
if it doesn't get very dark, it means it doesn't leach tannins very much. if it does, well soak it for a longer period

note that bogwood might leach tannins for years

 

[Teelie]

Yep, I have a piece that's been soaking in water either outside in a tub or in a tank for a year now and it still leaches tannins and it's only a small piece. It's finally clearing up now or taking longer to darken the water between water changes. I have a much larger piece I got at the LFS (the small one wasn't) that has been in my tank approximately 3 months though and it's been much faster clearing up.

Neither piece was boiled btw. Boiling is IMO not necessary but it does reduce tannins if you're concerned about them. I have a third that's soaking in a 4 gallon bucket right now I got from the LFS and it's been slow leaching as well so I'm thinking it will take less to clean up.

 

[GSD]

boil it.I would do it 2 times to make sure.Then put it in a clean bucket or something similar and leave it to soak.Changing the water every day mabe more,and the tannins will come out.Then before you put it in the tank i would run it under a tap to make sure tannins are out.

 

[Teelie]

Don't change the water everyday. Wait until it starts to brown first. Less time wasted changing water and wasting water. It takes time for tannins to come out and there's no point changing the water. Contrary to popular belief, the wood does not reabsorb the tannins or if it does, not in any great amount. It's letting chemicals out, not drawing them in.