Help removing Tannins from driftwood

[johnnyr]

I just set up a new 55gal with some driftwood, and it's turning the water a tea-green. I took them out, and boiled a piece of it (it's huge) for about 30 min, then put it in a new pot, and it was still turning the water pratically black with tannins. I really don't want to soak the poeces for months...any suggestions? I don't have anything big enough to boil the pices in, so thats out.

 

[Matty]

I had the same problem....all you can do is let the driftwood soak to get the tannins out...BUT, to clean up your water, you could add some activated carbon to your filter

 

[johnnyr]

Thats the thing...my filter already has activated carbon in it (I just got the tank and it uses carbon inside a biobag. Is this "activated carbon" or not?

 

[nc_nutcase]

The tannins are in and will come out. The hotter the water the faster this process takes place. If the piece is too large to boil, you may still consider soaking it in very hot water (possibly boil water on the stove then add it to a container which has the driftwood in it). Also changing the soaking water frequently will allow the water to continue to absorb the tannins.

I'm no expert on this one... but that's what I keep hearing on the subject.

 

[johnnyr]

Sigh...well I was going to soak them in my bathtub, but then realized some of the soap and whatnaught might be absorbed and leech into the aquarium...any thoughts?

 

[nc_nutcase]

I would avoid using the bath tub for the reasons you mentioned. If possible you might want to use a Rubbermaid container or even a brand new plastic trash can. Place that container in the tub and use the hottest water your tap can provide to fill it. let it soak for a long while (overnight if you don't need that tub first thing in the morning) then dump the darkened cooled water out and refill it with hot water. Go to work/school and do the same process after work/school. On and on until you feel it is at an acceptable level for you to re-add to your tank. In the end it may still give your aquarium water a slight red or brown tint. Sometimes the more subtle effects can only be solved by time... but not always...

some people learn to appreciate this water tint as a more natural look.

 

[johnnyr]

Yeah, I'll do that, I just wish there was a quicker way...any idea how long it will take?

 

[Blade]

Sigh...well I was going to soak them in my bathtub, but then realized some of the soap and whatnaught might be absorbed and leech into the aquarium...any thoughts?

Wipe the tub down with alcohol first. Rinse out thourgly then soak the wood on the bath. Once completed rinse off the wood thourghly with a hose.

I have a piece of wood doing to the same but decided to just let it do its thing and increased my water changes.

 

[johnnyr]

Yeah, I'm just concerned about it affecting my PH, and its a brand new tank, so constant water changes won't be very good for the fish. I mean the water is horribly brown after 2 days. and thats AFTER two 100% water changes. (this was before I got the fish). I don't have much choice if i want to be able to see my fish.

 

[nc_nutcase]

The hotter the water the quicker it will bleed out...

There is absolutely no realistic 'rule of thumb' on how long it will take. Different kinds of wood have different consistencies/densities. Also it depends on the age of the wood (how long its been dead), the environment it rested in between the end of it's life and you acquiring it, different wood types have different amounts...

The list of factors is near endless...

From what you have described your piece(s) seem to have a lot of tannin flowing out very freely. I would think (I'm speaking beyond my experience now and just using logic) that since it is coming out so heavily that higher water temps and more frequent water changes in your soaking tank will effect overall soaking time greatly. I would also expect after the hot water soaks when you put it in your tank it will still give off a red or brown haze.

Personally, I highly appreciate the effect that driftwood has on an aquarium. The efforts now will last a very long time.

 

[johnnyr]

Yeah, I guess I'll just go throught he motions.

Thanks

 

[Matty]

Sigh...well I was going to soak them in my bathtub, but then realized some of the soap and whatnaught might be absorbed and leech into the aquarium...any thoughts?

Wipe the tub down with alcohol first. Rinse out thourgly then soak the wood on the bath. Once completed rinse off the wood thourghly with a hose.

I have a piece of wood doing to the same but decided to just let it do its thing and increased my water changes.

Do you have any idea how long and how much alcohol it would take to wipe the entire tub down? You're better off just buying the rubbermaid container, plus, you can reuse it in case you nned it for gravel/sand cleaning, storage, whatever....

 

[johnnyr]

Yeah I just got some rubbermaid containers, and they are soaking now. Will the color that is currently in my tank dissapate by itself? I can't really do a water change at this point, as I just set up the tank and bio-psira is coming tomorrow, i don't want to stress the fish out, and I can't change it for a while after i put the bio-spira in. Any insight?

 

[nc_nutcase]

The tannins won't effect your fish, plants or cycling. You may just have to put up with the discoloration until your ready to do a water change. As far as could you do one at this point in your cycling... I have no clue... not my area...

Best of luck though and keep us informed

 

[pica_nuttalli]

Sigh...well I was going to soak them in my bathtub, but then realized some of the soap and whatnaught might be absorbed and leech into the aquarium...any thoughts?

Wipe the tub down with alcohol first. Rinse out thourgly then soak the wood on the bath. Once completed rinse off the wood thourghly with a hose.

I have a piece of wood doing to the same but decided to just let it do its thing and increased my water changes.

Do you have any idea how long and how much alcohol it would take to wipe the entire tub down? You're better off just buying the rubbermaid container, plus, you can reuse it in case you nned it for gravel/sand cleaning, storage, whatever....

what if you were to take a spritz bottle, fill it with low-quality vodka, and grab some matches...? it's like at those cook-at-the-table Japanese places -- clean enough to eat off!

that's a very good point about the later storage of gravel (<-- wry voice of experience)