Help removing Tannins from driftwood

[johnnyr]

I'm not sure how to respond to that...

 

[nc_nutcase]

smile and nod... it will get you through almost anything...

 

[pica_nuttalli]

ah, i see you have experience with the ways of women! :smug:

 

[nc_nutcase]

"Yes dear, you must be right..."

My Father taught me that one...

 

[Raechal]

"Yes dear, you must be right..."

My Father taught me that one...

I guess my boyfriend missed that lecture.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

obviously you haven't beaten him with leaching driftwood enough. a little tannin'll do the trick.

*ahem* right, how's the tank looking johnny? still kinda murky? if you don't have any fish in there still, you could try letting some white cloth sit in there. it might soak up some of the coloring aspects. and as always, water changes.

 

[johnnyr]

Ug...horrible murky. At least no more tannins will be leeching into the tank. The driftwood is soaking. The fish seem happy enough. I have to keep an eye on my green terror/blue acara. The fish shop sold me the cichlid an said he was peaceful, and would go great in a community aquarim. I can't tell if hes a GT or BA...not good. Hes been very good so far...but who knows what that means.

 

[Raechal]

Yea you're smart. Just because he LOOKS like he is behaving good while you're monitoring him, can't tell you what he may do in the future. A lot of people just think since they are behaved for the first few days they won't be aggressive at all, which in most cases is not true.

I don't know what to do about the tanins in the water as I am putting my first piece of driftwood in my 120 gallon this weekend. I will soak it in hot water and if things don't work out, I'll most likely be posting the same thing you did.

If it isn't harming your fish I wouldn't stress over it. It may look "bad" to you, but regular water changes should get rid of it in time.

 

[johnnyr]

Yeah, I just hope the wood doesent take months to get all of its tannins out. The poor fish have nowhere to hide, besides plants and rocks!

 

[nc_nutcase]

I've had several Green Terrors and found that as juvenals they aren't really all that aggressive. I've seen them back down from same size Oscars, Jack Dempsey and even a Texas Blue Cichlid. I also saw the same fish two years later rule the tank where all of the same listed fish lived.

So if it is a GT... and you keep it... and everything stays peaceful... know that one day it will come to an end...

But don't get me wrong... they're great fish!

 

[Raechal]

Yeah, I just hope the wood doesent take months to get all of its tannins out. The poor fish have nowhere to hide, besides plants and rocks!

Tell me about it! You should see my 120 gallon. It has about 20 fish and 2 hiding spots. There is one corner that has 2-3 plants and a rainbow rock that has two small caves and then the other corner has a log cave. Then the middle is about 3 feet long with just sand and open swimming space. The piece of driftwood I bought on ebay will be there. It is a little more than 2 feet long. Then live plants will fill the gaps.

Hmm...I don't see it taking months but I am not experienced in driftwood at all.

 

[nc_nutcase]

I think if you were to do the 'hot water baths' and changed the stained water in the container with fresh hot water 5 or 6 times a day... you will see a noticable difference in a few days and should be ready for the tank in less than a week...

That's also a lot of speculation... I've never dealt with a piece that came anywhere near blackening a tank...

 

[johnnyr]

Well it isnt Blackening the tank, making to brownish, but not blackenig. I exaggagerated a bit when i said that. I've had the pieces in the tubs for 4 hours now, and the water isnt really brown at all. Sigh...Damn you driftwood!

 

[nc_nutcase]

Maybe all the tannins already leeched out in your tank and now it's clean!

 

[johnnyr]

lol YEAH. No, when I was boiling the small part I could fit into the pot, it WAS turning the water black. That was the 4th time I boiled. Each time I did it for about 15 min, and then changed the water. So....I think it has plenty left unfortunatley.

While were here, anyone have any suggestions for a few bottom dwellers for my tank? It's a 55gal and I have 6 congo tetras, a large blue gourami, a GT/Blue acara, and 4 albino tiger barbs. I'm thinking an oddball type. a peaceful eel or a ropefish...something cool.