Blackwater guru
Fish Fanatic
I am planning to get my first fishtank quite soon which will be a blackwater setup with 10 cardinal tetras in a 118 liter tank and possibly some mystery snails or cherry shrimp.
I live in the countryside where trees and rivers are abundant and I was thinking of collecting oak driftwood from the nearby lake for my new aquarium along with dried oak leaves which are abundant in the fall.
Of course I will still have to prepare it accordingly and to make sure it's not rotten or green.
The thing is that I am uncertain which method works the best because I have been told that oak wood should not be boiled because it will make it desintegrate faster.
There is also the method of soaking it in a plastic container for a few weeks but I am not sure if it is effective enough.
The thing is that I don't want to lose tannins because 1. I actually really like that natural blackwater look so rarely seen in a hobby where tanks filled with plants and crystal clear water seems to be the norm.
2. I prefer enviroments that simulate the habitat of the individual fishes which is exactly why I have not tried a community tank nor am I interested in keeping one.
and 3. The tannins may look unsightly to some but for the fish tannins are amazing because they have anti fungal and stress reducing properties and it can help protect against diseases.
What are the things I should be aware of when using driftwood from the local lake/river ?
I live in the countryside where trees and rivers are abundant and I was thinking of collecting oak driftwood from the nearby lake for my new aquarium along with dried oak leaves which are abundant in the fall.
Of course I will still have to prepare it accordingly and to make sure it's not rotten or green.
The thing is that I am uncertain which method works the best because I have been told that oak wood should not be boiled because it will make it desintegrate faster.
There is also the method of soaking it in a plastic container for a few weeks but I am not sure if it is effective enough.
The thing is that I don't want to lose tannins because 1. I actually really like that natural blackwater look so rarely seen in a hobby where tanks filled with plants and crystal clear water seems to be the norm.
2. I prefer enviroments that simulate the habitat of the individual fishes which is exactly why I have not tried a community tank nor am I interested in keeping one.
and 3. The tannins may look unsightly to some but for the fish tannins are amazing because they have anti fungal and stress reducing properties and it can help protect against diseases.
What are the things I should be aware of when using driftwood from the local lake/river ?
