Sorry It's Late, But Hello

[Nini]

Hello everyone!!!

Sorry I am a few days late with this. I have never been part of a forum before and was so stressed about getting some advice for my Angel that is sick, that I never bothered to greet everyone. Apparently that's a big no no hahahahahaha Oops. But I'm making up for it now!!! I hope to be on this forum for a long time and learn valuable information regarding the keeping and well-being of my "kids" as I call them. I will in the next couple of days, try to post some pictures of them. I have some older ones from a few months back, but most of the kids are a lot bigger now, but it's difficult to take decent photos now, with the meds in the water, it distorts the coloration. Anyways, that was my official hello and I will be sure to give a complete run down of my tank in my next post. Oh and whilst I'm saying hi, does anyone know how to treat store bought driftwood before putting it in your tank. I have been soaking it for days now in hot water to try and get the brown out ( I know the wood will stay brown, but I'm talking about the brown dye it gives off), but alas it's not working and I really don't want to put them in my tank and tinge my water brown. Or is this ok? I want to put it in to create a more natural atmosphere for my catfish as I am not a big fan of fake ornaments etc but I have been using them in the meantime. Thanks guys and may you all have a lovely and safe weekend.

 

[Curiosity101]

Not saying Hi isn't a big no no...don't know who told you that. But anyways

The brown 'dye' as you called it, is a substance called tannins. It is perfectly safe, and sometimes beneficial so certain breeds of fish.
However if you don't like the stained colour, then simply put the wood in your tank, and put some new activated carbon in your filter. Replace the carbon every few days until all of the colour has gone.

It may leak more tannins every now n then. But most should've left after the first week or two.

 

[fatheadminnow]

to TFF!!!!

Tannins are a natural extractive from wood, and most fish will benefit from it.

It will take a lot longer then 2 weeks to remove all the tannins if you do it that way. The best way to remove tannins to to boil the piece of wood in water for a couple days, I boiled mine for 3 days straight. Then I soaked it in a bucket of water for about 2-3 weeks. That was just the start. By doing what I did to the piece of wood, when I went to place it in my tank, the tannins that would leak out were a lot less. Well, the piece of wood has been in my tank for about 9-10 months now, and it is still leaking tannins, and I don't expect it to stop anytime soon. Granted, it's not as much as if you don't boil it, just a slightly tea color, I like it!

-FHM

 

[Curiosity101]

I said most after two weeks...not all.
They have soaked it for quite a few days (not quite as effective as boiling for 3 days, but effective enough)
Then you suggest soaking for 2-3 weeks (This is the equivalent to putting it in the tank for a couple of weeks whilst regularly replacing the activated carbon)

Then you say it is still leaking... and I said 'It may leak more tannins every now n then. But most should've left after the first week or two.'

I may have misread your post but you seemed to be implying I was completely wrong in my advice...so I thought I'd point out that it's basically what you have said. With almost the exact same time frame.

 

[fatheadminnow]

No no, , I am not saying you are wrong, I am just speaking from my experience.

If you place the wood into the tank without boiling it, after two weeks, IME, the tannins leaving the wood will still be the same from when you firs started. Boiling the wood drastically increased the amount of tannins leaking from the wood in the same time frame by opening the pours a lot more! Plus, if you put it into the tank right now, you will go through a lot of carbon, then if you just soaked it/boiled it for some time before placing it into the tank. Boiling the piece of wood, IMO, is probably equivalent to a couple months, if not more, of soaking the wood in water.

-FHM