hello all. here is my delema. i want to put in some drift wood into my 20 gallon tank, BUT i do not want to deal with large amounts of tannins in the water. i have been sooking it in very very hot water for about 3 days, and my tank came up and surprised me. For my birthday, it finished cycling. so i wanna add fish, BUT i wanna have 90 percent of the decor done before i do so. SO, is there anthing i can add to a planted tank (i dont want carbon) that can help me reduce the tannins, i dont mind a little bit of them, but i dont want it to look like urin. also, will the tannins affect the plants in any way, i dose ferts, and am going to be going with low ph fish. out of the tap im at 7.8 as it is, with pretty moderate gh levels (150). does any one have any suggestions??
drift wood tannins
- Thread starter dan the moose
- Start date
Tannins will not directly affect your fish/plants.
They may however at high enough concentrations lower PH, but not by much IME.
Really nothing to worry about IMHO.
The only surefire way to not have tannins is to soak until there are no tannins left.
Getting rid of tannins is rather easy...
I know you said you don't want carbon...
But I'm AR when I give advice...
1) High quality carbon, simply dedicate a filter, fill with carbon and change carbon whenever you start to see a tint.
High quality carbon isn't likely to leech any PO4, or anything else into your planted tank if that's what your concerned about.
2) Purigen, same way.
Carbon is much cheaper intitially but over time adds up $$$.
Purigen is relatively expensive, but is rechargeable, recharging can be a pain in the arse until you get used to the process... And it cost $ for materials to recharge it.
They may however at high enough concentrations lower PH, but not by much IME.
Really nothing to worry about IMHO.
The only surefire way to not have tannins is to soak until there are no tannins left.
Getting rid of tannins is rather easy...
I know you said you don't want carbon...
But I'm AR when I give advice...
1) High quality carbon, simply dedicate a filter, fill with carbon and change carbon whenever you start to see a tint.
High quality carbon isn't likely to leech any PO4, or anything else into your planted tank if that's what your concerned about.
2) Purigen, same way.
Carbon is much cheaper intitially but over time adds up $$$.
Purigen is relatively expensive, but is rechargeable, recharging can be a pain in the arse until you get used to the process... And it cost $ for materials to recharge it.
Easiest way to keep the tannins down, IMO is water change. You should be doing at least one wc a week for a planted tank to keep the PO4 levels low. My planted has nearly 100lbs dry, or 250 wet malaysian wood, and I have no problems with tannin discoloration. I do 1 50% wc a week.
I have the same problem at the moment in my 600.
I would have to do massive water changes to get the tannins out...so I am using Purigen.
It is working great.
You might have to recharge it 2-3 days after though. Mine got exhausted very fast.
I would have to do massive water changes to get the tannins out...so I am using Purigen.
It is working great.
You might have to recharge it 2-3 days after though. Mine got exhausted very fast.
Tannins are good for your plants and especially softwater fish. However if you plan on not consistantly adding tannins to your tank I would use carbon or purigen. You don't want to go back and forth or you will stress your fish and plants out. I make my own blackwater(tannins) out of peat and tree leaves. I add alittle each time I do a water change in my planted tank only and since I have, my plants are more colorful and bigger with thicker stems.
sweet. thanks for the advice, yeah i think ill just live with it. all my freinds already thing i go for the "wierd" stuff as it is, cant imagine there face when they see the "urine" water, and i tell them its suppose to be like that. itll really fit in with my image to them. lol. any ways, i was just more worried about the effects on the plants. so i guess ill just deal with it for now, and eventually, ill have a clear tank again.
dan the moose;597135; said:
Howdy,
Just to make sure: Your tank should be clear. Tannins do not cause turbid water. It should be clear and yellow/brownish. If it's turbid, it's something else (e.g. bacterial bloom during cycling)
HarleyK
Just tell the curious that you've setup a SA Blackwater Biotope, your simply mimicing nature to please your fish.
Anyways, do you really give a rats arse what some ignorant non-fishkeeping schmuck thinks?.... They think feeders are cool
Anyways, do you really give a rats arse what some ignorant non-fishkeeping schmuck thinks?.... They think feeders are cool