I was wondering if i needed to do something to the driftwood from the lfs, or can i just toss it into the tank. I heard something about the wood staining the water or something like that. Thanks.
Driftwood question
- Thread starter cichniss
- Start date
Some driftwood releases tannin's into the water turning it a tea color. As far as i know these tannins dont hurt the fish, and in my experience they havent. Some people prefer the tea colored water. I would rinse off the driftwood to remove any dust and drop it in your tank if u dont mind the tannins. If u dont want your water colored try soaking it in a tub of water until the water is clear, change the water often.
ya your water will look like a dark yellow..... doesn't hurt your fish, it eventually just comes out with water changes. Not a big deal.... if yellow water for like 2 weeks really bothers you then spend a few days soaking it in the tub and constantly changing the water. Personally its less work just rinsing it and dumping it into the tank and letting the water go yellow for a little while
Yea i learned the hard way that you need to soak it before.......I bought a bunch of driftwood and just tossed it into my tanks(cuz its always fine from this particular lfs) and the one was not real driftwood ......messed my tank up real good......broke apart in little pieces and turned the water real nasty.........I suggest soaking it for a couple days and the boiling it if its not too big.....that always does the trick.........
Boiling for 30-35 mins in the best option, if you can fit it in a pot/pan. Dishwasher (pot/pan cycle, without detergent, of course) 1-3 times works wonders too. You can also fill a 5 gal bucket (assuming you need a bucket that big) with really hot water, and let the wood sit in it until the water stays clear for a couple days. Change the water out when it gets tea colored, and repeat the process. I have a piece of ghost wood that I soaked in a 5gal bucket for a week, then dishwasher, soaked for a week (still really tan water), dishwasher again, then has been soaking for about 4 weeks now. I change the water about every 3 days, and it's just now starting to stay clear.
This process also helps to sink the wood, so you don't have to weigh it down.
This process also helps to sink the wood, so you don't have to weigh it down.
Dishwasher is a GREAT idea. I'm gonna try that. Have a couple soaking right now in the basement.
Thanks evercl92!
Thanks evercl92!
I got a peice thats like a good 7-8" thick,and i've had it for 5 years,and if i take the slate bottom off it STILL floats.....................
i just stuck jagged shaped rocks into the driftwood to sink it. u can tie rocks to it with fishing line.