i have just completed the set up of a 124 gallon with a fx5 and 2 large peices of MOPANI wood, which are gorgeous. I soaked them for several days in a bucket. they're in the tank and are still leeching tannins into my water. my filter is clearing the brownish, tea-colored water up. the fish are doing fine. how much longer before i get back my crystal clear water?
Iced tea or H2O?
- Thread starter phillydog1958
- Start date
yea, i think it might take a few more days, at least i'm hoping. they are 2 large peices of wood and full of tannins.
I set up a 90 gl special-community-and-fancy-pleco-tank and my wife put in a large piece of wood.
The tank became tea-like indeed and I loved the way it looked.
Got black gravel and the tank is dimly lit.
But after 3 weekly 50% WC the tank cleared up completly.
Mind you I usually boil and scrub the wood before putting it in, which I didn't this time...
So a couple of WC should do the trick!
The tank became tea-like indeed and I loved the way it looked.
Got black gravel and the tank is dimly lit.
But after 3 weekly 50% WC the tank cleared up completly.
Mind you I usually boil and scrub the wood before putting it in, which I didn't this time...
So a couple of WC should do the trick!
Noddy;3388206; said:
i appreciate the advice and I agree that the brownish hue is kind of interesting to look at.
I've got several pieces of mopani wood, and despite the usual boiling/soaking ime they will continue to leach tannins for about a month. You can add some extra carbon to your filter to help a bit, but really all you can do is water changes and wait it out
Your Mopani will be leaching for several months if you didnt boil it first. I have a lot of Mopani wood & I've done this several times now. It works very well.
1) Boil the Mopani chunks in a large stock pot of saltwater for 3 or 4 hours to extract the tannin & sap.
2) Repeat step 1 several times until the water is a light tea color
3) Throw the salty chunks into a large cooler or bathtub of very hot freshwater to soak. Change the water out with new hot freshwater every few days. The salt will leach out the last of the tannins.
4) Put your disinfected, de-tannined & de-sapped wood into your tank with carbon in the filter. Water will still turn light red-yellow for a few weeks.
1) Boil the Mopani chunks in a large stock pot of saltwater for 3 or 4 hours to extract the tannin & sap.
2) Repeat step 1 several times until the water is a light tea color
3) Throw the salty chunks into a large cooler or bathtub of very hot freshwater to soak. Change the water out with new hot freshwater every few days. The salt will leach out the last of the tannins.
4) Put your disinfected, de-tannined & de-sapped wood into your tank with carbon in the filter. Water will still turn light red-yellow for a few weeks.