is driftwood leak harmful to fish?

[rumblesushi]

I've been soaking some driftwood/bogwood and changing the water regularly, yet the water is still slightly brown.

I can't be bothered to soak it anymore, and jsut want to put it in, is it safe to do so?

The water colouration is not harmful to the fish right?

Cheers,
JR

 

[Vitaliy]

If you got the driftwood from some safe place such as an LFS or found it in a wild and clean habitat and not somewhere near the city or some type of a factory you should be alright.

You should always boil the driftwood before putting it in the tank, a few times at that as well, as it helps all the brownish stuff to leak out faster and help the driftwood sink.

I believe all it does is make the water look dirty and lowers the pH. You have no choice but to keep changing water or taking it out and boiling it for a few hours.

 

[DeLgAdO]

that brown stuff is tanic acid which can lowers the ph of the water and even soften it. for the most part its harmless to most fish.

 

[shookONES]

I've kept a Tigrinus in a tank with driftwood that tinted the water green. I am positive that the fish benefitted from it. I guess it felt more secure and was much more active a swimmer and eater. I didn't notice any drastic water parameter fluctuation. But when the tint wore off, the Tigrinus continued its active lifestyle. Maybe it was the Tig?

 

[rumblesushi]

interesting.

That's what I've been doing. Just repeatedly pouring boiling water in it in a bucket, but there is still a significant amount of brown.

If I put it in the tank how long should it take to vanish completely? With good filtration and bi-weekly/weekly water changes?

JR

 

[Stella]

If the driftwood isn't leaching much and you have carbon in your filters, you may not even notice. Some SA species enjoy blackwater as it is their natural environment.

Laura

 

[rumblesushi]

3 of the fish in the tank are Amazonian, hoplias, hujeta and oscar. Should be fine then