Tannin in Aquarium

[NikosKoul]

Hello guys , i am trying to make an Asian River natural tank. I already planted it with some easy plants like vallenserias echorynus etc and used waterlife's fertalize.So i am wondering about some driftwood. How do i prepare my wood without losing tannins? I know that many people boil them but they prefer crystal water. I would like my water to be brown like muddy rivers in Kalimantran. Do you have any suggestion how to prepare the wood and not lose all the tannin?

 

[Gourami Swami]

Hello guys , i am trying to make an Asian River natural tank. I already planted it with some easy plants like vallenserias echorynus etc and used waterlife's fertalize.So i am wondering about some driftwood. How do i prepare my wood without losing tannins? I know that many people boil them but they prefer crystal water. I would like my water to be brown like muddy rivers in Kalimantran. Do you have any suggestion how to prepare the wood and not lose all the tannin?

Boil the wood briefly to kill any parasites, you will lose some tannins but not all. I have boiled wood repeatedly and soaked for weeks in hopes of removing tannins, and still had brown water afterwards. I wouldn't worry about getting rid of all the tannins, if the wood has a lot. I have also had driftwood which doesn't release any tannins. You can also try adding leaves such as catappa.

 

[NikosKoul]

I think catappa leaves also needs some time to boil them or use water room temperature for a while to kill all possible parasites

 

[duanes]

After picking up leaves in fall, I pour boiled water over them, to kill any hitch hikers, squeeze out the leaves a little, filter the water thru a sieve and then put the cooled tannin filled water, and leaves in the tank.

The leaves do break down after a while, so need periodic replacement.


I use magnolia, maple, oak, whatever is available.

 

[NikosKoul]

Thats great thanks for the advice , i ll do the same catappa leaves but i wont put the tannin water inside i ll probably just boil them and put the straight in the tank. 30 minutes are enough u think?

 

[SandNukka15]

Use peat moss.... they also have Blackwater extract but personally i haven't had any luck with kents.... prob because my ph is 7.5-7.8

 

[NikosKoul]

How did you use peat moss? I mean my tank is running with fish inside stabled, maybe is silly question

 

[duanes]

30 minutes is fine, I only poor boiling water on leaves, and let soak until its cool enough to work with.
Some people put peat moss in cloth bags in HOB filters some just hang the bags in tanks or sumps.
I know some killifish breeders that use it as substrate, and kills spawn in it.
I had killis spawn in gnarly leaf litter debris. Bit messy for a display tank, but effective as spawning medium.

 

[NikosKoul]

Thanks mate , it helps me a lot ! I ll use some leaves after boiling them , i ll try to find some floating driftwood and peat moss in bag. Do i need to boil the peat moss first and then use it or straight when i open it use it?

 

[Leebtattoos]

Al above is good suggestions. I also used blackwater extract years ago and it did the trick too.