Preparing my Driftwood

CinBos

Ok I went to the store to purchase a smaller peice of driftwood, not too big. After I got home, I decided to stick the driftwood in a 5 gallon bucket and then I boiled water and poured it over the driftwood for about 2 hours. While doing this I didnt notice any tannins. After stopping this, I boiled one last batch of water to fill the bucket. I have had the wood sitting in the bucket now for the past 28 hours. I checked the bucket over lunch, and still no tannins.

I thought the worst of tannins wear to leach out while boiling and soaking before putting it in the aquarium? I am still seeing very little if any tannins at the moment. Whats going on?

jentralala

Sometimes they just don't, I don't think it means there is anything wrong with the wood. I had a piece of Mopani wood leech for 3 weeks, and then I had a piece that didn't leech at all after 3 days in the bucket or the tank when I placed it in there. :)

CinBos

Really, I thought all driftwood leached, I am more just surprised and excited I get to place it in there a bit sooner.
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Byron

Depends upon the type of wood, and the size. And if it was in a tank in the store, or dry.

The tannins won't hurt the fish, quite the opposite if they are soft water fish.

CinBos

It was dry on slate. It does float without the slate. Im not worried about the tannins persay, just surprised barely any leached.
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CinBos

I also think I am doing away with play sand. Anytime I move anything whats so ever, it fogs up like crazy. I'll be switching it over to pool filter sand before plants and the fish start getting acclimated.
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jentralala

Yeah when my new piece didn't leech I did a bit of a victory dance. Waiting 3 weeks to place my other piece was really a test on my patience haha.

rjordan390

The tannins may still be there. Try placing the driftwood in a pot of boiling water for 45 minutes and see if the water turns to a tea color. This will also saturate the wood and it will not float. Pouring hot water over the wood is not effective. My driftwood had to be boiled three separate times to remove most of the tannins. Whatever leaches now is not visable in the water column but I suspect it is on the polishing filter.

CinBos

Thats the thing, I do not have a pot large enough for the piece of wood. I am changing out the substrate this weekend. I cannot stand play sand, but it was worth a try. I am going back to pool filter sand for my planted tank. Since using pool filter sand, I have had nothing but good things to say, as for playsand, not so much. Just to messy for my liking. I want to change the substrate before the plants and fish get accustomed to it.

Byron

On the sand, you have to leave it alone. Same for any substrate. This is the most important part of the aquarium biologically, and it needs to become established. And then left alone.

I have play sand in five tanks, soon to be in a sixth, of seven. I've had no issues whatever in more than 2 years since I changed from fine gravel.

While pool filter sand can be OK, if it is white that is not good. Black is available, and that would work. I have one tank with a black substrate and frankly don't like it; it is more "obvious" than the mixed sand.

Byron.