[Andyandsue]

So now my post about the driftwood has changed to:

How can I remove some of the tea-staining in the water? I know the obvious answers are to change the water, but I will be changing out a lot of water. The other answer is to remove the driftwood, but since I've put it in there, the snail and the shrimp are very happy. I still haven't had my pleco come out though!!

Does anyone want a pleco?

 

[Amphitrite]

Running some carbon throught the filter and regular water changes is the best way of removing the tannins.

 

[Andyandsue]

Do you know is this something that is going to happen constantly now that the driftwood is added? I'm hoping it will fade over time.

Does anyone consider their aquarium not looking good when their water is slightly off-colored from tannins? Just curious.

 

[Amphitrite]

You'll find that the water is stained for quite a while, but it will eventually fade. I think mine took a couple of months to clear completely.
Some people like the look of tannins in the water, I didn't really mind but found it was a pain when trying to take clear photographs.

 

[Andyandsue]

I just figured out what bothers me about the tannins. I have the tank in my kitchen, and it sits against a very bright white wall, so that is the backdrop. It really makes any colors in the water stand out, which can make it look very unattractive. The plants even reflect light at night to make the water look green! If I slip a piece of black or blue paper behind it, it doesn't look so bad. I may have to invest in a backdrop for it.

 

[soco1125]

I paint the outside back glass of all my tanks with black craft paint. It gives a nice solid dark background that really makes the colours of the plants and fish pop... and makes the fish feel much more secure. Plus, it can be scraped off easily with a razor blade if i ever decide to change it.

 

[Andyandsue]

I paint the outside back glass of all my tanks with black craft paint. It gives a nice solid dark background that really makes the colours of the plants and fish pop... and makes the fish feel much more secure. Plus, it can be scraped off easily with a razor blade if i ever decide to change it.

My tanks are acrylic, so there won't be any scraping. I'll probably get one of those plastic "cling-like" backdrops. They're pretty cheap. I like the black also. The colors really do pop.

 

[xingumike]

black bin liner will do the same thing at a fraction of the cost

 

[Andyandsue]

black bin liner will do the same thing at a fraction of the cost

I'm only talking for a 12 gallon tank, so it's something like a few bucks a foot and I don't need more than 2 feet.

But what is bin liner? Contact paper?

 

[xingumike]

lol sorry i didnt notice you were in the states

i mean the black heavy duty bags you put in your 'trashcan' just tape them on tight, no problem if they get wet and a whole lot easier to remove than paint.

 

[Andyandsue]

lol sorry i didnt notice you were in the states

i mean the black heavy duty bags you put in your 'trashcan' just tape them on tight, no problem if they get wet and a whole lot easier to remove than paint.

Ah, I get it. Actually we don't have black plastic bags. Out town has to use overpriced town-specific green bags that we are forced to buy at a local store. It's the town's way of the tax-payers subsidizing the cost of garbage collection.

I would have to buy a box of black bags to do that! LOL I'll probably just go and buy 2 feet worth of clingy plastic background from PetSmart. I have a $3 coupon anyway.