Hi all, I've got some bogwood that I've been soaking for over 2 months in a bucket which I've been filling with freshly boiled water daily. After my last water change of the boiled water it was still leeching tanning, it looked like a pot of tea. However, a few days ago I decided to soak it in hot tap water (mainly out of laziness) and the water's stayed clear. Should I take this as the all clear and put it in my tank or go back to the boiled water until that comes clear to? The tank is about 50g and runs at 27C
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Plenipotentiary-at-large
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Nothing wrong with a little tannin for most anything Amazonian, and it's actually and generally a good thing and for some species nearly essential. If it's a New World tank, you should be good to go provided it's not some unusual wood that contains toxins (like conifers). I've started dropping pieces of hickory and oak that are blanched for only a week or two into my Apistograma/Corydoras tanks and everyone's doing fine. As tannins have an inhibitory effect on fungus and other ailments, a little "tea" coloring shouldn't necessarily be seen as undesirable.
Nothing wrong with a little tannin for most anything Amazonian, and it's actually and generally a good thing and for some species nearly essential. If it's a New World tank, you should be good to go provided it's not some unusual wood that contains toxins (like conifers). I've started dropping pieces of hickory and oak that are blanched for only a week or two into my Apistograma/Corydoras tanks and everyone's doing fine. As tannins have an inhibitory effect on fungus and other ailments, a little "tea" coloring shouldn't necessarily be seen as undesirable.
jonclark96
Past CCA President
I agree with Sam. The fish, if they are new worlds, will benefit from the tannins. Any that are left will go away with regular water changes.
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dankdabe
Members
Drop it in there and see how you feel after a couple of days. If the tannins make it too dark and yellowy for your liking, take it out. The tannins will go away over time but may never completely leech out.
danger_chicken
Swim Fishy Swim!
When you use boiling water you ARE making tea. If they're not leaching in room temp water you probably wont see much is any tannins in the tank.
Thanks for the replies guys. I was aware of the positive effects on tannins but basically just don't like the look of them, should've been clearer. My tank is mbuna with Jewels and Convicts (all getting along great) so think it's an old world tank. Dumped the bogwood in the tank 24 hours ago and still clear so going great. Bought some Monapi wood (or whatever it's called) and hoping to get it in soon, any thoughts on the best way of treating this kind of wood?
jonclark96
Past CCA President
Treat the mopani the same way. I've had pieces that leached a lot of tannins, so if you don't like it, you'll likely have to do the same treatment.
Shane
Members
Dominic,
At the risk of pointing out the obvious, the main reason people use specific woods in aquariums is so that it will leach tannins and lower the pH. The amber hue the tannins produce brings out the best colors in fishes that come from softer waters. Once the driftwood stops leaking tannins and lowering the pH it is considered spent and many aquarists replace it at this time. Bogwood, mopani, and malaysian "driftwood" are the most commonly available in the hobby specifically because these woods are very dense and heavy in tannins.
If you do not want your pH lowered, and do not want the natural look and color enhancing provided by the tannins, you will be far happier (and save money) using some of the very realistic looking fake driftwoods or other inert decor like stones.
-Shane
At the risk of pointing out the obvious, the main reason people use specific woods in aquariums is so that it will leach tannins and lower the pH. The amber hue the tannins produce brings out the best colors in fishes that come from softer waters. Once the driftwood stops leaking tannins and lowering the pH it is considered spent and many aquarists replace it at this time. Bogwood, mopani, and malaysian "driftwood" are the most commonly available in the hobby specifically because these woods are very dense and heavy in tannins.
If you do not want your pH lowered, and do not want the natural look and color enhancing provided by the tannins, you will be far happier (and save money) using some of the very realistic looking fake driftwoods or other inert decor like stones.
-Shane