driftwood leeching out tannins despite boil/soak

AAAAHHHHH!!!!

my water is already so ridiculously soft i have to add crushed coral to my tanks just to stabilize it.

however i found the perfect piece of driftwood for a planted application I have been planning, so i bought it, thinking if i boiled/soaked it enough (pre-soaked when purchased even, mind you) that it would not cause too much greif in my tank.

So, i did just that. Boiled for 2 hours, then soaked for 2 days with some water changes. the last rinse looked clear.

I plunked it in the tank today and in less than an hour, i got that nice, blackwater, tea hue.

it isn't quite blackwater yet, but i figure it will be by morning.

This tank is already established. Stock includes angels and a BGK.

What is the danger factor here for these fish?
I know the angels will likely enjoy the blackwater, but what about the BGK? will he be ok? I also have some ghost cats in there... will they weather it alright?

also, how will this effect other things like my biofilter?

should i remove the piece? I love it, it is stunning and perfect for what i plan for the tank. but my fish mean more to me than my petty plans.

my BGK does not seem entirely pleased with the addition. he seems lethargic. Perhaps I can move him to a less blackwatery tank?

suggestions appreciated. I was not entirely prepared for the DW to color my tank so much.

[Speakerman]

From what I understand, your not in any real danger just by adding some driftwood that discolors your water.

It may be unsightly, however not detramental to the ecosystem.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

[src]

Also, soaking for 2 days isn't going to get rid of all the tannins, even if you do boil. You need to soak for weeks if you want to be _sure_ that you get no tannins.

[JohnPaul]

This may be a matter of personal taste, but I kinda like the slight coloring the tannins give the water. Seems more...hmm..."natural," for lack of a better word. (This is assuming a planted tank; the effect might not carry over to a non-planted tank.)

Anyway, as others have said, all the tannins will eventually leach out, it will just take weeks, not days.

[exodus]

As far as I know, tannins don't do anything other than discolor your water. I just put 10 pieces of driftwood in my 55, water has been brown for a few weeks now and nothing has gne wrong. I kinda like the look, actually.

[Voodoo Chilli]

I don't forsee any real problems either, although I would keep a close eye on your pH. Really soft water has no buffering capacity; the tannins may cause a drop in pH.

Probably nothing to worry about, but it's good to be aware of the possibility.

[maxwell1295]

No doubt about it...tannic acid will cause a pH drop, but only if your water isn't sufficiently buffered. Adding crushed coral to the filter will probably offset a potential pH drop.

[petunia100]

The tannic acid did cause a drop in my tank but not by much, about .2 if I remember and it wasn't all at once. I would keep an eye on it though. I've heard putting a carbon filter in will help remove the tannins, but you may have to change it frequently. My dad soaked his driftwood for over a month and it still tinted the water in his 90 gallon. Over time and with regular water changes it will become clear.

[tjudy]

All wood will release tannins, some more than others. What type of driftwood did you buy? Malaysian driftwood usually leaches tannins that are dark adn they do it fast... but for a shorter period of time. Mopani/swahala/african root tended to leach for longer periods of time... I have had some pieces that were still leaching a year after going into a tank.

[Devilishturtles]

I boiled my rock for a day straight, doing water changes in between. It leeched for a while, then stopped.

The tannins won't do much of anything. Like everyone else said, it may drop the pH an insignificant amount. No danger.