How do you prepare bogwood?

[Nicki Gaga]

I want to try to create a blackwater aquarium and I'm using bogwood in my aquascape that I will buy at the petstore.

So, how do you prepare bogwood while allowing it to release tannins because I also want the water to turn brown? And does all bogwood release tannins?

Thanks,
Nicki Gaga

 

[toddnbecka]

If you want really brown water use Mopani wood. Here's an old pic, mopani wood was soaking in my 125 to lose some of the tannins before I set up the tank. This is a 5 gallon bucket of water that had been in the tank for a week:


Tank looked like this:

 

[Nicki Gaga]

I heard that mopani wood is endangered and is toxic to fish once it rots so I don't think it's a good idea. I would like to stick to bogwood and driftwood.

 

[toddnbecka]

If it was toxic I'm sure word would have gotten around before now, I have some that's been in tanks for over 30 years. It has gotten a little smaller in that time, but nothing like other types of wood that have almost disappeared in much less time. Certainly hasn't poisoned any fish that I could tell.

 

[limnologist]

I used a piece of 1-year old oak from my fireplace pile and it worked pretty awesomely.

 

[Nicki Gaga]

So back to the question: how do you prepare any kind of aquarium wood so that it is safe for the fish but also releases tannins to create a blackwater effect?

 

[Brookster123]

Boil it for 3 min..

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[Nicki Gaga]

Thanks!

But I thought you're supposed to boil and soak it for weeks before you put it in your tank

 

[Brookster123]

If you want the tannins out quick, where'd you get it? I've always flash boiled mine,.some up to 10 min and in the tank they go. From the lfs, not from a bog or whatever..

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[Nicki Gaga]

I don't get it...

 

[PerfectDepth]

Thanks!

But I thought you're supposed to boil and soak it for weeks before you put it in your tank

That's usually done to remove most of the tannins when you don't want the tannins to color your water and/or if it floats and you want to water-log it so it sinks. Otherwise, a quick boil is sufficient.