Boiling Driftwood...

[sudz]

Hey guys...

Bought a piece from driftwood of kijiji - It sinks, is very "narly", and is a solid piece of wood. Its darker on one side than the other. I've seen this type before, at Big-al's, so I know its aquarium safe.

My question is: it was in the other guys tank for 12 months. Since there was still a tiny bit of moisture in the cracks, I decided to boil it and to make sure I wouldn't catch anything from his tank.

Well, I've replaced the water 4 times in 3 hours, and the water is still coming out VERY brown... How long does it take the tannin's to get out of the wood?!?

 

[rich311k]

It could be years some wood will leach tannins for long periods of time.

 

[sudz]

AH. I don't mind a BIT of leeching - Its for a discus tank. I think this will be the last water change. I'm assuming that boiling them is an extreme and that sitting in a tank, they'll leech much more slowly?

 

[rich311k]

That is correct, I like tannin colored water so it never bothered me.

 

[jcolon]

AH. I don't mind a BIT of leeching - Its for a discus tank. I think this will be the last water change. I'm assuming that boiling them is an extreme and that sitting in a tank, they'll leech much more slowly?

Yep, could take years, depending on the DW, for all the tannins to leech out.
I do agree about boiling DW from another tank, your not sure what microbes you'd introduce. We clean new ornaments and rocks we introduce, DW should be do different IMO.

 

[sudz]

Alright! Done, risned with cold water for 15 minutes, and its in the tank! Fish are curious. nipped at it a bit, then went back to swimming in the stream of the powerhead. (seems to be their pasttime)

 

[fort384]

Moved to Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion