Tannins keep discoloring my tank water

[gykramer]

I have a 40-gal breeder tank set up the Father Fish way with a layer of soil/peatmoss, etc base and topped with sand. I have one good size chunk of mopani wood to which i have attached java ferns and moss and lots of volcanic rocks. No fish yet, as I'm trying to stabilize the pH and other parameters and get the water clear. Initially, the water is clear, but over the past 6 weeks, I have done 3 complete water changes, because the water keeps turning a yellowish-brown color. I would think that the tannins would have been removed completely by now. I soaked the wood in water for a week before I put it in the tank. Two weeks ago, I put Purigen in the filter, because I heard that it clarified tannin-discolored water, but to no effect. I plan to do one more water change, but not sure this will work this time around.

 

[Andy Sager]

Unfortunately, some woods can leech tannins for many months or even longer. You can try boiling the wood to help speed up the release of tannins but even that does not usually completely release all the tannins. So your choices are to do frequent water changes, add carbon to the filter and replace it often or remove the wood and let it soak in a barrel until it stops leeching.
The bad part of tannins is that they will not allow for the water's pH and hardness to stabilize because they are acidic in nature so with an acid being leeched into the water and the alkalinity being absorbed by the wood(s), you just get lowering pH. The good part to them is that they do make a tank have a more natural look to the fish's natural environment. The problem with that tho is that unless you are getting wild caught fish, your fsh is not coming from tannin stained water.

Hope this helps.

 

[Aiken Drum]

I have a 40-gal breeder tank set up the Father Fish way

I'm sorry, but dear God that guy talks some nonsense.

I remember one video about how it's not necessary to cycle aquariums, and then gets on some scientist who explains the nitrogen cycle and then goes through in detail how to cycle an aquarium, and he somehow thought that confirmed his opinion.

 

[Andy Sager]

Yup. Same with the King of DIY. Lots of information, not all correct. That's part of the problem IMO, people getting paid by being on Youtube.