How long until wood stops leaching tannins

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
D

davdev

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Mar 28, 2010
613
2
33
Somewhere in New England
I collected some driftwood a few months ago. It is too big to boil so I have just had it submerged in an empty tank since then. Right now it shows no sign of giving up leaching. Is there a time frame for how long it will take? I don't really mind the tea coloring, but I don't want to hear the wife complaining that the tank is "dirty".

For the record, it is not really one big piece of wood, but rather several large sticks/branches. Not sure if that makes a difference
 
Every piece is different. Just do huge water changes and they will go away eventually.

Mine stopped after 6-7 months. I can not see tannins in my water anymore.
 
I throw my new drift wood in the deep end of the pool over the winter (4 months or so). It seems to clean very well. So soaking for long periods before putting in your tank is key. Of course the tanis from the wood is not bad for your fish and you can skip the soaking process all together and just increase your water change frequency.... After 4 to 6 months your water will stay clear a lot longer.
 
Hi All

Bark has been removed, and I do 50% water changes weekly. It never seems to be free of the tannins though, even immediately after the water change, it is still murky.

Looks like I just have to wait it out.
 
When it comes to driftwood I have collected myself, I feel it has always taken longer to get the tannin cleared away. I personally don't mind the tannin tint so its no big deal for me. However I have found that for pieces too big for me to boil a soaking then a drying cycle helped me.

I'd soak the wood for a week, empty the container and let the wood sit in a dry area (usually my basement) for a few days then resubmerge it in completely fresh water. I would keep that process going for as long as it took. Usually at least a few weeks. Before going into the tank it always got a hot bath and hit with a brush.
 
I usually soak mine for a month or so before I put it in the tank and the leeching definitely slows but I'm not sure if it ever really stops. I have three pieces in my 60 that must be at least 10-12 years old that still leech tannins but they have help from my L204 which is a wood eater. It's a dark tank, so I let it ride. Fish seem to love it

In most tanks my experience has been a few months before you dont notice. Carbon use occasionally can rid your tank of it as well.
 
Same with me - a slight tint has come from my driftwood continuosly for years, though not as dark as newbee wood. The fish love it, and I love it knowing they love it. It creates a sense of mystery and intrique.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom