Driftwood tannin..

[PapaPUFF]

I've been treating my driftwood to be fully submersible but it's still giving out tannins. Would it be ok for my Fahaka if I put that into his tank?

[Squaffy]

The tannins themselves are not toxic, but they will drop the pH, so keep a very close watch on tank parameters

Activated carbon would help, but there's differing views on whether it should be used for anything but removing med treatments - it's personal choice

[Pufferpunk]

I have 2 huge pieces of driftwood in 2 large tanks. I do 75% weekly WC, to bring the color back to normal. The older piece is finally not turning the water brown.

[PapaPUFF]

I have 2 huge pieces of driftwood in 2 large tanks. I do 75% weekly WC, to bring the color back to normal. The older piece is finally not turning the water brown.

Ok thanks. Wouldn't it stress him doing 75% WC?

[bertie 83]

Absolutely not, you could probably break it down to around 2x 50% weekly and should get a similar clearing effect if you would prefer.

[RTR]

There is nothing evil about GAC, but it generally cost more than water. Lots of breeders do 100% water changes or more daily. Do keep in mind that in the wild fish get a lot more changes than that much of the year...

[PapaPUFF]

There is nothing evil about GAC, but it generally cost more than water. Lots of breeders do 100% water changes or more daily. Do keep in mind that in the wild fish get a lot more changes than that much of the year...

Yea that is what I was informed by one of our LFS. He told me the direct importer is doing 100% WC in every batch of fishes that would arrive. But make sure the medias of the filter still got good beneficial bacterias, right?

[Pufferpunk]

You can never do WC too large or too often, as long as they are done regularly. My tank's water closely resembles that of my tap.

[RTR]

Huge +1 to PP's comment. That statement: "My tank's water closely resembles that of my tap." is exactly what we all should be trying to achieve!

[Pufferpunk]

BTW, after ~6 months, the tannin of a piece large enough to fill 1/2 of my 90g has pretty much stopped leaching color. Also, even though the water was quite brown at the end of the week, the pH never changed.

[RTR]

But the tannins can eat light. If you use a lot of fresh wood, start w/artificial plants until the tannins clear.