Driftwood and pH

[Kelli]

I know I shouldn't put driftwood in my frontosa tank because of it lowering the pH. My natural tap water is 7.8pH. How much will it lower it? I have a 125 gallon and the piece of wood is 4 1/2 feet long. Does all driftwood make the water brown? What kind of slate do you used to drill it to?

[sunkenmetal]

Not sure how much it will lower ph.

As far as tannins it depends on how long the wood has been in the water...

[Totenkampf]

if you soak it in hot water for a while you will get most of the tannins out, it depends on the wood so its trial and error on how long it will take. its also hard to calculate how it will affect pH but it will eventually level out. water changes and a pH buffering substrate will help. tannins are brown so it will color the water, use a product called seachem purigen to pull these out. many cichlid owners here use it and it is awesome, i even started using it on planted tanks that i previously *thought* had great water clarity

[troy tucker]

drift wood will lower ph but not enough to worry about. where did the wood come from? all wood is not =...

[sunkenmetal]

If you are worried about tannins get yourself a plastic trash can big enough for the wood. Put the wood in the trash can put it where it can get the lovely Houston sun fill it up with water let it sit out there all day then check in the morning if the water is brown it is still leaching tannins

[Kelli]

Okay I will do that! Thanks! I got it from HAW but I'm not sure what kind of wood it is.

[troy tucker]

HAW would not sale a bad pease. bet it looks good too. Get some purigen and go for it. Post pictures...

[Kelli]

It looks very good IMO but I don't know much about driftwood. I will post a whole thread of my 125 set up this week. :)

[Kelli]

Where can I buy the cheapest purigen?

[CRUSHER]

when you find out, let us know too!

Where can I buy the cheapest purigen?

[sunkenmetal]

Depends on how much you want?

http://www.marinedepot.com/Seachem_Laboratories_Purigen_100mL_Bag_Carbon_Replacements_Resin_Chemical_Filter_Media-Seachem-SC3231-FIFMCHRM-SC3231-vi.html

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4136+4190&pcatid=4190

[Totenkampf]

Where can I buy the cheapest purigen?

petmountain has been running some silly cheap sales lately, google shopping often turns up the best deals

[Kelli]

I still didn't get the answer to what type of slate to use?

[sunkenmetal]

I still didn't get the answer to what type of slate to use?

The stuff from Home Depot or Lowes works or you can use floor tile

[armthehomeless]

Any type will work. You can just throw a rock on it until is waterlogs.

Keep up with waterchanges, and the tannins shouldn't be much of an issue . . . especially if you use Purigen as well.