Driftwood Problem

[sxyatsxty1]

Hope this is the right forum for this question....................................

Bought some driftwood that had been used in a tank before but not in a while. I rinsed it off real good and put it in the tank. Now the water is a pretty reddish-brown. Been running the filter for 24 hours but it doesn't seem to have cleared the problem. Suggestions????????

EC

[CichlidFan]

Re: Driftwood Problem

first, pull the driftwood out, and boil it if you can....this should help bleed the resins or whatever is actually staining the water.

second, perform a series of water changes to remove the stained water....

I believe that might work......?? I have heard folks tell or talk about running the wood thru a hotwater soapless dishwasher cycle....

CF

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Driftwood Problem

You get that with real wood.  The suspended particals are so small they pass through your filter.   I like the swamp water look.
If you really want to remove the haze, you need eather a diatom filter or one of the 5 micron paper filters.

http://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/WCStandardCanisters.htm

[morphlizard]

Re: Driftwood Problem

Yes, I like that look too!  Set up a black-water tank! :) ... or... consider getting different wood.  I've done that boiling stuff in the past and besides it being a pain, the wood seems to slowly deteriorate afterwords.. but I am sure that depends greatly on the type of wood.

[CichlidFan]

Re: Driftwood Problem

Morphlizard brings up a good point, softer driftwoods, may not hold up well to boiling ....if you got a piece of hardwood, go fer it... :)

There are other things you can do for this problem, try a search here on the box for past articles/threads with this title or Stained water.

CF

[sxyatsxty1]

Re: Driftwood Problem

I am currently draining the tank and the wood is in my sink in hot water from the tap. Doesn't seem to be bleeding color in the sink so maybe this isn't going to be such a big project afterall. Don't laugh but one of the best 'filters' for things like this is coffee filters. Think I'll put a couple in the filter and run it for 24, then change to a couple new ones.

Thanks ever so much guys for your time and info. I'll keep you posted so if this problem occurs with someone else, we'll be able to guide them as you have me.


EC

[morphlizard]

Re: Driftwood Problem

My coffee filters seem to let a LOT of brown water through them!   :wink:

[sxyatsxty1]

Re: Driftwood Problem

Gee, hope I don't use the same 'brand' you do!      

EC

[Somefishguy]

Re: Driftwood Problem

They can bleed very little over a long time until you start to notice the buildup. I broguth a couple peices of wood form Mexico, boiled both for 3 hours outside in a big pot. One has been in the tank for 2 weeks now and doesnt leach the other started to leach after 5 days or so. Took it back out boiled it for abother 2 hours and let it soak in a tank outside and it seems to be ok this time. Activated carbon in the filter seems to clear the water pretty well.

[sxyatsxty1]

Re: Driftwood Problem

Well, I hope it's only a 'temporary break-in' situation because the wood is stunning! Have holey rock in my 55 so I wanted something completely different in this one.

EC

[CichlidFan]

Re: Driftwood Problem

I had some DW staining one of my tanks, and as PP mentioned, I left it alone, after a few months the water cleared up and I never gave it a second thought. It did not seem to bother the fish any. The piece is still in the tank.

CF

[szidlon]

Re: Driftwood Problem

I like the slightly darker water myself.  Some pieces of wood leach for what seems like forever, others only for a few months.  Water changes will keep the discoloration under control until either the wood stops leaching noticeably, or you just get used to the color.  I've never boiled any driftwood, I prefer to let nature take it course, besides that, I'm inherently lazy  

[Somefishguy]

Re: Driftwood Problem

Theres a god chance the tannins that it leaches will make your water more acidic, other than that there should be no harm to your fish if you choose to let it sit.

[JStrider]

Re: Driftwood Problem

I have some little pieces of wood in my 3 gallon shrimp tank.  I boiled them almost constantly for a week, changing the water several times a day.  

even after all that they still bleed tanins into the water... nowhere near as bad... but after a week there is definitely a tea colored tint to the water.

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Driftwood Problem

If you're not in a hurry you can sink the wood in an isolation tank with a lot of snails and/or plecos
and they will eat the soft spots that are the worst at leaching tannins into the water.