Boiling Driftwood

Leached tannins aren't dangerous to your tank. You don't need to turn up filtration. Adding carbon will help keep the tank look a little less yellowish but as someone already stated, you will need to change it often for it to continue to be effective. Eventually, your driftwood will not leak tannins anymore. The amount of time this can take though, varies. Mine was a small 12" piece. It took about a month and a half.
 
That malsian drift wood seems to never stop leaking tannins. I had a couple peices for years and they are still slightly yellowing the water.
 
only6foot6 said:
I am piggy-backing onto this topic. hurricanejedi - Hope you don't mind.

I was at a local fish store today & saw a great piece of driftwood but it was HUGE!!!! It would be great center piece for my new 80 gallon tank.

Question - How do you boil a piece of driftwood that is 24" x 12"?

I did not buy it but am thinking about going back. What is a good price for driftwood?

The owner of the store said that driftwood is not the greatest for fish tanks & I should buy some kind of root.

Any ideas?


I'd probably let it soak in the bathtub. Someone suggested running it under a steaming hot shower, then maybe let it set for a while. Of course this is only doable if you have an extra shower.
 
valleyvampiress said:
Leached tannins aren't dangerous to your tank. You don't need to turn up filtration. Adding carbon will help keep the tank look a little less yellowish but as someone already stated, you will need to change it often for it to continue to be effective. Eventually, your driftwood will not leak tannins anymore. The amount of time this can take though, varies. Mine was a small 12" piece. It took about a month and a half.
It isn't bad. But if you don't want to lower your PH that can be bad also you have to kill all the bacteria.
 
only6foot6 said:
I am piggy-backing onto this topic. hurricanejedi - Hope you don't mind.

I was at a local fish store today & saw a great piece of driftwood but it was HUGE!!!! It would be great center piece for my new 80 gallon tank.

Question - How do you boil a piece of driftwood that is 24" x 12"?

I did not buy it but am thinking about going back. What is a good price for driftwood?

The owner of the store said that driftwood is not the greatest for fish tanks & I should buy some kind of root.

Any ideas?
Well personally I would soak it to release the tannins. Then either pour boiling water over it or bake it in the oven for a little bit. Just to make sure you don't get any pathogens in your water.
 
midnightmadman said:
That malsian drift wood seems to never stop leaking tannins. I had a couple peices for years and they are still slightly yellowing the water.

"The amount of time this can take though, varies."
 
i believe i followed soem directions taht said to simmer the piece for 12 hours then let cool. it wasn't so much to get rid of tannins, which it was very dark when complete, but to kill any parasites, etc.

i am also wondering how to kill hitchhikers on a large piece, specifically if i ever get the 75 gal tank. small pieces of driftwood just wouldn't look right to me.
 
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