Mopani wood

[Swimfins]

I bought a piece of mopani wood, about 10 inches long, soaked it for 3 - 4 hours in
a 10% bleach solution, rinsed it really well, soaked it in 10 gallons of water with a capful of aquaclear. It leached alot of color. I rinsed it several times. However, its been about a week now and the aquarium water is always tinged
a bit brownish. I assume this is caused by the tanic acid, in the wood.
The label says it won't alter ph. Fish are doing well. In fact there's two platy children which I noted a few days ago. Now they are about 1/8 inch in size. (I think they are safe from being eaten.)

Will the water always remain discolored? I've done two partial water changes to see, but it always goes back to being tinted. 25 gallons


1 clown pleco
2 swordtail
4 platy adults (two babies)
2 pearl gourami
2 cory 1 pepper, 1 albino

 

[OrionGirl]

Wood can potentially leach tannins for years. Or, it could stop next week. There's really no way to determine how much tannin any given piece of wood will leach out. Your options--remove it, soaking it in a tub and replacing the water often. Leave it in--the tea-stain doesn't harm your fish at all. If it really bugs you, run fresh carbon a few days each week to pull the color out. This can be costly, since you'll have to replace the carbon frequently--once every 2 weeks, at least.

 

[Swimfins]

Thank you thank you thank you! The color doesn't bug me, it reminds me of tropical or amazonian water actually. It gives a more natural look to the tank.
I don't think most fish swim around under glaring lights in bright clean water???
I guess I'll wait it out. Merci beaucoup

 

[OrionGirl]

De nada. Many fish will be happier with some tannins in the water--black water, or the amazonian waters, are that color from the exact same thing.

 

[Copper]

Wouldn't worry about that at all. Some tropicals come from water areas where blackwater is normal. I have a 35g with 3 pieces of Malaysian Driftwood that still leaches tannin. Theoretically, the organics like that can help make your water a bit softer, just like calcium, limestone, coral, or crushed shells are supposed to make it harder. If it doesn't bother you, don't sweat the fish as long as they are comfortable in that environment. It's possible that this brown cotton looking fungus may grow on the wood from time to time. Just suck it off with an extra piece of airline when you do a water change, my python has too big of a mouth to get a good suction on that stuff, so an airline works great.

 

[bayoupr]

My african driftwood has been in my tanks for about a month and still leaching tannins. I like the new color in my tanks. Seems the fish aren't bothered by it either. I wouldn't worry about it. I know that sooner or later it will clear up, but for now is a nice change to look at.

 

[Swimfins]

I like the look and I think the fish are happy. I came hom e tonight and my male gourami is cornering the tank and blowing bubbles into a pile. Ummm does that mean what I think it does??? Love is in the air?

 

[OrionGirl]

Yep, it sure does...Make sure the female has a good place to hide from him, especially if she hasn't been plumping up. Male gouramies can kill a female if she's not ready when he is.

 

[RTR]

IME, the mopani wood pieces release tannins over a longer period than does conventional sand-blasted driftwood (perhaps a function of the density?) but less intensely. In my water there is no detectable shift in pH or hardness from this wood, but I do ordinarily boil it first to get the first big batch of tannins out.

 

[Swimfins]

I soaked the wood in a 10% bleach solution an alot o color drained, I suppose boiling is an idea though. Needs a big pot! I think the color has stabilized though as the leeching is not so much today.


UMM Orion Girl? My female gourami, has been chased by the male alot, and is a bit on the juvenile side, not as large as he is. He has been agressive towards her but since yesterday, he spends most of his time blowing bubbles in an upper corner and doing his best to chase the others out of his space. She seems to be forgotten at the moment. Should I worry?