Can I put wood in the tank ?

[Alan Silver]

Hello,

I have seen people here say that you shouldn't put wood in a cichlid
tank as it will leach tannins. I have had a piece of mopani wood in
another tank for years. Would this still be leaching tannins into the
water ? Also, what harm would the tannins do ?

TIA

--
Alan Silver

[KEITH JENNINGS]

"Alan Silver"
> wrote in
message ...
> Hello,
>
> I have seen people here say that you shouldn't put wood in a cichlid
> tank as it will leach tannins. I have had a piece of mopani wood in
> another tank for years. Would this still be leaching tannins into the
> water ? Also, what harm would the tannins do ?
>
> TIA
>
> --
> Alan Silver

Tannins are natural acids that lower the pH of the tank and make the water
dark. Other than lowering the pH , they aren't harmful to fish. Most of the
tannins are gone after a few months in water. If it's been in other tanks
for over a year it won't hurt anything.

Keith J.

[Alan Silver]

>> I have seen people here say that you shouldn't put wood in a cichlid
>> tank as it will leach tannins. I have had a piece of mopani wood in
>> another tank for years. Would this still be leaching tannins into the
>> water ? Also, what harm would the tannins do ?
>
>Tannins are natural acids that lower the pH of the tank and make the water
>dark. Other than lowering the pH , they aren't harmful to fish. Most of the
>tannins are gone after a few months in water. If it's been in other tanks
>for over a year it won't hurt anything.

It's been in another tank for about five years !! Sounds like it would
(sic) be safe to put in my cichlid tank then.

Thanx

--
Alan Silver

[The Madd Hatter]

i believe the wood will still buffer your PH lower. I've noticed the trend
in oneof my tanks that has a piece of driftwoodin it.. its one of the
"commercial" ones, that have been presoaked and mounted on a base. It's been
in one or the other of my tanks for 4 years, and though its not an extreme
change, it does tend to lower the ph. Works out well for me sincei have
fairly hard water out of the tap,and I buffer the tank w/ baking soda and
epsoms anyway.
"Alan Silver"
> wrote in
message ...
> Hello,
>
> I have seen people here say that you shouldn't put wood in a cichlid
> tank as it will leach tannins. I have had a piece of mopani wood in
> another tank for years. Would this still be leaching tannins into the
> water ? Also, what harm would the tannins do ?
>
> TIA
>
> --
> Alan Silver
>

[Alan Silver]

In article
e.rogers.com>, The
Madd Hatter > writes
>i believe the wood will still buffer your PH lower. I've noticed the
>trend in oneof my tanks that has a piece of driftwoodin it.. its one of
>the "commercial" ones, that have been presoaked and mounted on a base.
>It's been in one or the other of my tanks for 4 years, and though its
>not an extreme change, it does tend to lower the ph. Works out well for
>me sincei have fairly hard water out of the tap,and I buffer the tank
>w/ baking soda and
>epsoms anyway.

Interesting. This was just a plain loose piece bought in the LFS. I
don't think it was presoaked as it leached loads when I first got it. I
had it in an empty tank soaking for a few weeks before it stopped
discolouring the water.

Maybe I'll try it and see how the pH changes.

Thanx

--
Alan Silver

[RedForeman ©®]

I too have a piece that I collected myself, drilled holes in it, melted lead
and poured into it, soaked, baked, bleached, soaked for 3 more weeks,
washed, soaked, baked again.... and it STILL leaches.... and lowers the pH
tremendously.... good bad, doesn't bother the fish.... only the kH and pH

--

RedForeman ©®





"Alan Silver"
> wrote in
message ...
> Hello,
>
> I have seen people here say that you shouldn't put wood in a cichlid
> tank as it will leach tannins. I have had a piece of mopani wood in
> another tank for years. Would this still be leaching tannins into the
> water ? Also, what harm would the tannins do ?
>
> TIA
>
> --
> Alan Silver
>

[Alan Silver]

In article >, RedForeman ©®
> writes
>I too have a piece that I collected myself, drilled holes in it, melted
>lead and poured into it, soaked, baked, bleached, soaked for 3 more
>weeks, washed, soaked, baked again.... and it STILL leaches.... and
>lowers the pH tremendously.... good bad, doesn't bother the fish....
>only the kH and pH

How long have you had it in the water ? As I said, mine has been in
another tank for a few years, not just a few weeks.

Lowering the pH could be a problem for me as we have naturally soft
neutral water and I want to put Malawis in the tank. If the wood will
not alter the pH significantly, then I will use it. If it is going to
cause pH movement then I'm not going to use it as I will have to raise
the pH anyway, I don't want to make matters worse.

Thanx for the reply

--
Alan Silver

[The Madd Hatter]

Try tracking it daily initially. It should onlycreep very slowly, but that
depends on the type of water you have. Regular water changes will keep it
pretty stable.
"Alan Silver"
> wrote in
message ...
> In article
> e.rogers.com>, The
> Madd Hatter > writes
> >i believe the wood will still buffer your PH lower. I've noticed the
> >trend in oneof my tanks that has a piece of driftwoodin it.. its one of
> >the "commercial" ones, that have been presoaked and mounted on a base.
> >It's been in one or the other of my tanks for 4 years, and though its
> >not an extreme change, it does tend to lower the ph. Works out well for
> >me sincei have fairly hard water out of the tap,and I buffer the tank
> >w/ baking soda and
> >epsoms anyway.
>
> Interesting. This was just a plain loose piece bought in the LFS. I
> don't think it was presoaked as it leached loads when I first got it. I
> had it in an empty tank soaking for a few weeks before it stopped
> discolouring the water.
>
> Maybe I'll try it and see how the pH changes.
>
> Thanx
>
> --
> Alan Silver
>

[RedForeman ©®]

about 2 1/2 years so far....

--

RedForeman ©®





"Alan Silver"
> wrote in
message ...
> In article >, RedForeman ©®
> > writes
> >I too have a piece that I collected myself, drilled holes in it, melted
> >lead and poured into it, soaked, baked, bleached, soaked for 3 more
> >weeks, washed, soaked, baked again.... and it STILL leaches.... and
> >lowers the pH tremendously.... good bad, doesn't bother the fish....
> >only the kH and pH
>
> How long have you had it in the water ? As I said, mine has been in
> another tank for a few years, not just a few weeks.
>
> Lowering the pH could be a problem for me as we have naturally soft
> neutral water and I want to put Malawis in the tank. If the wood will
> not alter the pH significantly, then I will use it. If it is going to
> cause pH movement then I'm not going to use it as I will have to raise
> the pH anyway, I don't want to make matters worse.
>
> Thanx for the reply
>
> --
> Alan Silver
>

[Alan Silver]

In article >, RedForeman ©®
> writes
>about 2 1/2 years so far....

Well that blows that theory out of the water then ;-)

--
Alan Silver

[The Madd Hatter]

If youhave soft water, don't do it. The water changes will only driveit down
faster. Its not just tannins that soften the water... The wood will tend to
absorb minerals from the water and lower your kh/gh... Add Coral or some
sort of crushed coral/oyster shell type substrate.

"Alan Silver"
> wrote in
message ...
> In article >, RedForeman ©®
> > writes
> >I too have a piece that I collected myself, drilled holes in it, melted
> >lead and poured into it, soaked, baked, bleached, soaked for 3 more
> >weeks, washed, soaked, baked again.... and it STILL leaches.... and
> >lowers the pH tremendously.... good bad, doesn't bother the fish....
> >only the kH and pH
>
> How long have you had it in the water ? As I said, mine has been in
> another tank for a few years, not just a few weeks.
>
> Lowering the pH could be a problem for me as we have naturally soft
> neutral water and I want to put Malawis in the tank. If the wood will
> not alter the pH significantly, then I will use it. If it is going to
> cause pH movement then I'm not going to use it as I will have to raise
> the pH anyway, I don't want to make matters worse.
>
> Thanx for the reply
>
> --
> Alan Silver
>

[Jim Morcombe]

I'm not a chemist, so I'm not sure....

However, I don't believe the tannins affect the fish at all.

Lowering the pH just means the water is more acidic. However, all acids are
not the same and not all acids kill fish.

A lot of our local rivers are full of dead trees and I swear you can taste
the tannin in them. It looks as if you are swimming in weak tea.

I refuse to pay LFS prices for pieces of wood and just pick up my own, boil
them for 10 minutes, soak them for a week and then toss them into the tank.
I have often had the tank change colour for a few weeks but have never lost
any fish from it.


Jim


Alan Silver
> wrote in
message ...
> Hello,
>
> I have seen people here say that you shouldn't put wood in a cichlid
> tank as it will leach tannins. I have had a piece of mopani wood in
> another tank for years. Would this still be leaching tannins into the
> water ? Also, what harm would the tannins do ?
>
> TIA
>
> --
> Alan Silver
>

[Phil & Edwina]

is it a large piece of wood?
do you have anything in the tank that will raise the PH?
I have bogwood in my tank, but also have calcium carbonate in my substrate
the acids released by the wood dont make a dent in the effect of the calcium
carb.