New driftwood question

[PuppyFluffer]

I bought a piece of dry mopani driftwood. I have read here about soaking and boiling it to remove excess tannins.

I have washed it in clear water and boiled it on and off for a few days. It is leaching like NUTS! At what point do you put it in the tank? If I have to wait until boiling it results in clear water, I think I will have it on the stove forever.

It's going into a new 10 gallon tank with sand substrate, live plants, a small group of chili rasboras (Borasas brigittae), a few of the smallest corys I can find and a few cherry shrimp. I understand the rasboras want a lower ph than I currently have. I'm running about 7.4-7.6 now. I was hoping to have the wood lower the ph a bit.

[SchizotypalVamp]

If you boil all the tannins out there is nothing to lower the ph..

[Notophthalmus]

The tannins are the part of the wood that lower the pH,. so go ahead and stick that sucker in there. Just be prepared to live with stained water. If it gets too stained for your tastes, increase size or frequency of water changes.

[xDetroitMetalx]

I boiled my first piece down only once today. So far so good.

[BoredAgain]

The tannins will definitely lower the pH. I have tons of Mopani in a 28g, lowered it from 7.8 to 7.2. I have a moderate amount currently in a 55g (soon to be a lot more) and it lowered it from 7.8 to 7.4. I like the stained water...:).

[PuppyFluffer]

Ok, excess tannins won't effect the fish in a negative way?

There are no fish yet. I've only got sand and water. Plants and shrimp are arriving. I have established media from another tank to make sure Im ok regarding the cycle and I've got a good test kit to follow up everything.

I'll go ahead and put it in there. I'm just worried I won't be able to see the fish with the way this thing is leaching out!

[Lupin]

Ok, excess tannins won't effect the fish in a negative way?

There are no fish yet. I've only got sand and water. Plants and shrimp are arriving. I have established media from another tank to make sure Im ok regarding the cycle and I've got a good test kit to follow up everything.

I'll go ahead and put it in there. I'm just worried I won't be able to see the fish with the way this thing is leaching out!
Tannins will never affect the fish unless the fish you have are mollies, African cichlids and a few others from hard alkaline to brackish waters. I used peat in my two river tanks and plenty of woods in another. All are dominated by loaches which hailed from soft, acidic waters.:)

[Lupin]

If you boil all the tannins out there is nothing to lower the ph..
You cannot boil all the tannins out of the wood. It will take several years for them to stop leaching. My woods have been in use for 7 years and they still continue to leach tannins.

[PuppyFluffer]

Thanks for the info.

I'll get it in the tank tomorrow! Wait, it is tomorrow! Boy, I can't wait to be sleeping like a normal person again....only two weeks to go of this pregnancy....or sooner I hope. It's messing with my sleep a lot!

I should be able to get the corys locally. The rasboras I have to order and have shipped to me. I've not researched corys enough to get them. Do they need an established tank or will they be ok going into a new (fully cycled) set up?

The plants and shrimp are on their way now (purchased from someone here and being shipped).

[Lupin]

An established tank is always better. Plenty of fish from South America are quite sensitive to water conditions.

[BoredAgain]

I've not researched corys enough to get them. Do they need an established tank or will they be ok going into a new (fully cycled) set up?

The plants and shrimp are on their way now (purchased from someone here and being shipped).
All of my corys did fine in a newly cycled tank. Most shrimp, however, will not do well in an uncycled tank.

[PuppyFluffer]

The tank will be cycled! I have established media from another tank to use so I'm not worried about that.

I'll look into corys today and see what kinds are available to me locally.

Why is it suggested that one dry the driftwood in the sun after soaking/boiling before placing in the tank?

[BoredAgain]

Why is it suggested that one dry the driftwood in the sun after soaking/boiling before placing in the tank?
I've never heard of that and I don't do it.

[PuppyFluffer]

I've read it a few times. It seems if it's soaked to one's satisfaction, drying it out and then putting in the tank would be an unnecessary step...

[BoredAgain]

I've read it a few times. It seems if it's soaked to one's satisfaction, drying it out and then putting in the tank would be an unnecessary step...
I think drying it out after soaking it for a few weeks would be retarded. But, if you must do that, just bake it.