What kind of wood is this???
- Thread starter LMBDave
- Start date
IME grapevine tends to get some pretty funky fungus stuff on it after its been submerged for a while and generally isn't really recommended for in-tank use.
My vote is for mopani. I have a bunch in all 4 of my tanks. It is really heavy wood. If you don't want all the tannins to leach into your tank, you could boil it prior to putting it in your tank. The tannins will not harm the fish or whatever you may have in there. They will just make the water a yellowish brown til it has finished leaching. Good luck. And welcome to the site.
I have two pieces that I know are Mopani and they look a lot like that one when it is dry so I am voting for Mopani.
P.S. Mopani wood is safe for aquariums.
P.S. Mopani wood is safe for aquariums.
Grapewood is too uncommon.
+1 for Mopani.
Also, Grapewood doesn't have those nice dark brown areas like Mopani does, I think you go lucky and got Mopani!
+1 for Mopani.
Also, Grapewood doesn't have those nice dark brown areas like Mopani does, I think you go lucky and got Mopani!
My first tank had a nice piece of driftwood which I purchased from an LFS. I don't remember the name of the wood, but the tannins will change the color of the water. I didn't mind it but my husband thought it looked awful.
Nice formation on that piece and it should look great in your tank.
Welcome to AC!
Nice formation on that piece and it should look great in your tank.
Welcome to AC!
ok that helps a lot guys thanks! im not sure if it floats or sinks though, i havent tried putting it water yet...ill try it tomorrow. What exactly are tannins? ive heard that they can lower ph, but then again, im not all that familiar with the importance of ph either...im definitely a noob. But so far with the lack of knowledge and experience ive managed not to kill any of my fish...other than the smaller ones that got eaten :wall:...not my fault!
Anybody wanna explain to me the importance of ph level and how to control it? that would be awesome, thanks!
Anybody wanna explain to me the importance of ph level and how to control it? that would be awesome, thanks!
I know that tannins will tint your water brown and lower pH. You don't want to try to change your pH, messing with your pH is more dangerous than a pH that is slightly off.
To get rid of the tannins simply soak the driftwood for a few days changing the water often (I changed it a couple of times a day and it was ready in a couple of days) until the water no longer turns brown and or turns tea colored. If you put it in your tank and there are still tannins in the wood and it turns your water brown then you should take it out of the tank and soak it some more. To get rid of the tannins that leached out of the wood and into the tank simply add activated carbon to your filter.
To get rid of the tannins simply soak the driftwood for a few days changing the water often (I changed it a couple of times a day and it was ready in a couple of days) until the water no longer turns brown and or turns tea colored. If you put it in your tank and there are still tannins in the wood and it turns your water brown then you should take it out of the tank and soak it some more. To get rid of the tannins that leached out of the wood and into the tank simply add activated carbon to your filter.