Backyard tree trunk VS store bought

[Star_Rider]

i have a lot of oak in my tanks 29g and 55 g i soak them for about 6 months and still get a lot of tannin it makes the water a tea color i think it looks good i make partial water changes weekly so it don't get too dark

Oak is loaded with tannins

 

[paperdragon]

I had a bit of fuzzy stuff too. It'll run its course in a couple weeks, and it doesn't seem to hurt the fish to eat it.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

I found out tannin is something you really don't have to put up with, I once boiled a big piece of M-wood 8 times each time dumping out the tannin until it was almost clear on the 8th boil. Didn't darken my tank one bit, unfortunately it diden't drop my PH either. So I guess if you want driftwood for high PH, better put up with the tannin.

Ill retrieve that stump once I see the fuzz subside. I thought for sure scotching it on the fire would stop this stuff though. Plus it might look kind of cool.