We had a big storm here in Atlanta last week, and free hardwood was around for the pickin'. I got me a couple nice pieces of oak. I read up a bit and found that I needed to boil them. i chose one, boiled the bejeezus out of it until the pot water was the color of coffee, and then stripped the bark off of it (well, most of the bark, it was stubborn).
I popped it in my tank this morning and it looks great! Only it has leached a bunch of tannins into the water. It really looks pretty neat with the tan water, but I am worried about the fish. I did a 30% water change and my wife is going out to pick up some carbon. The fish are showing no signs of stress whatsoever, they are actually going over the wood looking for tasty bits. Well, my beautiful rainbow guppy is stressed, but that's because my betta thinks he is pretty enough to be a rival. Hope they clear that up, or one of them has to go.
I popped it in my tank this morning and it looks great! Only it has leached a bunch of tannins into the water. It really looks pretty neat with the tan water, but I am worried about the fish. I did a 30% water change and my wife is going out to pick up some carbon. The fish are showing no signs of stress whatsoever, they are actually going over the wood looking for tasty bits. Well, my beautiful rainbow guppy is stressed, but that's because my betta thinks he is pretty enough to be a rival. Hope they clear that up, or one of them has to go.
