Question re: Driftwood

[boofish2]

Last week I added some weighted driftwood to my tank and really love the look of it. I bought it on-line from a place that specifically caters to terrariums for reptiles as well as fresh water aquariums.
Anyway, with the first piece, I boiled it for about two hours before putting it in and it only tinted the water minimally.
Now I'd like to add a few more pieces I bought from the same place and my question is, if I don't mind the tea toned tint do I even really have to boil or soak it? I rinsed it with hot water and a brush to remove any loose pieces but the wood is really to big for any pot and I don't want to soak it in the tub (cleaning chemicals, soap etc.)
I know certain fish really enjoy being in and benefit from the tanins bog wood provides and the new pieces are a bit big to prepare in the same way as the first on.
Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

 

[quiksilver]

by rising it with hot water your not getting past the first few mm of wood. i would say stick it in the bath tub for at least an hour keeping the water hot.

 

[Rbishop]

The "black" water look is fine and will not harm most fish. Does the supplier list it as aquarium safe? Then you should be fine for a straight add after rinsing off dust, preferably with tank water or let it soak in tap water that heas dechlor in it and scrub clean.

 

[liv2padl]

if you're not concerned with the potential for that 'tea colored' water, i'd say there's no need to do anything but put it in your tank and enjoy it.

 

[boofish2]

That's what I thought too! Thanks a lot guys. I'm going to redesign the tank now!! Sooo excited :dance:
Hopefully I can post some pics when its done.

 

[boofish2]

ok here it is after I put the wood in.... water's a little cloudy but it will clear up.
The fish seem to really like it! They're having fun swimming all over the place!

I think I need some real plants too, soon.

 

[quiksilver]

thats some nice driftwood. looks great

 

[Grundy]

Great piece of driftwood!

 

[DevonBlaine]

Thats pretty nice, boo! I heard that the tanin can lower ph and potentially soften the water. You should have seen the water that I soaked my swahala driftwood in before I added it to my tank. Looked like black coffee!
I just tied some moss and stuff to them and put them in my tanks today too.
We've got to swap some pics when the water clears.

 

[sophiecat22]

Will the tanins eventually go away over time or will a tank with "tea-stained" water be "tea-stained" forever? And if it does go away, how long would that take?