If it's freshly downed, are you sure it's not a bit green in the center? I don't know if that would affect your readings, but I've read that it's not safe for fish before.
wonky pH, bad ammonia ???
- Thread starter cellodaisy
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If it's freshly downed, are you sure it's not a bit green in the center? I don't know if that would affect your readings, but I've read that it's not safe for fish before.
Hmmm... The wood isn't literally green, but it was fairly fresh. I did some reading before adding the wood and everything I saw just warned of pesticides, parasites, and tannins. I gathered the wood from a location I'm quite sure is pesticide-free and I boiled for several hours, as per instructions, to get rid of tannins and any possibly parasites. I didn't see any warnings against fresh wood. If anything, I saw more advice against old wood because it's more likely to be rotted, have fungus, etc. What are the possible dangers of "green" wood?
BTW, it is hardwood, most likely oak but no leaves this time of year and I'm not skilled enough to ID a tree without leaves.
It was some kind of chemicals that wood that isn't entirely dead yet leeches if I recall right. I've only seen it mentioned a few times on the forums here, so I'm not entirely sure about it.
Edit: it was sap that causes problems. Here's a link :http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99665&
Edit: it was sap that causes problems. Here's a link :http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99665&
I have found the dip strips to be pretty close for alkalinity but they read in HCO3- as CaCO3 which is a weird set of units.
I use the Hach Model AL-AP part #244301. It is a titration. It correlates to the dip strips within about 15%. Not too bad for alkalinity.
I use the Hach Model AL-AP part #244301. It is a titration. It correlates to the dip strips within about 15%. Not too bad for alkalinity.
paperdragon - I didn't notice any sap. It's the dead of winter here and trees go into a sort of hibernation. I don't pretend to understand it, but I know that folks talk about the maple sap "running" in the spring, so I think trees are less sappy in the winter?
