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	Tanins from driftwood
Sonic2041 Enthusiast Posts: 152 Kudos: 142 Votes: 19 Registered: 19-Dec-2004	what effect to tanins ( i believe that is the right word) have on your water quality other than turning it brown. and will this effect my fish. will it go away eventually through water changes over time or is there a better way to get rid of it. thanks
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:19
jasonpisani Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 5553 Kudos: 7215 Votes: 1024 Registered: 24-Feb-2003	It doesn't have any effect on fish & some fish like Tetra's like it. Water changes will take the Tannins out of the water & you can also add some carbon in your filter to speed up the clearing. The best way to get rid of the Tannins, is water changes, but it was better to boil the Driftwood before putting it in your tank. http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/ Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970. http://www.maltaaquarist.com
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:19
lifeofcrimeguy Enthusiast Posts: 230 Kudos: 265 Registered: 12-Jan-2004	tannins are acidic hence they are also called tannic acid. all plants have tannin to some extent and it will reduce ur pH over time. the best way to reduce tannin in the water is too boil the drfit wood continously. my technique is to boil for several days with carbon. carbon is very effective at removing tannins as well as phenolic compounds (reduces the smell of the tank). this will not get rid off all tannins unless u boil for months/years but it will mean that running some carbon with ur filter should keep ur tank clear.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:19
tetratech Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 4241 Kudos: 1074 Registered: 04-Nov-2003	It really depends how big the tank is and how much driftwood we are talking about. I assume were talking about the dark driftwood that leaches tannins into the water. Just keep up with water changes and the brown tint shouldn't have much of an effect. My Scapes
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:19
sham Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3369 Kudos: 2782 Votes: 98 Registered: 21-Apr-2004	Boiling driftwood too long starts to break down the wood. I don't boil it more than 15 mins and most of my pieces I had to boil one end then the other. Then I usually leave it to soak for a few weeks in a bucket or my little pond container next to the garden. After the wood absorbs some water the outer layer will swell and stop releasing tannins. Tannic acid can lower the ph of your water but it would take soft water and a very big piece of wood to lower the whole tank as long as you keep up on water changes. Carbon will remove colors but not the acid itself.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:19
tankie Fish Addict Posts: 857 Kudos: 848 Votes: 230 Registered: 15-Mar-2005	it lowers the pH...and yes..it will go in time thru water changes and if u have act carb installed.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:19


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