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well it would be a real poll if I could post a poll :%)

Anyway here's the Q: Do you like the look of tannin driftwood tea blackwater in tanks or are you more a fan of crystal clear water? I noticed a lot of people here recommend soaking all of that precious tannin OUT of the driftwood so it doesn't leech into the tank but I LOVE the natural look it gives.

What do YOU think?

Depends....sometimes the tannins clash with the fish plants rocks and other decor...(same reason I didnt' want gold barbs in a tank that had red temple)...I know that sounds shallow but sometimes you want a certian look.

Having said that...I have the tannin color in my 30....kinda like it, but it does make it a bit dark .

^_^

i suppose i'm spoiled because my driftwood doesn't leak too much tannin into the water. what does get leaked out you can't see unless you have the lights off and look through the tank at the white paint on the wall to see that there really is something in the water. but as much as i can see it i like the look of driftwood in my tank, so i learn to like the brown-ish color i get

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

I've toyed with both looks. I have a lot of driftwood in the tank. I've run with carbon and without a different stages. Obviously the tannins are more noticable without carbon.

Didn't really like the look of the tannins. With bright light it just makes everything look bright yellow. Without trying to be crude it just looked like the fish were swimming in pee. Much prefer the crystal clear water mainly because the color of both fish and plants is better in clear water.

I also found in the past that the tannins stained the glass so even when they had finished leeching everything still looked yellow.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

In my planted tank i have left it with the tannin look. My parents always think that it is dirty tho and i guess if you dont know whats causing it, it does look sorta dirty. Personally i like the look that it gives, although i would still reccomend soaking yours a bit to make sure that you wont have tannin overload and that it wont look like a tank full of black coffee. Also with your lights on the tannins become much less noticeable than with them off. So in the end its all personal choice but my vote goes for tea collored water.

I sort of like the look of the tannins. It does look really natural, and the water is still clear. It just looks... tannin-y.

I think tannins sort of contribute to the mood of a tank. With real plants and such, tannins look good, but on a fake plant tank or a fake-themed tank, it doesn't look as nice.

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They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes,
They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver,
So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.

clear sparkily water

Last edited by dude_dude at 25-Feb-2005 03:39

I made this thread in OCTOBER.

dude_dude seems to be dredging up old threads all over the place

I tried the tannin look once in a discus tank, and I just changed the whole thing in about an hour (discus hated me ) but it just killed the bright nice colors of the fish and the wood looked darker, all around loll felt it looked dirty, so loll now prefer crystal clear.

I personally like the clear look. The colors of the fish just seem to stand out better.

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

TO TANNIN

why wouldn't you