Driftwood soaking.

Hi.

I'm busy planning my rescape while I wait for my wood to soak. I just thought I'd ask roughly how long it should take? I've got 2 seperate pieces which together weigh 3.5kg. The big piece is about 45cm long and 20 wide, small piece about 30 long and 10 wide. I've had them in the bathtub for 2 weeks now and I've replaced the water every 3 or 4 days. The tannins have visually become much less and took longer to get the water brown every time I changed it.
What I am scared of is the water looking clear for a week, and then the wood leaching again when added to my tropical tank because of the warmer water, and as I said every time it takes longer for the water to colour up.

I can't boil it because we don't have a big enough pot...

Any thoughts on how long it still has to go?

This is since Monday.

 

You just need to soak it till it does not float anymore, you can always use carbon for a few days to help remove the tannins.

 

I just really don't like that disclolouration. It changed the water colour really quickly the first time I put it in the bathtub. It was about 30 mins and the water was completely brown!

@TheBARBKing It sank right away the first time I put it in the water.

 

Okay cool then you can always just add a box of Koeksoda in the water it helps to kill of any germs, you can also just use geyser water.

 

@HeinrichLourens: Boil it for a couple of hours, it increases the rate at which the wood releases its tanith. I take a gas bottle with a stove attachment and chucked all my wood in the pot and boiled it for a couple of hours. Each time the water turned dark black, I would remove the wood add clean water and boil again. Rince and repeat for a few hours and you are good too go. Worked for me.

 

My wood has been tied down in the pool for 3 months and its still floating. To big to put anywhere else.

 

If you can put it in boiling water it would absorb the water quicker than when it is cold.

 

That's mopani, and it will take a looong time to fully leach it's tannins. Best would be to put it into a tank, and get some charcoal or purigen to absorb all the released tannins.

 

works great for this !

 

How looong do you mean? Would charcoal actually do this well? Purigen is just too expensive for me.

Would Seachem clarity help remove the tannins? Or are they not actual particles?

 

IMO Purigen works our waaay cheaper than charcoal in the long run and is more effective and safer.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk

 

I had the same problem with my driftwood. I soaked it in the tub, put it in the dishwasher (without soap of course), but it kept leaking tannins. I grew impatient and put it in my tank, but it just wouldn't stop discolouring the water. I believe it also decreases the pH, but I'm not too sure about this. Purigen worked really well for me, and it ends up being cheap because you just regenerate it with chlorine when it gets brown. Don't buy the fancy bag though, it's really expensive. I use those stocking type things you use in pool surface filters, they have small enough holes to not let the Purigen through. After 9 months I still have to use the Purigen and regenerate it every month, which is better than every week in the beginning!

 

I'm starting to think this was a bad idea.....

 

Buying wood is never a bad idea. The only downside is the color of the water. The tannins does amazing things for the fish, it makes their immune system stronger and more comfy in the tank. Through it into the tank and buy a bag or two of purigen. Bear in mind that it is expensive but can be re-used multiple times, after bleaching it.

 

I believe you on the purigen but its bloody expensive. I know its better in the long run but I just don't have that kind of money right now... Will a bunch of carbon work as well or is it like fighting Hulk with chopsticks?

 

You can use a good activated carbon to release the tannins in the tank water, just dont buy the cheap Daro stuff.

 

Yes, Purigen is expensive, but you will pay the same for charcoal in the end, and purigen will go much further. The nice thing about purigen is that you can re-use it once it's absorbed as much as it can, by bleaching it. You can use it up to about 10 times I think.

 

And how efficiently will it remove the tannins? I'm considering taking the plunge again... Will it work well if I put it in a bag/stocking and put my return pump on top of it or somehow form the bag around the pump intake?

If I had a Rand for every time someone has suggested Seachem Purigen, I'd be able to afford seachem Purigen haha.

 

Depending how brown the tank is, it should make the water crystal clear. It needs an area with good plow so near your return pump is a good idea.