heartsongsinger

I got some driftwood about 2 weeks ago. I've been soaking it in a bucket because I don't want to deal with my tank water changing colors. How long will I have to soak it before I can put it in the tank? (it no longer floats)

Nick G

I always boil my driftwood then put it straight in the tank. There will probably be some colouring of the water for a few weeks, but normal water changes take care of this. Boiling is to kill any nasties living in it, and also remove the tannins faster.

Martinismommy

How do you boil a huge piece? I have 2 long pieces that someone gave me that I'd love to add to my 55gallon grow out tank but I'm afraid to!

agabr123

i'd boil the water first, and then pour it over the wood, that should work pretty well, although you may have to do it a couple of times to be certain

and running a carbon insert for two weeks will clear the water right up, but don't forget to change it and if i DO use carbon i always get an entirely separate insert from the filter media that's currently in the tanks for easy removal.

heartsongsinger

i'm just concerned about doing that because I have like 40 baby fish in the tank that i'm putting it in. I might keep it in the bucket until I get rid of the babies. Speaking of the babies I have to give more zucchini to everybody

agabr123

you mean you're concerned about the carbon?

in that case, still boil the driftwood but honestly the discoloration isn't that bad, i actually prefer the way it looks sometimes because it gives everything a little more natural look instead of the stark white that sand can look under fluorescents. and it will go away eventually with water changes and time

heartsongsinger

ok. I'll put it in then. I don't have that problem with sand because I have gravel. I'm hoping to one day have a planted tank. That probably won't happen until after college though

isis

I've been soaking mine for 4 months now and still it makes the water brown-ish. Letting it soak in water for this long got rid of pretty much all the nasties in the wood. I put it in my tank just yesterday... and yeah it's coloring the water... but weekly water changes will fix it to some degree... but I could not wait any longer.

KyWildFish

it took a couple months for mine to stop leaching tannins, lots of patience.

heartsongsinger

ok

Shawnie

I like the natural tannis look myself it looks more natural to me..but im a weirdo LOL

MM if its too big for all those pans you have in your shoe, you can bake it ...I baked mine because it was too big..then just put it in my tank...but again, I like the tannis look

agabr123

i agree! i guess i'm a weirdo too