Fullofit343

So i know you can use driftwood in a cichlid tank by soaking the driftwood first to let all the tannins out. my pH in my cichlid tank is about 8.2 so i don't have much room to spare (i have sandstone rocks in there and crushed coral thought it would be much higher!) the driftwood was in a tank previous to this for about 2 weeks i believe and it never made the water yellow and i never really tested the pH. how i can i know if all the tannins are out or not?

Angela_96

If I understand it right the ph change is perm w/ the driftwood. Just like the crushed corals and rocks putting off the minerals.

You can give it a try and if it lowers the ph remove it. Or mail it to me for my congo tank?? lol (kidding)

Fullofit343

well aparently driftwood carries a chemical called tannin which is what lowers the pH. after a while in water the tannin slowly seeps out of the driftwood until there is no more. i'm just wondering how i knwo when it's gone

Angela_96

I would say it would be a few months... you could put it in a tub of water for a while and keep checking the ph (like a rubbermaid tub, changing the water every so often)

BlowPhish

We added alot of driftwood into our cichlid tank. It didn't lower the ph that much it went from 8 to 7.8.

bryan87

as long as you have something like coral inthere you should be fine. what is your tap water ph though?

Jonah

You could help prepare the driftwood by boiling to remove most of the tannins before you put it into your tank.

A couple of hours for a medium sized piece seems to do the job.

agabr123

i agree, i would add some crushed corals or limestone to offset however much the pH would be lowered by the driftwood. even boiling cant get rid of ALL the tannins and IMO it would still drop your pH

cerianthus

Is this wood attached to slate via screw on the bottom? Am asking since tested for 2 weeks w/o any visivble discoloration of water.
If it is one w/ slate, could use (since it is not true driftwood) with little silicone to cover screw.
It it is true driftwood and does not discolor the water, why not? In case pH drops, can always boost it back up easily.
Forgot to ask, Is this African Cichlid tank or CA/SA/other Riverine Cichlid tank?

Angela_96

This is an african cichild tank. And huge shifts in the ph would hurt them.

cerianthus

Wether it does or not really depends on types of driftwood. Yes, true driftwood would produce tannic and humic acid which will shift pH toward acidic sides. What i am saying is this may not be true drfitwood since produce no tannin in water for 2 weeks. If has slate attached to wood, such pieces have not affect the pH but decayed over time in water. True drfitwood usually sank on its own thus no slate required to hold down.
Only way to find out is to have in bucket of neutral water and test the water at later time. If pH swung, then would not recommend until incapable of doing such (kept in water for long time or boiling it for while).