mitch

i just setup 55 gal tank. Has been running for a wk. Bought come drift wood at pet shop. I cleaned the wood and let it soak for a day. now mt tank has a brown tint I put water clear in and still have tint. have under gravel and bio filer. NOW WHAT?

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!!!!!time and good filtration..its tannis probably from the wood...frustrtating but will go away with water changes and time...goodluck!

Blub

It's tannins from the wood. It usually takes several weeks for wood to become tannin free - so remove it and start soaking it again! The tannins will go with water changes. Good to hear oyu are fishless cycleing!

welshalien

I don't soak my driftwood very long before adding it...usually just a day -- the tannins aren't harmful to the fish and I kind of like the "tea" color. If it's really annoying you, go ahead and pull it out and soak it separately. Otherwise, leave it and the color will fade over time and with water changes.

Kelly

Lucy

I thought I read that boiling the drift wood until the water is clear helps to remove the tannins.

I'm not sure this is correct though.

welshalien

Seems like it would speed the process up...I can just imagine my husband's reaction to me cooking driftwood, though!

Kelly

Lucy

Oooops I edited my post while you were answering....same answer though, thank you.

Cody

it does becuase it opens up the pore in the wood and releases more tannis. i read in a TFH magazine if the wood is to large for any of you pots you can put it in the dishwasher on the hot cycle or somthing like that, with no soap of course

au01st

I put mine in a 5gallon bucket and had 2 pots boiling water. I would fill to above the wood and let it soak for 1 hr. I did this 4 times, and let the last one soak overnight. Put it in the next day and not a hint of color or anything in my tank.

Amanda

I "cooked" my driftwood also. No tannins in my tank - but boy did it stink while I was cooking it. I don't think my senses have ever smelled someone cooking driftwood before.

Lucy

I've boiled rocks, I don't have drift wood yet. I can't count the number of times my husband has looked at the stove and said MMmm rocks for dinner again.

Shawnie

I hate cooking but I bet I cant burn that right??

mitch

thanks everybody for the help. oim gald i dont have to start over

Lucy

Only if you let the water boil away.

lilsoccakid

adding some carbon to the filter for a couple days will remove the discoloration

welshalien