Boiling driftwood

[Brianne3826]

Do any of you guys boil your driftwood at all? I've heard this takes the tannins out. I don't know how much it would remove, but it seems to be helpful.
In the past, with hardscape, I've basically for the most part just tossed it in a water filled container and let it soak for a week or so, changing the water each day.

However, if I can get this process over with, it would be super helpful to me. If I boil the driftwood, will this forgo this process?

 

[CWL7211]

Yes, boiling the driftwood takes the tannins out quicker than leaving it in water for multiple days. I've never actually boiled driftwood but for small pieces I did run them under hot water from the tub for a few minutes before I put them in my tank. When I did that they did not tint my water at all.
For bigger pieces though, like ones that cannot fit in a pot to boil, you could put in the tub or toss it in a container of water for a few days like you had been doing
Though boiling them only removes tannins from the top layers of the wood, not deep inside. If your worried about that I would continue soaking them since that leaches tannins out of the deep layers aswell

 

[kallililly1973]

Never boiled the driftwood in any tanks. Used to just let them float till they sank and then positioned them where wanted and let the tannins run its course.

 

[Brianne3826]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of my water being tea brown personally. Some like this or don't mind it. It's not my thing, though.

 

[kallililly1973]

From my experience using Mopani and manzanita driftwood even good size prices it’s usually only lasted maybe 5-6 water changes

 

[Gnop1950]

Mostly, I've just filled a tub with tap water, added a bit of prime (probably not needed), and let the driftwood soak in the tub on the porch for 4 or 5 days. Those times when the water had a few too many tannins, I like some in my tanks, I just add a bag of activated carbon to the tank for a bit to clear them out.

 

[A201]

I'm currently soaking a huge piece of Spiderwood in a big 20 gallon plastic tub.

Typically I fill the tub with scalding hot water from the tap. The wood usually becomes waterlogged overnight. The second day I drain the tub, then repeat the process. I place the wood into the tank on the third day.

This process will quickly waterlogg and sterilize the wood, as well as remove a lot of tannins. It will not totally eliminate tannins.

I can't help but think that boiling wood has the potential to greatly shorten its shelf life.

Malaysian & Mopani wood will continue to leach tannins until it eventually disenigrates, although the staining will dilute. Boiling is of little value.

 

[StarGirl]

From my experience using Mopani and manzanita driftwood even good size prices it’s usually only lasted maybe 5-6 water changes

LIES! J/K......I still have that Mopani that made my water so dark you couldnt see the plants or fish. I may have thrown it away also...lol.....Some Mopani leeches BAD.

 

[Noroomforshoe]

I had 2peices of mopani from ebay. One never leached tannis, and one would not stop leaching tannins. I tossed that one outside in frustration, I wonder if i could find it after all these years?

 

[DaveKS]

My test is to flush with hot tap water, not boiling water, a 2-3x and then simply use a white styrofoam cup to examine the water color. You’ll know when it’s properly flushed when white cup water is just a pale tea color.

But yes every wood piece is a special snowflake in this regard, some may take a couple months of 2-3x week flushing others will be ready to after a couple weeks.

 

[kallililly1973]

I honestly miss seeing the slight tint color in the water

 

[A201]

I also like moderately tannin stained water.
This big new chunk of Spiderwood should provide several years of tea stained water. Lol

 

[kallililly1973]

I also like moderately tannin stained water.

This big new chunk of Spiderwood should provide several years of tea stained water. Lol

Very envious. Can’t wait to see pictures of it in your already awesome looking tanks!!

 

[coralbandit]

I read that boiling or even presoaking can accelerate the release of tannins. The article went on to explain the trouble this can have on fish that may not like tannin rich water and their loss of time to adjust compared to if the wood was added dry and started to release the tannins slower helping the fish adjust better. Couldn't find an article even close to that yesterday.
I personally never presoaked wood, I also have almost all coffee wood that is usually sold for bird perches. It is old 'reclaimed' coffee trees that no longer produce beans. I have lots of wood in my tank, but did not add it all at once.
I would recommend a packet of Purigen by Seachem in your filter. You can recharge it with bleach. Super-efficient at removing organics.

 

[Mudminnow]

Most of the driftwood I've used were pieces I found outside. I don't really know all the types of wood I've used, but all seemed to leach at least some tannins. If the pieces weren't already waterlogged (some were found under water), I typically just soaked them in tubs. I've only boiled a couple of pieces. The water I used for boiling turned very dark, so at least some tannins were leached. Still, even these pieces continued to leach some tannins afterwords.

I think driftwood and tannins just go hand in hand. If you really don't want any tannins, you might consider using rocks instead.

 

[Gnop1950]

I read that boiling or even presoaking can accelerate the release of tannins. The article went on to explain the trouble this can have on fish that may not like tannin rich water and their loss of time to adjust compared to if the wood was added dry and started to release the tannins slower helping the fish adjust better. Couldn't find an article even close to that yesterday. I personally never presoaked wood. I also have almost all coffee wood that is usually sold for bird perches. It is old 'reclaimed' coffee trees that no longer produce beans. I have lots of wood in my tank, but did not add it all at once. I would recommend a packet of Purigen by Seachem in your filter. You can recharge it with bleach. Super-efficient at removing organics.

Mostly, I presoak, so I don't have to use boulders to hold it down. However, I do like some tannins and add cattapa leaves monthly. If it gets a bit too much, I just throw a bag of Purigen or activated carbon in for a week or so.

 

[tinylostwine]

I read that boiling was a big no no - though i don't remember the details as to why - i do soak not such much for tannins removal but to reduce the amount of dirt on the wood.

I started soaking when one piece had a large amount of dirt -- anyway i typically soak for 2ish days and then put the wood in - the more tea in the water the better it is for the fishes i keep.