New wood, would you?

[Ltoro]

Hi gang today I thought about this after I bought a nice new piece of driftwood.

Would you?:

A) soak the new wood in a bucket to clear some of the tanins out (normal procedure)
Or
B) soak the new wood in your hospital tank, where you don't really care about tanins and you know the water is free of any pathogens.

What due you guys think A) or B) and why?

Cheers

 

[zeebo]

just me, but I boil the wood in big pot on the stove , roughly 6hrs ,change water a few times ,till it is clear. The pot is for boiling wood only now . It used to be for cooking lobsters-but I abhor doing that so the pot is ruined:dk:

See what the other members do , perhaps better ideas.
Georgie

 

[bigbird]

I would go for A, add some multifix and conditioner as well and leave for 7days. Reason is that you are then not putting your hospital tank in jeopardy as well. cheers jk

 

[jimmywr]

i boil wood a couple of times then leave in bucket full of water for a couple of weeks before use

 

[Tener ds]

i boil wood a couple of times then leave in bucket full of water for a couple of weeks before use

+1 :yes:

 

[bigbird]

also the benefit of leaving in a bucket is all of the micro organisms and algae that build up for feeding some plecs. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[D-MAC]

I personally don't do either...I always wash it well under the tap to clear away any stowaways that may have taken residence in the wood, then place it directly to the tank, weighting it down when necessary...I find the plecos love giving it a good clean and I have never lost fish doing this...I believe that tannins make up part of the fishes natural habitat so I tend to let it fade naturally due to water changes...I seem to recall a similar thread many years ago on PF about boiling the wood and Shane (I believe) posted back that boiling the wood wiped out some of the natural goodness that was beneficial to the plecos digestive system...Some of the PF members may recall the thread and correct me if I am wrong.

 

[matubula]

I give mine a basic clean and rinse and just plonk it in the tank.

 

[Breamlegend]

I clean mine with a high pressure hose, boil it if possible, soak it dry it out and soak it again. Often wood can contain mud and other organisms. Works for me and I have lots in my tanks. I found a piece with two natural cave/ tunnels in it. My fish love it.

 

[macvsog23]

I personally don't do either...I always wash it well under the tap to clear away any stowaways that may have taken residence in the wood, then place it directly to the tank, weighting it down when necessary...I find the plecos love giving it a good clean and I have never lost fish doing this...I believe that tannins make up part of the fishes natural habitat so I tend to let it fade naturally due to water changes...I seem to recall a similar thread many years ago on PF about boiling the wood and Shane (I believe) posted back that boiling the wood wiped out some of the natural goodness that was beneficial to the plecos digestive system...Some of the PF members may recall the thread and correct me if I am wrong.

I agree but depends on the fish the PH will drop and the water will become quite acidic depending on the wood type

Regards Bob

 

[D-MAC]

I agree but depends on the fish the PH will drop and the water will become quite acidic depending on the wood type

Regards Bob

You are correct on that Bob, but I generally find with reg water changes and an eye kept on ph, especially in tanks with a lot of wood, a small portion of crushed cockleshell in a bag, placed in the filter can keep the Ph in a stable state.

 

[Ltoro]

Interesting thanks for all your advice gang... I deff don't want to break in the new wood in my community tank so I'll just keep doing the bucket method... But a great point has been made by saying that tannins are part of the normal habitat.

 

[macvsog23]

I use bogwood to reduce my PH

 

[gailawall]

So I have Discus. I'd like more acidic water. What wood do you think would help with that. BTW, My Discus and Plecos are together.

 

[macvsog23]

I have found the softer the wood the lower the PH gets but be aware I use R/O and HMA mixed.

 

[Mooo]

I am a bit like Derek n Matt, I pour boiling water over it mainly to kill any snail eggs, and plonk it in, If it is a new bit ie a floater, I soak in a tub outside till it sinks ...

 

[Ltoro]

Thanks guys ...I guess I'll just keep doing the same routine in buckets and hot water...your right why risk the hospital tank.....cheers

 

[FF MkII]

I love tannins so i just pour some boiling water over it then throw it straight in.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Same as Derek (DMac), if it will sink I put it straight in. If I want to store it for long term use I keep it dry, but if I think I'm going to need it within the next few months I put it in the pond (fish free) until I need it. I don't find that the wood tends to get snail eggs on it (loads of Pond Snails and Keeled Ramshorn's in the pond) and I look at any Asellus, algae, fungi etc that end up in the tank as a bonus.

cheers Darrel

 

[gailawall]

I have found the softer the wood the lower the PH gets but be aware I use R/O and HMA mixed.

'scuse me. But what is HMA?