What is the method for climatizing driftwood for my fish tank?

Question

I know that if you put it streight in it will release tannic acid upsetting your tanks Ph levels and makeing the water the colour of coffee or tea.I have heard of soakingit for a time...? would soaking it in salt water help....uh bleach it? or is fresh water best? How long do I soak it, a couple days, a week, a month?
My tank is a 20 gal. fresh water tank BTW and will hold Oarnge cobra guppies, a pleco,and 6-8 ghost shrimp. aswell as a bannana plant or 2,java moss and alarge java fern.

Answer 1

Given what you are planning on keeping, the tannins and pH lowering effects would be a good thing (assuming your water isn't already low pH).

If you are buying driftwood from an aquarium store it will be ready to use with no special considerations. If you are collecting driftwood that's another story completely.

Collected drifwood needs to be check in several ways to be sure it's tank ready. First you must be sure it's cured and not rotting. Second you need to be sure it doesn't contain contaminents that may harm the fish and lastly you need to be sure you're not adding diseases to the tank.

Before you start be sure the wood is not rotten and then head for the store. This process will require a nice clean firm plastic bristled brush and loads of salt. You will also need a container large enough to completely hold and cover your driftwood. Be sure your container has a lid. Since you are talking abut a 20 gallon tank, a plastic garbage can would work out well.

Scrub the driftwood well with warm water and the brush. Cut away any remaining very small pieces and be sure to remove any bark. Be sure it will fit your tank and trim it if needed. Fill your container with very hot water deep enough to cover the driftwood. Pour in lots of salt. Almost any salt will do, I would suggest non iodized table salt. Adding the entire box is not too much. Dissolve the salt then add your peice of driftwood. Use a rock or brick or something similar to hold it completely under water and place the lid on the container. Leave it this way for several hours at least. A day or two is even better. Open the container and allow it to set uncovered or about an hour. If you see an oily film on the surface, discard this peice and anyothers you collected at the same place as it is contaminated. Assuming it's not, remove the driftwood, rinse it and scrub it with the brush to remove anything that lossened in the soak. Drain your container and fill with hot water. Sak the wood over night in the unsalted water. Repeat this process from the salt soak twice more.

Your wood is now ready to use. You may wish to mount it to a piece of tank safe rock to hold it under. You can do this with aquarium sealant as long as the wood and rock are both dry.

Hope that helps

MM

Answer 2

Tanins are harmless to fish and wood will contiue to slightly soften the water long after the tanins have stopped leeching into the water - the two are exclusive from each other.

How long it takes depends on the wood. Some woods simply need an overnight soak, other types can soak for months and still continue to leech. All you can do is try it and see. I have mopani that I've been using for a few years and still it leeches tanins into the water. Luckily it doesn't bother me, and my frequent water changes that I'd do anyway keeps it under control.

Do yourself a favour and don't bleach it - wood is very porous and it's pretty risky. You can try boiling it, but keep in mind this will break down softer woods. If I were you, I'd give it a good rinsing and start using it.

Answer 3

Yeah, you're right. Completely soak the driftwood for approximately 2-3 days changing the water daily. The water will turn an orangey brown, once the coloration clears up you could put it in your tank. The reason for soaking is so that the natural fibers in the wood won't turn your tank water orangey brown, it won't necessarily harm your fish, but you don't want your tank to change color.