African Root Wood - freshwater tank question

[MikeP]

Chris, what kind of fish did you want to keep? A lot of the african rootwood I've bought at least from aquatek hasn't leached many tannins into the water. Malaysian driftwood is a different story - over time it made my old planted tank look like iced tea. This isnt necessarily a bad thing as it will lower ph and soften the water somewhat and help produce suitable conditions for some black water fish.

Carbon will get some of it out - otherwise just leave it in a tub to soak in the backyard or such for a month or two changing the water periodically.

I have 2 freshwater tanks, one 30 long tanganikyan and one 60 cube west african riverine tank - unfortunately your two fish wouldn't fit in either set up or I'd give em a home.

[aprilmayjune]

caferacermike- do you have a picture of your blue eyed pleco? i don't have a fw setup now, but the exotic plecos were always my favorite.

[thedude]

In our freshwater tanks we use a mix of african and maylasian driftwood and have found that 2 liters of hydrocarbon in a big eheim and you won't have to worry about the water being yellow for a long time. It certainly isn't bad for the fish but customers on the other hand don't often like it.

[kirkandkhristi]

Oh man I am jealous. I would like to see a pic of the blue eyed fish. This is a Royal I take it?

[captexas]

After several days of keeping the wood soaking in a bucket and multiple water changes, I put the wood into the tank. Of course two or three days later my tank looks like iced tea again, but I guess I'll just have to live with it. I moved my oscar and yellow lab into the tank and they are much happier. Good thing is the yellow lab quit picking on the oscar, which is good as it is really beat up. I have a small hang on canister filter I can run with carbon in it temporarily hanging on the front of the tank, but what good is doing that if the color just comes back?