Ok so I got some drift wood a while back, infact its Mopani wood if it makes a difference? But ive boiled it over several times, rinsed it more than enough times i'd say and its still making my tanks water orange.
Not totally bad, but noticable... especially when all your tanks are so crystal clear!

Im over filtering, both cleaned out less than 2 weeks ago too

Ive replaced it with a few rocks and fake wood for the time being so while its out any idea's? Or just more boiling?

Thanks, Dave

with the way you treated your wood, you should be ok with putting it in the tank.
The tea colour will disappear after a few waterchanges.
I had the same thing happen in my 90Gl, but after 3 waterchanges all water was clear again.

I'm with Noddy. I added 2 pieces of driftwood into my tank - large pieces and my crystal clear water turned into tea water (just add sugar and lemon - yum!). But as Noddy said, it went away within a few weeks. The fish didn't seem to mind the water.

DaveUK wrote:


Yeah it does. Some types of driftwood are less likely to rot. Mopani is generally considered good.

I am currently using graperoot which rots quicker, although I am using it specifically for my pl*co to rasp on, not decoration, and only a very, very small piece, which was boiled about 8 times at 3 hours a pop and then soaked in a bucket for several weeks. I have noticed no discoloration, although again, mine is a very small piece....just enough for the pl*co to stick his snoot out of his cave and sucker on to it.



Driftwood will leech some tannis (brown 'stain') into the water regardless, although it is harmless. Some say the tanic acid is actually beneficial because it helps lower pH, but I'd be surprised if it has any but a negligible effect on this at all.

The tannis discoloration should subside after your normal water changes and filtration. Many use it to achieve a tea stained affect ('black water' aquariums), which can be quite beautiful.




Again, the tannis will subside regardless as you maintain your tank, and no ill effects, so you could continue to boil/soak it or leave it in the tank and let it dissipate as you go through the process of maintaining your water. Either one is just fine.

Noddy wrote:



same with me