|
Just as you would cure other natural structures (live rock, etc) before adding them to your aquarium, it is important to thoroughly soak driftwood prior to placement. This helps saturate the wood, loosen debris caught in the grain, and leach out tannic acids which would otherwise discolor your water. Tannic acid, while unsightly, won't harm your tank, but it will slightly lower your pH levels, a concern among some cichlid enthusiasts.
To avoid discoloring your water, soak your driftwood for as long as possible before placement. Total submersion for 1-2 weeks is recommended, since the tannic acids take that long to completely leach out of the dense wood. Boiling your driftwood in a large stock pot for 1-2 hours prior to soaking may help shorten the required cure time down to 48-72 hours. Only use dechlorinated or RO water, and scrub the wood with an algae brush to remove excess dirt.
Monitor your soaking driftwood throughout the week, watching as the water darkens, and refresh the soak water every other day or so, until you no longer notice any discoloration for several days in a row. The driftwood is then ready for placement.
If your water discolors even after your patient weeks of soaking, we recommend Purigen (item #434587) to help clarify your water again.
Using Driftwood to create "Black Water" Aquariums
Some aquarists use the tannic acids in driftwood to naturally lower the pH in their tanks, and/or to create the tea-colored "black water" thought to be the preference of Amazonian Tetras like neons, cardinals, rummynoses, and bleeding hearts. If this is your preference, then only a short soak and scrub is necessary before adding driftwood to your aquarium.
The easiest way to arrange your aquarium landscape is after you have removed water during a water change. Rearrange your aquarium, adding the driftwood where you want it, before refilling the aquarium.
|
 "Malaysian Driftwood")
