Driftwood....bad!!!

[Black Hair Algae]

Think I figured out why my tank is always so cloudy and full of particles floating, no matter how much I filter the water. I have/had a bad piece of driftwood in the tank......I think anyway. 

The one side of the tank was always cloudier then the other side, plus there was more particles floating around on the piece of wood in question.

Now I bought this lovely piece from a lfs that shall remain nameless........until I can acertain that this is the culprit anyway.......

As this happened to anyone else before? What were the signs in your tank? Did you buy the piece of wood at a LFS also?

Cheers!

[fender316]

my friend had one of these "bad" pieces once.  messed up his tank the second he put it in, turned the water yellow algea grew everywhere, he swore never to buy another driftwood again.   i thought he was crazy cause i never had problems like that......

[beowulf]

While I have never had a problem my brother did with one piece that started growing mold on it in the tank.  Personally I like to soak the wood for a few hrs at least in warm water and I also add a little conditioner.

[PoisonJello]

when you say mould do you mean white stuff growing on the wood something like cob webs, then it makes the tank cloudy and particles floating around?

If that is what you are talking about then i am having the same problem,

when i got it i soaked the piece for about 24 hours changing the water several times before i placed it in my tank and now it is getting all fuzzy white

I have never had driftwood in a tank before so is that something normal?

I got my piece at BA on Innes a few weeks ago 

wood is in a 10gal with 2 bettas (oh it has a divider so they don't kill each other  )

[Toss]

If it softwood (light weight), it will give you problem in long run. LFS driftwood in the other hand almost 100% safe. If you soak them in water for a few days and nothing grows on it (ie. mold), whatever grows on it after you put in the tank must came from the tank itself. get some pleco or snail, they will clean it for you. good luck

[fishycanuck]

I boil the wood for several hours (topping up the water as I go) before adding it to a tank. You might try that....

[normc]

I've never had problems with driftwood in the 30 odd years I've been keeping fish. I soak it in hot water to get some of the tannin out. I've never used wood off a beach etc. but always bought it from a LFS.

[White Lightning]

I am getting somewhat irritated with my driftwood! I bought three large pieces from BA on Innes about three months ago. Prior to adding it to the tank, I soaked it for a few days. Shortly after adding it to the tank, my water began turning brown. I enlisted the advice of fellow members who informed me taht the wood was simply releasing tannins into the water and that patience would be needed. It was suggested to me that boiling the wood might speed up the process. So I did just that, and I continue to change 25% of the water weekly. After three months, the water is still brown. It's kinda irritating because I don't get to enjoy the colors of the fish.

[beowulf]

Well depending on the fish that is what they love, for example discus etc.

[Nerine]

lol people spend lots of money on turning their water brown for fish

my water is a greeny/brown. crystal clear is pretty...but the fish aren't happy that way...well depends on the fish!! mine are happy as pigs in mud!

[beowulf]

lol people spend lots of money on turning their water brown for fish

my water is a greeny/brown. crystal clear is pretty...but the fish aren't happy that way...well depends on the fish!! mine are happy as pigs in mud!

Exactly it depends on the fish, my apistos are very happy in the darker water they have.  I am sure my Brevis would hate it.

[Jesse]

My water is that kinda tea brown tinge, due to the blackwater extract and mopani wood, and my fish are doing better now that the water is changed.