choices on drift wood

[calavaky]

There are some shops selling driftwoods that have moss on them already, as well as those which are still dried. I understand that from both, the color of the water will turn green yellowish if placed directly in. I heard that soaking the driftwood in water for a number of weeks will do the job of removing the coloring.
During this period, does the water that the driftwood is soaking in need to be changed frequently or just leaving it like that for a few weeks will do?
And also, if i bought those with moss on it, will soaking like that cause them to die?

And i've seen a UV light pump that cost $60 selling at Rainbow at srg north, is the price okay or too pricey and will it help remove the coloring caused by the driftwood?

Also to ask, what does the Fish Farmway at Pasir Ris sell?
Equipments for fish tanks? Loads of varities of fishes?


Can anyone help me on this.
Thanks.

[|squee|]

Welcome to AQ calavaky

You got your info right regarding the first three sentences you made.

You can choose to change it or leave it, makes no difference to me. I change it weekly though, because I don't want mosquitoes breeding and fresh water is always a better deal than old water.

I wouldn't risk my moss like that, whether or not it will cause them to die. Definitely will cause them to suffer though.

If I'm not wrong, running a UV won't help to remove the colouring. Can't help you on the Fish Farmway since I've never been there.

[AA24]

Hi and welcome to AQ..

I think that you have a very good choice over at serangoon north.. rainbow.. pet mart.. etc.. things over at pasir ris farmway are not necessarily cheaper.. in my experience its not.. especially if you gotto get transport..

Don't rush into buying all your fish with your equiptment.. that is a sure recipe for fish death.. do some reading on AQ and build up..

cheers and welcome..

[Ansell]

Hi,

Not all plant-tied wood from LFS will leak tannin, maybe you can try you can try to choose those that are inserted into the tank instead of those in plastic bags.

UV lights are to rid substances that are unable to be trapped by filter wool thus escaping back to the tank causing water cloudiness.

Just to share my experience, 2 months ago, I've got 2 driftwood (non branded, of course ) for a a 1ft tank (so you can imagine how small the 2 pieces of wood are) from a LFS and they are still leaking tannin to this day.

Methods I've tried so far:

Active Carbon
Threw a smal bag of active carbon (cost about $2 per box) into my Shiruba cannister filter (240l/h) and the yellowish tint went off for about close to 2 weeks with 1 water change cycle of 20%. Afterwhich, the active carbon will not be able to absorb any more of the leaked tannin. Changing the bag of active carbon seems too much a hassle for me though active carbon are relatively cheap. Note: Some say that active carbon is not a good choice as it will also absorb other nutrients during the process of removing the tannin from the water.


Other methods from experts here:
1. Soaking the driftwood (didnt work for me cos my driftwood has been in tank for 2 months and still leaking)
2. Boiling the driftwood literally.
3. Using Seachem Purigen cost about $18 per bottle. http://www.seachem.com/products/prod...s/Purigen.html


Above are the methods I've gathered so far. Hope bros here could shed more light on Seachem Purigen and its effectiveness on leaking tannin from driftwood (i.e for how long can Purigen hold the tannin etc)?

Ansell

[hebi]

you should try seachem purigen. i bought a bottle last week for my 1ft tank and i put a small bag of it into the hang-on filter at around 3pm saturday. next day morning, the water is crystal clear, really like magic. regarding the leaking of tannin, im not so sure but it shouldnt leak i think unlike active carbon. also, you can 'regenerate' the purigen

[Quixotic]

Ansell, the correct term is adsorb, not absorb. It is said that activated carbon does not bind very well with certain chemicals. It is further compunded by the different standards and qualities, so invariably, some will not work as well.

hebi, activated carbon can be "regenerated" as well, by using hot water at high temperatures.

A discussion a while back on activated carbon
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=31433

Purigen also uses the adsorption process. It is said to be superior to carbon in removing organics, which seems to fit in to other users experience as well.
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=31875

[Ansell]

Ansell, the correct term is adsorb, not absorb. It is said that activated carbon does not bind very well with certain chemicals. It is further compunded by the different standards and qualities, so invariably, some will not work as well.

Thanks for enlightening, in this case you are right in using adsorb. For the benefit of others who might thought that its a spelling mistake instead. AQ members also gets to learn new vocabulary too . Thanks!

Absorb - verb (used with object) 1.to suck up or drink in (a liquid); soak up: A sponge absorbs water. 2.to swallow up the identity or individuality of; incorporate: The empire absorbed many small nations. 3.to involve the full attention of; to engross or engage wholly: so absorbed in a book that he did not hear the bell. 4.to occupy or fill: This job absorbs all of my time. 5.to take up or receive by chemical or molecular action: Carbonic acid is formed when water absorbs carbon dioxide. 6.to take in without echo, recoil, or reflection: to absorb sound and light; to absorb shock. 7.to take in and utilize: The market absorbed all the computers we could build. Can your brain absorb all this information? 8.to pay for (costs, taxes, etc.): The company will absorb all the research costs. 9.Archaic. to swallow up.

Adsorb - verb (used with object) Physical Chemistry. to gather (a gas, liquid, or dissolved substance) on a surface in a condensed layer: Charcoal will adsorb gases.


Ansell

[hebi]

Ansell, the correct term is adsorb, not absorb. It is said that activated carbon does not bind very well with certain chemicals. It is further compunded by the different standards and qualities, so invariably, some will not work as well.

hebi, activated carbon can be "regenerated" as well, by using hot water at high temperatures.

A discussion a while back on activated carbon
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=31433

Purigen also uses the adsorption process. It is said to be superior to carbon in removing organics, which seems to fit in to other users experience as well.
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=31875

oh ok i didnt know that. thanks quixotic. btw, after reading on other threads im starting to think whether purigen will also leach back the harmful substances it adsorb once it is 'full'. anyone encounter this before. zenscape mention that his purigen, after being 'regenerated', turn his whole tank yellow overnight