How much will driftwood effect my ph?

snail · 09-22-2010, 04:16 AM

I have always used a bit of driftwood but I am setting up a new 65 gallon tank for natives and I'd like to use a whole bunch of driftwood. I know about safe and unsafe wood, boiling it etc I'm just wondering if it will make my ph swing too much. I read that it is the tannins that change the ph. Does that mean as long as the water does not look tinted from the tannins it is not effecting the ph too much? I have hard tap water.

NursePlaty · 09-22-2010, 05:23 AM

You will need a lot of driftwood. Even so, it will lower the pH only very slightly. Maybe only 0.5ppm.

jrman83 · 09-22-2010, 06:42 AM

Even if it does swing it would be a natural swing and shouldn't affect your fish. The tannin secretion decreases over time I believe. I have 1 large and 2 medium sized pieces in my 125 and it used to lower it .4-.5 from 8.2. Now it is closer to .3 and it has only been in there for a little over 2 months.

I think the longer you boil and presoak it the less tannins will be released.

snail · 09-22-2010, 10:35 AM

Ok, thanks guys, that is kind of what I thought but it is clear to me now.

09-22-2010, 04:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
snail snail's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,646 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,935 Times Said "Thanks" 361 Times Was Thanked 634 Times in 591 Posts	How much will driftwood effect my ph? I have always used a bit of driftwood but I am setting up a new 65 gallon tank for natives and I'd like to use a whole bunch of driftwood. I know about safe and unsafe wood, boiling it etc I'm just wondering if it will make my ph swing too much. I read that it is the tannins that change the ph. Does that mean as long as the water does not look tinted from the tannins it is not effecting the ph too much? I have hard tap water.

09-22-2010, 05:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
NursePlaty Queen Platy NursePlaty's Photo Gallery Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 932 Name: Annie Pham Location: Dallas Ft Worth, Texas Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 266 Times Said "Thanks" 41 Times Was Thanked 186 Times in 180 Posts	Re: How much will driftwood effect my ph? You will need a lot of driftwood. Even so, it will lower the pH only very slightly. Maybe only 0.5ppm. __________________ 55gallon Light - 6500K CFL, 23wattsx5 5hr/day Substrate - Red Mexican Clay, Sphagnum Peat moss, Eco-Complete Misc- Pressurized CO2, EI Dose KNO3, KH2PO4, CSM-B Plants -Limnophila Aromatica, Stargrass, Dwarf Hair Grass, Christmas Moss, Baby Tears (HM), Dwarf Baby Tears(HC), Rotala Rotundifolia, Ludwigia Glandulosa, Riccia Fluitans

09-22-2010, 06:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: How much will driftwood effect my ph? Even if it does swing it would be a natural swing and shouldn't affect your fish. The tannin secretion decreases over time I believe. I have 1 large and 2 medium sized pieces in my 125 and it used to lower it .4-.5 from 8.2. Now it is closer to .3 and it has only been in there for a little over 2 months. I think the longer you boil and presoak it the less tannins will be released.

09-22-2010, 10:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
snail snail's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,646 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,935 Times Said "Thanks" 361 Times Was Thanked 634 Times in 591 Posts	Re: How much will driftwood effect my ph? Ok, thanks guys, that is kind of what I thought but it is clear to me now.

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