Driftwood and it's effects

[wesbee]

I have a good size piece of driftwood 30"L x24"T x13"W and I have all cichlid tanks. How much would the wood soften the water? Would I have to add more water treatments and if so what kind?

[tsunderl]

I have a good size piece of driftwood 30"L x24"T x13"W and I have all cichlid tanks. How much would the wood soften the water? Would I have to add more water treatments and if so what kind?

What kind of substrate do you have? If you have crushed coral substrate or holey rock in the tank, you should be ok. Check the pH for a week or so just to be sure. Never hurts.

[bra8ndy8]

Are ph out of the tap up here is about 8.4

[masroberts9]

is that a question? or a statement?

[bra8ndy8]

Our I meant....not are!! LOL

[BlackJew]

My ph is about the same. Didn't change my water a bit

[masroberts9]

depends on the fish

[wesbee]

My son Jeff lives in a part of Sherman where his water can't be treated with anything to get the PH down.He had to get an OR unit just so he can have fish without coming over to denison to get water,bad when you have to get denison water to make yours better for any reason.The fish are frontosas.I have dolomite in the tank and hole rock.

[masroberts9]

im sure there is something to get the pH lower. since ph is logrithmic it takes more to get from 8.4 to 8.3 then it does to get from 6.5 to 6.4. if that makes sense. CO2 should bring down the ph, driftwood should decrease the hardness, which decreases the alkalinity, which allows for greater reduction of ph with similar amounts of acids. holey rock and such will increase the hardness->alkalinity->ph. I wish i had you water... im into the driftwood look.

[bra8ndy8]

My African's do great in Sherman water....now Angels....I can't keep them alive!

[kewlkatdady]

well if you're talking about african cichlids, they like higher ph.
if your talking about SA or CA cichlids, that ph should be lower...

as far as "what affect the driftwood have on the water"?

if it release tanins, then it will lower the ph.

[wesbee]

Thanks for the help everyone,sounds like with this Denison water and the substrate I have it should work out fine. I'am glad I started spending more time over here.

[biggin]

Depends on the water source.

Well water is typically softer then city water, just a thought.

[AndrewH]

Depends on the water source.

Well water is typically softer then city water, just a thought.

Not trying to contradict you, but I've always found that my well water was way harder than my city water. As the ground water moves through the soil it gains LOTS of minerals (as in don't wash your car with it unless you heavily filter it).

Soft = less calcium and magnesium, Hard = more calcium and magnesium.

[DallasDiscus]

Driftwood might release some tanins into the water as well and give it a tainted look for a few water changes. Also, unless the co2 is constantly supplied the pH will initially drop and then spike again. Be careful not to give your fish a pH shock.

[masroberts9]

is molding of the wood bad? my wood comes out of the water and is developing mold. should i be concerned?