Jdogtrainer Posted December 19, 2020 Share Posted December 19, 2020 (edited) I've been rescaping and replanting my 29 gallon. I bought two new pieces of wood to add in and have been bucket soaking them for the last 3 days. I was curious as I watched all the tannins leaching so I tested PH of the wood bucket water against my normal tap water. Tap water: 8.0ph Wood bucket water: 6.4-6.6ph My tank water runs about 7.8 after 3 weeks without any water change, so the difference is obviously nominal. So, my question is: do I need to be concerned putting these new wood pieces in my tank? I'm a bit concerned that the ph will be lowered too much and hurt my fish whom are well used to the much higher ph. Edited December 19, 2020 by Jdogtrainer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted December 19, 2020 Share Posted December 19, 2020 (edited) I think wood is great to use with higher pH water, and I use it in all my tanks. I enjoy the tannins and they mellow a bit with the age of the wood. PS, your tank looks really nice! Edited December 19, 2020 by Streetwise 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jdogtrainer Posted December 19, 2020 Author Share Posted December 19, 2020 Just now, Streetwise said: I think wood is great to use with higher pH water, and I use it in all my tanks. I enjoy the tannins and they mellow a bit with the age of the wood. I understand that and I agree that lowering the ph slowly and slightly is good. But I'm concerned that I'll crash the ph too fast if I use these wood pieces. 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted December 19, 2020 Share Posted December 19, 2020 I have not heard any reports of that happening. It should be fine. I try to put in wood pieces big enough that they emerge from the surface of the water. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted December 19, 2020 Share Posted December 19, 2020 6 minutes ago, Streetwise said: I have not heard any reports of that happening. It should be fine. I try to put in wood pieces big enough that they emerge from the surface of the water. I agree with @Streetwise. It is hard to crash your pH especially in one with a normal pH of 7.8. Not saying the pH in your aquarium won't go a little lower for a while, but short of not putting wood in the aquarium... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted December 19, 2020 Share Posted December 19, 2020 I have driftwood in a few of my tanks and after about 4 or 5 months I'm still in the upper 7.8 ish range, when I started around 8.2. It has way less affect than I had hoped if its even the driftwood doing it. I also drop in cholla wood and Catappa leaves. And I do very few water changes, more water changes will keep your pH closer to your tap level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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