Tannins?

[Tonyb13]

I have been keeping discus for a couple of years now at least. I have a 150 gallon tank with 2 x fx6's. And 14 adult discus. I was having issues with fraying fins and I lost two of my discus
I tried all the meds nothing seemed to help. I segregated the two really sick ones and they died they lost all their color. I am not really sure what my ph is I have bought a couple of electric testers they have not been very reliable. Now to my point I was reading that tannins help lower the ph so I bought a giant piece of driftwood and dropped it in my tank my tank is tea color and I actually love it more importantly my freaking fish seem so much happier. I am afraid that the tannins will eventually run out of this piece of wood I cant afford to change the wood every time so looking for suggestions on how to put tannins in safely and economically.
Thanks Tony

[Second Hand Pat]

Try roobos tea
Pat

[LizStreithorst]

That is good as is fluvic acid.

[slicksta]

Organic peat moss makes an excellent tannin brew

[Second Hand Pat]

Organic peat moss makes an excellent tannin brew

But it is so messy to deal with roobos tea is super easy.
Pat

[slicksta]

Not really, just use a short piece of 2-3 inch pvc as a sleeve to feed it into a filter sock or ladies stocking.
And 1/1000 the price of the tea.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Premier-...0262/206020295

[Second Hand Pat]

Not really, just use a short piece of 2-3 inch pvc as a sleeve to feed it into a filter sock or ladies stocking.
And 1/1000 the price of the tea.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Premier-...0262/206020295

Yea, I have bought that and it is so fine. I just personally prefer the tea.
Pat

[slicksta]

Well I guess you need to take into consideration the aquarium size/quantity needed, price of the the tea and how deep your pockets are but I recently picked up a bag 3 times the size as my earlier link for $11.
I also like that I can use the saturated peat in my garden after it's time in the aquarium.
I'm too cheap to go the fancy tea bag route :-P

[Tonyb13]

Stupid question so either product will have same effect right? I mean the benefits not just coloring up my water.thanks all and the peat from home depot is safe no additives or anything in it that would hurt my fish?

[Dee1958]

I have been keeping discus for a couple of years now at least. I have a 150 gallon tank with 2 x fx6's. And 14 adult discus. I was having issues with fraying fins and I lost two of my discus
I tried all the meds nothing seemed to help. I segregated the two really sick ones and they died they lost all their color. I am not really sure what my ph is I have bought a couple of electric testers they have not been very reliable. Now to my point I was reading that tannins help lower the ph so I bought a giant piece of driftwood and dropped it in my tank my tank is tea color and I actually love it more importantly my freaking fish seem so much happier. I am afraid that the tannins will eventually run out of this piece of wood I cant afford to change the wood every time so looking for suggestions on how to put tannins in safely and economically.
Thanks Tony

If you can afford the 150 gal tank ,the filters, heaters,the fish, and the bag of chips ,buy a water test kit. Dee

[slicksta]

Yes Tony the peat is safe.
Make sure it says ORGANIC on the bag.
It will release tannins as the driftwood did and lower your pH as well.
Fluval used to sell peat for their canister filters but I guess it wasn't a big seller with a much lower cost option available.

Actually they do still sell it... But it is pricey as it needs to be replaced often

https://www.chewy.com/fluval-peat-gr...IaAvFFEALw_wcB

[Tonyb13]

Stupid question so either product will have same effect right? I mean the benefits not just coloring up my water.thanks all and the peat from home depot is safe no additives or anything in it that would hurt my fish?

[Tonyb13]

Awsome thanks again to all y all

[slicksta]

I've never used the tea bags but Pat is a reliable sourse.
See above as well

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi Tony, I learned about roobos tea from Altum keepers and here a thread talking about it http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showth...Fish-or-Voodoo. It is not as cheap as peat but IMO easier to deal with.
Pat