Mopani (mopane) tree root

pavlor · Jun 15, 2007

Hi!

Does anyone have any experience with mopani tree root and putting it in an axie tank? I've just bought quite a big peice and after Googling it, I found out that it's best to soak it for a couple of day and/or boil it to get out all the tannines. Does anyone know if axies are sensitive to tannines etc?

Thanks,
Paul

Jennewt · Jun 15, 2007

Tannins are not toxic to axolotls, but may make the water slightly more acidic. I'd recommend soaking and boiling it, just to be on the safe side, as you don't know how much brown color and tannins it's going to release. I'm not familiar with that particular kind of wood.

pavlor · Jun 16, 2007

Yes, I'm soaking it at the moment but I'm really not sure how to boil it as it's so big. Surprised this is not done before it is exported...

ajc · Jun 16, 2007

You'll find Mopani wood will continue to leach tannins slowly for many months, slightly staining the water. Soak the wood for a couple of weeks changing the water every day and you won't have any problems (assuming you don't mind brown water). The axolotls won't mind.

piscaphile · Jun 16, 2007

mopani

I've had a piece of mopani in a fish tank for well over a year. The water is changed regularly, and it still stains the water. It is a large piece, a meter long. Mopani sinks instantly, but it has lost favor with me because of that reason. I make my own drift wood ornaments. I clean them, wire brush them, and cure them in a solar kiln to kill all organisms. It does dry out the wood, so I have to attach the drift wood to granite or slate. I could re-soak the wood in clean water, but I don't find it to be worth it.

Mark S.

pavlor · Jun 16, 2007

So, in short, you would say not to put the mopani tree root in the tank. The water in the tank is still cycling (upgrading tank: 130L) for my two four-month old axies. I am thinking of getting a third axie (olive coloured), but is 130L big enough for three? It looks big enough, but I don't want to cramp them at all...

Natalie Spencer · Jun 17, 2007

I had my roots in the tank for just over 5 years and they NEVER stopped turning the water brown!!!!
Did the axies no harm, but most of us like to have an aesthetically pleasing tank with nice clear water!
Even now when I go to my local aquarium shop, I hover around where they sell the wretched roots and quietly warn people off them!
The roots themselves are lovely....but brown water isn't!

pavlor · Jun 18, 2007

It is weird that in the pet shops where they have these mopani tree roots, the water is never brown! What do they do to keep the water crystal clear?! The woman in the shop said it would make the water go brown for a few days and that was it!

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