Driftwood causing problems?

[DirtyBird]

Ok, so I abandoned my project for these guys, and just re-did the old setup. But I did add a nice piece of drift wood, and I have the water filter running over it. There is about 4-5inches of water. They seemed to LOVE it at first. But now that the driftwood is releasing a lot of the tannins, they dont go in the water at all now. I boiled the wood for 2 hrs with some baking soda, then baked it for 45min in the oven, then boiled again for 30 min before putting it in the tank. It has dropped the PH a little, but I compensated with the normal "neutral PH buffer" I have always used.

Here is a pic of the setup

[bobrez]

`Probably test the water, it could even be unrelated to the new wood. Maybe do a 50% water change an/or new carbon in filter.
Should probably test water. Was this wood found drifting if so most tannings should be gone, idk

[DirtyBird]

My tap water, im guessing, is ro filtered, cause it is VERY soft to begin with. i have some kind of clear slow disolving rock, abf Trxas holy rock, the lfs recomended to harden water. The tap is pH 6ish. I tested the water the the day adter i placed the wood and did a 50% water change, and noticed the tea colored water. Thest said the pH was really low, and was super soft water. I added a neutral ph buffer, and a pinch of baking-soda. Ph will be at 7 for a little while, but with no minerals to buffer it, it will spike. The frogs (7 fire-bellies) have been with this water condition once before, but it didnt stop them. This is the first time they've avoided the water. The fish (2 rosy red minnow, 3 zebra danio) are all doing great in there, as well as the mystery snail. They are ALL eating just fine, and the males are chirping normally...

[bobrez]

Wow sounds like a soft water system, I dont recomend that hopefully someone else can weigh in. I belive soft water is full of salt idk. Maybe go to food store and get either distilled or spring water, I would.