SpidersWeb Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Ok, so I went over to 'Mother Earth's house, about a week ago and came backwith this really cool bit of wood. Looks like what was the base of a small tree, so will make a fab aquarium centre piece. Only thing is, half of it still has bark which is slowly rotting off, essentially its not quite driftwood yet. Just wondering if there is going to be any serious problems with using rotting wood as apposed to formed drift wood (which I also have but doesn't look as neato). Was planning on putting wood eating plecos in there, but want to make sure its not going to mess up any other fish. (by other fish I mean american cichlids, not africans, and I have coral sand to help maintain a reasonable pH GH and KH). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted June 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Heya hmm ok Well this is the abuse I put it through so far: > Sat in bath, chlorinated water for 3 days > Covered with water out of jug x 2 > left it dry for a week > took it outside tonight and ripped off anything I could with my hands, > hit it with the crazy Upper hutt water pressure, blasting 99% of the crap off, also got rid of the moss that was growing on it. > sawed part of it off so it fits in the tank So I'm thinking maybe I'll just try it, and I'll re-setup the tank if it gets really dirty or if somebody on here says 'OMG NO WAY'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Any wood that isn't growing is in the process of decaying or rotting. Give the piece a water blasting, that'll rip anything that is loose of it. Make sure that you don't blast your foot tho. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilah Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Go for it dude, just check ya water quality after its bin in there for a while before adding any fish. Once the plecs are in they will eat the rotting stuff first, it will stain the water for a long time though depending on how big the wood is but i think the tea colour looks cool. thats my opinion anyway, goodluck with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 sounds good to me. just make sure u got all the tan out [soak in hot water if its too big to boil] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted June 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Photo: http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/DrRabid/Fish%20Tanks/IMG_0885.jpg Thanks everyone for the replies Can't see any gum, I'd say its been dead a while, picture above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 WOW nice find there spider. i can really see some java fern attached to that piece. keep us up dated at how it goes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted June 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 Cheers Yeah I'm too excited to not try it now. Just got to figure out a way to keep it under water. Will actually set tank up next weekend when I have some free cash to setup extensions and plugs etc for filter, heater, lights. Got some baby Java Ferns waiting, one naturally dropped off and is floating at the moment (already has about 4 leaves) and some Java Moss, so all is looking good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 If it is high enough, wedge it under a top brace (if the tank has one) otherwise silicone it to the base and/or back and sides of the tank. You can also silicone or tie it to a good sized piece of perspex or similar then put on the tank base and cover with gravel. The gravel should hold it down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRSkz Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 wicked piece of wood. love something like that in one of my tanks but ph seems to be a problem even without wood so.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted July 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 Ok now I've finally got the tank setup. Recharging my camera batteries at the moment but will take a picture soon. Anyway, one problem, after soaking a few days in the heated water, the tree sap started coming out. Its like a slow motion waterfall. Is this going to cause me any water chemistry problems? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted July 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 hmm well if anybody else out there has any idea? Guess I'll just need to wait and see, as there is no way I'm pulling the wood out now. Oh well, here is a picture, I think it looks pretty sweet: 15 x Neon Tetra 2 x Koi angels 4 x baby Firemouth (3M, 1F) Filter is a Jebo 819 with the charcoal replaced with coral sand. Heated with 3 AquaClear 200W heaters. CO2 is done by DIY yeast + JBL diffuser and CO2 pipe Java Moss and Java Ferns are currently held to the wood with cotton. Also the planted plants have JBL 7 Fertiliser balls by their roots, except for a few plants I didn't want to have too much success. Gravel came from Mitre 10, 30L of it which cost around $65. Looking at adding a bunch of butterfly plecos, and maybe leaving it as it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted July 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 Looks good Jono! Im wondering if its a good idea to have 3 males and only one female in yur tank? Cheers Yeah they're only babies. Once they're at a decent size they'll get moved to the other tank anywho. Two of them are new, and two were just getting beaten up by the larger guys in the other thank. At the moment they're schooling all four at once, that'll change in good time though I know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted July 3, 2006 Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 looks Fantastic good work spider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 3, 2006 Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 Is it actually sap or tannins discolouring the water? Some saps can be toxic to fish but the tannins are harmless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted July 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 The water isn't noticably discouloured at all yet. Nobody in the tank seems to have a problem with the sap as yet :-? but makes me a bit nervous as its an 'unknown' in the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 Your tank looks great...how are things? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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