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| Driftwood | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 27 2006, 09:42 PM (460 Views) | |
| Peter | Apr 27 2006, 09:42 PM Post #1 |
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Ammonia Cycle
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As i am a backhoe operator I often dig up some very nice looking,very old roots and stumps.I have often wondered if i can turn this into driftwood as such and introduce it to a fishtank. |
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| Aggies Aquarium | Apr 28 2006, 10:49 PM Post #2 |
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Administrator
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Depends on age and type of wood it is, i wouldnt use any of the soft wood or pine. |
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| Peter | Apr 29 2006, 08:30 AM Post #3 |
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Ammonia Cycle
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Found this small article.... "The absolute first thing you'll want to do with any piece of wood you collect, be it dry wood that you want to turn into drift or driftwood you have collected would be to give it a good wipe down, remove any spots that might be 'punky' and then boil it for at least a half an hour to kill of any pathogens or critters that might be trying to stow away on/in it. Then, typically you'll want to soak it to expel the tannins it will leach (the stuff which discolours your water a tea like brown). At this point, if the wood in question floats, it would probably be best to weight it down so it gets a more even exposure to the water. Change out the water every once in a while with fresh dechlorinated water." Also found this while googling around..... http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/aquascaping/wood.shtml |
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| Dr_No | May 6 2006, 08:17 PM Post #4 |
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Unregistered
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That sounds like a good source for some great bits of wood and tree stumps. I have a huge bit of wood (I can barely lift it) in my tank that was half embedded in the ground in the back garden of our shack. Idealy you should boil the wood but sometimes this just isnt possible due to their size. The main thing you must do though is soak them, preferably for a long time. I left my logs in a water filled wheelie bin for about 4 months before using it. This helps leach out the tanins as if you dont do this, your water will go tea coloured when you put it in your tank. Mine still leached a bit after 6 months but that was due to its large size. hot water and frequent water changes helps leach it out. This long period of soaking also gets the wood to sink and also shows up any rotting wood that isnt suitable for using. Hard wood that has been dead for a long time is generally best. |
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| Discuss 30 | May 15 2007, 09:22 PM Post #5 |
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Clown Fish
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Best wood types I've used are Mallie root and mangrove swamp wood. Both are very hard with the latter being smooth. BNs love them... however you really need to clean up the mangrove wood due to the stagnat mud some of the peices are in. I've also got some old redgum hollowed out naturally found in a little pet shop years ago.
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| Mostly Harmless | |
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| Dylema | May 15 2007, 10:04 PM Post #6 |
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Angelfish
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I had wanted to ask about gum trees and other trees we have locally, which wood is ok. I wasn't sure if the eucaliptus oil would be a problem from the wood. Mally might make some interesting shaped pieces. |
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