RE: [RML] Driftwood

Jeff LeCates (JeffLeCates at classic.msn.com)
Mon, 3 Nov 97 14:19:59 UT

I have 2 med.-lrg. pieces of Mopani wood in a well planted 75 gal. Rainbow
tank. The wood makes a really nice focal point as well as great shelter for my
Plecos. But I am beginning to wonder if its worth the hassel... When I do
weekly water changes at min. 25% and buffer the water with slightly weakend
marine buffer which gets me to 7.5 ph and in a weeks time I have had ph as low
as 5.5. But more typicly 6.5. I know this up and down ph is not good but I
dont have time to do more frequent water changes and I havent lost a 'bow in 2
years. It's just that I know I am forsaking ideal conditions for aesthetics.
Perhaps a suggestion on some variety of wood which has a less volatile effect
on water chemistry would be helpful... Also, I am fairly certain that the
constant gnawing on the wood from the Flying Fox and Plecos exascerbates the
leaching of the wood.

A very respectful 2 months of lurking and learning and I'm out in the open.
Sincere thanks,
Jeff LeCates
In Dallas, TX where yesterday, the Cowboy dynasty officially fell.
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From: owner-rainbowfish at pcug.org.au on behalf of Roy Hunter
Sent: Monday, November 03, 1997 10:38 AM
To: rainbowfish
Subject: [RML] Driftwood

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With all these replies on the driftwood subject we haven't heard from =
anyone that had a bad experience with it. Most driftwood is just sun =
bleached dead wood. The good stuff like what you get from them folks =
down in Alabama is submerged wood. I have never heard of salt in the =
wood before but I guess if you are getting it out of the ocean then you =
have the salt.

Most wood is toxic to some degree. I would say that an irritant is a =
better way to describe it. Some are affected buy the dust more than =
others. Some woods contain a high amount of silica so you can get =
silicosis from the dust of the wood but it is not toxic to the fish. I =
have used a lot of different wood to get different looks because each =
wood has its own color under water. Walnut is nice if it doesn't have =
any of the white sap wood. It gives you a nice Brown color. The iroko is =
a nice red and pine gives you that nice brown/gray color. The harder the =
wood the more suitable it is for the aquarium. Pine dissolves quickly =
and things like walnut will last a very long long time and will dissolve =
very slowly. If you doubt the piece, put it in a 5 gal bucket with a =
goldfish and see what happens.

Just like anything else when keeping fish, when you use wood you need to =
keep up on the water changes. If you dont change a lot of water then =
dont use the wood.

Roy Hunter
Co-Chairman=20
ANGFA of North America
visit the ANGFA website at:
http://www.angfa.org
reach me at:
roy at angfa.org

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With all these replies = on the=20 driftwood subject we haven't heard from anyone that had a bad experience = with=20 it. Most driftwood is just sun bleached dead wood. The good stuff like = what you=20 get from them folks down in Alabama is submerged wood. I have never = heard of=20 salt in the wood before but I guess if you are getting it out of the = ocean then=20 you have the salt.
 
Most wood is toxic to some degree. I would say that an irritant is a = better way to=20 describe it. Some are affected buy the dust more than others. Some woods = contain=20 a high amount of silica so you can get silicosis from the dust of the = wood but=20 it is not toxic to the fish. I have used a lot of different wood to get=20 different looks because each wood has its own color under water. Walnut = is nice=20 if it doesn't have any of the white sap wood. It gives you a nice Brown = color.=20 The iroko is a nice red and pine gives you that nice brown/gray color. = The=20 harder the wood the more suitable it is for the aquarium. Pine dissolves = quickly=20 and things like walnut will last a very long long time and will dissolve = very=20 slowly. If you doubt the piece, put it in a 5 gal bucket with a goldfish = and see=20 what happens.
 
Just like anything else when keeping = fish, when=20 you use wood you need to keep up on the water changes. If you dont = change a lot=20 of water then dont use the wood.
 
Roy Hunter
Co-Chairman
ANGFA = of North=20 America
visit the ANGFA website at:
http://www.angfa.org
reach me = at:
roy at angfa.org
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