Wood choice for the planted tank

11-08-2009, 07:46 PM	#21 (permalink)
wi_blue Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Portage, WI Posts: 172 iTrader Ratings: 0	Re: Wood choice for the planted tank Does anyone if would Tamarack work? It grows in marshs in northern WI. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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11-08-2009, 08:26 PM

#22 (permalink)

Tex Gal

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Re: Wood choice for the planted tank

Quote:

Originally Posted by wi_blue

Does anyone if would Tamarack work? It grows in marshs in northern WI.

I don't know about Tamarack. Maybe someone else can comment.

Added Grapevine to the list.

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11-10-2009, 05:34 AM	#23 (permalink)
Jeanine Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Terrace, BC, Canada Posts: 77 iTrader Ratings: 0	Re: Wood choice for the planted tank I have a ton of Apple trees. They are old and have some pretty gnarly looking branches. Dose any one know if they can be used in the aquarium? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

11-10-2009, 09:30 AM

#24 (permalink)

Chris Noto

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add Rhododendron (and azalea) to the list!

The successful use of Rhododendron branches in planted aquariums has been reported by Jerry Smith, of Bloomingdale, NJ, in reply to a query by Mary Sweeney in the Aquatic-Plants Digest (APD). The bushes we commonly call "azaleas" are also members of the genus Rhododendron, so they're fine, too.

Here's a clip of the APD post:

Quote:

Mary Sweeney posted on Jan 13, 2009 "Has anyone ever used rhododendron
branches in aquaria?"

I just found a member of my local plant club here in NJ that uses
Rhododendron in her tanks. I am waiting for further information from her
about how long she has had it in there, but I suspect it has been a while.
She says not to use softwoods like pine and fir or anything you can dent
with a fingernail. She really likes the look of Rhododendron in her tanks.

Jerry Smith
Bloomingdale, NJ

Thanks, Jerry!

This *is* exciting! As a follow-up to my question, I peeled a small branch
with a potato peeler and put it in a bowl with some snails and a sprig of
Java Moss.

Put it on the window sill.

The water turned a little green for a day.

Baby snails appeared.

The Java is creeping over to the branch---looks like they're going to "hook
up."<G>

I added in some fish eggs. They've hatched and the fry are doing well.

The branch isn't doing anything strange---yet.<G>

Yep, I think we're onto something here.

Local Jersey plant club?

Mary Sweeney
Monmouth Hills, NJ

P.S. Perhaps this thread ought to be a "sticky". Or, we could just leave folks to use the search feature of the forum.

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Last edited by Chris Noto; 11-10-2009 at 09:33 AM.. Reason: added the P.S.

11-14-2009, 04:02 PM	#25 (permalink)
Tex Gal Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Joshua, TX Posts: 8,540 iTrader Ratings: 192 iTrader Positive Rating: 100%	Re: Wood choice for the planted tank Just added 5 more woods. Made this thread a sticky. Keep them coming! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

11-17-2009, 04:42 PM	#26 (permalink)
Zabman14u Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tiffin, OH Posts: 40 iTrader Ratings: 0	Re: Wood choice for the planted tank what are people's opinions of maple or walnut? i dont for see anything unusual with them. but ive been wrong before. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

11-18-2009, 11:26 AM	#27 (permalink)
f1y5thr Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Silverdale, WA. Posts: 7 iTrader Ratings: 1 iTrader Positive Rating: 100%	Re: Wood choice for the planted tank Madrona Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

11-18-2009, 01:30 PM	#28 (permalink)
Vivarium Concepts Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wylie, Tx Posts: 162 iTrader Ratings: 0	Re: Wood choice for the planted tank This is a good thread! I might be able to offer a little insight about some of the woods you have listed. Keep in mind that most of the wood that I use is not totally submersed, but it is in very high humid environments. You will want to stay away from soft woods, therefore grapewood/grapevine is not a good choice, they rot VERY quickly. Cypress is ok to use, but in my experience it does not hold up well. All of the cypress if have found has been aged (AKA cypress driftwood) and is very buoyant. I would stay away from cedar/pine this is where turpentine comes from. Manzanita is good to use, it is a very hard wood. I also use the manzanita root burls. Mopani/Swahala are very good to use. Malaysian driftwood is very good to use, although I do not know what type of wood it actually is. We order in bulk and our distributor offers to different 'grades' of the Malaysian, they have the aquarium grade and a reptile grade. The reptile grade is not as heavy or dense as the aquarium grade and it will float. And as Dave mentioned, it will leach tannins. Oak is a good choice. Buttonwood is also good. I have heard of people using Osage Orange aka Bodark. I have been wanting to try Mesquite, just haven't found the 'right' piece. Chola wood, did you mean Cholla? If so, Cholla is not really a 'wood', but the skeletal remains of cactus. As for the other woods mentioned, I can't say one way or the other. Cindy Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter OldeFishLady likes this.

11-19-2009, 04:54 PM	#29 (permalink)
Zabman14u Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tiffin, OH Posts: 40 iTrader Ratings: 0	Re: Wood choice for the planted tank maybe this list would be smaller if it was "what wood NOT to use" lol Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

11-30-2009, 06:30 AM	#30 (permalink)
Daniil Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Twin City, MN Posts: 504 iTrader Ratings: 51 iTrader Positive Rating: 100%	Re: Wood choice for the planted tank I am thinking about using old grape vine wood in my tank. The wood is old and was cut out of a vineyard about a year ago. I plan to use rocks to hold it down. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Last edited by Daniil; 11-30-2009 at 06:44 AM..