[supatank]

HELP !!!!....Maybe one of you who have more knowledge in this depart can help me out. i have a dead tangelos tree (citrus family) that i want to used as driftwood (root part) for my tank, but cannot find any information at all on it (safe, not safe, hardwood?leak oil? sap? etc...). i have crystal shrimp and don't want them to died because of my lack of knowledge. Any info would be grateful, Thanks!

 

[faeriefish]

I haven't used it personally, but I believe that madrona (madrone for those of you down south) is also an acceptable driftwood choice. I'm not sure if this extends to all species or just some, though.

I believe it's related in some way to manzanita, but don't quote me on that.

 

[Jonnywhoop]

Its too bad we couldnt get more variety in woods

 

[Anostomus]

Of course the scientific data and studies are limited when it comes to the effect of dead and dried trees of every species in water & aquatic plants/fishes. What there is most is the experience various people had in various uncontrolled environment with too much variables to be sure a general concept can be applied. One thing for sure I would never put any coniferous wood in any tank. Not because I have experienced with them underwater but because of their composition. They release various chemicals and interact with gazes in air .Coniferous Gases pollute the breathable air for human so I would assume (at least not risk) they potentially pollute water (enclosed water) I have found that all hard wood that are completely drievd and void of moisture once soaked, brushed, boiled have never caused any problem of pollution, disease or water quality/color

 

[Michael]

I'm not sure if this species has already been mentioned, but I have a nice piece of glossy privet Ligustrum lucidum that I've used in several of my tanks with no problems. This shrub/tree is a common ornamental or volunteer in the southern states. The wood seems very hard, resistant to rot, and is heavy and easy to sink. This particular piece has nice cavities which are a favorite with my bushy-nose plecos.

 

[MO2]

I have used eucalyptus stumps and sticks in a few tanks with great success. Exactly what kind they came from I am unsure of.

 

[Aquaticz]

I planted a manzanita about 2 years ago. It has grown to 6 feet tall with multiple branches. One branch is about to set cut off, as it starting to block a walkway.
I wonder how long it will take to dry out and be ready for an aquarium.
Thinking of planting more since it has done so well in a short time.

side bar - got a pressure washer a few months ago....does wonders on driftwood & rock.They had a sale a HD I could not pass up.

 

[cloud18]

Has anyone from California tried to collect mazania branches from Tahoe ?? Those woods look really fragile so will they last long in an aquarium?

 

[Zapins]

Probably not.

I was in Sacramento last year and had a look at the local manzanita trees. The thin branches probably won't last more than a few months.

 

[Luminescent]

(This comes from my former life as a professional plant geek.....)

The cypress... with the knees are Taxodium Distichum, otherwise known as Bald Cypress. I can't see why they wouldn't be safe. I've seen Taxodium Knees in a Koi pond at the local arboretum and the koi could care less...

I have gathered a few cypress knees- old ones on the bank of a swamp in florida. After aging in the backyard (hosing, sun-drying, hosing, etc) I tested them in a 30 that had a few leftover baby livebearers, then used them very successfully in a 60 with small SA Cichlids. They were very floaty but I siliconed them to slate. They tanned the water a bit but it cleared in short time.

They grew a very pretty, light green mat of velvet algae which I left alone. Baby Microgeophagus and Apistogramma seemed to enjoy 'grazing' around on this.

 

[Luminescent]

Probably not.

I was in Sacramento last year and had a look at the local manzanita trees. The thin branches probably won't last more than a few months.

Go up into the Sierras- toward Tahoe and take a hike in an open wooded area. You find short, squatty manzanita bushes with thick branches. The 'manzanita' that they use for decorative trees in towns have been fertilized and trimmed to a tree shape -they grow very fast- long, thin branches.

You want the natural wild stuff- the bushes are as wide as they are tall. As it grows the lower branches die off and break at the base- or are easily twisted off. Like Mesquite. That's the stuff you want.

I gather this stuff for our macaw to perch and chew on- it's indestructible. Going to gather some now for a planted tank I'm currently planning.

I saw the posts on pine here- all I can say is I have lists of wood that is safe for birds to chew on - and pine is an absolute no no- even dried and cured it is deadly. I figure if its bad for birds it will be bad for fish too.

 

[tonnakpil]

How about aged mahogany roots? Anyone tried it yet?

 

[cloud18]

Just my personal opinion but try to avoid the African woods at all cost...they affect the water quality too much...they completely threw the balance of my twenty long out of wax

 

[Zapins]

Just my personal opinion but try to avoid the African woods at all cost...they affect the water quality too much...they completely threw the balance of my twenty long out of wax

In what way?

I've used pine before but it rots very quickly so it isn't much use.

 

[Hoody32]

Anyone know the fastest growers on this list?

 

[Daniil]

Hi.
Does anybody uses Juniper tree wood in aquarium and is it safe?

 

[smsu323s]

Hi all. I have a 75g tank that is probably over a year old now. It is doing great. The only problem appears to be the piece of driftwood I placed in the tank. It appears to be deteriorating. Little pieces of the wood are constantly accumulating on the bed of the tank. It looks like dirt, but it is the wood. I am afraid that in the near future the wood will just break apart. Should I just pull it out and replace it with something else? Recommendations? I was thinking Manzanita as I have read that type of wood is more appropriate. I got the driftwood at my LFS which had this large bin full of "driftwood". I don't recall anything on the display indicating the type of wood, but it looked like every other piece of wood I had seen in pics or in videos prior to putting my tank together. I thought I prepped it correctly by soaking it in water for a long while to get the tannins out. It dried out in my garage for a while too before it went in the tank. Did I not prepare it correctly or was this bound to be a loser due to using an inappropriate type of wood?

 

[Anostomus]

No conifers should be used , whether dried or boil or if it as been casted a spell

 

[Buckeye warrior]

Ash tree roots dead or still green

 

[JustLikeAPill]

Rhododendron and Kalmia (forget the common name) and two poisonous shrubs but make excellent (and safe) wood after you remove the bark and boil.. and boil and boil and boil. Saprolegnia grows at first.

Looks similar to redmoor root wood/ "branch wood" by ADA.